#Review: #ReformingAnIcyFinalBoss: Getting Back at the Self-Proclaimed Villainess with the Power of Friendship Vol. 1 (#IcyBoss)

#LightNovel by #Takamedou
English Pub: #JNovelClub (1-9): (7 Entertaining)
#Fantasy #Isakai (sort of)

Angelina Grey—the self-proclaimed villainess—is isekaied into her favorite otome. But despite her beliefs, she is not the person the world revolves around. Milly Asteara, the ‘Icy Final Boss’ is.

IcyBoss is reminiscent of “My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!” (Hamafura). Milly, an intelligent, powerful magic user, and total social baka, discovers the power of friendship. Like Katrina Klaus (Bakarina), she has powerful charisma, which hinders her from becoming the badass delinquent villainess she dreams of. But that’s okay as she gathers her flock of friends and locks horns with Angelian Grey.

This was a lot of fun to read. It missed a higher score due to some moments where I was knocked out of the story by interactions that didn’t ring true, as well as the shallow portrayal of Angelina.

Volume 2 is already streaming in prepubs, and I can’t wait for all the chapters to be available.

Volume 1 is free for J-Novel Club members until 26/02/16
Volume 2 is free for J-Novel Club members until 26/04/15
Digital release: 26/01/11 & 26/03/17

(This review is based on the digital pre-publication version.)

Link to “Reforming an Icy Final Boss:” J-Novel Club

#NMReview #AmReading #bookstodon #Books

#Review: #CogsOfTime Vol. 1

#LightNovel by #LauraMDrake
English Pub: #JNovelClub (1-9): (6 Good)
#Steampunk #Mystery #TimeTravel

Kyra Annandale can Slip through time. It’s an ability her father forbids her to use. But even an obedient girl like Kyra can’t resist, especially when it helps keep the memory of her mother alive. Then on the eve of her wedding…

I was looking forward to this ever since it was announced. It was a good read, but not up to what I had built up in my mind. Sigh, attachments only bring misery.

I am not well-read in the steampunk genre and can only compare it to "Princess Principal." So, take a little salt with the soup.

"The steampunk flavoring... As Alice said "There were certainly too many cogs in that soup!" In other words, it was overdone. It's like being at a steampunk convention. Everything is decorated with cogs and gears. Anything that could be steam-powered is. Anyone want a steam-powered toaster?

The plot was also predictable. I won't spoil it in case you're not Sherlock Holmes like me.

There is potential here. It's the kind of book that could lead to a great ongoing series, especially once the author is no longer compelled to show us that it's steampunk.

Volume 1 is free for J-Novel Club members until
January, 15th 2026. Digital release: December, 18th 2025.

(This review is based on the digital pre-publication version.)

Link to “Cogs of Time:” J-Novel Club

#NMReview

#Review: #AdachiAndShimamura, Vol. 6 (Manga)

#Manga by #HitomaIruma Art: #MokeYuzuhara
English Pub: #YenPress Rating (1-9): (7 Worth following)
#Yuri #SliceOfLife

Volume 6 takes us on an introspective look at Shimamura’s relationship with the dog, Gon. And the culmination of the first coat of paint drying. If you have read the novels, you know what I am talking about: the scene at the festival. If you haven’t read the novels, then your efforts will finally be rewarded.

This is Iruma, so don’t expect the pace to pick up. Iruma is noted for extreme slow burn. But for those of us who love #AdachiToShimamura, this is a joyous reunion with the characters. It just depends on if you like Iruma or not.

#AmReading #bookstodon #NMReview #Anime

#Review: Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden Vol. 8 (#NiaListon)

#LightNovel by #UmikazeMinamino
English Pub: #JNovelClub Rating (1-9): (7 Worth following)
#Isakai #Fantasy #MarialArts

Volume 8 concludes the martial arts tournament arc. I have never been a fan of tournament fiction with its blow-by-blow descriptions of combat moves or game mechanics. That said, I found this volume to be passable. The combat scenes are varied and brief. There is enjoyable background action taking place. I had some guesses about who the winners were, but I wasn't completely sure until the end. Finally, the previous seven volumes had built up my investment in the characters and outcomes. Overall, I enjoyed it.

Nia Liston's quirky first-person narrative remains interesting. Her naïveté and egotism are still interesting, even if some of the stock lines are getting threadbare.

Hints of future plot lines are sprinkled throughout, showing that the author has thought about where to take things next. The volume ends with a surprising and interesting twist. Sorry, no spoilers here!

Volume 8 is free to read for members of J-Novel Club until 12/17/25. Digital release: 1/15/26

(This review is based on the digital pre-publication version.)

Link to NiaListon: j-novel.club

#AmReading #bookstodon #NMReview #NiaListonTheMercilessMaiden

#Review: This Gyaru’s Got a Thing for...Vampire Hunters?! Vol. 2 (#GyuVam)

#LightNovel by #WasanKurata
English Pub: #JNovelClub
Rating (1-9): (8 Worth following)
#CGDCT #UrbanFantasy

There are many reasons why I shouldn't give this a high rating, but the truth is that I was glued to both volumes by the second chapter. Reviews are subjective, and this one is based on my reaction.

At its heart, GyaVam is a CGDCT (Cute Girls Doing Cute Things). Yes, there are battles and supernatural events, but readers looking for those elements will be disappointed. This volume is about Ruka (gyaru) taking Ginku (vampire-hunter) shopping for swimsuits, and then Ruka and her friends going to the beach. Ruka uses the power of Gyaru and Friendship to convince the antagonists to change their ways.

One of this book's charms is that I haven't read many light novels like it. And I read a lot of female protag light novels. Even if there were, I would find the writing reasonable and charming.

Is it yuri? It's about the relationship between women, which is romance-adjacent. The yuri subtext is strong, but it seems unlikely that it will drift into full-scale romance territory. Either that, or we're on the track of a very slow-burn yuri.

In summary, it's a pleasant, light read for escapism. If you like slice-of-life or CGDCT, it's worth reading the first three chapters, at least. Don't give up at first. It takes a while for the charm to win you over. At least it did for me.

Volume 2 is free to read for members of J-Novel Club until 12/15/25.
Digital release: 11/20/25

Link to GyuVam:

#AmReading #bookstodon #Yuri #NMReview #ThisGyarusGotAThingForVampireHunters?!

#WordWeavers 07.13.2025 Do you regularly write reviews of others' work or promote them?

I sporadically write reviews. It's hard to maintain because I have exotic tastes. So the work of writing a good review doesn't seem to balance against a zero readership. If it's just for me, I don't have to go to work. Do I promote them, as best I can? Again, the number of people interested in what I like seems small.

Some of my reviews below:

• The Apothecary Diaries # 14
• Taking My Reincarnation One Step at a Time: No One Told Me There Would Be Monsters! v.1
• Culinary Chronicles of the Court Flower v.1

#NMWW #NMPrompts #NMReview

Review: The Apothecary Diaries # 14 (Prepub version)
A Light Novel by Natsu Hyuuga
English Pub: J Novel Club Japan: Square Enix
Rating (1-9): 9 (S-Class)

This is one of the light novel series I closely follow. The story of an apothecary with a taste for self-inflicted poisoning and a myopic obsession with her profession.

AND after 15 volumes, it is still a favorite.

Maomoa, the MC, is still charming and quirky. And in this volume, she solves 3 mysteries and turns the tables on Jinshi, no longer pursued but pursuing.

And Chue, the sinister clown, is back in full color. With a promise of more to come. A delightful character.

If you want details on the series, you can read my review of volume 12. https://sakurajima.moe/@NaraMoore/113166037740646137

https://j-novel.club/series/the-apothecary-diaries
Review based on pre-pub version available until 25/06/16
Digital release 25/05/29

#TheApothecaryDiaries #薬屋のひとりごと #LightNovel #JNovelClub #Review #NatsuHyuuga #SquareEnix #NMReview #Mystery #ChineseCourt

#Review: Taking My Reincarnation One Step at a Time: No One Told Me There Would Be Monsters! v.1

#LightNovel #Kaya
English Pub: #JNovelClub
Rating (1-9): 7 (Worth following)

#Isekai #Fantasy

A surprisingly good, though shallow book. Let’s start with the first thing that pops into my head. It’s an isekai, bad start. But that trope mainly serves for characterization and background. We will have to see where her powers take her, but so far, coming from Japan hasn’t helped her much. Next, I said it was shallow. True, but many entertaining books are shallow; the characters are charming, the world-building is interesting, and background information is doled out slowly and naturally. As an author, I noted how the author has avoided an info dump and slowly dished out information. You’re never left scratching your head, but like the MC, you say, “Hum, I wonder why that is.”

The MC, Sara, has strong powers and could become overpowered as the series continues. Currently, that isn’t a problem. Seven volumes are available in English, and another is in translation. It will be interesting to see if the author can keep superpowers from overwhelming the story’s charm. Given how they handled the gradual introduction of information, I am hopeful.

There is no romance so far, A+ in my book, but possibly some yuri subtext, most likely of the onee-sama type. The story mixes slice-of-life and light adventure, leaning toward the former. Sara doesn’t aspire to be a Hunter (adventurer); instead, she has an eye on alchemy. Will the universe force her into her expected niche, dungeon crawling?

Summary: A pleasant light read for escapism. If the author maintains its light tone, it will stay on my read-as-available list.

Volumes 1-7 are free to read for members of J-Novel Club until 5/31/25. Volume 8 is currently in pre-pub and is free to read until 8/15/25.

https://j-novel.club/series/taking-my-reincarnation-one-step-at-a-time

#AmReading @bookstodon #NMReview

#Review: Culinary Chronicles of the Court Flower v.1

#LightNovel #MiriMikawa
English Pub: #JNovelClub
Rating (1-9) 6 (Good)
#Romance #Fantasy AU Chinese Royal Court

Rimi has one skill and one place in the world - Cooking. Sent as a tribute to the royal court on the mainland, she needs to find a new place.

Reminiscent of “The Apothecary Diaries" CCCF is a charming if slightly clumsily handled tale of a woman finding her place and love in the back palace of an AU Chinese Royal Court. The characters are pleasant even if their relationships contrived. (Who insults the Emperor and lives?) It is a good read for anyone who likes series like “The Apothecary Diaries” or “My Perfect Marriage.” Not of the same quality but still worthwhile.

The art, on the other hand, is outstanding. Beautifully rendered with lovely detail. I am sure they pull my estimate of the series up a full point.

The series is complete at 11 volumes and currently free to read for members of J-Novel Club.

https://j-novel.club/series/culinary-chronicles-of-the-court-flower

#AmReading @bookstodon #NMReview

#Revew Giving up on "The 100th Time’s the Charm: She Was Executed 99 Times, So How Did She Unlock “Super Love” Mode?!"

Too clunky, too much adolescent girl wish fulfillment, too much patriarchy, too much OP, too superficial. Half way through volume 1 and it's not going to get better.

#Lightnovel #JNovelClub #BookReview #NMReview