Stories with a close friendship/relationship between two male characters that is not romantic in nature.

No romance, no harem. Just MC with their brotherhood/sisterhood or found-family ^^~.... more>>

Novels with adaptations are noted.

Recommendations are appreciated! <<less

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

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

GENRES: either Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Martial Arts, Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life, Supernatural... more>>

A compilation of my favorites (CN, JP, KR) in alphabetical order.
*read the comments for additional recommendations (original novels)
*will update when I find and read new interesting ones <<less

Noice Novels...they are not in order

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

Isekai and transmigration with good plots. A lot of them focused on world building and the occasional kingdom building
Also has unique reincarnation and time traveling stories. ... more>>

Mind the tags as the list contain yuri and yaoi <<less

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

3rd List -
https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/61691

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

me n my weird taste... more>>

some reviews contains spoiler (⁠๑⁠•⁠﹏⁠•⁠)

not on the list:

- The beginning after the end

2: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/82408/ <<less

I really like the fantasy genre, especially those who have many creatures and many mythological elements, and of course have a good plot..... I don't... more>> think it needs a plot that is so wow, enough to make me happy it's enough <<less

Action-packed and plot-heavy novels. No romance.... more>>

Love is temporary, EXP is eternal. <<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

A list consisting of novels that I found to be really good/interesting . The list doesnt really have a strict ranking order , unless i... more>> mention it in the description of the book and  this list is still a work in progress as well i will be editing the list whenever i personally get some time to complete the descriptions along with adding new series that i find interesting as well. <<less

I ain't reading half of this list yet, just want to clear my tabs.... more>>

Male MC. fantasy/adventure/action/isekai/game/novel elements, can be reincarnation/transmigration/2nd chance/dystopian,  some modern setting and less/no action, some might originally from that world, some might be more psychological, some might be harem as well. 

in no particular order

Part 2: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/57754/?ft=yes <<less

No description.

Big world, many races, crafting, and travelling. There are exciting moments, funny moments,  even boring moments, finding hidden treasures in a side road shop, heart thumping moments when you met with formidable foes, feeling the vastness of the world as you gaze at the world map, feeling the cultures of locals, fortunate encounters.... more>>

This list seeks the freedom of adventure as much as possible

do try this song, feels very representing this listhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVWapbw_8-0

*Unsorted, there are quite a few series that have their link taken off from novel updates list. Well, just check the google in that case. Or trv vnmeido. <<less

This list is a bit of a mix of series that I could recommend without hesitation to anyone to try and those that may not... more>> be sensational, but for some reason interested me. As soon as I find some time I will split it into several other lists. <<less

The list name says it all.... more>>

I was so hooked to the point I forgot my assignments before I finished reading the translations <<less

This list is for people, like me, who are tired of romance and just want to read a good story.

novel's that i finished so here's the list
yes i know everyone has a different taste.... more>>

but hope you guys enjoy this sh*t <<less

This rec list contains all the novels I have read and considered of high quality in one way or another. Pattern could be seen among the novels I've picked that is that these novels contains non-obnoxious MC, satisfying (to a certain extent) plot, good translation, focus mainly on MC and such. Though I highly rated these novels, there is no guarantee that this list will satisfy all the readers, that is because a good story is a story that provides what the readers wanted or needed. No YAOI/BL elements in the slightest. ... more>>

NB = There are novel series which I've only read their Manga/Manhwa adaptation, and not their novel version. They are noted with MANGA/MANHWA VERSE. Still, I can assure you that these series I've picked still excels in their manga/manhwa version. 

Other recommendations not on NU = Beware of Chicken (10/10), Forgotten Conqueror (?/10) Number One Under Heaven (8.9/10), TBATE (10/10), Skyrim: Dragonborn Within (15/10 absolutely fantastic, a must read for sure), Goddess of Ice; Reborn as Naruto’s twin sister (9.2/10), The Simulacrum (9.5/10), Life in Vain: Jobless Reincarnation (9.6/10), The Second Coming of Gluttony, the First of Vainglory (9.3/10), Redemption's Rose (9.5/10)

Websites for reading novels = Novelupdates, Royalroad, Webnovel, Scribblehub <<less

Mostly no romance, some I dropped because I started reading others, but still recommend. The order doesn't matter.

I've been reading LN since 2017, I initially started with JP and then moved on to KR and CN, especially those with character names that don't appear as random jargon to my eyes (as most of the CN ones), but with a few exceptions (some KN ones).... more>>

I mostly prefer fantasy with a bit of romance on the side, but also don't mind other genres when done well. These are the ones I liked that I hope will keep you entertained.

I will keep adding more as I remember/read others.

Honourable mentions (not on NU):

 The beginning after the End, Mother of Learning, Supreme Magus, Underland <<less

No description.