J-Novel Membership LLC is happy to announce the winners of the first-ever JNC Authentic Gentle Novel Contest. Introduced one 12 months in the past at Anime Expo 2023, over 450 novels have been submitted to the competitors, and 9 of these have been chosen to obtain prizes.
One Grand Prize, three First Prizes, 4 runner-up prizes, and one BOOK☆WALKER Prize profitable works have been chosen. All prizes embrace financial awards, in addition to being revealed sooner or later by J-Novel Membership. Moreover, the BOOK☆WALKER Prize work will get particular promotion and an unique gross sales window on BOOK☆WALKER. The Grand Prize work won’t solely be revealed by J-Novel Membership, but additionally translated into Japanese and revealed by KADOKAWA, by the identical editorial group that publishes hit collection like Overlord and The Saga of Tanya the Evil, paving the best way for a future doable manga adaptation. Free previews of all 20 finalists can be found to learn at no cost on J-Novel Membership’s web site right here.
Moreover, J-Novel Membership additionally introduced it’s holding one other competitors this 12 months, with extra particulars to be introduced quickly about find out how to enter your novels!
ATLAS: Her, the Combatant, and Him, the Hero By John W. Rohman
Story Abstract:
When “Hero” is simply one other job, who fights for individuals who can’t pay up? For these of the Substrata, born beneath the discover of the well-to-do, there’s just one place that’s at all times hiring. Welcome to Secret Society ATLAS, Combatants. Strive to not die.
JNC Decide’s Remark:
ATLAS is a superb instance of a piece that each shocked and wowed all of us at JNC. Eschewing the widespread fantasy, overpowered setting for an actual sci-fi feeling mega-corporation far future, with superior mecha (exo-suit) battles towards sentai-esque “heros”, all wrapped up in a relatable story about fighting prejudice and simply making an attempt to make ends meet, gave us a recent feeling whereas nonetheless undoubtedly a “mild novel” via and thru. Any entry with a Guts-sized greatsword… ahem, chainsaw sword, goes to the highest of the pile and this one stayed there the complete competitors.
First Prize Winners:
Lovely Daydream By Quadrilian
Story Abstract:
I’m me. I like ladies.
Possibly that’s a bizarre method to begin issues off, but it surely’s core to my identification. It’s who I’m. There’s no higher place to start out in case you’re speaking about my story.
A narrative about tales. A narrative a few single step.
JNC Decide’s Remark:
This story holds its playing cards near its vest, and what a hand it’s. It is a harem romantic comedy mild novel. It is a bishoujo recreation type mild novel. It is a psychological treatise on self love. That is an essay on writing principle because it pertains to Japanese novels. It is a scream into the darkness, and a burst of sunshine from the heavens. It demanded to be learn once more as quickly as we completed it.
An Unruly Summon By Cathfach
Story Abstract:
An embattled king summons an otherworldly hero to defend his ravenous kingdom from a demonic invasion. Alas for him, the summoned hero appears quite decided to disregard his rigorously ready script, spoiling the plans of people and demons alike.
JNC Decide’s Remark:
Hey look, it’s an isekai! And there’s a hero that’s summoned from… nicely, not Japan anyway. Most likely Canada or one thing, I dunno it’s not that clear. Oh and did I point out there’s like a Demon Military to destroy and a kingdom to avoid wasting? Yeah, it’s that story once more. Or wait, no, it’s… not. It’s one thing new! One thing acquainted, however with a recent perspective. That is precisely the kind of work we hoped would get written: the kind of “Japanese-style mild novel” that takes the tropes of what’s so widespread and rearranges these bones into one thing extremely entertaining.
Clockwork Clues: When Loss of life Comes Ticking By Laura M. Drake
Story Abstract:
Kyra can Slip via time however can’t escape her controlling father and organized marriage. After discovering a homicide, she defies her upbringing and makes use of her energy to resolve the thriller alongside a dashing detective and a socially inept server bot.
JNC Decide’s Remark:
Steampunk! Homicide thriller! Romance! However don’t assume that every one you want for an amazing novel is a few prime quality substances, the chef (creator) have to be expert to combine them up right into a tasty dish and that is some good clocking meals! (Did I point out we cherished the world-building-through-language-usage on this ebook?) With a powerful, but susceptible important feminine lead who actually drives the story via her actions and convictions, you’ll be rooting for her from the very first web page to the final.
BOOK☆WALKER Prize Winner:
The Lovely Dungeon Grasp By Starvation
Story Abstract:
Lucia Morales is 22 years previous. Someday a turf conflict between rival gangs brings tragedy, however that’s solely the start. Lucia is reborn in one other world as a personality she created in a recreation, and he or she’s tremendous cute!
BOOK☆WALKER’s Remark:
The Lovely Dungeon Grasp was all the pieces we didn’t know we would have liked. The opening moved a few of us to tears, and as soon as the story began, we have been sucked in. We have been capable of visualize Lilac’s world with ease, and we will’t wait for everybody to learn the remaining as soon as the total story is revealed!
We cherished each single one in all Lilac’s interactions with the inhabitants of the dungeon, and we completely cherished her character. She’s simply so likable! (To not point out, her inside dialogue was hilarious.)
We’d like to see extra of Workforce Apple!
Runner-Up Prize Winners:
Promised to a Dragon By Selena Pigoni
Story Abstract:
Princess Rhiannon flees her new fiancé after her father breaks her earlier engagement to a dragon. Alongside the best way, she meets a bard who exhibits her a world of magic. He wins her coronary heart, however can he save her from the dragon’s wrath and the jealous fiancé?
JNC Decide’s Remark:
Are you within the temper for an ungainly and candy love story between a runaway princess and a shy, reclusive dragon-man who simply needs to sing? I imply, who isn’t? That is the proper form of ebook for our J-Novel Coronary heart label, showcasing sensible and constant worldbuilding (witches, fairies, dragons, magic!) with candy, progressive romance that feels earned and makes you wish to maintain studying to see what occurs to those two sweethearts, rooting for all of them the best way.
The Younger Woman is the Substitute Harvest Goddess By Gabihime
Story Abstract:
Demeter Serraffield is dreading her apprenticeship to a lecherous nobleman. One night time, she is summoned by a harvest goddess from one other world… however to not grow to be a farmer, or perhaps a hero. She needs to be a harvest goddess too!
JNC Decide’s Remark:
This entry was possibly probably the most divisive winner of this 12 months’s competitors. To name it “stardew valley fanfiction” can be an injustice. To say it took visitor decide Frog’s recommendation to “embrace your fetishes” a bit too near coronary heart (taking a look at you horny previous man), can be ignoring the large world-building-power-leveling. To say it goals at a lowest widespread denominator of our reader base who solely needs completely happy tales the place nothing dangerous occurs and the bathrooms are powered by MAGIC would paper over the highest-level prose we acquired in the complete competitors. I concern for what this creator would possibly create if she have been to make use of her powers for evil. However fortunately, she is utilizing them to create this as an alternative. Phew.
It’s Powerful Being a Necromancer By Jan Olexa
Story Abstract:
Edgar is an apprentice necromancer whose life is about to show the wrong way up. Be a part of him as he faces horrors from this world and past – from bargaining with the useless to fleeing from the Church – all to meet his grasp’s ever so unreasonable calls for.
JNC Decide’s Remark:
One decide in contrast the texture of this ebook to Slayers. One other in contrast it to Konosuba. I believe that sums up simply how nicely constructed this comedy about undead ladies and the inept necromancer who retains stumbling into them fairly nicely. You’ve acquired a ghost, a vampire lady, a ghoul… All of them are hilarious, full fledged individuals(?) who’ve a enjoyable dynamic that reminds us of the very best comedy ensembles, and the big motion set-pieces that get them working collectively are amazingly nicely constructed and all tie in to one another completely.
The Dragon and the Blade Saint: This Isn’t The place We Finish By garry
Story Abstract:
Kill the Blade Saint, save her clan. That is the one thought in Mitaelshuroxa’s thoughts as she travels again in time to stop the slaughter of the elder dragons at his hand. Nevertheless, she’ll shortly discover that nothing is ever so simple as it appears.
JNC Decide’s Remark:
This entry has been described as “the finalist which was most like the sunshine novels that are widespread today”. And it’s true! The world constructing is complicated, however nicely utilized, the characters are loopy overpowered but additionally held again, the comedy is 100% manga-style, and the setting is mainly anime hogwarts. The motion is persistently cool, and will get simply severe sufficient to allow you to really feel how large the stakes of all the pieces will grow to be. This may scratch that itch. No, not that one, the opposite one. Yeah, proper there. Oooh.
Supply: Press Launch
