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

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

(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

I've read novels over the years, and I guarantee you won't regret diving into them.... more>>

No BL, GL. Sorry that's not my type of novels. 

Other novels from another websites (webnovel, scribblehub..)

Time emperor (fanfic)
https://www.webnovel.com/book/time-emperor-(champion)_17500339706298405

Fox in a inverted world 
https://www.webnovel.com/book/fox-in-an-inverted-world_19203318006781205

Author POV 
https://www.webnovel.com/book/the-author's-pov_20524563005115705

Administrator
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/94510/-the-administrator-/

School idol (yandere/gore novel)
https://www.wattpad.com/story/296700221-the-school-idols-yandere-harem

Shadow s*ave
https://www.webnovel.com/book/shadow-s*ave_22196546206090805

A Budding Scientist in a Fantasy World
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/256241/a-budding-scientist-in-a-fantasy-world/

The Reincarnation of Alysara 
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/278151/the-reincarnation-of-alysara/

Nanomancer reborn 
https://www.webnovel.com/book/nanomancer-reborn---i've-become-a-snow-girl_14064812306272705

Mother of learning 
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/21220/mother-of-learning

My vampire System
https://www.webnovel.com/book/my-vampire-system_16709365405930105

Library of Rain
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/858447/library-of-rain/

For more recommendations, check out my next list: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/83142/ <<less

Sequence is CN- JP- KR- Fluffy- (Comedy)- Exceptions- To-reads. Not ranked by number. 
My descriptions varies greatly from a gist, polished review, impressions, or explains key points.        ... more>>

[Flexible Preferences] 
A. Protags are somehow mostly male but I read both!- interesting, has compelling qualities, flawed with development
B. Entertaining, Distinct, & Creative
C. Steady premise, no TERRIBLE plot hole 
D. Romance: good execution, pacing, build-up, & evokes emotion; no bullsh!t drama & brain-dead denseness
E. Vital, relevant, fleshed-out characters
F. Comedic & Fun
G. Danger, Wars, Battles, Strategy, Tactics, Trials, Fights, Thriller, Suspense
H. Lore, Culture, Kingdom, Worldbuilding 
I. Political Intrigue, Schemes, Mind Games, Manipulation, Mystery
J.  Pure tragedies rarely - it hurts!
K. No BL/GL(yet?)
L. Can be R-18 
M. Polygamous-like IF great story | even if you're averse consider my recs. ;)

[Criteria]
1. These are (mostly) 4/5 stars in story, translation and enjoyment according to my flawed evaluation that is mainly 3/10 objective, 7/10 subjective.
2. I have perused the novels or adaptation before sharing my thoughts.
3. Writing must be consistent, coherent and engaging and the ending must at least not be sh!t. Clichés to a point are fine however it needs to be purposeful & executed well. 
4. I will keep adding books that are promising, satisfying, translated.  <<less

50+ High Quality Novels.... more>>

read untranslated novels using ChatGPT, superior to Mtl. <<less

Isekais are fun reads when done right, cringey when generic, and horrible when done wrong.... more>>

Sorted from Best to Worst with the ratings being pretty biased.

Honorable Mentions: The Beginning after the End (NOT ON NU) {4.35/5} It's cool, that's all I can really say.

THE LIST NOW HAS A SECOND PART IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/8455/ <<less

I dislike ret*rds!!!!! Too much emotional mc is also a big no~~~~~~... more>>

Extremely kind mc is also meh... 

Lets be realistic everything is meh in front of benefit oriented mc.... But they are hard to find......

Ranking after first 3 is useless.  <<less

Here's a list of novels you might enjoy if you, like me, want to read some good stories that don't force an unnecessary & underdeveloped romance subplot where it isn't needed.... more>>

So these stories will have minimal to no romance, and I despise the harem trope in general. On the other hand, I'm a sucker for good bromance/brotherhood/friendship/found family stories. I also won't add any series to the list that I haven't personally read.

I decided to create this list because I've seen many similar 'no romance' lists on the site from which I've gotten many great recommendations to the point they have now become my go-to sources for new novels.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I'll be trying to organize the list based on how good I personally think the books are, but I'm only really certain about the first 4 being my favorites, the list then gets quite ambiguous, but I personally really like everything on the first page.

In the descriptions, I'll include how many chapters of the series I have read as well as how much romance there has been up until where I've read, as well as additional thoughts/opinions/warnings that I might have about the series.

I'll try to update the list whenever I find another good series to add. If you know of any series you think I'd like based on my list I'm more than open to suggestions! 

UPDATED JAN 1ST: Added 'The Nebula's Civilization' to the list. <<less

these novels aren't ranked. all are good and i recommend all of these for you guys to read. there's no (or some may have a little) romance here,  but no harem. ... more>>

♡ contains action, adventure, fantasy, horror, mystery, cultivation, supernatural, slice of life, world hopping etc...
♡ cn, kr, jp <<less

Here is a list of my favorite action web novels. I really don’t like romance and/or harem in my action focused novels, because it almost always detracts from the plot. So, these action novels have absolutely zero romance or harem. ... more>>

The first five are the ones I recommended to everyone and are the only ones that are in order. The following are more of a case by case basis. 

More recommendations (that aren’t listed on NU) in the comments.

All the MTL I recommend are very readable. I can't stand most MTL, including Comrademao and MTLNovel, so the only website that I use is Novelhi. <<less

Noice Novels...they are not in order

Q: How do you define a masterpiece? ... more>>

A: Something that has had a long-lasting effect on my mindset or even changed the way I think. 

Something that I'm reluctant to re-read because I know it can't be put down once started. 

Something that I think can't be reproduced even by the same author.

*Unordered list, can't compare different genres. 

Western/Translated Novels: 

- Catcher in the Rye

- Remembrance of Earth's past 

- Midnight Library and everything else by same author

- (Maybe) Books of Babel series <<less

Light novels in this list are my favorites and worth to read, and these are also the list of mtl ver. and my ratings on them :
2. Save Reloading Immortal: https://comrademao.com/novel/save-reloading-immortal/
3. I Just Won't Play by the Book: https://www.mtlnovel.com/i-just-wont-play-by-the-book/
4. The Ogre's Food Box: https://www.mtlnovel.com/the-ogres-food-box/
6. My Primitive People Are Awesome: https://www.mtlnovel.com/the-caveman-made-me-awesome/
7. Magus Tech: https://jpmtl.com/books/1214
9. This Big Shot is a bit Careless: https://comrademao.com/novel/this-big-shot-is-a-bit-careless/
10. I Really Am Not a Demon Lord: https://www.mtlnovel.com/i-really-am-not-the-lord-of-demon/
11. Monster Synthesis Master: https://www.mtlnovel.com/monster-synthesis-master/
13. RMJI - Immortal World: https://comrademao.com/novel/a-record-of-a-mortals-journey-to-immortality-immortal-realm
15. I Can't be A Sword God: https://www.mtlnovel.com/i-cant-be-a-sword-god/... more>>

List updated occasionally <<less

1. got transferred or got isekai'ed... more>>

OR 

2. Second chance

i am 17 y.o kid so this list might not be your taste,

after 3rd. the number is useless <<less

Tired of harem/romance ruining the plot? Check these out!... more>>

BTW, they're not in any particular order. <<less

Going into 2024, these novels continue to enrapture me due to their exceptional world-building, nuanced character arcs, and compelling plot-lines. Ranks are sorted.

Any kind of influence building like kingdom, clan ,buisness, gang,  secret organisation, etc, is considered.... more>>

Novels aren't ranked, so ignore the ranking. <<less

Evil and Ruthless Male Protagonists... more>>

More info on what i am searching: (The title may not be entirely accurate.)

Evil mc ( someone who do not care about other people, and can do anything for his goals )

Ruthless mc ( someone who do not hesitate to kill )

Neutral mc ( Neither a good person, nor a bad person, But care more about his own profits, Rational-Pragmatic type of route )

No Romance ( For this one, i also mean, less romance or none maybe, as well. No romance and no female lead are different. )

No Heroine ( i will use this word for those novels where there is no female lead. ) This is a word you find usually in mtl.
Extra:https://www.novelupdatesforum.com/threads/no-romance-and-no-harem-novels-only-can-be-evil-cold-ruthless-or-villain-egoist-pragmatic-mc.161306/

Sharing a Discord Invite Code, For Evil mc novels, But only MTL. Discord invite: ywyGwvK5ns. 

P.S: My reviews might be rough sometimes, but they're my honest thoughts. I wouldn't share a novel in here if I didn't think there was something worthwhile. Use them as a guide and decide for yourself. Treat each novel like a Poison Test. Enjoy your reading! <<less

My all time favorites, absolutely no romance. Listed in order of personal enjoyment. Near the end of the list, it becomes something more like "yeah this was pretty good," but nevertheless, I did enjoy it. ... more>>

Sidenote: I find it hard to read novels where MCs are too brutal/ruthless, so don't expect many recs on those novels. 

Recommendation: I highly recommend Mother of Learning. Originally an english webnovel, so it's not on novel updates (It's on royalroad and fictionpress). No romance, and the time travel/time loop is well done. It's completed at 800k words. The writing has it's flaws, but I personally found it incredibly enjoyable. 

Summary: Zorian, a mage in training, only wanted to finish his education in peace. Now he struggles to find answers as he finds himself repeatedly reliving the same month. 'Groundhog Day' style setup in a fantasy world.

Another english webnovel that's really good is Never Die Twice. Completed. No romance. Villain MC. LitRPG.  <<less

Everyone has their own preferences and picks.
These are novels that I read. Though some of them I have already dropped.... more>>

In order of how great they are in my view. 

Status: 

Read - I have read it to completion

Up to latest chapters - always up to date with the latest chapters

Waiting for chapters - update frequency is slow, tend to stack up chapters to read

Unplanned Dropped - Dropped the novel with no future plan for it. May or may not continue reading

Temporarily Dropped - Dropped due to inconveniences, fully planned on reading again

[Order is relative to this list and not the subsequent lists]

Second List: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/6452/ <<less

Well, almost all my reading list.

Don't expect many harems with characters who can't think for themselves or fall in love with the MC before page 1. Many might have a slow moving plot... have to invest yourself into the characters to find the tragic, beautiful and poignant!... more>>

First, some English original webnovels that are superb and easily googleable (in order of best characters, not necessarily plot): 
1. Trailer tr*sh
2. Iron Teeth
3. Castle Kingside (rewrite)
4. Metaworld Chronicles
5. The Good Student
6. Worm (Parahumans)
7. AnimeCon Harem (18+)
8. Mother of Learning
9. Selena's Reign
10. Double Blind: A modern litRPG
11. Tidal Lock (unfinished)

Note that I've been recently pruning and updating the list to remove some that were just good stories with average characters and move them over to new lists that are top of their genre. You can see all my rec lists at https://www.novelupdates.com/user/10378/tallrice/ <<less

This is a list for my personal 0.1%. ... more>>

List is not ranked in order <<less

No description.