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Highlights
- Isekai light novels, like manga, are a popular source material for anime, with the isekai genre being particularly popular.
- These light novels often follow the premise of the main character being transported to a new world and experiencing a different life.
- The featured light novels include unique twists, such as conflicts in peaceful times, dark premises, slice-of-life elements, and forming harems in the new world.
While most anime is adapted from manga, light novels have also become a popular source material for anime as well. In particular, the isekai genre of light novels is very popular, both as an anime adaptation and on their own, making them a must-read for fans looking to immerse themselves in the genre for the first time.
Best Isekai Light Novels That Ended In 2023, Ranked
2023 witnessed the conclusion of several Isekai light novels, and these are some of the best picks that fans of the genre can check out.
The basic premise of each isekai light novel is simple: the main character is transported to an alternate world different from what they are used to. But while most isekai novels have more action to them, these light novels fall into the slice-of-life genre and thus follow the protagonist trying to live an ordinary life in their new world.
7 Enough with This Slow Life! I Was Reincarnated as a High Elf and Now I’m Bored
Rated 4.5/5 by Book Walker
- Written by: Rarutori
- Illustrated by: Ciavis
- Genre: Fantasy
While most isekai light novels usually have some conflict in the new world the protagonist has found themselves in, Enough With This Slow Life demonstrates that conflicts exclusive to peaceful times can also arise. In fact, the main world of this light novel has only known peace for over a century—120 years, to be exact.
Though the elves in Enough With This Slow Life are perfectly content with their idyllic lives, the same cannot be said for Acer, a high elf who previously lived as a human. Fed up with the unchanging nature of the elf realm, Acer decides to abandon the elf realm and customs to seek out a more stimulating lifestyle.
6 Reincarnated as the Last of My Kind
Rated 4.5/5 by Book Walker
- Written by: Kiri Komori
- Illustrated by: Yamigo
- Genres: Shojo, Fantasy, Adventure
As the name suggests, Reincarnated as the Last of My Kind features a protagonist going from their ordinary life into the sole survivor of a dying kingdom. Naturally, this puts this light novel a step above other isekai light novels with slice-of-life elements, something this light novel still has despite the notably dark premise.
7 Dark Isekai Light Novels Worth Reading
These light novels delve deeper than other isekai-based ones, taking readers to a darker setting than they may be used to.
In Reincarnated as the Last of My Kind, the main protagonist finds herself reincarnated as Rubia, the sole infant survivor of the Jiera Kingdom and the last keeper of the Stone of Daybreak. As Rubia struggles to adjust to her new reality as a baby, she is taken in by a mysterious young man with one arm and the ability to communicate with animals.
5 I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level
Rated 4.5/5 by Book Walker
- Written by: Kisetsu Morita
- Illustrated by: BENIO
- Genres: Supernatural, Comedy, Adventure
A common trend in many isekai novels is the protagonist having been a former office worker looking for a way out of their old life. This is exactly the case with Azusa Aizawa, the main protagonist of I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years, who wishes to savor her newfound freedom from her job after being reincarnated.
After Azusa suddenly dies of overwork, she finds herself reincarnated as a witch in a new world; she decides to live her new life to the fullest after finding out she doesn’t age. As a result, Azusa begins to kill slimes as a new hobby, but she ends up with immeasurable power due to having spent three centuries indulging in her new hobby.
4 Taking My Reincarnation One Step at a Time: No One Told Me There Would Be Monsters!
Rated 4.5/5 by Book Walker
- Written by: KAYA
- Illustrated by: Naru
- Genres: Fantasy, Workplace
Much like Azusa from I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years, Sarasa Ichinokura, the chronically-tired main heroine of Taking My Reincarnation One Step at a Time, is another former office worker who is supposed to find respite in the new world in which she finds herself. Instead, she discovers that not only has she been reincarnated as a ten-year-old, but the new world is full of dangerous beasts.
Isekai Anime: 7 Worst Worlds To Be Teleported To
These worlds have proven to be the most difficult to survive in; each series’ protagonist faces a formidable challenge.
Rather than panic about her situation, Sarasa instead decides to prepare herself for whatever emergencies may await her in the new world, which leads her to the professional monster hunter Nelly. Though part of her freedom is taken away now that she is living with Nelly, Sarasa decides to savor her time in the new world nonetheless.
3 Making Magic: The Sweet Life of a Witch Who Knows an Infinite MP Loophole
Rated 4.5/5 by Book Walker
- Written by: Aloha Zachou
- Illustrated by: Tetubuta
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy
With many isekai protagonists being reincarnated into fantasy realms of various kinds, to have one reincarnated as a witch is far from surprising. In conjunction with the new world being that of a fantasy video game, Making Magic: The Sweet Life of a Witch can be considered a classic yet charming story of a witch who knows her way around her new world.
In this light novel, the main heroine is reincarnated as a witch who specializes in Creation Magic, which allows her to spawn items infinitely at the cost of her mana. But after experiencing a brief mana shortage, the heroine decides to come up with a plan to expand her maximum mana little by little each day.
2 Now I’m a Demon Lord! Happily Ever After with Monster Girls in My Dungeon
Rated 4.5/5 by Book Walker
- Written by: Ryuyu
- Illustrated by: Daburyu
- Genres: Fantasy, Harem
Many isekai light novels are known for having some elements of the harem genre, but other light novels, such as Now I’m a Demon Lord, have their protagonists form full-fledged harems in their new world. Such is the case for Yuki, a young man who found himself reincarnated as a demon lord after he died in the real world.
8 Best Reverse Harem Isekai Anime & Manga
Fantasy settings provide extra drama and romance in these reverse harem manga and anime.
After dying in a car crash in his previous life, Yuki finds himself transported to a mythical new world in which he is a demon lord with a dungeon he must defend at all costs. But amidst fighting all the monsters that roam this new world, Yuki also starts allowing a slew of monster girls to move into his dungeon, making his new life as a demon lord far more exciting.
1 Peddler in Another World: I Can Go Back to My World Whenever I Want!
Rated 5/5 by Book Walker
- Written by: Hiiro Shimotsuki
- Illustrated by: Takashi Iwasaki
- Genres: Fantasy, Comedy
Finding a new occupation in another world is certainly not a new story idea, as shown by Peddler in Another World: I Can Go Back to My World Whenever I Want. But while most light novels that follow this story have the protagonist unable to return to their world, the protagonist in this light novel can travel freely between his original world and the new world he has discovered.
This light novel series stars Shiro Amata, who, after quitting his horrible day job, discovers a portal to another world through his grandmother’s old closet that he inherited along with her entire house. From there, Shiro decides to make enough of a living as a merchant to ensure that he will never work a day in his life ever again.
Every New Isekai Anime Announced For 2024 (So Far)
2024 has plenty of isekai anime, and here are all the new shows announced for the year.
