Square Enix Store Japan is currently taking pre-orders for their newest addition to the Kingdom Hearts novels, Kingdom Hearts III Vol.1 Re:Start! Written by Tomoco Kanemaki and illustrated by Shiro Amano, the novel is scheduled to be released on March 28th, 2019 and will be 258 pages long retailing for 800 yen ($7.41 USD). At the moment, the cover of the novel is to be announced. 
 

 

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Is there an English release?

39 minutes ago, ienzo628 said:

Is there an English release?

It's likely there will eventually be one, considering they're currently releasing the other novels in English by the same author/artist. It might take some time though since I imagine they will first finish those.

10 minutes ago, Merilly said:

It's likely there will eventually be one, considering they're currently releasing the other novels in English by the same author/artist. It might take some time though since I imagine they will first finish those.

Hopefully we get some within the year.

What is with the name Square get out of here lol

14 minutes ago, Kaweebo said:

What is with the name Square get out of here lol

Some of the names just leave you scratching your head.

By the way, I got some of the old novels, I think for Com and KH1.  One of them was a used library book and has an upper half of the page ripped off.

1 hour ago, ienzo628 said:

Some of the names just leave you scratching your head.

By the way, I got some of the old novels, I think for Com and KH1.  One of them was a used library book and has an upper half of the page ripped off.

KH1 is alright. The CoM novel is probably the best adaptation of the story, bar none. One reason being that Sora doesn't forget every other Disney world he's visited immediately, but instead loses his memories more and more as he goes through the castle, y'know, like the narrative says. It also gives Riku some more dialogue with the other Disney villains he fights beyond Maleficent (particularly Captain Hook, which is interesting). The writing itself can be a little 'he said this/they do that', but on the whole, it's great.

I'm reading through 358 right now, but I'm not really feeling it as much. There's not a whole lot new, at least in the early pages. 

10 minutes ago, Kaweebo said:

KH1 is alright. The CoM novel is probably the best adaptation of the story, bar none. One reason being that Sora doesn't forget every other Disney world he's visited immediately, but instead loses his memories more and more as he goes through the castle, y'know, like the narrative says. It also gives Riku some more dialogue with the other Disney villains he fights beyond Maleficent (particularly Captain Hook, which is interesting). The writing itself can be a little 'he said this/they do that', but on the whole, it's great.

I'm reading through 358 right now, but I'm not really feeling it as much. There's not a whole lot new, at least in the early pages. 

I have skimmed through the pages. 

I wish they continued making manga adaptations. It would be great to see BBS and KH3 as manga. It's really sad amano stopped.

2 hours ago, Kaweebo said:

What is with the name Square get out of here lol

For some reason, names like that are not uncommon in japan for media. Gratuitous English at it's finest

 

18 minutes ago, Kaweebo said:

KH1 is alright. The CoM novel is probably the best adaptation of the story, bar none. One reason being that Sora doesn't forget every other Disney world he's visited immediately, but instead loses his memories more and more as he goes through the castle, y'know, like the narrative says. It also gives Riku some more dialogue with the other Disney villains he fights beyond Maleficent (particularly Captain Hook, which is interesting). The writing itself can be a little 'he said this/they do that', but on the whole, it's great.

I'm reading through 358 right now, but I'm not really feeling it as much. There's not a whole lot new, at least in the early pages. 

The novels are translated from Japanese, maybe that impacts the perceived writing style a bit. 

Edited January 10, 20196 yr by Kittenz

11 hours ago, Kittenz said:

I wish they continued making manga adaptations. It would be great to see BBS and KH3 as manga. It's really sad amano stopped.

For some reason, names like that are not uncommon in japan for media. Gratuitous English at it's finest

 

The novels are translated from Japanese, maybe that impacts the perceived writing style a bit. 

With enough of a demand, Square Enix might revive the manga.   

dont these novels tend to muddy the canon?

3 hours ago, ocean's rage said:

dont these novels tend to muddy the canon?

That's because they aren't canon but adaptions. Those tend to diverge from the canon quite a bit in some cases, which sometimes isn't that bad because it can be interesting to see a new perspective from time to time.

I wasn't too fond of what the KH2 manga did to Xemnas' personality in the last few chapters either since it was vastly different from his in-game depiction for example or how some concepts are completely different from the games, but both the novels and the manga should only be seen as a free interpretation of the events and what might have happened in-between.

That's why I wouldn't say it it tends to muddy the canon but that it's simply a different take on certain aspects pertaining to the characters. You can like or dislike what they did with it, but many would find it boring to just read what happened in the games 1:1 because then they could just play the game. I have a similar mindset, even if I don't enjoy some of the differences, but it's nice nonetheless in other circumstances.

16 hours ago, Kittenz said:

I wish they continued making manga adaptations. It would be great to see BBS and KH3 as manga. It's really sad amano stopped.

For some reason, names like that are not uncommon in japan for media. Gratuitous English at it's finest

 

The novels are translated from Japanese, maybe that impacts the perceived writing style a bit. 

They could hire another artist

Hey wait a minute they publish the Kingdom hearts 3 the book allready? Is the book series that far ahead of us in japan?

3 hours ago, Dustin Lübbers said:

They could hire another artist

Hey wait a minute they publish the Kingdom hearts 3 the book allready? Is the book series that far ahead of us in japan?

I sure hope so.

6 hours ago, Dustin Lübbers said:

They could hire another artist

Hey wait a minute they publish the Kingdom hearts 3 the book allready? Is the book series that far ahead of us in japan?

3 hours ago, ienzo628 said:

I sure hope so.

The book releases in March, after the game. Which the top of this very webpage tells you 

Edited January 11, 20196 yr by Kittenz

4 minutes ago, Kittenz said:

The book releases in March, after the game. Which the top of this very webpage tells you 

But what about the international release date though? 

2 hours ago, ienzo628 said:

But what about the international release date though? 

Probably after it comes out in Japan. Possibly a lot later, as they have to catch up. Fans will most likely translate it themselves and put it up somewhere though(Tumblr or here is the best bet)

Edited January 11, 20196 yr by Kittenz

10 hours ago, Merilly said:

That's because they aren't canon but adaptions. Those tend to diverge from the canon quite a bit in some cases, which sometimes isn't that bad because it can be interesting to see a new perspective from time to time.

I wasn't too fond of what the KH2 manga did to Xemnas' personality in the last few chapters either since it was vastly different from his in-game depiction for example or how some concepts are completely different from the games, but both the novels and the manga should only be seen as a free interpretation of the events and what might have happened in-between.

That's why I wouldn't say it it tends to muddy the canon but that it's simply a different take on certain aspects pertaining to the characters. You can like or dislike what they did with it, but many would find it boring to just read what happened in the games 1:1 because then they could just play the game. I have a similar mindset, even if I don't enjoy some of the differences, but it's nice nonetheless in other circumstances.

well i meant from the fans perspective as i think the bbs novel has given people the belief that vanitas can turn good 

8 hours ago, ocean's rage said:

well i meant from the fans perspective as i think the bbs novel has given people the belief that vanitas can turn good 

I think especially the fans should be aware that the novels aren't canon since they know the series. If the novel diverges from the original source's core concepts, it can't be canon (which doesn't refer to the stories we don't see in the game but rather the ones we do see and are differently presented than the game. These moments should be sufficient for fans to determine those novels aren't canon).

We don't know if the Vanitas part, or any extended content for that matter, is canon or not since we were never given much information on him, but I treat the novels in such a way that they're a nice option to get an overview of the series and provide some fodder for thought but as a fan I know to treat any information not given in the game as unconfirmed. Especially because once one "false" information is described, the novel has to be treated as separate from the game as a whole, despite also containing content that happened in the games.

As I said, the moment the first novel diverged from how canon scenes played out, for example how the manga describes Nobodies for example, a fan should know this isn't canon but a spin-off at best. I'd see it as more critical when someone only reads them and then plays KH3 first for example, believing the novels are 100% accurate.

I don't think all fans even know of the backstory of Vanitas in the BBS novel and those that believe he can turn good merely see that as a possibility why he could be and not as a fact. It's an interpretation and I've rarely seen anyone who claims that this is 100% true. Just like some people ship characters and see certain scenes this or that way. (I also think a few are under that impression because his theme plays in the Heroes and Heroines medley from the Orchestra World Tour.) 

I believe many people are considering that certain characters could potentially get redeemed due to their circumstances. Vanitas was part of those before the novel even came out because many liked him and would enjoy seeing more of him and have him interact more with the main cast. 

But most adaptions have to be considered on their own. I firmly believe that many people know that and that some people even buy them because they are different. I have never seen an adaption which could be considered canon unless specified as such by the developers because it's near impossible to stay a 100% true to the source and still expand the experience. That's why I don't like people comparing movies to the book they're based on (cue words: "based on"). That can only end up diminishing the experience.

Long story short, especially the fans of the series should be aware neither the novels nor the manga are canon. I trust that most have enough common sense to identify the "flaws" in comparison to the games created by retconned and altered information and immediately come to that conclusion themselves.