probably the only harem novel on this list, and its well deserving of it. It has a great cast of characters, actual harem infighting, and... more>> a unique setup. I do need to finish this one day, I just got a little burnt out.  <<less

This novel has a really good first arc and a really good ending, with the rest of the story having some ups and downs. The... more>> first arc is definitely the most unique in terms of xianxia storytelling, everything after that is more in line with what you'd expect from a cultivation novel, albeit in a pretty unique setting. The actions scenes have some pacing problems later on, but I believe that has more to do with the story's serial nature rather than a flaw of the author. Overall great characters, unique setting and story, I just wish the author did more with it at times. <<less

This novel is a bit awkward. It is very good for most of its run as a horror/thriller system-ish novel, but it does fumble a... more>> bit at the very end. With that said, anyone who knows the history of the novel knows it had to survive some tumultuous changes to the Chinese horror novel landscape due to censorship laws, and it's very impressive what it managed to do in spite of that. Overall, a very enjoyable experience.  <<less

Of the romcoms that are part of the gyaru/otaku archetype this is by far the best. the MC and FMC have a funny dynamic, the... more>> main character doesn't drag the story down with some bland depiction of low self-esteem/depression, and the author can actually write some decent comedy. Compared to a lot of the "Romcoms" which are really just boneless fluff without anything resembling a joke this really stands out.  <<less

I'm waiting for more chapters to release before I really dig into this, but what I have read is pretty good. It's a fairly unique... more>> cultivation novel without any romance, which can be a good or bad thing depending on how well the author writes characters. The world feels very lively and interesting, and how the mc interacts with it is fairly unique for this kind of novel. <<less

The biggest negative of this story is that it was never finished. With that said, one of the last arcs before it got banned by the government serves as a decent enough stopping point for the story, so its not really a problem for me. Something that might turn people away from the story is the protagonist's cruelty, and I think that's fair, but I would like to point out that other than some moments early on, his cruelty tends to lean on the pragmatic side. This would be in opposition to stories with torture p*rn, r*pe is a battle tactic, etc.... more>>

Don't get me wrong, it does have its moments, especially early on in the story, but as the author figures things out it becomes more comedic at times if anything. I will say that I tend to not like stories with evil protagonists, mostly because they tend to suck and be torture/revenge p*rn without any depth. I loved this story though, and the protagonist really grows on you in the weirdest way. <<less

The best Korean regression story I've read, each arc feels different from the last. The cast of characters is great, and the romance is very... more>> unique, not just for a Korean web novel but for a web novel in general. It was a pleasant surprise to say the least.   <<less

This is a pretty fun murim story overall, there really isn't much else to say about it. Its like a good slice of cheese pizza:... more>> you know what you are getting, but that doesn't mean it can't be good. Very much has the feel of a non-bl story written by an author who writes bl. Not a bad or good thing, just funny.  <<less

Much better and more consistent than the authors other popular work, the Regressor and the Blind Saint. The characters are funny and the protagonist is cute af with how naive he is. It's also a story that will probably speak to people a lot more than the typical hero galivanting around saving people stuff, because of the protagonist's constant fight with his worst impulses while he tries to realize his dream. His bright-eyed naivety and love of justice is typically something I'd find a little annoying, but because of his circumstances it adds a layer of tragedy that makes it compelling. Stories about fighting against the odds and against one's own nature to be a... more>> good person always compel me as a reader.  

The love interest is a fun character with her own story. She simultaneously fits the style of heroine you expect from this kind of novel: the beautiful, cold on the outside heart of gold on the inside, young lady, while standing out on her own. Her motive for falling in love with the protagonist is refreshingly blunt as well. 

There is part of me that wonders where this story will end up going. I do hope there is a heath like portion of the story for the protagonist, where due to his circumstances he hits rock bottom. His cruel fate clashing directly with his romanticized heroism. I don't know if the author has the stones to write something like that though.  <<less

This is a pretty entertaining murim story overall. I will say that the translation is being done at a snails pace, which I'm not going to complain about because its free, but is worth keeping in mind if you are interested in reading it. To give some perspective, I haven't read a chapter in two years and only seventy have been translated in that time.... more>>

The characters, while not out of the ordinary, are interesting enough. Its otherwise a pretty generic story, just executed better than most. <<less

One of the best Xianxia novels. Sadly, it has a pretty bad translation, though not as bad as the authors other work "Nightfall". Great characters, one of my favorite arcs in a xianxia novel I've ever read (those who've read it know what I'm talking about), and one of the most groomer ass romances I've ever seen in my life. I wouldn't consider it as morally objectionable as a lot of the reincarnation novels where old men/women are in the bodies of teenagers seducing teenage girls/boys, but it is pretty comical in setup. Its also very ignorable, as it plays a tiny role in the story. I also wouldn't say the dynamic in it of... more>> itself is bad, despite the baggage.

That aside, this novel just rocks, and I hope someday it gets a better translation. <<less

good, not great cultivation novel. I will say that it is slow paced as hell, with some odd storytelling decisions. With that said, it has... more>> some really fun characters, some really humorous moments, and a good protagonist. The world is incredibly well realized, and the author manages, for the most part, to avoid some of the more annoying xianxia conventions. A lot of good eastern philosophy in this as well.   <<less

This is another decent, though not extraordinary xianxia. Its not really being translated atm so keep that in mind.

Probably my favorite xianxia. It can be slow paced, especially the start, but it has some incredible payoff. The characters are incredibly lively and fun, and it doesn't fall prey to a lot of the annoying tropes of the genre. It has what is probably the best romance I've read in a xianxia, though I still think it could've been a bit better. The villains are some of the best the genre has to offer. Most importantly, it has a great translation.... more>>

 The last third of the story is a bit eh, but like most Mao Ni stories, there's what feels like a natural conclusion 2/3rds of the way through the story then some stuff after that kind of feels a little awkward.  <<less

Another romance with a funny dynamic. I will say that it does have a bit of a serious story to it that I don't particularly... more>> care for, the premise of it is a little absurd to me, but the characters really carry the story.  <<less

Mid, but also peak

Ryohgo Narita is an author who over time I've developed somewhat mixed opinions on, that being said he is still one of the great light... more>> novel writers. Baccano! is him at his best, with a great cast of characters that bounce around a non-linear narrative in a pretty atypical setting for a light novel. The cast is pretty diverse culturally, not something one would usually expect from a JP series. Additionally, seeing how these characters interact with the idea of immortality is really interesting because it feels somewhat at odds with how immortality is portrayed in Japanese fantasy (At least from my limited experience). It seems to have a more neutral perspective. <<less

Great cast of characters, with some really fun arcs. It's a bit tamer than Narita's usual insanity, and I feel like it gets a bit... more>> too convoluted near the end, but it's still a fun ride. Mikado Ryuugamine is a unique protagonistish character.  <<less

The second most wild Narita story without a doubt, it's a pity that more volumes weren't released. With that said, it's still an enjoyable read.

The worst of Narita's major light novel works, but still a lot of fun. The first volume is pretty excellent (as far as I can... more>> remember), but it kind of struggles after that. Regardless, there is some really good characters hidden away in this story.  <<less

Very interesting protagonist in Ii-chan, along with some okay mysteries. I still need to read the final volume lol, its been over two years.

A pretty fun romance mystery. Its short and sweet, you could probably finish it within a couple of hours.

Classic JP thriller urban fantasy novel. I really need to finish it one of these days.

Surprisingly good. A great parody of isekai novels with a fun cast of characters. The fight scenes are pretty well thought out as well, especially seeing the mc has the ability to instantly kill anyone. It's a fundamentally sound, well-paced story. The first time I picked it up, I dropped it after the first couple scenes in the first volume. It didn't really feel like something I would like. After giving it another try at the recommendation of a fellow novel enjoyer, I found that I liked it a lot more the further I read. ... more>>

The general narrative loop the story follows is the villains try to find a way around the MCs power, come up with something really genius that ultimately doesn't work, dies, and the cycle starts all over again. That might sound boring but trust me, it's really well executed (and often very funny). There are some twists and turns along the way as well, the author keeps things fresh. 

The cast is really well rounded, especially seeing that a lot of them are dying shortly after showing up. There are some good recurring characters, obviously the MC and the FMC, along with a few others, that have active storylines that will spread out and converge over the course of the narrative. 

There are also flashback scenes the give context to the MCs past. There is a good balance of dark and funny stuff, and it not only helps in adding depth to the protagonist but also enriching the world. It does a great job of showing just how absurd this story is too. <<less

This is a pretty good murim regression novel. The main character is relatively unique for a protagonist of this kind of story, having a bright personality. He does have the Gary Stu problem that these novels tend to have, but the overall quality of the writing makes up for it. The action writing, and the overall progression of the MCs strength is a bit boring. He gets too strong too fast, which takes a way a lot of the suspense from the narrative. The way he gets power is pretty lazy too. He stumbles upon a miscellaneous magical energy growth pill after every arc more or less, sometimes due to his own planning, but mostly... more>> because of his own luck.

With that said, the main appeal of this story is the relationships the MC develops with the rest of the cast. It's what the author puts the most focus on and is by far the strongest part of the story. To be a bit reductive, it's basically a story about opening your hearts to others and talking it out. This theme is always present throughout the story, with it being represented through how the villains interact with the world as well. Within the context of a demonic cultivator cult, it feels a bit surreal, but ultimately it works well.

There were definitely times where it felt like the MCs efforts to communicate with these demonic masters was rewarded too quickly, to the point at times it felt like the characters personalities clashed with the idea of them being master practitioners of demonic arts. At the same time though, it kind of made sense to me too. It would be pretty hard for an organization as large as the Heavenly Demonic Cult to properly function if all its cultivators were massively antisocial deviants. 

As for some minor things. The romance is cute. The love interest is a pretty interesting character. Given the overall themes of the story and what the main character values the most in his relationships with others, it's understandable that he values her so much. She is a very charming character from her very first appearance. There are some things about her overall character arc that people will understandably have some problems with. Given the greater context of the world the story was set in, I wasn't too bothered by it, but I could understand if some were. The romance itself is very wholesome though. <<less