Lady Bumpkin and Her Lord Villain

“Lady Bumpkin”—that is what most of high society called Agnes Evantail, eldest daughter of the venerable House of Evantail. Ridiculed for her outdated makeup and antiquated clothing, she has been a pariah among her peers for as long as she can remember. After yet another failed attempt at becoming engaged, her parents make her attend the princess’s engagement celebration in hopes of finding a fiancé there. Agnes begrudgingly goes to the party, where she encounters perfect Nazelbart Florescruz, the princess’s fiancé, and the only person to ever show her kindness. When the princess schemes against him and he’s branded a villain, it’s Agnes’s turn to offer him a helping hand. The two are then bound together in the most unlikely turn of events—how will their story unfold?

Disowned but Not Disheartened! Life Is Good with Overpowered Magic

At age three, Tafelina Lowell Lera Duval was disowned by her birth parents, but was that actually a blessing in disguise? Raised in a remote region of Ozeria by the kind earl of Peylon, she was allowed to hunt in a forest full of monsters, invent magic tools based on memories of her previous life, and let her extraordinary magical talents flourish. But that all begins to change with the approach of her thirteenth birthday. As the child of a noble, she’s obligated to attend an academy meant to raise and educate the next generation of nobles. That means moving to the royal capital, a sprawling city quite unlike her beloved home. Lera soon feels like a fish out of water, and things only get worse with kidnappings, the appearance of her half sister, and more. But Lera’s not one to be disheartened easily and that isn’t about to change!

The Countess Is a Coward No More! This Reincarnated Witch Just Wants a Break

Lam Mercure has always led a miserable life. Due to her cowardly nature, she spent her childhood ridiculed by her family, and things only got worse when she became the second wife of Char, the Earl of Mercure. Char is a busy mage who’s perpetually absent from the estate, leaving Lam to fend for herself—and his servants take every chance to torment the poor countess, fully aware she is too timid to retaliate...until something unexpected happens. While being bullied by her handmaidens, Lam hits her head and regains the memories of a past life—five hundred years ago, she was Aurora, the strongest witch in history! Now that she remembers her true self, Lam won’t live as a victim any longer. With her reawakened powers, she’ll punish the servants, talk back to her husband, and reclaim her freedom—on her own terms!

Lady Rose Just Wants to Be a Commoner

Felicia Schwarose has been reincarnated as the main character of her favorite otome game—Lady Rose. As Prince Seth’s fiancée, she’s spent her whole life preparing to be his queen, but behind the scenes...she’s been laying the groundwork to get the whole thing called off! Now she’s living out her dreams as “Fii Crow,” a peasant working at a local bakery. Unfortunately, the game’s pesky love interests won’t leave her alone. Will Felicia be able to enjoy her new life as a commoner in peace, or will the love interests’ meddling ruin all of her hard work?

A Cozy Life in the Woods with the White Witch

After getting fired from his adventuring clan for his lack of combat ability, Tori wanders around and runs into the city’s strongest adventurer—the White Witch! Since he has nowhere else to go, she hires Tori for his exceptional skill in...handling chores?! With his talent for cooking, cleaning, running errands, and other domestic odd jobs, he’s the perfect fit for taking care of the extremely lazy White Witch and the garbage dump she calls her house. Follow Tori as he grapples with his new job as the caretaker of the beautiful White Witch and her three familiars. Perhaps once he has cleaned up the place, he can finally live a cozy life in the woods with his new employer!

The Tanaka Family Reincarnates

Do you like cats? Do you like isekai? Do you like dying horribly in an earthquake with your whole family? Then you’d fit right in with the Tanaka family! They might not have enjoyed that last part, but they’re certainly enjoying their new life in another world as the esteemed Stewart family. That’s right—the whole family reincarnated together, and they’re just as messy as they were in their first life. Kazushi (65) and Yoriko Tanaka (65) are now the esteemed Leonard (35) and Melsa (35) Stewart. Their three children, Wataru (38), Minato (35), and Heita (33) are now George (15), Emma (12), and William (9) Stewart. Come follow the Tanakas—or Stewarts—as they navigate high society with tea parties, marriage propositions, fashion design, bugs, monsters, and most importantly, giant cats!

Isekai Walking

Ordinary student Sora has been summoned to another world as one of seven “chosen heroes” meant to battle the Demon King. While the other six are blessed with grandiose titles and superlative stats, Sora is stuck with no title, no level, and a single, underwhelming skill: he never gets tired from walking. After being judged useless to the cause, Sora is thrown out into the streets and left to fend for himself. Nevertheless, he grows determined to turn his unjust treatment and seemingly “useless” skill into a positive by earning money, making friends, and seeing sights he’s never seen before!

If you could step into the world of any LN, which would it be and why?

It's not often that we see a long-running light novel series come to an end and even less often one as popular as Ascendance of a Bookworm.

So let's talk about the series as a whole. How did you like the story? What were your favorite and least favorite parts? Was the ending satisfying? Who is your favorite character? Who is your least favorite? General thoughts?

Share a quote or excerpt from a LN and we have to guess where it's from.

Let's talk about light novels adapting game scenarios this week. Otome games are by now something of a trope for light novels. But how popular are otome games really? Why does it feel like every other LN is playing in a otome game scenario when there are so many video game genres that are so much more popular. There is an argument to be had that the other half of video game related light novels is based on some fantasy (VR)MMO with basic RPG mechanics.

There are also single series that pick up some unusual game/genre like Minecraft in Survival in Another World with My Mistress or a God Sim in The NPCs in this Village Sim Game Must Be Real!. But those are outliers and I want more of stuff like that. There are enough LN about generic fantasy RPGs and otome games already. I want something fresh. Where's my Anno city/empire builder LN?

Another point for discussion: is Re:Zero a souldborne LN? Lots of death and suffering with respawns at certain points that reset the world.

Some META:

I'll be on vacation for the next two weeks and if someone has an idea for a Midweek discussion I would be glad If someone else could answer the call of duty. (Or want to post about non-Japanese LN or even fat novels but fear my vengeful wrath? This is your chance!)

I'll try to have an eye on here in those two weeks and Myne will post her two threads as usual, but whatever I'll do will be very sporadic and not in a timely fashion.

What type of Afterword reader are you? I know someone who reads the afterword first and regardless of how often I tell them that they are a perverse freak and should be ashamed they are unapologetic and don't change their wicked ways.

And while we're speaking about Afterwords, have you come across interesting ones? Personally, I like ones that give some background info about the volume the most and afterwords written as the characters least.

I don't have much this week, but when playing around with AI last week I had it generate synopses at some point. Some of them were hilarious so for this week I just want to share some.

Ascendance of a Bookworm as a 90s forth wall breaking comedy movie:

Cue the quirky 90s synth music and flashy title card.

Meet Myne, a modern-day bookworm extraordinaire, who just had the unluckiest day ever—crushed to death by her towering book collection. Record scratch. Yup, you heard that right. But instead of the afterlife, she wakes up in the body of a frail little girl in a medieval world where books are rarer than a TV remote that actually works.

Myne looks directly at the camera, eyebrows raised. “Seriously, who writes this stuff?”

Myne's new medieval world is all about swords, sorcery, and an alarming lack of good hygiene. But for Myne, the real tragedy is the lack of books. She pulls out a parchment and quill, giving the camera a deadpan look. “This is what they call a book here. I mean, come on!”

Determined to bring the joys of literature to the masses—or at least get herself something decent to read—Myne sets off on a series of zany misadventures. From negotiating with clueless nobles to outsmarting a guild of suspicious craftsmen, she’s on a mission to revolutionize this bookless backwater.

Montage of Myne getting into all sorts of 90s-style hijinks: almost setting the village on fire with a homemade printing press, getting tangled in a huge scroll, and facepalming at the medieval methods of paper-making.

But it’s not all laughs and giggles. Myne’s got a condition called the “Devouring,” which sounds serious but mostly means she’s got to achieve her dreams before her body gives out. Talk about a deadline! Myne, with a mischievous grin, holds up a sundial. “Tick-tock, am I right?”

Along the way, she’s joined by a quirky cast of characters:

• Lutz, the loyal sidekick with big dreams and an even bigger heart.
• Benno, the savvy merchant who’s more interested in profits than prose.
• Ferdinand, the stern but secretly soft-hearted priest who can't believe he's getting roped into her schemes.

Together, they bumble, stumble, and somehow manage to start a literary revolution, one hilarious mishap at a time.

Myne winks at the camera, a stack of freshly printed books in hand. “Who says you can’t judge a book by its cover?”

So, grab your popcorn and settle in for “Ascendance of a Bookworm,” the 90s comedy romp that proves even a bookworm can change the world—one page at a time.

Freeze frame on Myne holding up a book, while the rest of the cast strikes a pose around her. Roll credits.

Spice and Wolf: A Tarantino-Esque Synopsis

Welcome to the gritty, fast-talking world of "Spice and Wolf," where medieval trade meets modern swagger in a whirlwind of gold coins and razor-sharp wit. Our story kicks off with Lawrence Kraft, a sharp-dressed, smooth-talking merchant with an eye for the next big score. Enter Holo, a feisty, no-nonsense wolf goddess disguised as a sultry young woman, complete with ears and a tail that hint at her wild side.

The unlikely duo teams up in a blaze of bartering brilliance, tearing through bustling bazaars and backwater towns with a mix of charm, brains, and a little brute force when necessary. Holo’s centuries-old wisdom and wily instincts are the perfect foil to Lawrence’s street-smart hustle, creating a partnership as volatile as it is lucrative.

Their journey is a rollercoaster of high-stakes deals and dangerous liaisons, peppered with colorful characters straight out of a rogue’s gallery. From crooked guild leaders to cutthroat competitors, everyone’s out to make a quick buck or stab you in the back. Lawrence and Holo navigate this treacherous terrain with a blend of sardonic humor and ruthless efficiency, leaving a trail of broken hearts and busted heads in their wake.

Amid the chaos, sparks fly between the merchant and the wolf, their banter crackling with sexual tension and mutual respect. But beneath the surface, there’s a deeper game at play. Holo’s true nature must remain hidden, a secret that could spell their doom in a world where gods and monsters are more than just legends.

"Spice and Wolf" is a pulse-pounding, adrenaline-fueled saga where every deal could be a double-cross, and every smile hides a knife. In true Tarantino fashion, it’s a wild ride through a world where the stakes are high, the dialogue is snappy, and the heroes are anything but clean-cut. Buckle up for a tale of love, betrayal, and cold, hard cash—because in this game, it’s all or nothing.

Reincarnated as a Slime: A 70s Adult Film-Inspired Synopsis

In a world where fantasy and forbidden pleasures collide, an ordinary man meets an untimely end and is about to discover that being reborn as a slime in a magical realm opens the door to tantalizing escapades and seductive encounters.

As the slime begins to explore this new world, it encounters a cast of voluptuous and enchanting beings—each more alluring than the last. From bewitching sorceresses to fierce, curvaceous warriors, every meeting promises a blend of peril and passion. With its newfound powers, the slime shapeshifts and adapts, becoming whatever it needs to be to survive and thrive in this sensual, mystical land.

Through steamy alliances and seductive battles, the slime carves out a kingdom of its own, attracting followers with its irresistible charm and unparalleled power. Each encounter is a pulse-pounding blend of danger and desire, as the slime learns that in this world, every conquest is both a challenge and a pleasure.

• Toradora!
• Reincarnated as a Sword
• Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis
• The Condemned Villainess Goes Back in Time and Aims to Become the Ultimate Villain
• The Evil Queen’s Beautiful Principles

English is not my first langue and the lack of finely polished prose when crafting my reviews is the sole thing holding this community back. In order to not further subject you fine people to my peasant words, I decided to employ the help of an artificial ghostwriter to spruce up my works for this week’s Midweek Discussion. At least that was my initial course of action, but as hillarious as the results were it doesn’t leave much space open for discussion. So I decided to do start a little quiz instead. I spruce up light novel titles instead for you all to guess:

1. "I have ascended to unparalleled strength, wielding diminutive incantations to obliterate all opposition."
2. "The leisurely adventures of a seasoned herder, who has embarked upon her journey at an unconventional juncture in time."
3. "Culinary Adventures: Preparing Delectable Dishes from Exotic Game Ingredients"
4. "A Symphonic Odyssey through the Land of the Afterlife: A Tale of Perilous Travel to an Altered Universe."
5. "Tired of this languid existence? Having been reborn as a preeminent Elven being, my current state is one of profound ennui."

This should be enough to get the guessing going. Feel free to add your own so that I get to guess as well. (prompt was simply "Rewirte the following to make it sound more eloquent: [TITLE]”)

edit: Answers:

I'm running out of ideas, so this week it's a free4all.

Want to tell me how retarded your sister is? Have at it! Need to convince me that Saiki is the best Band Maid member? Already sold! Gawr Gura: gremlin or genius? Why not both! Have something cool to show off? I love seeing pictures of cool stuff.

You get the drift. Have something you always want to get off your soul, this is your chance.