Top 10 Isekai Fantasy Finalist Novels for the MAL x Honeyfeed Writing Contest 2025 - THE ISEKAI presented by KADOKAWA
The unstoppable collaboration between MyAnimeList and Honeyfeed has come together once again, offering writers the chance to turn their stories into professional adaptations. Winners of the second 2025 MAL x Honeyfeed Writing Contest could see their work published in Japan as a light novel or manga under KADOKAWA as they continue to search worldwide for the next major Isekai hit.
Discover the 10 finalist novels below and vote for the one you’d most love to see adapted into a fantastic Isekai journey!
How to Vote
You can now cast your votes using either the official MyAnimeList app or your web browser.
Simply visit the official voting page below.
You can vote for as many novels as you like.
Voting Period: November 17, 2025, 8:00 PM EST – December 15, 2025, 11:59 PM EST
✎ Isekai'd with my dog, I'm not the hero?!
Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Isekai, LitRPG, Slice of Life
by Frettiko
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Reader's Comment
If you’re a fan of comedy-driven Isekai anime like KonoSuba, this story is an absolute must-read. It follows Mitsuta, an ordinary guy with a golden sense of humor, and his hilariously overpowered one-eyed pomeranian, Toast, who accidentally becomes the true hero of "Maa" , a medieval-style fantasy world. The story brilliantly displays classic Isekai tropes while still feeling fresh, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with genuinely heartwarming ones. Each character feels alive, memorable, and full of charm; you really cannot get enough of them! What starts as a goofy “protect the fluffy widdle baby-waby at all costs” premise evolves into a surprisingly fun story about companionship, purpose, and finding joy in life's simple pleasures. With its lovable cast and nonstop humor, this novel will easily win over anyone who loves lighthearted fantasy with heart and a wagging tail.
✎ I Died As a JPop Idol and Now I'm a Revolutionary Songstress
A tyrannical empire wiped all music from history and silenced the realm so that no one could ever oppose them. Small bands of resistance fighters and revolutionaries hide in underground districts and taverns. That is where Sayane winds up.
There, her love of music and people propel her into conflict where she finds creative freedom, fans, and maybe even purpose.
Genres: Action, Fantasy, Isekai, Shoujo, Shounen
by Endymion | Prufrock
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Reader's Comment
This story fully embraces the Isekai Fantasy prompt, transporting Sayane, a modern Japanese idol, into a magical world where music has literal power. Her roots in the real world make her past relatable, while the new realm allows her to grow into a self-determined songstress, balancing her own desires with the expectations of this newfound realm. Imagine if Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song and Carole & Tuesday had a love child. This is a story where music isn’t just art, it’s rebellion. Overall, it captures the magic and appeal of Isekai; a protagonist from the real world finds her shine in a fantastical new setting, with imaginative scenarios, clear stakes, and a compelling, immersive narrative. If you ever found yourself cheering for characters like Chisato from Lycoris Recoil, you’ll fall hard for Sayane and her defiance against 'The Silence'.
✎ Lock & Key: Resonance
Rokuro Adachi was just an ordinary high school delinquent—until the day everything burned.
When a mysterious invader descends on his world, Rokuro loses everything. Then… he wakes up somewhere else. A new world. Alone. No answers—just a strange prophecy, and a name echoing in his head: the Lock.
Now branded a chosen hero, Rokuro is forced to chase the invader, Draven, across the interconnected worlds of the Realm Ring—a journey filled with danger, lies, and powers he never asked for. With the hope that maybe… he can undo the damage he’s done to his own life.
At his side is his Key: a living weapon, a guide, and the only one who truly understands what he’s becoming.
Together, they’ll battle twisted magic, uncover buried truths, and confront enemies that feel too familiar. Because the deeper Rokuro goes, the more it feels like he’s done all this before.
Genres: Action, Fantasy, Isekai, Magic, Romance
by Katsuhito
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Reader's Comment
Lock & Key: Resonance follows Rokuro, a delinquent whose world is shattered when a mysterious army attacks his city, killing his sister and best friend. After dying himself, Rokuro awakens in another world, where he learns he's been summoned as the legendary savior with a mission: hunt down the masked villain Draven across multiple worlds.
The story's greatest appeal lies in its unique time mechanic. Because time flows differently across worlds, defeating Draven might prevent his sister and best friend from dying. There's no guarantee. But clinging to that "what if", Rokuro keeps fighting. This concept of "fighting in the future to change the past" sets it apart from typical Isekai stories.
Rokuro isn't your typical overpowered protagonist. He's flawed and haunted by guilt over being unable to protect those he loved. His journey isn't just about gaining power, it's about overcoming his failures and learning what it truly means to be a hero.
✎ HR in Another World: Building the Strongest Parties with my Appraisal Skill
What is an HR manager to do—except recruit some workers for the job…
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai, Magic
by Kaorin
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Reader's Comment
Fans of classic Isekai stories are going to love this one! Yuki isn’t the average Isekai hero; he’s an exhausted, sarcastic office worker whose only skill is Divine Appraisal. Sounds useless until it becomes the key to turning the tide against a world-devouring darkness. The plot is a little uncommon in that the world our hapless hero gets ported to is genuinely out of time. After countless attempts to push back the demonic forces, if they don’t take a stand here, everyone’s done for. The fight scenes are action-packed, and readers are sure to find themselves rooting for Yuki and his unlikely band of saviours. It’s an Isekai that respects its genre roots while turning the “useless skill” trope into something brilliant!
✎ Drinking Buddies: Hangover In Another World
Genres: Comedy, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Slice of Life, Isekai
by Literate_Manul
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Reader's Comment
I thought this was a great change of pace - it had all the elements of a classic Isekai, and a pair of properly bumbling idiots. The cast and the comedy were the stronger elements to start with, but as the story progressed, you could see the author start to iron out the kinks. If a classic Isekai story and a buddy comedy had a baby, it would be this novel. Folks who like their fantasy with a hearty dose of self-aware humor are sure to enjoy this entry. The cast is endearing, with everyone playing off of each other, and the plot is highly entertaining. There are also a good number of knowing pop-culture nods to the reader, making it a refreshing take on the genre.
✎ Tyur'ma
Genres: Action, Adventure, Isekai, Military / War, Romance
by Caelinth
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Reader's Comment
"Tyur'ma" is well-written, has good pacing, solid worldbuilding, and two main characters that worked really well together, and with the rest of the supporting cast. The love this author has for military equipment is clear - and it only serves to make the mix of magic and imported technology that much more interesting. Besides, it’s not every day that a whole tank gets isekai’d! The world-building and the plot are excellent, and the cast is engaging and well-rounded. It’s exactly the sort of story that sucks you in, and the next thing you know, the chapters have just flown by.
✎ The Empath's Curse
Forgiveness can be fatal.
These two lessons have burned deep within her bones for as long as Sheila can remember.
Even without the weight of family or friends, she has never known true freedom.
Undistracted by both poverty and terminal illness, she races towards a finish line she will never reach.
For her path continues beyond her original destination and she finds herself in a strange new world divided by elemental, shapeshifting, and other powers.
Wherein the people of Nippo call her by a different name and act like they know her.
Now burdened by a past that belongs to a stranger, Sheila is trapped once again by a power struggle that leaves her with questions instead of answers.
Why should she pay for a crime she didn't commit?
And why should she fight for a cause she doesn't stand for?
When tolerance usually creates more trouble
And kindness has already killed her once before.
Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Isekai, Psychological, Romance
by Observing Introvert
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Reader's Comment
In a world of generic Isekai, The Empath’s Curse is a breath of fresh air. Nowhere have I read a book that’s as much of an Isekai as it isn’t. This book weaves a mystery plot into an extremely poignant character study with the skill of a master. Shizuka doesn’t feel like just a character. She is human in ways that feel hard to describe - I feel like if I met her and all her friends in real life, I would struggle to think they belonged on a page rather than in my world. As for the twists and turns, I can safely say this book is a wild ride, with reveals after reveals pouring on from minute one until minute done. If you only read one novel in this contest, let it be this one. You won’t regret it.
✎ Warmth for a World OR Grandma Isekai?! Save a Doomed World with Kindness and Cookies!
Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Isekai, Magic
by Level 0 Maid
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Reader's Comment
This is such a surprisingly heartfelt take on the Isekai genre. Annie, the protagonist, is clever, patient, and genuinely kind, and it’s refreshing to see how she approaches problems with empathy and strategy rather than brute force. The world-building is detailed, especially the way mana works and how different characters’ abilities interact with it, which makes the magic system feel grounded and consistent. The story balances quiet character moments, like helping townspeople and solving everyday problems, with big, tense confrontations that keep you turning pages. If you enjoy Isekai that focuses on clever problem-solving, emotional bonds, and a slower, more thoughtful adventure, this one is definitely worth checking out.
✎ >FORBIDDIC< I Got Reincarnated Into A World Where I Was Forbidden From Learning About Magic But I Will Persist
Just Ren.
Nothing special; no talents, no magic, and no floating EXP gauge that will let him progress through an overpowered skill tree.
Instead, he is simply a baby, a twin son of a humble gardener and flower breeder living just outside of the city walls.
But there is magic in this world, and Ren is determined to learn about it, even if his father is adamantly against it or the military mages ever being mentioned under his roof. When Ren begins taking lessons from a drifter passing through the outskirts of the city, his and his sister's life will never be the same as they are thrust into a world of magic, intrigue, and deception.
But everything comes at a cost.
Genres: Action, Fantasy, Isekai, Magic, Shounen
by Edenstudent
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Reader's Comment
FORBIDDIC was a pretty intense read; it felt to me like Re:Zero meets a military academy adventure. Ren’s rebirth into a world where magic comes at a personal cost immediately sets it apart from your typical Isekai, and the story really leans into grief, regret, and tough choices in a way that makes his growth feel earned. The magic system is creative too; the way a mage’s powers are tied to the person they lose adds an interesting layer to strategy and character development. If you like Isekai with moral tension and a bit of a gritty, strategic edge, this is worth checking out.
✎ Control My Life!
Raymond Roberts is a game dev at 2-Square Studios who finds himself summoned into their latest game, Angel Sword Online; An unfinished mess of a MMORPG on the verge of being released to the public. While most others on the team had lost hope, the game’s mascot Tensei claims that he can fix it from the inside!
However, he can’t move without someone controlling him in the real world. Enter Rose Roberts; Ray’s loving wife. She vows to plug in her trusty controller and push her husband to the depths of this broken game so he can save it before the release date.
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FINISHED!
Genres: Fantasy, Isekai, LitRPG, Romance, Slice of Life
by Taylor J
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Reader's Comment
Control My Life!” is a nostalgic throwback to classic game-inspired Isekai like .Hack// or Sword Art Online, blending real life with high-stakes virtual chaos that could end up taking real lives! Raymond gets isekai’d into the very game he was developing and is now tasked with saving that world from a plague of game bugs and strange anomalies before the game gets released to the public in a few days. The problem is, he isn't in control of his body; someone is playing him like a literal game character, and that someone is his wife. Rose is the co-protagonist of the story, and she’s an adorable goofball that doesn’t seem to take the game too seriously… until she realizes that her husband’s actual life is in her hands! Rose and Raymond’s relationship is a fun, funny, and charming one to read through, and together with their quirky NPC AI companion Tensei and a handful of beta-tester players, their adventure turns into a heartfelt yet chaotic ride through a world that’s unfinished, glitchy, and on the verge of falling into the wrong greedy hands.
