A new way to experience light novels has just arrived in the West. Shogakukan, one of Japan’s biggest publishing houses, has launched its digital novel service, NOVELOUS. Currently, the service boasts over 80 multi-genre titles, offering a wide range of light novel stories for readers to enjoy. Notable titles in the collection include Shouji Gato & Range Murata’s Cop Craft: Dragnet Mirage Reloaded, Yume Mizusawa & Ayumu Kasuga’s Gonna be the Twin-Tail!!, and Yomi Hirasaka & Kantoku’s Salad Bowl of Eccentrics.
How NOVELOUS Works
NOVELOUS is designed to provide users with a seamless reading experience, using a vertical scrolling format for all its light novel titles. The platform offers character bubbles to indicate which character is speaking, adding an interactive element to the stories. Users can also rate and leave feedback on the light novels they read, fostering community engagement.
The app provides short-term access through free coins, which users can receive as log-in bonuses, from viewing recommended content, or by engaging with third-party advertisements. These free coins are used before paid coins when viewing content. To access titles long-term, users will need to purchase paid coins, which can be used exclusively for paid content. Note that users cannot transfer paid coins between their Android and iOS accounts, and uninstalling the app will cause free coins to expire. The platform utilizes Mantra’s AI-assisted translation technology to offer high-quality translations of its titles.
The Future of NOVELOUS
Shogakukan has plans to expand NOVELOUS in the coming months, adding new titles to its catalog regularly. The service is open to accepting titles from external publishers, and there are plans to include Western titles in the future. Moreover, NOVELOUS will host competitions to allow authors in Canada and the US to feature their works on the platform. This expansion signals a growing interest in Western light novel readers and an opportunity for international authors to gain exposure in the growing light novel market.
Notable Titles on NOVELOUS
Here are some of the exciting titles currently available on NOVELOUS:
- Arata Shinbanba’s No More Than Fifteen Light-Years Away
- Kitarou Nijimoto’s I’m a Total Failure After Reincarnating, But I’ve Got a Fluffy Harem
- Joyo Nishi’s Suspense in Summer
- Hirotaka Akagi’s Second Summer, Never See You Again
- Suzume Inuki’s We Killed Santa Claus and Then Kissed
- Yuba Mochizaki’s My Ex-Girlfriend with Benefits
NOVELOUS: The Future of Digital Light Novels
NOVELOUS is set to revolutionize the way light novels are experienced in the West, offering easy access to a variety of stories from Shogakukan and beyond. With plans to grow its catalog and include Western authors, NOVELOUS is sure to become a go-to platform for digital light novel readers worldwide.
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