Brain cells/Standards Nourishment
Brain cells/Standards Nourishment
This is to help my s*upid brain never regress further due to being addicted in reading novels with lack of common sense and questionable plot holes. And to also prevent myself from always having to lower my standard to the point of being brain dead.
Most often no romance but with male protagonist. As much as I always read everyday, only some stories really piqued my interest. So here's my list of unforgettable novels I've read here.
Just to mention, I won't add some KR dungeon tropes and CN wuxias, xuanhuans, xianxias since I find it more generic and full of plot holes (and armors). (+I added good ones if it’s worth putting it here)
I've been an avid NU reader since 2018? Yet this is my first time setting an account because I really want to create this list for my fellow comrades.
Ah, please do not hesitate for some recommendations I forgot to add!
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
• Mother of Learning
• Author's POV (shallow romantic subplot)
• I Became The Pope, Now What?
• Shadow s*ave (shallow romantic subplot)
Most often no romance but with male protagonist. As much as I always read everyday, only some stories really piqued my interest. So here's my list of unforgettable novels I've read here.
Just to mention, I won't add some KR dungeon tropes and CN wuxias, xuanhuans, xianxias since I find it more generic and full of plot holes (and armors). (+I added good ones if it’s worth putting it here)
I've been an avid NU reader since 2018? Yet this is my first time setting an account because I really want to create this list for my fellow comrades.
Ah, please do not hesitate for some recommendations I forgot to add!
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
• Mother of Learning
• Author's POV (shallow romantic subplot)
• I Became The Pope, Now What?
• Shadow s*ave (shallow romantic subplot)
69 Followers
Created: Jul 30th, 2021, Updated: Jan 4th, 2025
Created Jul 30th, 2021
Updated Jan 4th, 2025
1 Chapters Every 3314 Day(s) 4256 Readers 148 Reviews 05-28-2016
The 4.2 rating doesn't do justice on how beautiful this novel is. It's a masterpiece. The novelty of the concept, the character designs which draws me in, and the narration. This work covers a story of epic, growth, love, and sense of reality despite being in a fantasy setting. Someone like me reading this sacred work feels so undeserving. I feel so uneducated and unclean that I feel scared tainting this story. Dear readers, this work allowed me to raise my standards and 'upgrade' my brain cells to a whole new level.... more>>
1134 Chapters Every 3.5 Day(s) 41423 Readers 612 Reviews 06-21-2025
Do I have to explain how amazing this is? Anyway just read it.... more>>
113 Chapters Every 559.7 Day(s) 16849 Readers 378 Reviews 02-06-2019
I've been avoiding Lord Of The Mysteries like a plague even though it fits all of my criteria. However thanks to a certain recommendation (thank you btw) I began to start reading it.... more>>
80 Chapters Every 152.2 Day(s) 7361 Readers 86 Reviews 08-07-2022
I read both this and ORV for a while now. THEN WHEN I WAS PLANNING TO REREAD THE ORV MANHWA WAS THEN I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS THE ONE DOKJA WAS READING IN THE FIRST CHAPTER.... more>>
132 Chapters Every 2.8 Day(s) 2933 Readers 17 Reviews 06-24-2025
JUST WOW. Not really my cup of tea but I enjoyed reading it.
33 Chapters Every 52.4 Day(s) 5000 Readers 25 Reviews 05-03-2023
GOAT
85 Chapters Every 44 Day(s) 2411 Readers 15 Reviews 09-10-2023
Oh boi, I wish for updates even until now. I really like it :(.
15 Chapters Every 250.1 Day(s) 5736 Readers 37 Reviews 08-10-2023
I just really have a soft spot for this type of tropes.
830 Chapters Every 16.2 Day(s) 20008 Readers 236 Reviews 10-25-2024
THERE IS ROMANCE, UN/FORTUNATELY. Still I'm adding it tho because this is exempted.... more>>
45 Chapters Every 494.8 Day(s) 10589 Readers 215 Reviews 09-07-2020
I really for the love of deities, do not wish to put it here. Yet, this one is a special mention. It has a romantic element—but not the pink bubble type of romance. ... more>>
20 Chapters Every 76.9 Day(s) 5617 Readers 62 Reviews 05-11-2022
I also would like to recommend the manhwa. Anyway I remember it being slow paced which I least prefer. But it's actually pretty good.... more>>
430 Chapters Every 1.3 Day(s) 16816 Readers 113 Reviews 06-13-2025
I haven't read this for a while but I remember staying up all night for this.... more>>
15 Chapters Every 1.9 Day(s) 5355 Readers 36 Reviews 06-23-2025
I have yet to finish reading it since I'm only at chapter 40. My feedback is, it's unexpectedly entertaining. Albeit a typical korean novel with characters from known literatures. A mediocre novel.... more>>
37 Chapters Every 115.5 Day(s) 1562 Readers 54 Reviews 03-09-2020
One of the chinese action fantasy novel that I like. Again, there is a romantic subplot but pretty much tolerable.
#17Isaac
214 Chapters Every 63.2 Day(s) 8433 Readers 138 Reviews 02-24-2023
The premise is interesting. But I dropped it for a while then picked it up again just to drop it again. I have mixed feelings towards Isaac like I'm now refraining myself from reading psychopath and cruel protagonists.... more>>
241 Chapters Every 18.1 Day(s) 7359 Readers 71 Reviews 06-23-2025
THIS IS GOOD!... more>>
12 Chapters Every 171.3 Day(s) 1408 Readers 30 Reviews 11-18-2019
Another underrated novel with no romance. I couldn't fathom their dissatisfaction just because there is no romance. It's just my tea though. At least the protagonist isn't some chuunibyo with a screw loose in his head. In addition, Kim Sehyeun's character development progressed albeit slowly so it irritates me seeing some review saying how robotic the main character is which is utterly nonsense.... more>>
38 Chapters Every 44.5 Day(s) 5932 Readers 73 Reviews 02-14-2025
Goosebumps in the latest chapters. Also my cure to hangover after getting drunk on TCF. But I don't think most of you would enjoy it though. That aside, this is definitely on my list.... more>>
0 Chapters Every 1618 Day(s) 1942 Readers 22 Reviews N/A
I also share the same sentiments with other readers' reviews. Except those with below three stars ratings.
112 Chapters Every 62.1 Day(s) 2497 Readers 9 Reviews 03-12-2023
MOAAAAR! AH I SINCERELY WISH FOR THIS NOVEL TO BE A KDRAMA.
66 Chapters Every 147.1 Day(s) 1714 Readers 13 Reviews 08-20-2019
I unexpectedly found it after suffering from thirst of having nothing to read. It's pretty worthwhile.... more>>
204 Chapters Every 3.3 Day(s) 1993 Readers 18 Reviews 06-23-2025
This is pretty much underrated—narration is okay, and the world building is dystopian in nature. This a good read for those who like venture for... more>>
Comments (14)
@Keraether I'm still reading Mother of Learning right now so I have yet to read the other novels from Royal Road. Do all those three have romance? For the latter, I don't think I would like Regressor Instruction Manual since I'm not a fan of harem.
I am in need of more recommendations since I don't have any good novels to read as of late. So I truly appreciate your recommendation.
@shushreader Only The Simulacrum puts a true emphasis on romance, even in RIM despite the harem tag there is no real romance. Well RR is a treasure trove for western novels : "Super Minion", "The New World", "Defiance of the Fall", "They Called me Mad", none containing romance and very refreshing in the System & Apocalypse genre, "Knight and Smith" is really well written but is kind of romance centered, "The story of how a cultivation universe was conquered by an interstellar weapon" is very good in an...outlandish way, "Sexy Space Babes" is refreshing, "An outcast in another world" is good. On NU there is still "Lord of the Mysteries" and "Ouroboros Record ~ Circus of Oubeniel" which stand above the rest for CN and JP novels respectively.
Anyway you are welcome, as good or at least entertaining novels are really hard to find especially when NU is filled with subpar ones.
I used to tune in every once a while to read new novels there but ever since I noticed most of the trending is just "cute" plays on isekai or relying on the reader's persistence in not dropping it, I only logged in to check if Beware of the Chicken, RE: Trailer tr*sh, and Essence of cultivation are updating. Of course I think The Perfect Run is a masterpiece but for the rest its not my cup of tea to read stories that are dungeon core, spaceship, psychopathic non-humanoids.
Tip: Avoid Defiance's fall, primal hunter, anything similar
Hello! Thanks for this list. I really love your taste so i enjoyed these novels u recommended. Umm im always waiting for more cuz i really need supplement to my decreasing braincells. Im in critical level, u see haha. I apologize for my greediness but im desperate. Anyway, is this "become a star have a romance" ? Tbh im allergic in romance tag and u still didnt put a reviews below so idk if i should read it or not. I only trust ur words so ididnt read others' reviews so hurry up haha kidding.. take ur time.
i recommend "rakuin no monshou" and the "bathroom goddes". Both are completed and i think perfect for you. Rakuin no monshou have romance, but it's not forced. And the novel itself is more focused on politic and action than romance.
And in my opinion, protagonist in Isaac of course is cruel and psycopath. But,if i must categorized isaac in good or bad, I will say he is good. He is trying to do good deeds but with a bad way because his surrounding is what forces him to act like that.