Famous enough at this point that if you like BL, you've probably already read it. ... more>>

The MC is audacious and I love it.  He has the power to back up what he wants, even if it's to defy the established traditions.  There is a heavy price to pay for it though.  The ML cherishes him even so and is compelled to make up for his previous estrangement.

A heads up for interested parties, they did a donghua with 3 seasons, listed as Mo Dao Zu Shi.  The animation is quite fluid and good quality.  The studio has done a really nice job of it.  Unfortunately the 3rd season chops out a bit of the story, but honestly, it was still pretty good.  The romance is actually acknowledged towards the end, but there's nothing physical portrayed. 

Also, there is a subtitled live action drama called The Untamed.  It's on Netflix and I've seen it elsewhere online.  There's technically no romance, but since actors can depict more subtlety than animation, oh there's 100% something going on between those two.  They aren't even barely trying to deny it.

You can now buy it in English.  It has been separated into several volumes.  This is my favorite of her novels by far, so I'd encourage supporting the author by buying a copy of it.  For some reason my local store has it in the graphic novels section? <<less

A very hard to predict novel, but well written.  Think ABO lovecraftian intergalactic scifi horror.  It's a bit of a mouthful, but it works.  The MC is a Beta, but a submissive.  Alpha's are domineering jerks as per usual. Omegas are typically damsels in distress (with a notable exception).  Adding to this, the characters' lives are restrictive and difficult and each must find their way to cope.   I don't remember if it was the translator or the author who wrote it, but they said that they intentionally made everyone morally grey.  There isn't a hero or a villain.  A jerk isn't always a jerk.  One moment of kindness doesn't mean you get it the... more>> next.

I actually think the rating should be higher than a 4.5, but maybe some people just don't like slimy stuff? <<less

*You'll have to search somewhere else than NU to read it because most of the chapters were locked.  I was too lazy to search if someone completed the full translation, so I'm not sure where to look.*... more>>

Because of the instability of the time period, the characters go through a lot of character growth and development.  What they do and how they act changes according to their circumstances and the story flows with a natural progression.  There is a nice melding of adventure, politics and slice of life.  Other than OP martial arts, it stays reasonably realistic. <<less

A well written slice of life.  Enjoyable characters.  Very sweet, but with substance.... more>>

Looks like it's being made into a cartoon. <<less

Licensed in English so you'll have to find a different route to read it.... more>>

Slow romance (very), but an interesting plot

What happens when an innocent mushroom reaches enlightenment and begins to travel through a dystopian world where there seems to be no future and everything seems about to collapse?  Well of course he acts like a good little mushroom and passively watches what's going on around him.  Until he  finds a reason to try for more. <<less

It's set in a historical setting (I think the translator said something about 1100's), combining sorcery, witchcraft and dao.  Most of it reads as an adventure ghost story, but it doesn't shy away from the romance once it starts happening.... more>>

Interesting characters.  A cold monk and a saucy dragon pair.  Their collisions are fun.  <<less

It's more an adventure story than romance.  The MC transmigrates into an normal but successful, ugly, grumpy, old woman who happens to already be married but was separated from her husband very early on.  Now her husband has sent some people to pick her up.  It's a story about treacherous cultivators and loyal friends.  She is under-prepared for the future but she forges strong bonds with the people around her and together they face trials and tribulations (see what I did there?  a terrible cultivation pun) and defy the odds.  She ends up training as an alchemist, so expect a farming/crafting/leveling up sort of route.  Then she meets up with a sword school, but that's... more>> where the translation ends.

I will put a warning up though, the author strongly believes that fairer skin = more pretty,  and when the old lady's appearance is mentioned she is quite dark, with sun damaged skin.

An interesting thing, when I read the 3 star reviews for this story it was all people complaining that the translation was slow and that it wasn't a great story for MTL (cultivation stories never are).  But I don't see that this is something that should be reflected in the rating? <<less

I like the author's writing style for this genre (gangster stories can get very melodramatic sometimes).  It gives a decent picture of what's going on around them, but still remains aloof enough that it doesn't go completely over the top.  Some people might term it as shallow, but it honestly doesn't bother me at all. ... more>>

It's just a story about 2 hot blooded young men who act like completely normal guy friends and do completely normal straight guy friend stuff together sometimes (don't believe that for a second).  This story can get pretty steamy and the romantic pairing are quite dedicated to each other.

The later half is angsty, but the good sort that makes you want to know what happens next chapter. <<less

Umm..  Hahaha.  Just be careful where you read it.

Ok so I think this novel is very funny.  I like most of the characters, but honestly, sometimes the neediness of the ML is a little too much for me.  Like he's in-your-face-trying-to-chew-your-food-for-you needy.  However, have at least a little less fear, it doesn't really get excessive until the end and it does stay funny the whole way.... more>>

This one has also gotten it's own cartoon called Scumbag System.  It's computer animation though so don't expect much from the aesthetics.  They chose a good voice actor for the MC, but otherwise the show is just a solid medium.  The first season is finished (12 ep), and a second season is planned.

I actually saw the published English version of the novel in my local book store the other day.  I saw the cover from about 30' away and recognized it immediately lol <<less

It makes more sense than a lot of other survival horror stories, but if inexplicable situations created by an out of control System are not... more>> your thing, you'll probably not like this one.  The MC and ML are both great characters though.  They are clever and dauntless.  The system doesn't know what's about to hit it. <<less

Ok so you'll have to cut me some slack on this one.  I read it quite a while ago and liked it, but now when I'm trying to think of how to recommend it I'm drawing a blank. ... more>>

Um, well it's not your typical sort of romance story that is for sure.  In a different story the FL would probably be the villain.  So you died?  What does she care.  It only matters if she is satisfied with the outcome or not.  But what else can someone expect when she is someone who literally has a heart of stone?

Similar story style to Seven Unfortunate Lifetimes, All Thanks to a Single Moment of Impulse, so if you like one, you'll probably like the other. <<less

Same author as Sansheng, Wangchuan Wu Shang, same style of writing.  If you liked one, you'll like the other.  I didn't find them too repetitive... more>> considering their similarities, but I didn't read them back to back either. <<less

So a good novel, yes, but probably don't read it immediately after the author's other novels.  There are some recurring patterns that are too obvious if you do.  The visual imagery is gorgeous how it's described.  I think that's one of the novels strengths.... more>>

To say too much about it is to give spoilers.  But basically the MC is a white lotus type (no negative connotation) who just wants to save people.  I think he's likeable but unoriginal (whatever, I liked him anyways).  His luck though is in the tr*sh heap.  Half the time he is too.  The ML is pretty mysterious, but quite obsessive.  It can be endearing, but he's definitely not normal and when left to himself he gets a little crazy.

There is a cartoon for this now and they've released it on Netflix.  I'd never have expected that.  The first few episodes are quite pretty, especially the intro, but you'll notice a drop in quality as it goes on (screams budget/time issues to me).  The novel has more depth, but the show has more clarity (seriously though, read the book first, it's way more fulfilling).  I like knowing all the background context from the novel.  Also, expect more not-very-ambiguous eye contact and touching than you'd normally expect from a Chinese cartoon. */casting warding spells against censors*  There is already a 1 episode special out, and the second season has been announced for 2022.

It's now been published in English and is pretty easy to find. <<less

I decided to finally add this to my list.  Obviously if I'm recommending it, it means I enjoyed it, but this story is a bit harder to read than it should be. ... more>>

I think it's a hard story to translate.  Many translators have picked the novel up, only to drop it after a bit so you'll probably have to read a patchwork of different groups.  And oh boy, are some of the translations rough.  I'll just say it now folks, don't read this story by MTL.  As I say that, here's the kicker, ch86-90 have not been fan translated.  If you read it as of when I've written this you're just going to have to power through the pain or learn Chinese. 

Someone has kindly done a reddit post guiding you to the places you can get various translations: https://www.reddit.com/r/Thousand_Autumns/wiki/translations 

Also, they've made Thousand Autumns (Shan He Jian Xin) into a 16 episode cgi cartoon.  They got a decent budget and it looks great.  The story has some alterations, but it looks like it's going in the same direction as the written work.  (I understand them changing the romance, but they fiddled with other characters motivations as well).  Yan Wushi is still that arrogant jerk we all love because we must be masochistic somewhere inside (this can't just be me right?  or you wouldn't read this type of story :p).   Season 2 has been announced. <<less

A zombie/end of the world(?) novel.  It's all about mutant zombie killing action and building a safe haven for the people they care about.  The fight scenes are well written and you can understand what the characters are doing.  The chapters are all long and the translator seems to be running out of steam.  Instead of translating one chapter per month, it's taking them 2 or 3.  The characters are memorable enough you should mostly be able to keep track of what's going on.  If the author wasn't wrong when they were commenting at the end of a chapter, the ending shouldn't be really far off.  There's very little romance, but there is flirting.  The... more>> MC's gender and preferences are confusing.  They are meant to be confusing.  Even the MC doesn't know.

  <<less

So depressing.  But in a well written heartache sort of way.  It's also very sweet. 

The characters are all caricatures and slightly ridiculous, but enjoyable.  The main character is the leader of an evil sect but he's just indifferent rather than malicious.  His subordinates are blatantly jealous and ambitious but strangely endearing.  The female lead (of the book inside the story) somehow manages to find the balance between annoying and being good for comedic interference and story development so is actually not that bad.  The book's male lead is probably created to be disliked but doesn't appear enough to become tedious and it's enjoyable when the characters just steam roll him.  The love interest is a bit too infatuated (clingy) for my tastes, but he is not a patient guy... more>> so he doesn't tend to draw thing out for too long before acting out one way or another.

There are 2 different translation groups working on it.  Onetimestory's is completed, but the grammar is a bit janky so the meaning isn't as clear, but it's still readable.  mourningcrow is slower, but still pretty quick (2-3 days), and the translation/editing is good. <<less

Life can be hard even if it's just little things that trip you up.  I think a lot of people can empathize with this MC.  Don't worry, everything is going to be OK. ... more>>

The drama is a bit over the top, but it's quite a funny read.  <<less

I seem to enjoy reading these retro era novels. ... more>>

Our elderly MC suddenly finds herself in her younger self's body.  Knowing the pitfalls that are in store for her on her current path she bypasses it entirely and rushes to find the young version of her beloved second husband.  So how do you tame a prickly prideful man?  With his stomach of course.  An overdone trope, but don't worry, there is more depth to the story than just that.  Her cooking skills might be master chef quality, but that, and her progressive, mature ideology is what her rebirth has given her. 

It's a  rare romance novels where both partners are written to be mature, competent, and supportive.

The main story ends at chapter 137 and the rest are extras. <<less

Mostly sweet, sometimes a little sad.  The story is from the first person perspective of the younger shou.... more>>

I'm curious how different people react to the character's age, or more accurately, life stage difference.  I think for a novel it's an interesting tension point, but I would be much more cautious about it in real life.  <<less

This is what happens when you have an evil cult leader (who is selfish, but not very evil) who tries to help the predestined hero and keep the story on track.  Absolutely nothing goes according to plan.... more>>

It's so dumb but funny.

The ending is fine but as shallow as the rest of the novel.  The romance is more for comedy than anything else. <<less

Yes it's about the Mulan you are probably thinking of.  And no, it's not the Disney version, it's probably a hybrid of the opera/ballad/folktale versions (I've not read them, but there's references to lines from them and the one translator talks about it in the footnotes).... more>>

Ever wondered what happened to Mulan after she retires and returns home?  Well it's not as smooth as we all hoped for our heroine.  Add a transmigrator into the mix and it's not as weird as you'd normally think it would be. 

The story's quite long which is both good and bad.  As long as it stays interesting it's always great when you get to read more.  The bad thing is that if you are waiting for it to be translated, it's kind of painful.  The first translator dropped the story because they were worried that the story was bought by a Chinese publisher and that they'd get forced to take their translation down so they preemptively dropped the novel.  The second translator seems to favor posting a chunk of chapters at a time every few months, (equivalent to about a chapter a week), but as I said, it's a long novel, so the pacing isn't extremely favorable. <<less

Ok so I was incredibly hesitant to add this to my list and you will have to make your own serious judgment call on whether you will read this or not.  The ML is super aggressive and there are a number of non-consensual and harassment situations that happen.  If you are uncomfortable with that or intolerant of this type of story, just don't read it.  You will hate this novel, so don't waste your time.... more>>

I thought that the story of him being in the army was quite interesting.  That lasts for about 3/4 of the novel and the MC keeps up his relationships he developed after he retires. 

As for why the MC and ML end up together, though the ML's base personality is somewhat irredeemable, there are aspects of it that the MC is attracted to. 

It's a definite situation of 'Reader Discretion is Advised'. <<less

A light, cute, and charming story.