Light novels have come a long way over the past few years. The medium’s importance cannot be overstated. While many anime are descended from popular manga, a handful of them have been adapted from light novels.
With light novel adaptations becoming more popular, fans are choosing to read the books instead of waiting for a new season of their favourite anime. J-Novel Club is one of the biggest libraries in the industry and has been releasing novels diligently since it was formed in 2016.
J-Novel and Yen Press have been the leading sources of light novels in the world today. In this list, we will be looking at the most popular light novels on J-Novel Club.
Now I’m a demon lord! Happily Ever After with Monster Girls in My Dungeon
Ryuyu’s Now I’m a Demon Lord! is one of the most popular novels and one of the few rumoured to have an upcoming anime adaptation. The story follows Yuki, who is reincarnated into another world as the demon king and given a dungeon to manage. He finds out his survival depends on the dungeons and goes on to bolster their defences, recruiting creatures like dragons and slimes.
Now, he must protect himself and the monster girls’ in the dungeon from the imminent human invasion. It is a fun Isekai story that combines several themes to create an awesome story.
Full Clearing Another World under a Goddess with Zero Believers
Oosaki Isle wrote the popular light novel and illustrated it with Tam-U. The story follows Makoto, a hardcore gamer who is involved in an accident with the rest of his class.
In a world filled with powerful gods and magic, Makoto gains a pathetic skill and has only a few years left to live. However, Makoto meets the goddess Noah, who appears in his dreams and asks him to be her first believer.
Now armed with Noah’s blessing and a divine weapon, he plans to save his goddess from her prison. It is an exciting story that gamers will appreciate, as it shows Makoto living life with the hardest difficulty.
Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss, but I’m Not the Demon Lord
Satori Tanabata’s Villainess Level 99 has been getting praise since its anime adaptation was released in January. The story follows Yumeilla, who is reincarnated into the world of an otome game as the hidden boss. She wants to live a quiet life and avoid the protagonists to survive.
However, Yumeilla gets carried away and maxes out her level at 99 before enrolling in the academy. Now, she must convince the world she is not the demon lord and protect her peaceful new life. While it may look like your typical villainess story, the characters and plot are extremely well-written.
Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers
Miya Kinojo’s popular series has gained a massive following since the anime adaptation was announced last year. The story follows Banaza, who is summoned to fight the dark one but is rejected after displaying no real talent.
Now trapped in a kingdom where they want him gone and have no way home, things look bleak for Banaza. However, everything changes when he reaches level 2, where he receives amazing cheating powers. The novel’s anime adaptation was just released and has been well-received by fans.
The Apothecary Diaries
Natsu Hyuuga’s Apothecary Diaries is one of the most popular light novels in the world today. Unsurprisingly, its anime adaptation has also found massive success, garnering a huge number of fans since its release.
The story follows Maomao, who is kidnapped and sold into service at the rear palace. However, after being raised by her apothecary father, her skills and knowledge make her stand out. This prompts the head eunuch, Jinshi, to make her a lady-in-waiting to the emperor’s favourite consort. Soon, she learns about the palace while going on even more adventures.
