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The stuff you will binge all night
The stuff you will binge all night
Title says it all, the stuff that I find to be the creme de la crem of East Asian novels (kr, JP, cn)
I’ll also throw in some guilty pleasures that I enjoy, but they’ll be marked with a comment.
What I tend to like: Strong Characterizations, Character relationships, good world building, excellent writing, great dialogue, realistic romancing (basically mature, not in hs anymore romance)
What I tend to dislike: Shounen (too formulaic and limiting on the stories they’ll tell), Harem (if not for realistic/fit into the story reasons), Romance where the reasons the characters like each other are unrealistic/wish fulfillment/s*upid (I’m looking at you, popular/hot/charismatic girl dates the wet mop of a child cause the plot needs to happen)
Current tropes I have beef with:
1. Girl was protected/saved/impressed once by wet noodle mc in early elementary school, so she’s interested in him in high school. Such a lazy plot device and it feels like every damn KOREAN/JP novel has some variation of this. UGH IT’S PAINFUL LEARN HOW TO WRITE FEMALE CHARACTERS.
2. When the characters are 10-12 but act like 16-20 year olds. Like…… fantasy doesn’t explain smol boy/girl holding 100lb sword or being Sun Tzu from birth (unless you’re Sun Tzu who got isekai’ed)
If you’re curious why something you’ve read isn’t on this list that you think should be, please check my other list which logs all the novels I’ve read and if it’s not there, suggest in the comments :)
I’ll also throw in some guilty pleasures that I enjoy, but they’ll be marked with a comment.
What I tend to like: Strong Characterizations, Character relationships, good world building, excellent writing, great dialogue, realistic romancing (basically mature, not in hs anymore romance)
What I tend to dislike: Shounen (too formulaic and limiting on the stories they’ll tell), Harem (if not for realistic/fit into the story reasons), Romance where the reasons the characters like each other are unrealistic/wish fulfillment/s*upid (I’m looking at you, popular/hot/charismatic girl dates the wet mop of a child cause the plot needs to happen)
Current tropes I have beef with:
1. Girl was protected/saved/impressed once by wet noodle mc in early elementary school, so she’s interested in him in high school. Such a lazy plot device and it feels like every damn KOREAN/JP novel has some variation of this. UGH IT’S PAINFUL LEARN HOW TO WRITE FEMALE CHARACTERS.
2. When the characters are 10-12 but act like 16-20 year olds. Like…… fantasy doesn’t explain smol boy/girl holding 100lb sword or being Sun Tzu from birth (unless you’re Sun Tzu who got isekai’ed)
If you’re curious why something you’ve read isn’t on this list that you think should be, please check my other list which logs all the novels I’ve read and if it’s not there, suggest in the comments :)
21 Followers
Created: Nov 6th, 2022, Updated: Jan 25th, 2023
Created Nov 6th, 2022
Updated Jan 25th, 2023
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*review after 450 chapters*... more>>
211 Chapters Every 50.5 Day(s) 9905 Readers 89 Reviews 06-12-2023
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96 Chapters Every 87 Day(s) 12264 Readers 57 Reviews 03-24-2022
Man, this one has the mojo. The ages are a bit weird (12) kinda similar to Eliza (Recommendation #5 above), but other than that it’s very cute with a good plot to back it all up. The level of feels and political intrigue are perfectly balanced for the story, and even the “obsession” our FMC has develops and changes. Everyone has a bright side, everyone has a dark side, and the fact that the world is an otome game doesn’t define everything. ... more>>
Comments (12)
This is a f*cking quality list, both in selections and provided descriptions. I've read 3/5 of the recommended and agree with everything you said about them, and am about to pick up the other 2 since you recommended them.
I do think that from your other list Deathbound Duke's Daughter (Shini Yasui Kōshaku Reijō to Shichi-nin no Kikōshi) should be a candidate to include here – while the start is a little slow, that's because it spends time doing world building, and it's some of the best world building bar none I've ever read within the otome isekai genre. The plot is also very well constructed, and the translation quality is excellent. It's a shame the LN didn't get much traction in Japan, but that's unfortunately what happens to a lot of quality stories in a market where the readers are primarily focused on quick self insert and wish fulfillment stories (*cough cough shitty isekai harems*). The WN is also still in progress and is being updated and seems to be in the ending arc.
Also, since you asked for recommendations from others, you should go read Ending Maker, which I didn't see on your list – it's very high-quality and one of my favorite novels on the site that I've read and checks all the boxes you mentioned, and is completed as a bonus.
@di2857295 Hm, trying to think of other things I've read to recommend.
I remember Common Sense of a Duke's Daughter as one of the better OI stories I've read (at least with the portion I read, I haven't got around to finishing it). Female lead is a bit of a Mary Sue but the early novel itself is quite strong and the author is clearly quite intelligent, although I've heard the later parts of the novel and ending are weaker and drag on a bit. There's a manga for this one as well.
I've heard good things about A Transmigrator's Privilege, which is one of the rare novels I've stumbled upon with a female main character in a Korean dungeon story setting. Haven't finished it though but I intend to since I was lucky enough to stumble upon an edited MTL that's actually readable. I've heard a lot of comparisons to Omniscient Readers Viewpoint, which despite its flaws, is a pretty solid and quality story that has a conclusive plot line, so I expect good things from it. Also currently has a manhwa adaptation.
And going back to the otome isekai genre, Kenkyo, Kenjitsu o Motto ni Ikite Orimasu (Reika-sama) I recall being a very solid and entertaining read. And unique in the fact that it's purely slice of life without any significant world shattering consequences involved in the story. Unfortunately it seems to be permanently on hiatus and won't ever be completed, but the available chapters are entertaining enough to read by themselves.
This list f*cking sucks wheres the main heroines are trying to kill me? Wheres dungeon defense? like are you okay? need to get ur eyes checked or something? And to top it off you actually LIKED kidnapped dragons? that novel is just plain bread MC and terrible plot and heroines iq of literal bugs and MC so overpowered literally 0 tension in the story. Meets a strong demon? Already killed them LOL!!!!
Please fix your dog taste and delete this list.
Mate I think you need to see a doctor to find your EQ or something. If you had any EQ you’d - a. Understand why Kidnapped Dragons isn’t about the MC being OP or the fights, it’s about emotions AND B. wouldn’t be going through all my lists because I don’t particularly like main heroines.
People like you are the precise reason this list exists, since I’m looking for/ wanting to share quality writing and deep characters…. not wooden boards.
@di2857295 EMOTIONS? THE MC DOESN'T HAVE ANY BRO HE IS THE EPITOME OF WOODEN BOARDS NO HE IS THE KING OF WOODEN BOARDS B - YOURE 'opinion' is not considered an 'opinion' BECAUSE YOU yes YOU have SHI*T TASTE. YOU. HAVE. SH*T. TASTE. Have I made myself clear? Normally I would understand hey this person likes this novel, but when you hate the masterpiece "The main heroines are trying to kill me" and instead you like the most BORING novel in EXISTENCE "Kiddnapped dragons" it just how blatantly stup*d you really are or your trolling which I so dearly hope you are.
Please. delete this dogsh*t.
@CapybarasOKIPULLUP dude that’s what I gotta ask you, no one asked you to come here and simp for main heroines. You don’t like the crem de la crem of East Asian novels? You can leave and go back to your safe space called wish fulfillment harems. The door is a mouse click away