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)
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shushreader
Created: Jul 30th, 2021, Updated: Jan 4th, 2025
Created Jul 30th, 2021
Updated Jan 4th, 2025
KR (4.1)
36 Chapters Every 4.7 Day(s) 6003 Readers 48 Reviews 04-25-2025
It’s a comedy with a good plot. I’m at chapter 400+ and it didn’t dissapoint
KR (4.2)
20 Chapters Every 87.1 Day(s) 3300 Readers 61 Reviews 12-09-2021
The reason I added this here is because of it's uniqueness compared to the other tropes. It's a nice light read and hopefully there's no... more>>
KR (4)
59 Chapters Every 0.1 Day(s) 4950 Readers 26 Reviews 05-16-2022
Honestly though, this one took me by surprise. The pacing, plot, and some elements are good. What makes me like it more is the proper execution of going back and forth from the past and present. ... more>>
KR (4.2)
39 Chapters Every 163.4 Day(s) 3549 Readers 82 Reviews 10-14-2018
I don't find the novel unsatisfying though. The reviews made me confused. But I also give sentiment about the ending. JUST WHY??... more>>
KR (4.2)
484 Chapters Every 2.6 Day(s) 6508 Readers 106 Reviews 06-02-2025
A little underwhelming, yet entertaining nevertheless. It’s a little similar to the Great Storyteller when it comes to the structure of plot. Hence, it has... more>>
KR (3.8)
0 Chapters Every 1656 Day(s) 6332 Readers 52 Reviews 01-03-2021
A little below mediocre at first. With common tropes here and there but I still find this novel interesting lately.... more>>
CN (4.4)
456 Chapters Every 50.9 Day(s) 10895 Readers 123 Reviews 06-14-2023
Not really my cup of tea. But I'm trying to read it right now since I read most of the good and hidden gem novels.... more>>
KR (3.8)
249 Chapters Every 1.5 Day(s) 1538 Readers 5 Reviews 06-19-2025
The reason why I suddenly became interested in MA novels.
KR (4.5)
137 Chapters Every 37 Day(s) 5111 Readers 64 Reviews 04-29-2024
KR (4.5)
107 Chapters Every 38.4 Day(s) 2394 Readers 27 Reviews 05-12-2024
A good read, but not to the point that it’ll supplement the regressing brain-rotted standard of ours. Its pace is light and entertaining. 
KR (4.5)
954 Chapters Every 1.4 Day(s) 7604 Readers 59 Reviews 06-24-2025
CN (4.3)
6 Chapters Every 1588 Day(s) 13861 Readers 344 Reviews 02-25-2017
JP (4.4)
764 Chapters Every 23.7 Day(s) 28059 Readers 216 Reviews 01-30-2022
KR (4.1)
177 Chapters Every 12.8 Day(s) 1310 Readers 6 Reviews 06-22-2025
KR (3.7)
111 Chapters Every 32.3 Day(s) 868 Readers 8 Reviews 02-21-2025
KR (4.8)
KR (4.2)
194 Chapters Every 12.2 Day(s) 1530 Readers 5 Reviews 01-10-2025
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Comments (14)
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  1. evyze
    evyze· Oct 10, 2021 12:51 AM
    invisible dragon was above tcf so i had to give this a try. BOI.... i was not disappointed 10/10 so true
    Reply · 2 Likes · ·
    • shushreader
      shushreader· Author · Oct 14, 2021 03:11 AM
      Welcome to the camp, comrade LOL.
      Reply · 1 Like · ·
  2. shushreader
    shushreader· Author · Aug 13, 2021 06:36 PM
    Here are some novels I stumbled upon chance yet unavailable here on NU.

    •Mother of Learning
    •Author's POV
    •I Became The Pope, Now What?

    Reply · 2 Likes · ·
    • Keraether
      Keraether· Aug 13, 2021 07:58 PM
      Have you tried "The Perfect Run", "The Simulacrum" and "Vaudevillain" on Royal Road ? And "Regressor Instruction Manual" on NU ?  The Simulacrum and Regressor Instruction Manual contain both kind of a harem though, while not unnatural in the first one, and barely noticeable in the second. In my opinion of course. 
      Reply · 3 Likes · ·
    • shushreader
      shushreader· Author · Aug 13, 2021 10:12 PM

      @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.

      Reply · 2 Likes · ·
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    • Keraether
      Keraether· Aug 14, 2021 07:50 AM

      @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. 

      Reply · 3 Likes · ·
    • ralek
      ralek· Sep 1, 2021 10:52 PM
      @Keraether Vaudevillian is like watching a vlog youtuber, gets really boring after a while

      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
      Reply · 1 Like · ·
  3. Shin fuyu
    Shin fuyu· Feb 15, 2022 01:59 PM

    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.

    Reply · 1 Like · ·
    • shushreader
      shushreader· Author · Feb 17, 2022 04:22 PM
      Hello, Shin Fuyu! Glad to meet someone with the same taste as mine. I do feel the same way, it's hard to find a nice novel these days. I have yet to see whether there's a romantic sublot in "Become a Star Romance", although I hope that there's none since I'm still at chapter 80. I recommend reading "Author's POV"—I also didn't like reading stories with romance but this much is tolerable because the plot is immersive and fun.
      Reply · 1 Like · ·
  4. Ein Mezus
    Ein Mezus· Aug 22, 2021 10:15 AM
    I recommended trying Throne of Magical Arcana (this one have the same author as LoTM) and also The Experimental Log of the Crazy Lich both of them have good story pace and rational character well there is also some romance in both of them but not so much kinda more as subplot  
    Reply · 1 Like · ·
    • ralek
      ralek· Sep 1, 2021 10:53 PM
      Experimental log is too bizarre in the beginning, and yeah there are some real moments but reading about an escapade of naked minotaurs in the streets of the godly city or something gets tiring
      Reply · ·
  5. tempelis
    tempelis· Aug 14, 2021 12:29 PM

    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.

    Reply · 1 Like · ·
  6. Daresan
    Daresan· Oct 11, 2021 06:03 PM
    Except lord of mysteries and 48 hours a day i do not see anything good here.  I believe toc and omniscient reader's viewpoint are heavily overrated
    Reply · ·
    • shushreader
      shushreader· Author · Oct 14, 2021 03:10 AM
      I do get your point. I omitted some good NU novels that I've read since it really isn't my tea. Besides, I heavily give emphasis on the no romance thing. So basically my list is based on my taste, my standard, and the theme. Anyway, I respect your opinion although we have opposite stance.
      Reply · 1 Like · ·