During their Anime Expo 2025 industry panel, J-Novel Club announced fourteen brand-new titles. Below is what they announced:
Guild Handyman? More like Mastermind! Using My Hidden Skills in the Shadows
by Sakaku Hishikawa with Illustrations by Yu-nit
As the guild’s handyman, Tenes Lumel tackles the boring paperwork and menial labor, all while clocking out on time from his quiet job in the boonies.
Exiled from a great noble house and abandoned by God, he won’t stop until he’s dismantled the system. From the shadows come powerful allies to stand by his side: a battle-hardened maid, an infamous bandit, and a legendary dark elf. Together, they’re plotting their next move behind the scenes—and Tenes has more than a few tricks up his sleeve to set the stage.
The Accursed Chef and His Pair of Furry Foodies
by Yuu Tanaka with Illustrations by Llo
After heroically sacrificing his life to save a child, twenty-five-year-old Koichi Suzuki is reincarnated as a young boy named Thor, born into a harsh, new world, thanks to a mysterious god dubbed “Indeed-Missy.” His reward? A unique magical ability that lets him cook up monsters.
Just as survival feels within reach, he discovers two beastfolk girls on the verge of death. Helping them could spell his own ruin, but for a man who adored all things furry-eared in his past life, there’s only one path forward.
“There’s no way I’m abandoning beast ears!” And so begins Thor’s adventure of cooking his way through the dungeon!
The Goddess Says, “Kill the Tsundere Witch!”
by Nagi Misaki with Illustrations by Kasu Komeshiro
Fortunately for me, a narrow-eyed, silver-haired beauty saved me. I tried to thank her, only for her to say…it’s not like she saved me for my sake, or anything! What is that but the textbook line of a tsundere?! This perfect tsundere specimen is apparently Stella, a student of the Saint Antohsa Academy and the owner of a certain holy magic staff—me. Guess I’ll have to cheer her on for the rest of my life!
But wait, why am I a staff, anyway?
When I visit the Goddess who rules over this world in the hopes of becoming human again, she tells me I need to kill Stella, the so-called evil witch, to have my wish granted! I have to choose between my shy beloved and world peace? Well, that’s an easy one…
This is the first volume of a school-life fantasy where a staff—that’s me—and a tsundere girl change the world!
Worthless at Home, Whiz to the World
by kimimaro with Illustrations by Mokyu
Raised by his strict family of five older sisters, Noa leaves home to become an adventurer in a faraway land. But despite being a supposed novice, he keeps shocking seasoned adventurers with incredible feats of strength and magic.
Determined to forge his own path, Noa begins his new life where he’s finally appreciated for his abilities. But what will happen when his overprotective sisters set out to bring him home?
If worth is in the eye of the beholder, Noa is here to prove this whiz has been hiding in plain sight all along!
This Gyaru’s Got a Thing for…Vampire Hunters?!
by Wasan Kurata with Illustrations by Kewi Hayashi
Deadly monsters who stalked innocents in the night and preyed upon them in secret, versus the select few who used mysterious powers honed by intense training and determination to battle their foes… This was the world of bloodshed that Ginka Shijunana knew and lived for—an endless clash between vampires and vampire hunters—until one final victory ended their war.
Zero Damage Sword Saint: I Enrolled in a Magic School and Wound Up in a Contract with the Demon Queen
by Isle Osaki with Illustrations by kodamazon
Determined to escape from those who know of his failings, Eugene flees to the Lykeion Magic Academy where he meets Erinyes, a fallen Demon Queen imprisoned beneath the school. Taken in by his potential, Erinyes appoints Eugene to be her caretaker. Not long after, the headmaster of the academy assigns Eugene to be the guardian of Sumire, a mysterious girl from another world who just so happens to be an Ifrit of legend.
With these two women at his side, history’s biggest failure is sure to become a legendary swordsman…right?
Flung into a New World? Time to Lift the 200-Year Curse!
by Honobonoru500 with Illustrations by Yosuke Ishibashi
Akira Tennou—an unremarkable thirty-five-year-old janitor—has got a lot to complain about. He was hit by a truck, unintentionally dragged into a hero-summoning spell, and now he’s stuck in some random gloomy forest in a parallel world. And he’s probably afflicted by a dark curse now, if his sister’s beloved fantasy manga are to be believed. The ominous shadows everywhere don’t give him much hope for his new life, especially when they’re also attached to the giant wolf that just snuck up behind him…
Old Knight, New Post: From Retiree to Her Majesty’s Blade
by Hisago Amazake-no with Illustrations by Akemi Mikoto
Once a peerless Mechsteel pilot in his youth, Watt Sears is now nearing forty and working as a humble station employee. As a self-proclaimed “old man,” Watt has taken a liking to showing new pilots the ropes, choosing to support them however he can rather than stand in the spotlight himself. Despite the repeated pleas of his boss and the lord of the land to become a Steelrider—one of the elite monster-hunting mech pilots who keep the city safe—Watt is perfectly content with his quiet life.
Blade Skill Online: Crushing the Competition with My Abysmal Stats, Useless Class, and Garbage Weapon!
by Manzi Mazi with Illustrations by Shimofuri (Laplacian)
Yuri has been cursed with the worst luck imaginable for as long as he can remember. That’s why things are bound to look up with the release of Blade Skill Online, a VRMMO where luck is a stat you can actually control! Eager to the right build, Yuri follows an online guide and picks the summoner class with a bow for his weapon. Now reversing fortune is just a matter of dumping all of his stat points into luck!
Even Exiled, She’s Still the Beloved Saint! St. Evelyn’s Weird and Wonderful Friends
by Yanagiyamaro, Original Work by Harunadon
For years, Saint Evelyn has protected her country with her powerful healing magic, earning her the love of the people. But then, the first prince breaks off their engagement and strips her of her title, only to name her incompetent half sister as the new saint. Cast out from the only life she’s ever known, Evelyn is forced to find her place in a world that suddenly feels all too vast.
With discontent growing in the royal family over the prince’s folly and adoring fans flocking to her side, Evelyn must navigate political intrigue, newly realized fame, and unexpected romance in the air. Now if only she would realize just how much everyone adores her!
Scooped Up by an S-Rank Adventurer! This White Mage Is One Heck of a Healer
by Wasabi Mukuno, Original Work by Sora Suigetsu
Lloyd, a white mage trained by Lady Merlin herself, is a member of the illustrious Hero’s Party—until they kick him out for being “too weak,” that is. What the Hero’s Party doesn’t know, however, is that he’s actually crazy strong! No longer shackled to the party that never understood his worth, Lloyd is quickly scooped up by an S-rank adventurer who immediately recognizes his talent and invites him to join her party.
Together, Lloyd and his new comrades set off on a quest to hunt a pack of high wolves, but they soon discover that there’s much more to this simple job than what meets the eye…
The Crown of Rutile Quartz
by Tai, Original Work by Surume Enoki
In the aftermath, Slaine discovers a secret kept from him all his life: He’s the king’s illegitimate son and now the sole surviving heir to the throne! Thrust into power with no training and precious few allies, Slaine must navigate court politics, earn the trust of wary nobles, and learn how to rule a kingdom he never thought would be his.
With his sharp-witted and fiercely loyal aide-de-camp Monica at his side, Slaine begins to grow into his role. But not everyone is pleased to see a commoner rising to the top. While some welcome the new king with cautious hope, others hide their true intentions behind polite smiles. As threats lurk in the shadows, young Slaine must rise to the challenge—or risk losing the crown before he ever gets to wear it.
Looks like a Job for a Maid! The Tales of a Dismissed Supermaid
by Ayahito Kumagai, Original Work by Yasuaki Mikami
Plain little Nina loves her job as a maid in the house of Count Mirkwood. But her life is turned upside down when she suddenly gets dismissed for a crime she didn’t commit. Cast out with nowhere to go, Nina sets off on a journey to see the world, determined to make the best of her newfound independence.
This supermaid is on a mission—and she’s sweeping everyone off their feet!
Old Knight, New Post: From Retiree to Her Majesty’s Blade
by han2go, Original Work by Hisago Amazake-no
Watt Sears has traded his glory days as a Mechsteel knight for a humble life as train station employee with a knack for showing new pilots the ropes. Problem is, the city’s baron—his boss—would love nothing more than to see Watt reclaim his old mantle as a Steelrider who hunts monsters and defends the city.
Peace and quiet were the last things waiting for Watt, however, as his storied past literally comes to fi nd him. When Anna, his long-lost daughter from a bygone romance, appears before him to ask for his help in a brewing royal power struggle, Watt vows to protect her. But as assailants descend on the city from all sides, keeping his promise proves to be no simple task. With turmoil rattling the kingdom, can this old knight survive his new post and keep his daughter safe?
Source: Press Release
