Every anime fan knows what it's like to get swept up into an anime only to learn that there won't be a proper finish to the storyline. Most anime are adaptations of manga or light novels, and the series wasn't popular enough to get another season.

Even worse, the season was popular, but the goal of the anime was to get people to start buying the light novel or manga. Though fans might want to hold out for another season, sometimes that next season simply isn't coming. Other times, the wait is just too long, and it's easier to start reading the source material.

10/10 Mushoku Tensei Fans Should Start Reading The Light Novel At Volume Seven

mushoku-tensei

There's no better time than right now to get into Mushoku Tensei's light novel. The series is on break until sometime in 2023, and while it will return, that's a terribly long time to wait. The first season told the story of Rudeus as a child and how he survived the Demon Continent. It ended with the team of Dead End splitting up and going their separate ways.

Rudeus was left alone but recognized he still hadn't found his mother and went off on a mission to rescue her from where ever she is. The Mushoku Tensei light novel is complete, so anyone curious should start looking into it now.

9/10 Alderamin On The Sky Stops At The End Of Volume Three

Alderamin on the Sky tells the story of Ikta Solork, a war strategist forced to become the leader of his own team. Ikta is a lazy sort of guy, and would much prefer to chase after women than fight after his father was wrongfully branded as a traitor. His intelligence and talent lead him to being promoted to the role of Imperial Knight after saving the Princess of his nation.

The original series ran for only sixteen episodes though, leaving out most of the light novel's story. Anyone interested can check out the light novel starting from volume three. Since the story finished at volume 14, there won't be a problem surrounding cliffhangers.

8/10 Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai Takes Viewers Up To Volume Seven

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai

Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai doesn't sound like a story anyone should take seriously, especially considering the main character is walking around in a bunny girl suit. But beneath the eye-catching title is a fascinating psychological story with a lot of interesting things going on.

Actress Mai Sakurajima wanders through a library wearing a bunny girl outfit without anyone noticing her — except Sakuta Azusagawa can see her. Sakuta resolves to help fix Mai's problem, only to get wrapped up in the problems of others too. Viewers who want more of the story should start with volume six of the light novel. If they've seen the film, then they can start on volume seven.

7/10 Kino's Journey Fans Should Start From Volume One

Kino rides Hermes Kino's Journey

Kino's Journey focuses on a young girl named Kino and her talking motorcycle Hermes. The two of them travel to different countries together, enjoying adventures there for three days before heading off to their next location. Kino's Journey has been in publication since 2000 and has 23 novels out so far.

For anyone looking to get involved with Kino's Journey, their best bet is to start from the first volume. The anime series picks and chooses specific adventures to adapt, ranging from volume one to volume 20, so it's best to start from the beginning.

6/10 Rising Of The Shield Hero Fans Will Want To Pick Up The Novel At Volume 10

Naofumi in The Rising of the Shield Hero.

Rising of the Shield Hero just finished its second season in the Spring. There, Naofumi and the gang were sent to Glass' world where he and his group dealt with a whole new set of threats. While the third season has been confirmed, it currently doesn't have any sort of release date.

Knowing that, it's a bit hard to simply wait for the next season. Instead, viewers should just start from volume 10. Though the series lost its main hook some time ago, there's still work left to do before Naofumi can find his way home.

5/10 KonoSuba Viewers Should Start From Volume Five

The main quartet from Konosuba.

KonoSuba isn't just one of the best isekai series, it's one of the funniest anime adaptations of all time. At this point, fans are eagerly awaiting a season three. Season three has been confirmed, but there's no release date yet.

For now, viewers can start from volume five and go from there. The heroes have already stopped two of the generals keeping them from fighting the Demon King, but there are plenty to go, and the light novel is already on volume 17. However, the anime is a loose adaptation of the light novels, so it's possible some readers might be confused when starting the series.

4/10 No Game No Life Fans Need To Begin With Volume Four

Although they held out hope for a while, No Game No Life fans have become skeptical about there ever being a season two. Sora and Shiro's quest to defeat all the races of Disboard to get a match against Tet has been postponed for years now.

It's not a matter of whether the series has enough material to keep going, the creators just don't seem to be interested in doing another season. With that in mind, it's probably for the best if fans move on and try to get into the light novel. The first season adapted the first three volumes, so people should start with volume four.

3/10 Grimgar Of Fantasy & Ash Viewers Will Want To Begin With Volume Three

Cast of Grimgar Ashes and Illusions

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash has been yet another series fans have been begging for a sequel for since the first season ended. The series focused on a group of kids who landed in an alternate world with no memories of how they got there. The only thing they know is that they need to survive.

The first season covered the first two volumes of the storyline, meaning viewers should start with volume three. Currently, there's nearly 20 volumes of material available, revealing the answers to many of the mysteries of the first season.

2/10 Legend Of The Legendary Heroes Fans Should Start With The Sequel Novel Series

Anime The Legend of the Legendary Heroes - Ryner Lute - Alpha Stigma

Legend of the Legendary Heroes launched in 2011 and focused on the story of Ryner Lute, a slacker assigned to discover the relics of a legendary hero to save the land. The first season was 24 episodes and covered all the original Legend of the Legendary Heroes light novels.

But the story was far from finished, as that was just a prologue for the real story. Legend of the Great Legendary Heroes has been going for 17 volumes thus far, and people who want to pick up where the anime left off should start there.

1/10 Sword Art Online: Gun Gale Online Viewers Will Want To Begin With Volume Four

Karen In Her Real And Digital Forms In Sword Art Online Gun Gale Online

From the creator of Kino's Journey, Sword Art Online Alternative presented a new version of SAO to fans. Rather than being set in one of the usual fantasy games, SAO Alternative focuses on the dystopian Gun Gale Online setting.

It introduces the new protagonist LLENN, who makes new friends and becomes more comfortable with her tall height after learning how to play Gun Gale Online. The first season covered the first three volumes of the light novel, meaning fans can jump in with the fourth volume. There are plenty more Squad Jams to go where Karen and her friends can fight for dominance.

NEXT: 10 Times Naruto Proved Himself To Be A True Hero