Brain cells/Standards Nourishment

Brain cells/Standards Nourishment
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.

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!
14 8650 28
67 Followers
shushreader
Created: Jul 30th, 2021, Updated: Jun 14th, 2022
Created Jul 30th, 2021
Updated Jun 14th, 2022
KR (4.3)
1 Chapters Every 2890 Day(s) 4165 Readers 142 Reviews 05-28-2016
The 4.2 rating doesn't do justice on how beautiful this novel is. It's a masterpiece. The novelty of the concept, the character designs which draws me in, and the narration. This work covers a story of epic, growth, love, and sense of reality despite being in a fantasy setting. Someone like me reading this sacred work feels so undeserving. I feel so uneducated and unclean that I feel scared tainting this story. Dear readers, this work allowed me to raise my standards and 'upgrade' my brain cells to a whole new level.... more>>
KR (4.5)
977 Chapters Every 3.5 Day(s) 37759 Readers 583 Reviews 04-23-2024
Do I have to explain how amazing this is? Anyway just read it.... more>>
KR (4.6)
0 Chapters Every 2124 Day(s) 21380 Readers 438 Reviews 07-03-2018
Just read it. It's classic anyway.... more>>
KR (4.1)
30 Chapters Every 20.5 Day(s) 5684 Readers 71 Reviews 03-24-2024
Goosebumps in the latest chapters. Also my cure to hangover after getting drunk on TCF. But I don't think most of you would enjoy it though. That aside, this is definitely on my list.... more>>
KR (4)
23 Chapters Every 123.9 Day(s) 7002 Readers 85 Reviews 08-07-2022
I read both this and ORV for a while now. THEN WHEN I WAS PLANNING TO REREAD THE ORV MANHWA WAS THEN I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS THE ONE DOKJA WAS READING IN THE FIRST CHAPTER.... more>>
KR (3.8)
0 Chapters Every 1492 Day(s) 5891 Readers 48 Reviews N/A
A little below mediocre at first. With common tropes here and there but I still find this novel interesting lately.... more>>
KR (3.8)
68 Chapters Every 2 Day(s) 1254 Readers 3 Reviews 04-11-2024
The reason why I suddenly became interested in MA novels.
KR (4.2)
39 Chapters Every 135.1 Day(s) 3233 Readers 80 Reviews 10-14-2018
I don't find the novel unsatisfying though. The reviews made me confused. But I also give sentiment about the ending. JUST WHY??... more>>
KR (4.3)
77 Chapters Every 10 Day(s) 2702 Readers 17 Reviews 03-15-2024
JUST WOW. Not really my cup of tea but I enjoyed reading it.
KR (4.4)
752 Chapters Every 0.5 Day(s) 18286 Readers 211 Reviews 04-26-2024
THERE IS ROMANCE, UN/FORTUNATELY. Still I'm adding it tho because this is exempted.... more>>
KR (4.4)
355 Chapters Every 3.2 Day(s) 9878 Readers 46 Reviews 03-25-2024
It's really such a gem! Unfortunately this will remain incomplete due to the passing of the writer.
KR (3.9)
533 Chapters Every 0.9 Day(s) 5487 Readers 30 Reviews 04-26-2024
I just really have a soft spot for this type of tropes.
KR (4)
53 Chapters Every 3.1 Day(s) 14410 Readers 103 Reviews 04-18-2024
I haven't read this for a while but I remember staying up all night for this.... more>>
KR (3.9)
20 Chapters Every 48.7 Day(s) 5399 Readers 61 Reviews 05-11-2022
I also would like to recommend the manhwa. Anyway I remember it being slow paced which I least prefer. But it's actually pretty good.... more>>
KR (4.3)
85 Chapters Every 15.7 Day(s) 2214 Readers 15 Reviews 09-10-2023
Oh boi, I wish for updates even until now. I really like it :(.
KR (4.2)
325 Chapters Every 1.1 Day(s) 4948 Readers 33 Reviews 04-26-2024
I have yet to finish reading it since I'm only at chapter 40. My feedback is, it's unexpectedly entertaining. Albeit a typical korean novel with characters from known literatures. A mediocre novel.... more>>
KR (4.1)
66 Chapters Every 118.8 Day(s) 1698 Readers 13 Reviews 08-20-2019
I unexpectedly found it after suffering from thirst of having nothing to read. It's pretty worthwhile.
KR (4.1)
214 Chapters Every 34.9 Day(s) 8143 Readers 131 Reviews 02-24-2023
The premise is interesting. But I dropped it for a while then picked it up again just to drop it again. I have mixed feelings towards Isaac like I'm now refraining myself from reading psychopath and cruel protagonists.... more>>
KR (4.1)
0 Chapters Every 1008 Day(s) 1916 Readers 22 Reviews N/A
I also share the same sentiments with other readers' reviews. Except those with below three stars ratings.
KR (4.3)
112 Chapters Every 33.8 Day(s) 2415 Readers 9 Reviews 03-12-2023
MOAAAAR! AH I SINCERELY WISH FOR THIS NOVEL TO BE A KDRAMA.
CN (4.4)
456 Chapters Every 22.7 Day(s) 10004 Readers 114 Reviews 06-14-2023
Not really my cup of tea. But I'm trying to read it right now since I read most of the good and hidden gem novels.... more>>
CN (4)
37 Chapters Every 87.3 Day(s) 1417 Readers 49 Reviews 03-09-2020
One of the chinese action fantasy novel that I like. Again, there is a romantic subplot but pretty much tolerable.
CN (4.7)
113 Chapters Every 531.5 Day(s) 13433 Readers 357 Reviews 02-06-2019
I've been avoiding Lord Of The Mysteries like a plague even though it fits all of my criteria. However thanks to a certain recommendation (thank you btw) I began to start reading it.... more>>
KR (3.9)
12 Chapters Every 136 Day(s) 1289 Readers 27 Reviews 11-18-2019
Another underrated novel with no romance. I couldn't fathom their dissatisfaction just because there is no romance. It's just my tea though. At least the protagonist isn't some chuunibyo with a screw loose in his head. In addition, Kim Sehyeun's character development progressed albeit slowly so it irritates me seeing some review saying how robotic the main character is which is utterly nonsense.... more>>
KR (3.9)
223 Chapters Every 31.8 Day(s) 7018 Readers 69 Reviews 02-20-2024
THIS IS GOOD!... more>>
Go to Page...
Go to Page...
Comments (14)
Post Reply Cancel
  1. evyze
    evyze· Oct 10, 2021 12:51 AM
    invisible dragon was above tcf so i had to give this a try. BOI.... i was not disappointed 10/10 so true
    Reply · 2 Likes · ·
    • shushreader
      shushreader· Author · Oct 14, 2021 03:11 AM
      Welcome to the camp, comrade LOL.
      Reply · 1 Like · ·
  2. shushreader
    shushreader· Author · Aug 13, 2021 06:36 PM
    Here are some novels I stumbled upon chance yet unavailable here on NU.

    •Mother of Learning
    •Author's POV
    •I Became The Pope, Now What?

    Reply · 2 Likes · ·
    • Keraether
      Keraether· Aug 13, 2021 07:58 PM
      Have you tried "The Perfect Run", "The Simulacrum" and "Vaudevillain" on Royal Road ? And "Regressor Instruction Manual" on NU ?  The Simulacrum and Regressor Instruction Manual contain both kind of a harem though, while not unnatural in the first one, and barely noticeable in the second. In my opinion of course. 
      Reply · 3 Likes · ·
    • shushreader
      shushreader· Author · Aug 13, 2021 10:12 PM

      @Keraether I'm still reading Mother of Learning right now so I have yet to read the other novels from Royal Road. Do all those three have romance? For the latter, I don't think I would like Regressor Instruction Manual since I'm not a fan of harem.

      I am in need of more recommendations since I don't have any good novels to read as of late. So I truly appreciate your recommendation.

      Reply · 2 Likes · ·
    • Show More Replies
    • Keraether
      Keraether· Aug 14, 2021 07:50 AM

      @shushreader Only The Simulacrum puts a true emphasis on romance, even in RIM despite the harem tag there is no real romance. Well RR is a treasure trove for western novels : "Super Minion", "The New World", "Defiance of the Fall", "They Called me Mad", none containing romance and very refreshing in the System & Apocalypse genre, "Knight and Smith" is really well written but is  kind of romance centered, "The story of how  a cultivation universe was conquered by an interstellar weapon" is very good in an...outlandish way, "Sexy Space Babes" is refreshing, "An outcast in another world" is good. On NU there is still "Lord of the Mysteries" and "Ouroboros Record ~ Circus of Oubeniel" which stand above the rest for CN and JP novels respectively.

      Anyway you are welcome, as good or at least entertaining novels are really hard to find especially when NU is filled  with subpar ones. 

      Reply · 3 Likes · ·
    • ralek
      ralek· Sep 1, 2021 10:52 PM
      @Keraether Vaudevillian is like watching a vlog youtuber, gets really boring after a while

      I used to tune in every once a while to read new novels there but ever since I noticed most of the trending is just "cute" plays on isekai or relying on the reader's persistence in not dropping it, I only logged in to check if Beware of the Chicken, RE: Trailer tr*sh, and Essence of cultivation are updating. Of course I think The Perfect Run is a masterpiece but for the rest its not my cup of tea to read stories that are dungeon core, spaceship, psychopathic non-humanoids.

      Tip: Avoid Defiance's fall, primal hunter, anything similar
      Reply · 1 Like · ·
  3. Shin fuyu
    Shin fuyu· Feb 15, 2022 01:59 PM

    Hello! Thanks for this list. I really love your taste so i enjoyed these novels u recommended. Umm im always waiting for more cuz i really need supplement to my decreasing braincells. Im in critical level, u see haha. I apologize for my greediness but im desperate. Anyway, is this "become a star have a romance" ? Tbh im allergic in romance tag and u still didnt put a reviews below so idk if i should read it or not. I only trust ur words so ididnt read others' reviews so hurry up haha kidding.. take ur time.

    Reply · 1 Like · ·
    • shushreader
      shushreader· Author · Feb 17, 2022 04:22 PM
      Hello, Shin Fuyu! Glad to meet someone with the same taste as mine. I do feel the same way, it's hard to find a nice novel these days. I have yet to see whether there's a romantic sublot in "Become a Star Romance", although I hope that there's none since I'm still at chapter 80. I recommend reading "Author's POV"—I also didn't like reading stories with romance but this much is tolerable because the plot is immersive and fun.
      Reply · 1 Like · ·
  4. Ein Mezus
    Ein Mezus· Aug 22, 2021 10:15 AM
    I recommended trying Throne of Magical Arcana (this one have the same author as LoTM) and also The Experimental Log of the Crazy Lich both of them have good story pace and rational character well there is also some romance in both of them but not so much kinda more as subplot  
    Reply · 1 Like · ·
    • ralek
      ralek· Sep 1, 2021 10:53 PM
      Experimental log is too bizarre in the beginning, and yeah there are some real moments but reading about an escapade of naked minotaurs in the streets of the godly city or something gets tiring
      Reply · ·
  5. tempelis
    tempelis· Aug 14, 2021 12:29 PM

    i recommend "rakuin no monshou" and the "bathroom goddes". Both are completed and i think perfect for you. Rakuin no monshou have romance, but it's not forced. And the novel itself is more focused on politic and action than romance.


    And in my opinion, protagonist in Isaac of course is cruel and psycopath. But,if i must categorized isaac in good or bad, I will say he is good. He is trying to do good deeds but with a bad way because his surrounding is what forces him to act like that.

    Reply · 1 Like · ·
  6. Daresan
    Daresan· Oct 11, 2021 06:03 PM
    Except lord of mysteries and 48 hours a day i do not see anything good here.  I believe toc and omniscient reader's viewpoint are heavily overrated
    Reply · ·
    • shushreader
      shushreader· Author · Oct 14, 2021 03:10 AM
      I do get your point. I omitted some good NU novels that I've read since it really isn't my tea. Besides, I heavily give emphasis on the no romance thing. So basically my list is based on my taste, my standard, and the theme. Anyway, I respect your opinion although we have opposite stance.
      Reply · 1 Like · ·