Many animes now have small novels, also known as light novels. Often, it is the case that the series are based on the stories from the small book. MeinMMO presents several light novels that anime fans should not miss out on.
In many cases, a manga is initially created by a publisher, which, after great success, is adapted into an anime. As another medium, there are also light novels. These are novels that come with a lot of text and few illustrations.
The writing style is intentionally kept simple and thus easy to read. There are many dialogues and short paragraphs that sometimes reveal details that are not present in the anime and manga. Sometimes, the light novels also serve as the basis for an anime, for example in Solo Leveling or The Apothecary’s Diaries.
Below, we present the personal recommendations from MeinMMO that you should read as a fan of the respective anime.
The Rising of the Shield Hero
- Volumes: 22 (on hiatus since June 2019)
- Published in Germany: up to volume 16
What is it about? The Rising of the Shield Hero begins like many isekais. Naofumi Iwatani is actually a student but awakens in another world after browsing through a book in the library. The fantasy world is protected by four legendary heroes who are supposed to fend off monsters.
Naofumi receives a shield as his weapon, which makes him the weakest of the heroes. Within a few days, he is betrayed by the princess of the country, robbed, and accused of rape. No one believes him, and he loses all his reputation. Filled with thoughts of revenge, he decides to become stronger on his own.
What makes the light novel so good? In the anime, Naofumi’s inner monologues unfortunately get lost. He appears much more cynical and psychologically unstable in the novel. His hatred of the world is much more intense and is portrayed in a more understandable way.
The book also provides more insight into the motivations of the individual characters. In the light novel, the story arc “Spirit Turtle Arc,” which in the anime seems rushed, is presented in a more engaging and detailed manner.
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