I  prune this list often with  better replacements. Last page has the "updates"... more>>

1. Charm of the soul pets 2. Mechanic 3. Overlord 4. Throne of magical arcana 5. Mage Adam 6. shrouded sea scape <<less

[binge over, now filling comment recs zzz] SPOILERS + assume i used mtl sites unless stated... more>>

fell into cn mtl hell. oops. also a list can only fit up to 99 novels so

Notes:
>  mainly fem protag villainess, modern or ancient settings
>  mostly complete stories
> chapters averaging 100+ only, no patience for bingeing 1000+ chapters
> will probably move comment recs into list ones, just, idk if i'll know it got an entry ngl
> contains dropped reads
> ratings mean... some things, but GtRaSML will always be last because of how long the read more is <<less

Sturgeon's law: 99% of everything is terrible.... more>>

I know many people say that there are no good novels on this site, and it oftens feels like the top lists are filled with overpowered MC's, undeveloped harems, 2D characters, and lacking plots.

There are some novels that stand out, however, whether that be for their plots, characters, or translations.

This is a list for my personal 1%. It is ranked in order. <<less

No description.

For all my poor citizens of harem society who try very hard to find good harem novels.... more>>

No ntr.(f*ck that bullshit)

If you know any great you can recommend me

But i can guarantee u i have read all good novels. <<less

BG modern romance : NO rebirth / NO transmigration ... more>>

Mostly FLUFF hehe

P.S. More novel recommendations in the comments. Its not listed here on NU yet and still unstranslated. But most of the MTL quality is still okay. I've read most of them on shubaow . net <<less

The book said, I will take 99 steps towards you and you only need to take the remaining one step. But no need. I will run all one hundred steps and you don't have to do anything, just stand there and wait for me. ... more>>

I guess with age, our taste turns weirder. I no longer dream of the prince charming on a white horse, but rather, I've set my target on the cold and indifferent villain. So here is the list of my favorite, flawed yet amazing MLs. 

This is purely subjective and please follow the list if you have the same weird taste as mine and do tell if you have other recommendations.

 The list contains:

Him/her with his/her unrequited love;

Couples who were separated for a very long time and unsure of the other person's feeling, but stayed true and loyal to his woman;

Or an ML who caused misery/grievance to his woman at first but turned st*pidly sweet after the redemption arc.

With that being said, Im into MLs with emotional issues and social barriers so you may not like them at first. I dont like perfect and very good mannered MLs, I like them flawed!

***Sorry. I'm boring so NO Yaoi, Yuri nor harem.

Recommended novels not linked to NU. Most are less than 100 chapters including extras.. (titles and synopsis in the comment section, mtl'ed but decipherable) <<less

Have read in 2023.

I am so addicted to gong mc BL.... more>>

Check comments for mtls hehe <<less

Waiting for the fruit to ripen…

A man in full combat uniform especially a good looking one, is a must-see combination. And if the man is smoking so badassly, then that's deadly. If the FL can fight and save her own a** then that's even deadlier.... more>>

I remember a novel I once read. FL said, "How fun would it be to slowly unbutton a man's military uniform?". Well, in my dictionary, that's gonna be f*cking hot. Especially, if what I'll uncover are well defined muscles and sexy mermaid lines.

Please follow the list if you also love military theme or has the same weird taste as mine and do tell if you have other recommendations.

***Sorry. I'm boring so NO Yaoi, Yuri nor harem.

Recommended novels not linked to NU. titles and synopsis in the comment section, mtl'ed but decipherable. Most are less than 100 chapters including extras. <<less

female fighting wars 

No description.

How would you bring technology into a fantasy world? Make sense of the magics? Feed people and get rid of the corrupt nobles? This is specifically on developing a city or territory, not:
- Developing a dungeon/core (see my other list: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/10742/)... more>>

First, a few worthy mentions that aren't on NU:
1. Castle Kingside (rewrite) - a lot of inspiration from Release that Witch, imo improved! Warning: it's slow. Kingdom only begins around c60ish.
2. The iron teeth - although territory development comes late in the story, it's well done and exotic, being based on a goblin kingdom
3. 1632 (published book) - an American village goes back to the 30 years war. It's much less fantastical, but has a lot of similar elements to other kingdom building novels.
4. The Eagle's Flight - highly intricate fantasy webnovel
5. Defiance of the fall
6. Randidly Ghosthound - neither Randidly nor Defiance of the Fall focus on kingdom building, but they both have elements related to setting up a post-apocalypse system city - complete the quest to get the village crystal/coin!
7. The Expansion (Legend of the Arch Magus) - [have not yet read] - recommendation from Hitexh in the comments
8. Enlightened Empire - weaker than the others <<less

If you don't have a home, then I'll give you a home. If you don't have any relatives, then I'll give you plenty of children. We'll have lots of kids and when they grow up and have family of their own, we'll have even more children. That way, you'll have a big family and plenty of loved ones.... more>>

Novels wherein I fell inlove with the FLs.

These FLs are (somewhat) decisive, stay true to their character, and have backbones all throughout or gained one after twists and turns.

You will see a lot of Jiu Yue Xi works. Damn, I love all of her female lead characters and of course, the novels itself.

There are recommended MTL'ed novels in the comment section.

Please do tell if you have recommendations. <<less

Combination of arranged marriage/marriage of convenience/flash marriage that I have read. ... more>>

Marriage first then love later is also one of my favorite tropes. The journey of how they blur the line between stranger and lovers 'lis quite funny and sweet.

Please follow the list if you have the same weird taste and do tell if you have recommendations.

***Sorry. I'm boring so NO Yaoi, Yuri nor harem.

Recommended novels not linked to NU. Most are less than 100 chapters including extras.. (titles and synopsis in the comment section, mtl'ed but decipherable) <<less

At what age does a person have to be before his love can be justified?... more>>

the list contains an older FL/ML with atleast 3 years age gap. There is joy in age gap.

When FL is older than him, ML is usually a loyal and clingy puppy. 

Whilst,

When ML is older than her, FL is treated and pampered like a baby.

Please follow the list if you have the same weird taste as mine.

***Sorry. I'm boring so NO Yaoi, Yuri nor harem and do tell if you have recommendations.

Recommended novels not linked to NU. Most are less than 100 chapters including extras.. (titles and synopsis in the comment section, mtl'ed but decipherable) <<less

"Fate is really wonderful, it never waits for anyone. If you had turned back, maybe we would have started something; but if you missed an intersecting road, we would have drifted away."... more>>

Second chances/lovers reunited is my chocolate. 

They said, "love is sweeter the second time around". And I agree (just in novels tho). I love how they change/correct each mistake and better themselves for him/her so this time, the happy ending they dreamed of will come true.

Please follow the list if you have the same weird taste and do tell if you have other recommendations.

***Sorry. I'm boring so NO Yaoi, Yuri nor harem. 

Recommended novels not linked to NU. Most are less than 100 chapters including extras.. (titles and synopsis in the comment section, mtl'ed but decipherable) <<less

i'd just like to share some cute romance novels i really enjoyed reading in no particular order <3... more>>

i will also be posting some novels that haven't been translated yet in the comments!  <<less

I don't like abusive, dog-blood drama, and weak characterization. I don't like Imbalanced Couple where the Seme/Gong is too Overbearing. I don't like weak, femininized, Uninteresting/Lackluster Uke, or bratty/silly Shou whose IQ drop drastically when encountering the Gong.  ... more>>

So these are a few novels with good plots, and mainly consist of interesting MC and good ML I strongly recommend. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NOVELS IN THIS LIST IS RANDOMLY LISTED WITHOUT FIXED RANKING, and also these are only novels that I HAVE READ. 
This list will randomly be updated if I find another worth noting novel. <<less

(There's a second list, just add a 2 to the name of this list and you'll find it) ... more>>

There are too many novels with cliché romance and harems with annoyingly useless girls. Reading them gets extremely tiring. There are too few novels with absolutely no form of romance or harem. Here are some novels I've found to not have romance/harem or have an harem/romance theme that didn't affect the plot of the novel to the point of it being annoying. 

Feel free to recommend novels that fit the criteria, arigatou^o^

P. S. I haven't read all the novels in this list so I might not be accurate in judging them. And there are some I've read but didn't finish and the novel ended up having romance or harem elements in a later chapter, please feel free to correct me anytime you see that I wasn't accurate. Arigatou minna-san <<less

Political intrigue with romance on sidelines but no Harem. Check comments section for untranslated suggestions. You can read the raws for them. All are HE. 

She said we are good friends, so I resisted the desire to hold her hand. But when she raised her head and looked at me with bright round eyes, I felt that my heart was no longer beating.... more>>

Childhood friends to lovers is definitely the sweetest trope. And I'm also curious. How does it feel to grow up and see a handsome face almost everyday?

Please follow the list if you like the novels listed and do tell if you have recommendations.

I like how they take the risk, follow their heart and confess. How the relationship change from friends-ambiguous relationship-lovers.

Recommended novels not linked to NU (title and synopsis in the comment section, mtl'ed but decipherable) <<less

You don't have to humble anyone, and you don't have to think that this chance is a pie dropped by the heaven. This is the glory that originally belonged to you, but now, it is back in your hands.... more>>

MLs regarded as geniuses in their respective fields. 

Please follow the list if you have the same weird taste and do tell if you have any recommendations.

***Sorry. I'm boring so NO Yaoi, Yuri nor harem.

Recommended novels not linked to NU. Most are less than 100 chapters including extras.. (titles and synopsis in the comment section, mtl'ed but decipherable) <<less

Novels that should be significantly more popular than they already are.  Comment any recs below! Everything added to this list at the time had less... more>> than a 1000 readers. Part 2: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/88138 <<less