Novel difficulty list This is a list of novels, both light novels and traditional novels, ranked by their difficulty, on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is very easy and 10 is very hard. You can use it to find the most appropriate novel to read based on how good your Japanese is.
If you already have a novel in mind which is around your level you can also search for it, and then click on "Show details ..." to see other novels of similar difficulty.
The difficulty ratings were generated automatically by a machine learning model. If you're interested in how we calculated them take a look here . We do not distribute any copyrighted materials from any of these works; we only provide aggregate statistics.
We also have other difficulty lists if you're interested:
Sort by Advanced search... Showing 1..50 from 1156 entries
Novel
Legend of the Galactic Heroes Length (in words) 703121 Unique words 25444 Unique words (used once) 8065 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2679 Unique kanji (used once) 251 Unique kanji readings 5001 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 30.9 Characters 1654659 Volumes 10
Novel
Legend of the Galactic Heroes Side Stories Length (in words) 289804 Unique words 19041 Unique words (used once) 7428 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2415 Unique kanji (used once) 306 Unique kanji readings 4344 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 30.5 Characters 684193 Volumes 5
Novel
Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko Length (in words) 476950 Unique words 22823 Unique words (used once) 8092 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2507 Unique kanji (used once) 219 Unique kanji readings 5069 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 21.1 Characters 1085607 Volumes 11
Novel
86 Length (in words) 507691 Unique words 21550 Unique words (used once) 6951 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2726 Unique kanji (used once) 240 Unique kanji readings 5324 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 22.4 Characters 1142977 Volumes 9
Novel
Vamp! Length (in words) 302839 Unique words 15489 Unique words (used once) 6043 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2345 Unique kanji (used once) 269 Unique kanji readings 4426 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 22.1 Characters 669936 Volumes 5
Novel
Fate/strange Fake Length (in words) 219063 Unique words 14161 Unique words (used once) 5694 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2388 Unique kanji (used once) 293 Unique kanji readings 4435 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 22.5 Characters 482155 Volumes 5
Novel
Monogatari Series Length (in words) 1405854 Unique words 32983 Unique words (used once) 10011 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2963 Unique kanji (used once) 314 Unique kanji readings 6166 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 21.7 Characters 3336133 Volumes 19
Novel
Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin Length (in words) 878541 Unique words 27968 Unique words (used once) 7997 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 2788 Unique kanji (used once) 207 Unique kanji readings 5743 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 24.2 Characters 1982237 Volumes 14
Novel
Durarara!! Length (in words) 654407 Unique words 22079 Unique words (used once) 7809 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2552 Unique kanji (used once) 247 Unique kanji readings 5061 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 21.4 Characters 1487125 Volumes 13
Novel
Shakugan no Shana Length (in words) 940434 Unique words 28792 Unique words (used once) 8648 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2959 Unique kanji (used once) 241 Unique kanji readings 6198 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 22.6 Characters 2114050 Volumes 22
Novel
Zero Machina Kakuu Sanagi wo Shiie wa Utenai Length (in words) 190036 Unique words 15503 Unique words (used once) 6048 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2469 Unique kanji (used once) 255 Unique kanji readings 4717 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 21.1 Characters 427866 Volumes 10
Novel
Fate/Zero (TYPE-MOON BOOKS ver.) Length (in words) 272050 Unique words 19282 Unique words (used once) 7070 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2780 Unique kanji (used once) 296 Unique kanji readings 5568 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 26.1 Characters 613197 Volumes 4
Novel
Guin Saga Length (in words) 463296 Unique words 19881 Unique words (used once) 6748 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2405 Unique kanji (used once) 287 Unique kanji readings 4611 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 24.9 Characters 1076491 Volumes 9
Novel
Kinkakuji Length (in words) 83896 Unique words 11127 Unique words (used once) 5402 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 2561 Unique kanji (used once) 434 Unique kanji readings 4733 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 29.8 Characters 170636 Volumes 1
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Guin Saga Gaiden Length (in words) 72434 Unique words 7855 Unique words (used once) 3577 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 1640 Unique kanji (used once) 336 Unique kanji readings 2700 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 26.5 Characters 168649 Volumes 1
Novel
Kamen no Kokuhaku Length (in words) 62317 Unique words 10028 Unique words (used once) 5215 Unique words (used once %) 52% Unique kanji 2337 Unique kanji (used once) 421 Unique kanji readings 4151 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 31.8 Characters 133103 Volumes 1
Novel
Katanagatari Length (in words) 339303 Unique words 14714 Unique words (used once) 5249 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2301 Unique kanji (used once) 261 Unique kanji readings 4364 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 22.4 Characters 755145 Volumes 12
Novel
Chuushingura Length (in words) 282905 Unique words 20327 Unique words (used once) 7735 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2931 Unique kanji (used once) 379 Unique kanji readings 6165 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 25.7 Characters 615323 Volumes 5
Novel
Usotsuki Mii-kun to Kowareta Maa-chan Length (in words) 548440 Unique words 26207 Unique words (used once) 9051 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2660 Unique kanji (used once) 219 Unique kanji readings 5519 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 21.6 Characters 1232739 Volumes 11
Novel
Youjo Senki Length (in words) 284160 Unique words 17741 Unique words (used once) 6607 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2408 Unique kanji (used once) 245 Unique kanji readings 4496 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 25.9 Characters 653470 Volumes 3
Novel
Circlet Girl Length (in words) 894174 Unique words 27935 Unique words (used once) 9022 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2673 Unique kanji (used once) 226 Unique kanji readings 5416 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 25.7 Characters 2012729 Volumes 13
Novel
Higashi no Kensei Houten Length (in words) 104514 Unique words 8727 Unique words (used once) 3620 Unique words (used once %) 41% Unique kanji 2058 Unique kanji (used once) 325 Unique kanji readings 3778 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 23.1 Characters 215945 Volumes 1
Novel
Ryuuban Nanachou: Dragon Buster Length (in words) 124054 Unique words 13740 Unique words (used once) 6215 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 2428 Unique kanji (used once) 362 Unique kanji readings 4659 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 29.2 Characters 265865 Volumes 2
Novel
Angel Howling Length (in words) 413714 Unique words 16203 Unique words (used once) 5693 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2338 Unique kanji (used once) 248 Unique kanji readings 4500 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 19.3 Characters 955815 Volumes 10
Novel
Trinity Blood Reborn on the Mars Length (in words) 383405 Unique words 21344 Unique words (used once) 7682 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2718 Unique kanji (used once) 265 Unique kanji readings 5301 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 24.4 Characters 884362 Volumes 6
Novel
The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II Length (in words) 465990 Unique words 21298 Unique words (used once) 7732 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2687 Unique kanji (used once) 249 Unique kanji readings 5183 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 22.3 Characters 1096281 Volumes 10
Novel
Tokyo Ravens Length (in words) 936635 Unique words 26952 Unique words (used once) 7858 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2861 Unique kanji (used once) 219 Unique kanji readings 5923 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 19.7 Characters 2165729 Volumes 16
Novel
Ten to Chi to Length (in words) 295427 Unique words 18584 Unique words (used once) 6978 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2623 Unique kanji (used once) 379 Unique kanji readings 5185 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 25.3 Characters 663266 Volumes 5
Novel
Crest of the Stars Length (in words) 151134 Unique words 13204 Unique words (used once) 5518 Unique words (used once %) 41% Unique kanji 2286 Unique kanji (used once) 356 Unique kanji readings 4043 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 21.4 Characters 355607 Volumes 3
Novel
Paracelsus no Musume Length (in words) 467902 Unique words 23209 Unique words (used once) 8349 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2709 Unique kanji (used once) 295 Unique kanji readings 5276 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 25.6 Characters 1105296 Volumes 10
Novel
Iconoclast! Length (in words) 425754 Unique words 18539 Unique words (used once) 6401 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2542 Unique kanji (used once) 207 Unique kanji readings 5012 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 19.3 Characters 966580 Volumes 10
Novel
Trinity Blood Rage Against the Moons Length (in words) 291645 Unique words 19158 Unique words (used once) 7327 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2639 Unique kanji (used once) 296 Unique kanji readings 5065 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 22.7 Characters 667903 Volumes 6
Novel
Baccano! 1935 Length (in words) 181843 Unique words 12206 Unique words (used once) 4999 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2190 Unique kanji (used once) 275 Unique kanji readings 3987 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 21.2 Characters 414919 Volumes 4
Novel
Rengoku Hime Length (in words) 297492 Unique words 16442 Unique words (used once) 5757 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2611 Unique kanji (used once) 227 Unique kanji readings 4988 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 21.3 Characters 676015 Volumes 6
Novel
Mad Bullet Underground Length (in words) 204239 Unique words 13474 Unique words (used once) 4964 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2287 Unique kanji (used once) 223 Unique kanji readings 4279 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 25.1 Characters 464052 Volumes 3
Novel
Hitsugi no Chaika Length (in words) 439557 Unique words 17682 Unique words (used once) 6040 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2538 Unique kanji (used once) 239 Unique kanji readings 4979 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 20.9 Characters 950502 Volumes 9
Novel
Sword Art Online Length (in words) 1502755 Unique words 34585 Unique words (used once) 9986 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 2928 Unique kanji (used once) 217 Unique kanji readings 6147 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 26.0 Characters 3421562 Volumes 25
Novel
Rakuin no Monshou Length (in words) 671005 Unique words 21683 Unique words (used once) 6066 Unique words (used once %) 27% Unique kanji 2580 Unique kanji (used once) 221 Unique kanji readings 5086 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 24.7 Characters 1563892 Volumes 12
Novel
D-Crackers Length (in words) 389603 Unique words 20130 Unique words (used once) 7263 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2465 Unique kanji (used once) 228 Unique kanji readings 4887 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 18.4 Characters 890548 Volumes 7
Novel
9S (Nine S) Length (in words) 714432 Unique words 24341 Unique words (used once) 7662 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2482 Unique kanji (used once) 198 Unique kanji readings 4920 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 19.2 Characters 1655267 Volumes 13
Novel
Kara no Kyoukai Length (in words) 201368 Unique words 12641 Unique words (used once) 5030 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2188 Unique kanji (used once) 283 Unique kanji readings 3992 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 20.2 Characters 446395 Volumes 3
Novel
Sabikui Bisco Length (in words) 298438 Unique words 16843 Unique words (used once) 6114 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2428 Unique kanji (used once) 224 Unique kanji readings 4739 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 19.2 Characters 666643 Volumes 5
Novel
Momi no Ki wa Nokotta Length (in words) 239208 Unique words 12304 Unique words (used once) 4619 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2402 Unique kanji (used once) 351 Unique kanji readings 4517 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 29.5 Characters 509133 Volumes 1
Novel
Accel World Length (in words) 700303 Unique words 24497 Unique words (used once) 8016 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2613 Unique kanji (used once) 228 Unique kanji readings 5227 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 25.2 Characters 1656503 Volumes 12
Novel
Bakumatsu Mahoushi Length (in words) 204239 Unique words 16340 Unique words (used once) 6422 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2687 Unique kanji (used once) 316 Unique kanji readings 5301 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 22.5 Characters 440878 Volumes 3
Novel
Nanatsu no Maken ga Shihai Suru Length (in words) 304760 Unique words 17207 Unique words (used once) 6085 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2454 Unique kanji (used once) 273 Unique kanji readings 4773 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 21.9 Characters 676275 Volumes 5
Novel
Double Breed Length (in words) 484865 Unique words 17876 Unique words (used once) 6302 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2434 Unique kanji (used once) 227 Unique kanji readings 4711 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 21.6 Characters 1110201 Volumes 10
Novel
Zaregoto Series Length (in words) 666273 Unique words 23053 Unique words (used once) 8222 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2653 Unique kanji (used once) 272 Unique kanji readings 5260 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 19.0 Characters 1553055 Volumes 9
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Kyokou Suiri Length (in words) 140236 Unique words 11333 Unique words (used once) 4807 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 2008 Unique kanji (used once) 272 Unique kanji readings 3630 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 29.0 Characters 322054 Volumes 2
Novel
Banner of the Stars Length (in words) 198686 Unique words 13662 Unique words (used once) 5525 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2321 Unique kanji (used once) 327 Unique kanji readings 4194 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 22.6 Characters 475313 Volumes 4