Earlier this year, Kadokawa Shoten's online manga and light novel publisher BookWalker held a poll to find the next big light novel hit. The company held a poll from May 11 to June 10 and invited readers to visit the election site to cast their votes. Readers could vote up to 20 times, but the number of votes were tied to light novel purchases. Judges declared approximately 10,000 votes were cast in all.

Voting options were limited to newly released books, since this was the "next big hit" poll after all. A series' first volume had to be published between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018 to be considered. Qualifying works were then judged by an election committee and selected as a candidate based on sales information. Voters could choose from 200 different light novels.

The top 10 results are (insert drumroll here):

Kaifuku Jutsushi no Yarinaoshi: Sokushi Mahou to Skill Copy no Choetsu Heal by Rui Tsukiyo (author) and Siokonbu (illustrator). The story follows a healing magic user who realizes white magic has more abilities than simply being exploited by adventurers. While dying, the mage uses their magic to travel back in time four years to become even more powerful with their newfound knowledge.





Combatants Will Be Dispatched (Sentōin, Hakenshimasu!) by Natsume Akatsuki (author) and Kakao Lanthanum (illustrator). The story follows "No. 6," a guy reconstructed to work for the evil organization "Kisaragi." Despite its reputation, members of Kisaragi are a bunch of weirdos that seem more interested in saving the world than dominating it. No.6's latest mission is to head to an alien planet with his android partner Alice and invade, but this new world is full of fantastical elements like unicorns and knights.





Kimi to Boku no Saigo no Senjo, Aruiha Sekai ga Hajimaru Seisen by Kei Sazane (author) and Ao Nekonabe (illustrator). Two countries are at war, The Empire and the Imperial Household Agency. Iska is a swordsman fighting for the Empire and Aliceliese is hailed as the strongest ice mage the Imperial Household Agency has to offer. The two nemeses meet on the battlefield and sparks of a different sort fly.







Hige o Soru. Soshite Mesukōsei o Hirō. (Shave Your Beard and Pick Up a High School Girl) by Shimesaba (author) and Būta (illustrator) Otherworld Nation Founding Chronicles (Isekai Kenkokuki) by Sakuragi Sakura (author) and Runa (illustrator) Cross Connect Arui wa Tarumi Yūnagi no Irekawari Kanzen Game Kōryaku by Haruki Hisatsui (author) and Konomi (illustrator) Kuzu to Tenshi no Second Life by Tenshin Mukai (author) and Ukami (illustrator) Million Crown by Kotarō Ryūno (author) and Kogecha (illustrator) Maō-sama, Retry! by Kurone Kanzaki (author) and Koji Ogata (illustrator) Campioness of Sanctuary (Shiniki no Campioness) by Joe Takeduki (author) and BUNBUN (illustrator)

Source: Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web