J-Novel Club Adds 9 Light Novels, 5 Manga in Anime Expo Announcements

J-Novel Club has just announced a bunch of new titles at Anime Expo 2025! They’re adding nine light novels and five manga to their online service, and you can start reading them now. This is great news for fans of Japanese fiction, with a wide variety of stories to dive into.

New Light Novels

Here’s a quick look at the nine new light novels:

Guild Handyman? More like Mastermind! Using My Hidden Skills in the Shadows by Sakaku Hishikawa: This story is about Tenes Lumel, who seems like a regular handyman but is secretly a mastermind trying to change the world. He has a team of allies, including a maid, a bandit, and a dark elf.
The Accursed Chef and His Pair of Furry Foodies by Yuu Tanaka: Koichi Suzuki is reincarnated as a boy named Thor with the ability to cook monsters. He saves two beastfolk girls and starts an adventure of cooking in a dungeon.
The Goddess Says, “Kill the Tsundere Witch!” by Nagi Misaki: A guy wakes up as a staff and has to help a tsundere girl named Stella. The Goddess tells him to kill Stella, but he doesn’t want to.
Worthless at Home, Whiz to the World by kimimaro: Noa is seen as worthless by his sisters, but he’s actually very talented. He leaves home to become an adventurer and prove his worth.
This Gyaru’s Got a Thing for…Vampire Hunters?! by Wasan Kurata: Ginka Shijunana is a former vampire hunter trying to live a normal life. She befriends a gyaru named Ruka, but her past starts to catch up with her.
Zero Damage Sword Saint: I Enrolled in a Magic School and Wound Up in a Contract with the Demon Queen by Isle Osaki: Eugene Santafield can’t use attack magic, but he’s great at defense and healing. He meets a Demon Queen and becomes the guardian of a girl from another world.
Flung into a New World? Time to Lift the 200-Year Curse! by Honobonoru500: Akira Tennou gets transported to another world and has the power to purify. He uses his magic to help the creatures of the forest.
Old Knight, New Post: From Retiree to Her Majesty’s Blade by Hisago Amazake-no: Watt Sears is a former Mechsteel pilot who now works at a station. He gets drawn back into action when his daughter asks for his help.
Blade Skill Online: Crushing the Competition with My Abysmal Stats, Useless Class, and Garbage Weapon! by Manzi Mazi: Yuri gets trolled in a VRMMO game but is determined to make his bad build work and win.

New Manga

Here are the five new manga titles that have been added:

Even Exiled, She’s Still the Beloved Saint! St. Evelyn’s Weird and Wonderful Friends by Yanagiyamaro: Saint Evelyn is exiled but finds a new life helping people with her healing magic.
Scooped Up by an S-Rank Adventurer! This White Mage Is One Heck of a Healer by Wasabi Mukuno: Lloyd is kicked out of the Hero’s Party but is then recruited by an S-rank adventurer who recognizes his skills.
The Crown of Rutile Quartz by Tai: Slaine becomes king after the royal family dies and has to learn how to rule.
Looks like a Job for a Maid! The Tales of a Dismissed Supermaid by Ayahito Kumagai: Nina is a maid who gets fired but uses her talents to help others.
Old Knight, New Post: From Retiree to Her Majesty’s Blade by han2go: This is a manga version of the light novel mentioned above, following Watt Sears’ story.

What This Means for Fans

This announcement is exciting for fans of light novels and manga because it adds a lot of new content to J-Novel Club’s service. The variety of genres and stories means there’s something for everyone. Whether you like fantasy, adventure, or stories about everyday life, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy.

J-Novel Club is known for bringing over high-quality translations of Japanese fiction, so fans can expect these new titles to be well-written and enjoyable to read. The fact that these titles are available to read on J-Novel Club’s service right away is also a big plus. You don’t have to wait to start reading these new stories!

Why This is Important

The addition of these new titles shows that J-Novel Club is committed to bringing more Japanese fiction to English-speaking audiences. This helps to promote Japanese culture and literature around the world. It also gives authors and artists a chance to reach a wider audience.

For fans, it means more opportunities to discover new stories and connect with characters they love. The availability of these titles on J-Novel Club’s service makes it easy to access and enjoy them. It’s a great way to support the creators and the company that brings these stories to us.

Deeper Dive into the Light Novels

Let’s take a closer look at some of the light novels and why they might appeal to different readers:

Guild Handyman? More like Mastermind!: This one is perfect for those who enjoy stories with secret identities and complex plots. The idea of a seemingly ordinary person secretly pulling the strings is a classic trope, but it’s done well here.
The Accursed Chef and His Pair of Furry Foodies: If you’re a fan of cooking and fantasy, this is the one for you. The combination of monster cooking and saving beastfolk girls is unique and fun.
The Goddess Says, “Kill the Tsundere Witch!”: This is a comedy with a twist. The idea of being reincarnated as a staff and having to deal with a tsundere girl is hilarious.
Worthless at Home, Whiz to the World: This story is about self-discovery and proving yourself. It’s a great message for anyone who feels underestimated.
This Gyaru’s Got a Thing for…Vampire Hunters?!: This one combines action with slice-of-life elements. The relationship between the former vampire hunter and the gyaru is interesting.
Zero Damage Sword Saint: This is a classic underdog story. The main character is weak in some ways but strong in others, and he has to overcome challenges to achieve his goals.
Flung into a New World? Time to Lift the 200-Year Curse!: This is a feel-good story about helping others. The main character uses his powers to make the world a better place.
Old Knight, New Post: This is a story about second chances and family. The main character gets a chance to reconnect with his daughter and protect his kingdom.
Blade Skill Online: This is a fun and quirky story about gaming and overcoming challenges. The main character’s bad luck and determination to succeed make for an entertaining read.

Manga Adaptations and Original Stories

The manga additions are also noteworthy. Some are adaptations of existing light novels, while others are original stories. This gives fans a chance to experience these stories in a different format.

For example, the manga adaptation of “Old Knight, New Post” allows fans to see the characters and world brought to life visually. The original manga stories offer new and unique perspectives.

Final Thoughts

J-Novel Club’s Anime Expo 2025 announcements are a big win for fans of Japanese fiction. The addition of nine new light novels and five manga provides a wealth of new content to explore. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the genre, there’s something here for you. So, head over to J-Novel Club and start reading!