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

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

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

Novels that have no lasting romance or love interests. There will be no smut, harem (if MC attracts some people, I don't mind until it becomes a major part of the story or MC becomes interested in them), or ecchi, and BL/GL also count as romance. The list includes a personal rating and (often rambling) review/description.... more>>

Of course, it's also about my tastes, so this list will be mostly fantasy and action novels (op mc will be a common feature). I am a wordy person so I also don’t mind wordier books, too... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The list is in no particular order, but novels with <100 chapters and on hiatus/slow updating (less/around as often as 1 chap/month) will go in the back, starting at #33. This is because I assume people are looking for binge reads like me.

DISCLAIMER: The list is subject to change and revision - my impression changes as I think about them/read more. I cannot guarantee a novel has no romance later. I'll try to update this rec list as I read. No promises though, so my descriptions may be outdated.

~
Similar lists (insert after the "viewlist/" in the URL): 68396, 3797, 46727, 20556, 7097, 25820, 47958, 19335, 48107, 50847, 29345, 44031 <<less

Caution: bear the risk of having your taste being too sky-high standard.

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

1st List -
https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/44031/... more>>

2nd List -
https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/50277/

I am doing this list for people like me who enjoy family and friendships or gets entrained by MC building there organisations directly or indirectly—

(Unedited) They are all in alphabetic orders, # or A-Z

There will also master-follower relationship or master-disciple relationship being recovered or building up between them…

And some overstate themselves even though they are OP or haven’t released their power-There are no romance nor harem but there might be people around them having favorable impressions on them or bad reputation trying to be fixed or just leaving it…

I will try to put on novels that I’m sure there isn’t any romance nor harem and have already read them so to be double sure and some are recommended to me and had told me there isn’t :>

Any that are involve with the tag romance is explained in the bottom ^^*

Loving family for the beginning, knowing, and get transmigrated in a novel or another world ✌️

MC - Main Character
OP - Over Powered
OG FL - Original Female Lead
FL - Female Lead
OG ML - Original Male Lead
ML - Male Lead
BL - Boy’s Love
GL - Girl’s Love
GB - Genderbend <<less

A list of memorable stories I read on novelupdates that covers mostly survival stories, reincarnation in non-human beings, second chances in other worlds and novels that felt unique in some way.... more>>

More often than not, stories I included had some grim parts to them. Where I find it necessary, I'll put a warning. 

Some stories are simply positive. Not everything needs to be dark. <<less

Personal favourites, in no particular order.... more>>

Idk if I'm allowed to put this here but anything QI in this list? Aggregators lmao

More recommendations (this list is non-exhaustive): [The Menocht Loop][Azarinth Healer][Deathworlders][Mother of Learning][Delve][There is no epic loot here, only puns.][Spellgun][The Abyssal Dungeon][Daedalus][Those who aspired to become gods][Apex Predator][I am going to die (in this game-like dimension)][Metaworld Chronicles][The last angel: Ascension][Unbound][Vainqueur the Dragon][Deeper Darker][Mud's Mission][Empire of Salt][Gaia Awakens][The Gam3][Never Die Twice][The Forgotten Conqueror][Tallrock][The Only Real Cultivator][Seabound][Worm][Vaudevillain][A Hermit's Life for Me][Shade Touched][Just A Bystander][Sylver Seeker][Magic-smithing][The House Witch][Apocalypse: Generic System][Rebirth in a Magical World][The Oscillation][Fork this Life][Beware of Chicken][The House Witch][Valkyrie's Shadow][Salvos][First Contact][A Sense for Magic][Romantically Apocalyptic][The Stars Have Eyes]

Extras:[I don't  want this kind of Hero][Weak Hero][Jigokuraku][World Trigger][Hunter x Hunter][Eleceed] <<less

Harem stories can go away. I'm tired of that sh*t.

[BG] - [No CP]
https://forum.novelupdates.com/blogs/waiting-list.4115/... more>>

Manga

dimensional mercenary

Take me out

Waiting list

The face-slapping path of sword repairer male god (Quickly wear) 剑修男神打脸之路（快穿）
[No CP] Reverse Life (Quick Pass)              【无CP】逆转人生（快穿）   

The male god only wants to serve the country     男神一心只想报效国家[快穿]

Male with a high position, kicking the male lead [fast wear]    男配上位，踹飞男主[快穿]

He heard his lover discussing with the system how to attack him    他听到爱人在和系统讨论怎么攻略他

[No CP] The gluttonous food collapses the plot [Quickly wear]      【无CP】饕餮吃崩了剧情[快穿]

[No CP] [Comprehensive Martial Arts] My life will stop  【无CP】[综武侠]吾命将休

[Sword Three] Nothing to Do_Xiaohu Xili [End]    [剑三]闲来无事_小狐昔里【完结】   

Hardcore Quick Wear_Little Fox Xili [End + Fan Wai]      硬核快穿_小狐昔里【完结+番外】   

[Comprehensive] Zhao Ru Sun and Moon_Little Fox Xili [End + Fan Wai]     [综]昭如日月_小狐昔里【完结+番外】 <<less

Well first off these are my masterpiece novels and you can be rest assured each of novel here are quality novels that has something for everyone on each of them. But it will heavily depend on your taste whether you will like them or not. I will leave out description for what to expect so even though they are my masterpiece you might not enjoy. Pick carefully.... more>>

And Please ignore the ranking i love each and every novel here equally they cannot be ranked as  each one of them excels in their own genre. And another advise dont trust NU ratings blindly. Who knows you might enjoy the novel very much even though ratings are low. Low-ratings doesnt mean bad novel. I have found myself there and sometimes even though NU ratings were low i really enjoyed the story.

Another thing is there are very less JP/Kr novels here cause good CN novels are wholesome while KR novels are short and sweet but not wholesome. About jap novels though,i have lot of grievance with them, None of Jap novel MC feel humane except the 1% jp novel Mc. Yes i feel sociopathic, Hypocritical, Genocidal, Arrogant, Racist, hotblooded CN mc more humane then jap beta c*ck pu*sy Gary stu mc.  <<less

I feel really bad when I start reading a good novel thinking that it's quite good and doesn't have useless & annoying harem  it turns... more>> out to be one. It's seriously annoying. This list contains novels which aren't harem . Mc have only one wife/gf or none at all. Let's start( uh..... I'm quite new to nu so don't mind my listing style & they aren't in order) <<less

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.... more>>

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'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! <<less

No CP = no couple... more>>

The protagonist either

1- doesn't have any romantic relationships at all and never thinks about having one.

2- Has romantic entanglement with others, but for reasons such as:

a) being rational, perfectionism or a natural scum they can let go of the relationship and move on, either into a new relationship (which won't be their last) or choose to be a lone wolf as being in a relationship doesn't bring them satisfaction [Aka in this situation the problem is from protagonists themselves] 

 b) Their love interest(s) have problems either scum or villain, meaning there is no love interest suitable for a serious relationship. In this stories, protagonists clearly know their wants and needs, and the importance and factors of a healthy relationship, they are mature and sensible, and don't mind having a relationship but won't force it <<less

I want to scout for novels that are everything EXCEPT romance to cleanse my brain. I'm over the usual, and shallow love affairs. Blame my age. ... more>>

*currently under construction* <<less

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

I hate harem. Why? Because most of the time it leads the story to a direction that's not pleasing. And most of all I don't... more>> fantasize about having thousands of girl on my lap.  Hell I'm not even interested in romance . Anyway this list contains novels that have zero harem and maybe it will have novels that have romance, but almost all of them are not focused on romance
So enjoy (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*.✧ <<less

Get that harem sh*t out of here.... more>>

A BL reader's curated guide (with comments) to exciting non-BL stories with either no M/F romance or very little late romance. And NO idiotic, horndog MCs!!! <<less

A list of novels where people are summoned to unique spaces separate from the real world and have to complete tasks, generally stuff like puzzles, survival or horror games.... more>>

List is in no particular order. <<less

Characters who have self-serving personalities or tendencies, and may or may not show it in interactions, actions, emotions, intent, and thoughts. Or just that the character has a willingness to do things that aren't compatible with our modern and diverse views regarding morals, ethics, principles, and ideals of good. Of course these books have different tones and also handling of this subject.... more>>

The list was created with much subjectivity, as I won't put protagonists whose good qualities overshadows all their impactful grey actions and evil actions, which is important to me regardless of whether they are truly good or evil. -> Different examples of who I won't include are Song Shuhang (kindness), Klein Moretti (principles and heroic actions), Kim Dokja (altruism), and Chen Ge (goodwill and generosity).

Work in progress. Of course I have read these, I will simply state if I did not. Most are good novels but I will add some non-favorites, which is purely my opinion because I have a personal standard of quality.

UNRANKED

Let me not bother about my face and recommend my list for top quality novels I've enjoyed:  https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/16488/ <<less

Hodge podge of novels I enjoyed over my long long reading journey. Reading taste is all over the place.

In no particular order. Props to anyone else who has read them all.

I'll be adding my own ratings for each novel on this list. The core of this list is the [S] rating. The rest are just additions.... more>>

[S]: Masterpiece

[A]: Very Good

[B]: Good

[C]: Normal <<less

it’s my collection of KR and CN novels (the gold CN not the tr*sh type) and some mysterious and horror maybe some comedy too the... more>> harem is forbidden tho <<less