List in no particular order of the best Chinese novels set in Ancient China. With palace entrigue, political scheming and surviving the inner court. Well-rounded and sometimes morally ambiguous main characters, who grow and develop along their partners.... more>>

-All these novels have been completely translated

- BG BL GL all included.

-List will continuously be in the making, if you find any other novels like the ones listed below, do recommend (Though I've read almost all of them). Keep in mind, that only the novels with completed translations will be added in the list. <<less

For personal reference/rereading. Mostly plot focus & serious favs, with solid writing/characterisations/overarching plot. Any pairings (mostly bl/het), but not many harem/stallion novels. Mostly CN/KR novels for dialogue. Roughly sorted, many genres, no/low spoilers.... more>>

I prefer wuxia over xianxia, tragedy over fluff, etc. Some less serious/non-plot-focused novels included/marked for their definitive traits.
Personal genre/trait favs: comedy, tragedy, historical, mystery, psychological, scifi, realistic, mature, bittersweet, wuxia, delinquents, strategies/war, empire building, betrayal, food.   <<less