Of all the genres of anime out there, themagical girl genreis one of the most popular and endearing. With classics such as thePrecureseries,Madoka Magica, andSailor Moon,there is no denying how iconic the genre has become, with more and more anime doing their best to follow in their footsteps.
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The magical girl genre is also prevalent in light novels, withsome must-see magical girl anime serieshaving been adapted from light novels. Amidst the more popular titles, however, lie moreunderrated titles that have yet to be adapted into animeand are a must-read for every magical girl-obsessed fan out there.
7Mahou Shoujo O Wasurenai
Though it was published in 2009,Mahou Shoujo o Wasurenaiboasts artwork way ahead of its time, courtesy of Hagu Koshijima. Literally translated asI Won’t Forget the Magical Girl, the title ofthis relaxing yet dramatic light novelforeshadows its not-so-cheery premise.
The plot of the novel, written by Yasuyuki Shinana, revolves around Yuya Kitaoka meeting his ex-magical girl sister Mirai for the first time. Though his life suddenly becomes more eventful with Mirai’s presence, Yuya eventually discovers the shocking truth: with Mirai’s magical girl powers gone, people will eventually cease to remember her.
6Shin Honkaku Mahou Shoujo Risuka
Not all magical girl stories take place in cutesy, colorful settings, asShin Honkaku Mahou Shoujo Risukaproves beyond any doubt. In fact, this light novel takes place in post-World War 2 Japan, specifically in a magical re-imagining of the Nagasaki Prefecture, which definitely makes for a dreary atmosphere.
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The heroine of this light novel,Risuka Mizukura, possesses powerful time magicand is on a mission to find her father, who is said to be the most potent wizard of all time. To do so, she teams up with Kugi Kizutaka, an intelligent boy who lacks empathy for everyone around him, including Risuka.
5Magical Girl Tyrant Sylph
While many magical girl series feature girls as the main protagonists,Magical Girl Tyrant Sylphhas the distinction of having a male main protagonist who is unwittingly dragged into the world of magical girls. Needless to say, much ofthe novel’s comedic anticsthat take place in the novel revolve around the protagonist not actually being a magical girl.
Ryoichi Mizukami, a normal, hardworking adult, receives the shock of his life when a mysterious ghost suddenly transforms him into a young magical girl. As he is forced to come to terms with his new circumstances to return to his old life, Ryoichi eventually discovers his latent magical potential when transforming for the first time.
4Hagakure Sakura Does Not Lament
Much like inShin Honkaku Mahou Shoujo Risuka, the universe ofHagakure Sakura Does Not Lamentis much darker than the typical light-hearted settings that fans may see in other works. In this case, this light novel takes place in a world where demonic beasts run rampant among humans, with magical girls existing to stop them.
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Amidst the carnage, the main protagonist, Nanase Tsugumi, is attacked by a demonic beast and is left for dead. But just when it seems as though he will die, he is approached by a black cat who offers to turn him into a magical girl to save his life, to which Nanase readily agrees.
3There Is No Way A Support-Type Character Will Have A Girlfriend!
Moving on to a more lighthearted story, one title that fans should not overlook isThere is No Way a Support-Type Character Will Have a Girlfriendby Hamubane. Taking place in the present, this light novel may appear cutesy and cliche, but its themes of secret identities and comedic misunderstandings will have fans hooked the moment they open the book.
The main protagonist, Moritsune Hirachi, is a self-proclaimed “support-type character,“as the light novel’s long title suggests, who happens upon the magical girl identity of his classmate Maho Shogawa. From then on, Moritsune swears to keep Maho’s magical girl persona a secret by staying with her at all times, though Maho’s clumsy nature threatens to expose her secret to those around her.
2Yuusha No Segare
Known in English as The Hero’s Segare,Yuusha no Segareis a light novel series witha close-knit family as its main castof characters, which is not unlike other family-centered series. The series was written by Satoshi Wagahara, who is also responsible for writing theHataraku Maou-samaseries.
The main focus is on the Kenzaki family, specifically the high schooler Yasuo Kenzaki, who meets the enigmatic magical girl Dianna Krone when she intrudes on the Kenzaki family meeting. From there, Yasuo learns that his father Hideo once saved an alternate world when he was a young man.
1Bokura Wa Mahou Shoujo No Naka
Since their inception, magical girls have always been portrayed as the protagonists of whatever series in which they appear. However,Bokura wa Mahou Shoujo no Nakaentertains the possibility thatsome magical girls may have more sinister intentionsthan their lovely appearances let on.
In regard to the plot, the entirety of Sorakara Farm High School is being held hostage by a group of magical girls led by the sinister Bomb Honig, who demands that the school give her one student a week to consume. Fed up with their situation, one student, Takeya Minazuki gathers his friends in a bid to kill Bomb Honig when he finds out that his crush, Reika Ijuuin, is the next student to be consumed.
