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Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! 2021

Release Date: 24 November 2020

This is my first time actually buying KonoRano because it’s the first time it’s been available on BookWalker! I can’t help but feel somewhat accompished now that I’ve got my hands on a copy at last. Anyway, for those unfamiliar, KonoRano is a yearly guidebook to light novels intended to get the information out there about series that readers may not have heard about. Votes are collected from collaborators and online voters on the best light novels of the year. There are rankings for bunko (regular light novels), Tankobun (light novels like Overlord or Honzuki no Gekokujou that aren’t technically sold as lns but are definitely ln-adjacent), an overall ranking that combines the two previous rankings, as well as rankings for characters and artists. This year also includes a new ranking that counted only the votes from lady voters, seperate rankings for each age group and a ranking that only includes new series, as well as many other rankings by demographics. There are also some interviews, some recommendations by genre, discussions about recent light novel trends and recommendations and comments from collaborators. I must confess that the collaborator section interested me the most because I’m familiar with several of the bloggers there.

This year, the big winners were Chitose-kun wa Ramune Bin no Naka and Ishura. I’ve been meaning to check out both books since they came out but haven’t had the chance yet so this will motivate me to do so quicker. The book includes interviews with both authors. Chitose’s author’s interview included some recommendations, which included NANA and Casablanca, among others. Most of the high ranking series this year were romcoms which don’t interest me much but there were plenty of series in the genre-based recommendations that I hadn’t heard of so I have plenty to look into.

My votes (and the ranking they got):

Series:

1. Isekai Goumon Hime (Didn’t rank and I’m super salty about it)

2. Sayonara Isekai, Mata Kite Ashita (#18 in the Bunko category, #20 overall, #9 in the new works category)

3. Overwrite (#20 in the Bunko category, #22 overall, #11 in the new works category)

4. Shokei Shoujo no Virgin Road (#79 overall)

5. Hamefura (Didn’t rank in any official category but did rank #21 in a new ranking that only counted votes from lady voters)

I’m surprised Hamefura didn’t rank at all in the overall rankings. I thought the anime would have given it a good boost but apparently not. I’m super salty about Isekai Goumon Hime not ranking at all, given that it’s the last year it’ll be elligible. At least Shuuen no Hanayome ranked in the overall rankings.

Lady Characters:

Elizabeth (IGH), Nito (Sayomata), Momo (Shokei Shoujo)

Dude Characters:

Kaito (IGH), Keisuke (Sayomata), Yoshi (Overwrite)

None of these characters ranked, unfortunately, but I’m not too surprised, since most of them are newer series.

Artists:

Saki Ukai (#18), Karei, Nimoshi

Karei and Nimoshi aside, Saki Ukai deserves to be more popular. Their art is just so breathtaking and the cover for the last volume IGH is amazing.

If KonoRano 2022 is also available digitally, I will definitely be getting it. I’m glad I can finally support the rankings by buying them.

#KonoRano #November 2020