New Website Feedback

chocolatkey · Jul 4, 2020, 12:29 AM

The new website is live! The old site design is still available at https://old.j-novel.club/

Last updated 20 March 2021

There are a few known issues that will be resolved ASAP:

Margin customization lacking
Can't use mouse wheel on single page horizontal novels
No light-themed reader interface yet
Can't toggle back from single to double page without first resizing or switching directions
No links to the syndication feeds from the site itself
Interstitial reader page is blank for horizontal novel reading
The light mode icon is still highlighted when navigating to a new page with dark mode on. This does not affect dark mode being saved across pages.
Problems navigating to the final page without using the scrollbar.

These issues have been fixed/updated:

Problems logging in using Google single-sign on.
Subscribers getting "access denied" when trying to read parts.
The text for the Series filters has been updated to be more concise. Some series are not filtering correctly, so we're investigating that.
The Series search bar no longer searches description text.
The text in the How It Works and FAQ pages has been updated to clarify some things:
- Premium credits can now be redeemed through the website normally even without an active membership.
- When you redeem a credit for a premium ebook, that gives you access to the prepub parts for that book even when they are expired and regardless of your membership status. That means non-active subscribers can use saved credits to preorder a book and keep up with prepub parts! Can't discuss it on the forums without being a member though~
Crimson Text added as default font choice for reader, default font size is now 110%.
Add a parts/volume release feed on the front page.
Your library will now show you when new versions of premium ebooks are available for download!

Planned future updates:

Links to print editions.
Add individual volume translator/editor data.

Under consideration:

Add MOBI downloads.
Add ISBN data.

If any other issues are reported that can/will be fixed, this list will be updated.

P.S. We have some new RSS/Atom/JSON Feeds up for people to follow individual series, and ones for a user's follows (you can follow a series on the beta website). There are buttons on the series pages and in your user menu to get to them

MiHeSt · Jul 4, 2020, 12:32 AM

After login or when following the “User”-link (https://beta.j-novel.club/user) I get a white site, only with an error message “An unexpected error has occurred.” showing.

db0ssman · Jul 4, 2020, 12:35 AM

After just a quick look my first impression is that it looks like a much newer website, but it also looks cluttered and kind of hard to use compared to the current design.

Also, it doesn't look like there is a way to search for a title, which means it will be much harder to get to a product page you are looking for if you know what product you are looking for.

chocolatkey · Jul 4, 2020, 9:19 AM

@db0ssman Search falls under "everything that's possible on the current site", and it's also definitely something that's coming soon.

Khaos · Jul 4, 2020, 12:55 AM

Under the Title sorting....

Should have options for:
-Non J-Novel Heart
-Ongoing

There should probably be some sort of indicator on the series that are on Hiatus if you use that filter(or in general).

curapica · Jul 4, 2020, 1:05 AM

I try to click on the free preview to a book but it won't do anything. Is this a mobile-only site? Is it only specifically this title? https://j-novel.club/v/slayers-volume-1

I am clicking 'read prepub now'. If I am buying access, where do I click? I'm new to this site and very confused.

nofairytale · Jul 4, 2020, 1:02 AM

The dark mode is appreciated, I hope it applies to the reader as well, as the current reader's dark mode doesn't turn the novel text itself to be white on dark.

Regarding the Calendar: I notice now that schedules show series to be released a day earlier than before, for example Bakarina on 2 July (3 July in current site). I'm guessing this is because it shows American time (I'm in Australia), while the current site shows local time in user side. It's no big deal but I'd prefer it to show up the way it is now.

trefender · Jul 4, 2020, 1:03 AM

It might be nice to be able to follow/unfollow a series from the main Titles list. It might also be good if there was an option to filter the main Titles on series that you are or are-not already following and/or own.

The Library tab of the User screen pushes buttons, text, etc. off of the screen (Edge and Chrome) for the long titles like "My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me!" and "WATARU!!! The Hot-Blooded Fighting Teen & His Epic Adventures in a Fantasy World After Stopping a Truck with His Bare Hands!!"

The Library tab of the User screen doesn't seem to do anything when an item is clicked (Edge and Chrome).

Ztshp · Jul 4, 2020, 1:03 AM

I would like to have an "Expiring soon" filter so I can easily find the volumes that are running out soon

chocolatkey · Jul 4, 2020, 1:05 AM

@curapica I do not think you are referring to the beta site, but:
The link to read part 1 of slayers is here: https://j-novel.club/c/slayers-volume-1-part-1/read . The first part is always free.
You can subscribe here: https://j-novel.club/subscribe
If you have further questions please contact J-Novel Club at contact@j-novel.club or open a new topic outside this thread

curapica · Jul 4, 2020, 1:10 AM

@chocolatkey Thanks, I was using chrome! Appreciate your help!

Taedirk · Jul 4, 2020, 1:13 AM

Obvious bits: no search, no sort on title overview page, no following overview page yet. Curious to see how reader and account/library pages will change.

Less obvious bits: searching/sorting by title tags would be nice since they're listed on each book's page, the book status at the very bottom of the page ("More titles to come" vs "This title is complete") should be up top and way more visible.

regex · Jul 4, 2020, 1:18 AM

Firefox 69.0.3
Click title then click home again triggered the error

Timmaaah · Jul 4, 2020, 1:38 AM

Trying the view Outbreak Company's page and get the following error.

Failed to load data: TypeError: Failed to validate.

piisfun · Jul 4, 2020, 2:27 AM

I love the new calendar design.

Groupings are so much easier to trace.

It should be noted though that it is currently impossible to check the previous days releases, should you have missed them.
Maybe higlight the current day, instead of removing the previous days, or have an option to show them?

Bug: Buttons for unavailable parts are currently clickable, redirecting to an error message.

I will comment on the titles page after search functionality is added.

Suggestion: Add a publication label For the "standard" label (Non-heart)

Bug: The description box is sizing off its contents, rather than having a set width based of the browser window.
Most noticeable with Discomunication.

Series pages:
Having a separate list entry for each volume is a massive improvement over the previous rotary menu.
Legend is simple enough.

I take it you plan on putting either subpages or some sort of expanding menu for prepubs?

Bug: The buy button still redirects to the premium page while logged out.
Bug: The "Discuss on forums" button still shows up while logged out, leading to the members section.

Drone205 · Jul 4, 2020, 2:06 AM

A wishful suggestion. The option to read an expired LN if it was bought on the site. I don't download books on my phone, sometimes I'm in a place with WiFi with nothing to do. In cases like that it would be nice to be able to read a JNC title I own, but don'thave my tablet with the books.

I've got a second suggestion for the app. The ability to buy a LN using a credit.

Khaos · Jul 4, 2020, 2:10 AM

I don't like how new epubs expands the series in the Library AND are shown at the very top. Would like to see one or the other. Personally, I'd rather the new listed at the top and keep series collapsed.

chocolatkey · Jul 4, 2020, 2:12 AM

@Drone205 In-app purchases will most likely never be a thing due to the Apple/Google tax

piisfun · Jul 4, 2020, 2:19 AM

One other note:

It would be nice if there was a mark for the publishing label on the series page.

Scrolling too quickly results in the page flickering in and out.

Cowmonger · Jul 4, 2020, 2:21 AM

For the longer pages (basically any page containing a list...), a way to quick-scroll back to the top of the page (such as a "scroll to top" FAB on a bottom corner of the screen) would be nice.

Or perhaps an alternative could be to have the header appear/disappear with the scrolling up/down motions and have the scrolling of the lists be independent of the sidebar such that the sidebar remains on-screen as users scroll down.

Edit: A more obvious differentiator between the novel and manga pages for a series would also be nice.