BL: Top Picks- Xuanhuan/Xianxia/Wuxia

CN (4.4)

65 Chapters Every 76.2 Day(s) 17945 Readers 408 Reviews 04-27-2023

Action Adventure Drama Mature Romance Smut Tragedy Xianxia Yaoi

Rating: 5/5- I think I may need some therapy after reading this book. As of now, this book has topped my “best books ever read in my current lifetime” list. ... more>>

I don’t think I’ve cried this much reading a tragedy novel as much as I cried during ErHa. Even though I don’t shy away from angsty tragedy novels- this was really excruciating. Like thinking of certain parts in the story still makes my stomach drop and heart race, like that’s how this book will affect you.

I binge read this book and all I can say is that it’s one excruciatingly painful and adrenaline pumping journey. I was so emotionally invested and affected from start to finish and it’s been such a long time for me to so deeply immerse myself in a character’s world since TGCF (HOB).

You know, firstly the author, Meatbun, is truly talented but wow! Can they inflict pain, damn.

The dedication to every character created was so splendid and so beautifully written. No character behaved at the reader’s will and this story never once goes how you expect it to go. That thrill and edge is always there. The sting of heartbreak, pain, sacrifice and flawed humanity is so patiently and thoroughly told. You get s**ked into this carefully weaved story that paints a vivid but numbingly painful experience. Each character’s story was so profoundly told with the right amount of detail, that you could create a connection with them, good or bad. I really felt joy and sorrow, genuinely, as I went through this book.

I think it will be hard to find a book like this, that hits you so deeply, in the future. It’s not an easy read and I felt truly exhausted, physically (coz I read into the wee hours of the morning) and emotionally, after reaching the end. It was a very bittersweet moment for me to finally put down the book and rest my eyes and also say goodbye to the world that I grew so immersed in and the characters I fell in love with.The best love stories are the most painful love stories and the best love is the most flawed love. This book really showed me that and I felt like my romantic and masochistic heart had finally been beaten to death and resurrected. A beautifully bittersweet feeling.

In a way, this book really brings out your inner masochist if you can make it to the end- even if it’s with swollen eyes, a snotty nose and probably lying in a coffin awaiting your emotional destruction. It’s a masterpiece, a once in a lifetime kinda read, unforgettable and brilliant, beautiful and sorrowful. I probably won’t forget this book for years to come. Here’s hoping that the series coming out in 2021 does it justice. <<less

CN (4.4)

#2Yu Wu

34 Chapters Every 133.7 Day(s) 9770 Readers 99 Reviews 06-01-2020

Action Adult Drama Fantasy Romance Smut Tragedy Xianxia Yaoi

Rating: 5/5- Knives! Knives! And more Knives! Wow!... more>>

CN (4.3)

#3The Legendary Master’s Wife

733 Chapters Every 153.2 Day(s) 20148 Readers 392 Reviews 03-27-2019

Completed Action Adult Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Mature Romance Smut Xuanhuan Yaoi

Rating: 5/5- I will re-read this novel into my golden years. This journey was one I wanted to be on until the end. The exaggeration, the golden finger, the naivety, the face slapping. ... more>>

CN (4.7)

#4The Founder of Diabolism

28 Chapters Every 14.8 Day(s) 27832 Readers 563 Reviews 06-23-2025

Completed Adventure Drama Mystery Romance Supernatural Xianxia Yaoi

Rating: 5/5- this novel got me into BL so it gets an unforgettable rating from me. ... more>>

CN (4.7)

#5Heaven Official’s Blessing

28 Chapters Every 16.7 Day(s) 23247 Readers 513 Reviews 11-29-2020

Completed Drama Mystery Romance Shounen Ai Xianxia

Rating: 5/5- Wow! This was so wonderful!... more>>

CN (4.6)

#6Mistakenly Saving the Villain

140 Chapters Every 63.5 Day(s) 15720 Readers 287 Reviews 09-23-2023

Completed Drama Mature Psychological Romance Tragedy Xianxia Yaoi

Rating: 5/5- Absolutely SPECTACULAR! Unforgettable! Heartbreaking but beautiful!... more>>

CN (4.5)

#7Nan Chan

0 Chapters Every 1699 Day(s) 9321 Readers 103 Reviews 11-01-2020

Adventure Mature Psychological Romance Supernatural Tragedy Xianxia Yaoi

Rating: 5/5- I loved this! Thrilling, dark and wonderful! CP of the year 2021, thus far, goes to Emperor Cang and Jing Lin! I don’t care what anyone else says!... more>>

The CP in this story is one of the many reasons to read this novel. They are officially in my favorite CP list! I wish there were more extras with them but their chemistry and interactions throughout the book was so lovely and heartwarming but also emotionally devastating and heartbreaking!

Plus that little stone figure is adorable!

I always thought that HOB would top my list of Xuanhuan novels but I must say that Nan Chan can compete at the same level and may in some aspects give HOB a run for its money. The main characters are wonderful and colourful in their own right. They live up to the flawed and in likeable as well as the wondrous and likeable. All the characters in the book are not boringly oppressive and have many weaknesses as much as strengths. It’s the various flaws, fears and weaknesses that really sets the tone for the book and pushes the stories development.

Reading this was a similar emotional experience to reading ErHa, for me (although not as tragically intense). It is a heartbreaking novel but it also has a wonderfully redeeming end. I loved that the characters were not perfect and that the story was so intriguing, forcing you to want to turn the page but also making you feel as if you didn’t want the end to come.

My only qualm was a single dubcon scene between the main CP, although it does contribute a lot to the story I couldn’t help but wonder if it could have been avoided or handled differently. It’s not really a mood killer per say but Cang Ji is actually such a puppy and in a way the dubcon felt a little out of character for him. He’s intrusive and a little pushy but his character was never really the dubcon type. Anyway- that’s just my personal take on that and I didn’t hate it because, like I said- it was crucial to the story and had its reasonings in that context and there was guilt felt.

One of the biggest highlights for me was the plot. This plot was so excellent that I will remember it for a long time! It really keeps you on edge and the way the story ties up, even with all the painfully told stories of the side characters and the vicious greed and selfishness, the cruelty and greed of the world really is well told by the author. I definitely look forward to reading more work from this author.

Lastly, the ending was spectacular! I didn’t see the ending coming all the way until the last few chapters reveal. Kudos to the author for that! Managing to add the element of surprise and keep it going until that late into a novel is very difficult because it’s often that you guess the correct villains, white lotuses, bosses etc quite early on. With this novel pretty much all my guesses were wrong which was such a great feeling.

Overall, I absolutely adore the CP and the plot as well as this author! This is my new favorite in this genre and I highly recommend reading this as long as you can stomach the trauma and psych damaging story (at certain parts) and handle a bit of tragedy.

Also, just read it for the cutie pie baby stone figure and our wonderful main CP! <<less

CN (4.3)

#8It’s Not Easy Being a Master

97 Chapters Every 127.8 Day(s) 10938 Readers 162 Reviews 04-11-2020

Completed Action Adventure Mature Mystery Romance Xianxia Yaoi

Rating: 5/5- This is what the gist of rebirth/transmigration novels should be about it. Totally worth it if you’re looking for a simple, well told rebirth novel without too much pain.... more>>

When I started this novel, I was worried it would disappoint me like a few other novels of the same genre, but soon after the first 3-4 chapters, it just picked up and it became such a smart and beautiful story. It doesn’t have major plot twists or OP type characters. It’s a story that feels good with just the right amount of everything and that is what my review is based on. I really commend the author’s storytelling skills as well as the translator for ensuring such a well written story, comes through.

(Don’t compare it to s*um Villain, that’s my advice)

Firstly the characters are really beautiful, very wholesome and the author spent time developing them and their backstories. The plot flows brilliantly with mystery and suspense egging you onwards to turn the next page. Side characters are just as substantial and you can connect with them.

The imagery and secret realms were a big plus for me because I genuinely enjoy secret realm stories and plundering spoils as well as various cultivation types.

I loved the little side stories with the characters they encountered on their journeys. The heartbreak and pain as well as the joy and love really came through without feeling rushed, untimely or half-baked, throughout the novel. Even though I personally love cultivation novels with emphasis on the ascension to immortal level and foundation building. This book wasn’t as heavily xianxia focused but it still drew me in. I think the mystery around the characters and the truth about what really happened in their pasts, was enough to hook me.

In a way the respectful, satisfying and wholesome relationship between the MC and ML was a highlight, only second to the well written and tied up plot. The ML as well was really great because he wasn’t the common trope, even if he had tsundere vibes now and then.

I’d love to explore some side character relationships and even read a spin-off or two. Of course, little Caoya was amazing as well. Plant spirits are my new thing!

Overall this is such a wonderful novel! I really had a great time following this story. Well paced, neither too long or short and satisfying overall. These characters are simply fantastic and the plot is truly fantastic!

Just give it a go! <<less