Editing Kingdom Hearts (novels)

{{Game|Real}}
{{About|the novel series||Kingdom Hearts (disambiguation)}}
The '''''Kingdom Hearts'' novels''' are a series of books that are based on the games of the ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|series}}'' series. They were released exclusively in Japan until {{w|Yen Press}} began to localize the novels into English in 2015. The series is written by Tomoco Kanemaki, and the covers and page illustrations are illustrated by {{w|Shiro Amano}}, creator of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' [[Kingdom Hearts series (manga)|manga series]]. They are all published by {{w|Square Enix}} in Japan and localized by Yen Press.

==Main novels==
===''Kingdom Hearts''===
The '''''Kingdom Hearts'' novels''' cover the story of ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}'', and were released in two volumes. The volumes, {{nihongo|'''''First'''''|上|Jou}} and {{nihongo|'''''Last'''''|下|Moto}}, were co-published by Disney Press on June 30, 2005 and July 29, 2005 respectively. On September 19, 2014, Yen Press, who had taken up the task of localizing the ''Kingdom Hearts'' manga series, announced they would also publish ''Kingdom Hearts: The Novel'', a localization of the Japanese ''Kingdom Hearts'' novels. It was published on March 24, 2015.<ref>[http://www.yenpress.com/kingdom-hearts/#N1 Yen Press - Kingdom Hearts: The Novel]</ref><ref>[http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kingdom-hearts-tomoco-kanemaki/1120331596?ean=9780316260190 Kingdom Hearts: The Novel - Barnes and Noble]</ref>

The novels attempt to cover the entire story and script of the game, although some scenes are combined into one for tighter flow, such as the two [[Parasite Cage]] battles. Most noticeable is the complete absence of [[Olympus Coliseum]], [[Halloween Town]], and [[Atlantica]], as well as any characters from those worlds, even during scenes that originally contained those characters.<!--ex. the scene introducing Maleficent's group gets rid of everyone but Maleficent, Jafar, and Hook-->
<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts Novel 1.png|Volume 1 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts Novel 2.png|Volume 2 (Japanese) 
File:Kingdom Hearts Novel (English).png|Volume 1 (English)
</gallery>

===''Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories''===
The '''''Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories'' novels''' cover the story of ''[[Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories]]'', and were released in three volumes. The first two volumes, {{nihongo|'''''Sora's Volume (First)'''''|《ソラ編》上|《Sora-hen》 Jou}}, {{nihongo|'''''Sora's Volume (Last)'''''|《ソラ編》下|《Sora-hen》 Moto}}, cover Sora's adventure, with selected scenes from Riku's story, and were published October 22, 2005 and November 30, 2005, respectively. The final volume, {{nihongo|'''''Reverse/Rebirth (Riku's Volume)'''''|《Reverse/Rebirth》リク編|《Reverse/Rebirth》 Riku-hen}} covers the remainder of Riku's adventure, and was published January 31, 2006.

All three novels were published in English as ''Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories The Novel'' as a single 600-page book on September 22, 2015 by Yen Press.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Hearts-Chain-Memories-Novel/dp/0316261734/ Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories The Novel - Amazon.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kingdom-hearts-tomoco-kanemaki/1121006104?ean=9780316261739 Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories The Novel by Tomoco Kanemaki - Barnes & Noble]</ref>
<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Novel 1.png|Volume 1 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Novel 2.png|Volume 2 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Novel 3.png|Volume 3 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Novel (English).png|Volume 1 (English)
</gallery>

===''Kingdom Hearts II''===
The '''''Kingdom Hearts II'' novels''' cover the story of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', and were released in four volumes. The volumes, '''Roxas—Seven days''', '''The Destruction of Hollow Bastion''', '''Tears of Nobody''', and '''Anthem—Meet Again/Axel Last Stand''', were published April 22, 2006, July 16, 2006, September 29, 2006, and February<!--??-->, 2007, respectively.

''Kingdom Hearts II: The Novel'' (Volume 1) was published in English on June 20, 2017, by Yen Press as a two-volume omnibus edition.<ref>[http://www.khinsider.com/news/Kingdom-Hearts-II-The-Novel-Volume-1-to-release-June-2017-7452 Kingdom Hearts II: The Novel Volume 1 to release June 2017!]</ref><ref name ="YPKHVols">[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-02/yen-press-licenses-more-kingdom-hearts-light-novel-series/.109443 Yen Press Licenses More Kingdom Hearts Light Novel Series]</ref> The second volume was published in English on December 19th, 2017 by Yen Press.
<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts II Novel 1.png|Volume 1 (Japanese) 
File:Kingdom Hearts II Novel 2.png|Volume 2 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts II Novel 3.png|Volume 3 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts II Novel 4.png|Volume 4 (Japanese)
</gallery>
<br>
<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts II Novel 1 (English).png|Volume 1 (English)
File:Kingdom Hearts II Novel 2 (English).png|Volume 2 (English)
</gallery>

===''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''===
The '''''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' novels''' cover the story of ''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]'', and were released in three volumes. The volumes, '''The 14th''', '''Go to the Sea''', and '''Xion—Seven Days''', were published<!--???, ???, and May 28th, 2010 respectively-->.

On December 2, 2016, Yen Press announced they licensed the novels.<ref name="YPKHVols"/> It was released in English in a one-volume omnibus edition on November 27, 2018.
<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts 358-2 Days Novel 1.png|Volume 1 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts 358-2 Days Novel 2.png|Volume 2 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts 358-2 Days Novel 3.png|Volume 3 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts 358-2 Days Novel (English).png|Volume 1 (English)
</gallery>

===''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''===
The '''''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' novels''' cover the story of ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'', and were released in three volumes. The volumes, '''Something Strange''', '''Best Friends''', and '''To the Future''', were published<!--???, ???, and May 26, 2011, respectively-->.

On December 2, 2016, Yen Press announced they licensed the novels.<ref name="YPKHVols"/> It was released in English in a one-volume omnibus edition on March 19, 2019.

<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Novel 1.png|Volume 1 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Novel 2.png|Volume 2 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Novel 3.png|Volume 3 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Novel (English).png|Volume 1 (English)
</gallery>

===''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded''===
The '''''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' novel''', of which there is only one volume, covers the story of ''[[Kingdom Hearts Re:coded]]'' and was published July 28, 2011. It was released in English on August 27, 2019.<ref>[http://www.b2c.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/none/kingdom-hearts-recoded-light-novel/9781975385392/?yen ''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' (light novel) on Yen Press official website]</ref>
<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts Recoded Novel 1.png|Volume 1 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts Recoded Novel (English).png|Volume 1 (English)
</gallery>

===''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''===
The '''''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'' novels''' cover the story of ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]'' and the first volume, "'''Side Sora'''", was published on June 28, 2012. "'''Side Riku'''", the second novel, was published on September 27, 2012. It was released in English on October 29, 2019. <ref>[https://yenpress.com/9781975358617/kingdom-hearts-3d-dream-drop-distance-the-novel-light-novel/ ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'' (light novel) on Yen Press official website]</ref>
<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance Novel 1.png|Volume 1 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance Novel 2.png|Volume 2 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance Novel (English).png|Volume 1 (English)
</gallery>

===''Kingdom Hearts χ''===
'''''Kingdom Hearts χ: The Story of You and the Keyblade''''' is a story focused on ''[[Kingdom Hearts χ]]''. It was published in Japan on January 25, 2019. It was released in English on December 24, 2019.<ref>[https://yenpress.com/9781975387341/kingdom-hearts-x-your-keyblade-your-story-the-novel-light-novel/ ''Kingdom Hearts X: Your Keyblade, Your Story The Novel'' (light novel) on Yen Press official website]</ref>
<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts χ Novel 1.png|Volume 1 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts χ Novel (English).png|Volume 1 (English)
</gallery>

===''Kingdom Hearts III''===
'''''Kingdom Hearts III: Vol.1 Re:Start!!''''' is a story focused on ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''. It was published in Japan on March 28, 2019. It will be released in English on February 25, 2020. '''''Kingdom Hearts III: Vol. 2 New Seven Hearts''''' was released in Japan on July 25, 2019. It was released in English on July 21, 2020. '''''Kingdom Hearts III: Vol. 3 Remind Me Again''''' was released in Japan on May 28, 2020. It was released in English on January 19, 2021.

<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts III Novel 1.png|Volume 1 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts III Novel 2.png|Volume 2 (Japanese)
File:Kingdom Hearts III Novel 3.png|Volume 3 (Japanese)
</gallery>
<br>
<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts III Novel 1 (English).png|Volume 1 (English)
File:Kingdom Hearts III Novel 2 (English).png|Volume 2 (English)
File:Kingdom Hearts III Novel 3 (English).png|Volume 3 (English)
</gallery>

==Special novels==
===Short stories===
These are short stories from the main novel series. 
*Vol. 1 - Other Diamonds
*Vol. 2 - Axel-Seven Days

===Other===
*Roxas-Somewhere in Time
Released along with ''[[Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix]]'' in the ''[[Kingdom Hearts Another Report]]'' pre-order bonus book.
<gallery>
File:Kingdom Hearts II Short Stories 1.png|Cover to the first short story volume from ''Kingdom Hearts II''.
File:Kingdom Hearts II Short Stories 2.png|Cover to the second short story volume from ''Kingdom Hearts II''.
</gallery>

==Collector's Set==
On December 21, 2021, Yen Press released a special collector's set which contains all twelve English-version volumes. This collector's set also included an envelope with 13 art prints and a metal keychain replica of [[Sora]]'s [[Kingdom Key]].<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1975333322/ ''Kingdom Hearts: The Complete Novel'' Collector's Edition]</ref>

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

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