WHY READ: It hits on many of the questions ignored by QT stories and explores ALL of them. What happens to the original person after the mission is done? Where does the original owner go? How are original people chosen? What is the System? What is its purpose? Fortunately for these guys, Chi only wants these guys to have future happiness and the least amount of stress possible while doing a massive amount of damage to the Scum. Chi goes scorched earth every time. I mean, when introduced, 061 is trying to dissuade him from hitting the guy with the car and is mostly losing. ... more>>

This story also has one of the more accurate depictions of a gamer I have read yet (but in fairness, I only started reading these a month ago). An RPG one at that. While everyone else is attempting to speed through, Chi takes his time, explores all his options, learns all the exploits, and figures out new ways to torture and humiliate the gong. There is a scene where he is frivolously spending points because he's close to completion and he felt that the Gong hadn't suffered enough and he knows he can easily farm him for more. 

Plus, there are great side characters. Reading such distinct personalities and realistic interactions made further highlights how weak other QT's are. The System isn't this quirky obstacle that the MC needs to get over, it is comprised of dozens of individuals, each with their own individual goals, needs, fears, strengths, and even quirks. And they all have a fear of the all-knowing, brain-like creature with a vengeful spirit and a short temper. <<less

WHY READ: Because the title actually gives the central theme of this novel. Unlike many of the stories on this list, this isn't a rebirth, QT, or revenge story. The MC is just trying to understand how the book and his reality are one and the same. It's a bit like a detective story as he spends most of the novel gathering clues and information to try to figure out if there is a rational reason for everything that happened in the novel.  ... more>>

The world-building is pretty good and, unlike in many other stories, it isn't forgotten or thrown aside. Mostly because it's needed to solve the mystery of the novel but that is the only spoiler I'm giving here. 

And the major plus is that ALL the FEMALE CHARACTERS ARE GREAT. You can even feel and empathize with the Protag, who is STILL in character for the original story throughout the whole thing. As a person who hates harem stories and dumb lovestruck characters, this story made me root for her.  <<less

Why Read: Like Devil Venerable Wants to Know, the MC is trying to figure out how he becomes what is portrayed in the novel. The... more>> original describes him as an unfeeling horribly scary, but competent individual that is the stuff of nightmares. The only reason that the initial couple won was due to fictional author shenanigans. I mean, the ML spends a long time looking at the MC like he's a bomb about to explode.  <<less

WHY READ: It's your typical rebirth/revenge plot but both sides aren't overtly s*upid. Even with MC's knowledge of the future, his family does think outside the box and cause him some trouble. There are also hints to something that is easily missed since you will focus on all the scheming being done. It leads to a very satisfying ending. ... more>>

I also love the fact that MC doesn't just think about the pain that he's in. Throughout the novel, he also ends up helping other cannon fodder characters within the story. The revenge is only focused on those who tortured him. He even goes out of his way to not harm one guy who was a thorn in his past life. The dude never did any physical harm to him, so their initial encounter was enough.  There is also the twist that also makes me sad when I think on it.  <<less

Why Read: Mostly the romance between the MC and ML.  While this story is filled to the brim with face-slapping, scheming, and scum villains, the best part is the makeshift family being created. Little Goldfish is the cutest, self-aware kindergarten relationship therapist ever. The banter and flirting between MC and ML is waffles between cute and hot all the time. Plus, the fact that this is a story where the shou is chasing after the gong because he is simply attracted to him, is a pretty rare find for me. ... more>>

The only issues are that the MC is prone to violence (like he gets into literal fist fights with people a lot) and his jealousy makes him act petty. The latter is extremely weird since before this, both MC and ML were highly in tune with each other to the point where they never really had to verbalize their feelings. What I mean by that is MC will say a sentence, ML will interpret the sentence to mean that MC wants to know something or is feeling a certain way. Then ML will proceed to answer the question, offer comfort, or whatever is needed, they banter and flirt then it ends due to childcare or work. If you read the reviews, a major event is spoiled but everyone seems to unjustly place that on ML's feet when the MC clearly stated that he was dragging it out due to his own jealousy.  <<less

WHY READ: There are multiple things going on at the same time. Its a rebirth story with a butterfly effect whammy where a character thinks he can gain everything with his future knowledge while not realizing that he's screwed himself. It's a mystery story where you are piecing together the timeline of the reincarnator's previous life to understand what went wrong. It's a story of two pragmatic individuals becoming part of a happy, healthy almost romantic relationship. It's a base-building story a group starts from the bare minimum and later on the cusp of the Bronze age. ... more>>

It should be noted that the main story is a multiple-protagonist story, so Zhou Ji,Xiong Ye, and Shi Li are equally important to the story. The first is usually seen as the MC because he has an extra to himself and an argument could be made that Shi Li was the MC in the first life. 

This story also has pretty likable side characters. While not the deepest, they are more than just story movers or plot points. Like the priest who, while is a great lover of food and knowledge, takes his job very seriously and attempts to not only do his duty but he worries about the future.   <<less

Anyone who's read a few stories is very familiar with the absolutism of filial piety and 'face'. There are many stories where reviewers harp on how s*upid some MC's are for constantly dealing with toxic relatives because of this. In this story our characters basically use it weapon against their enemies.   ... more>>

I love the dynamic between the MC/ML. They have this 'us against the world' thing going on that makes sense because their biggest enemy is their own close family members. In any other novel, they would be decent antagonists. The irony of that is that in the original story, they were majorly crippled so that the canon couple could win. I also have a deep love for those who want unrepentant revenge. It's almost funny since even the MC admits that his need for smaller slights is actually detrimental to his overall plan. 

Major warning for plot holes galore. The story is a minefield of them but most are not that bad until after chapter 58, I think. The story falls off a cliff in repetitiveness and boredom, and the author attempts to fix some of the minor issues with earlier chapters but only ends up making bigger, more confusing holes. Even the extras are so-so since they are mostly a chance to see their children.  <<less

WHY READ: There is something cathartic about a green tea character being called a bit*h ass who*e and a scumbag being told that he's a user as*hole and a poor f*ck because he can't keep his s**tty BF in his bed. If you can't tell, I love this ML because he is as blunt and unrepentant as I mention. Well, he gets that way because he keeps having the same conversations with this CP. This is one of the major hurdles early on since all of this wit is aimed at our MC. So, don't come into this story expecting warm and fuzzies, because they take a LONG time (and a lot of cake and... more>> chicken) to come. 

As with DVWTK and SAHRJ, the original story has a heavy influence and creates a huge mystery in the background. Mu Chen's overall goal is to not die in the next few months (which is what happened in the original story). He early on realizes that easy options aren't available for him (he can't ignore the Protag no matter what he does since YZ just comes to where he is). So he schemes and trains to be in a better situation before his mu*derer enters the fray. Luckily, he meets the ML, a book-critical character, and the Rival of the Protag. 

Another warning concerns ML's family. At a point, the author majorly drops the ball, and with the introduction of a character, truly becomes a complete hypocrite. If you are the type like I am and hate the abuse=love trope, stop when Daddy wakes up (it makes sense in the context of the story). After that, its a lot of gaslighting, emotional manipulation, and some detailed descriptions of traumatic events.  <<less

I really can't tell you much spoiling the story. It's extremely fast-paced but still completely understandable. The only problem is the non-con that happens (but... more>> in fairness, we are told early on that the Emperor's drinks are constantly being spiked) and the introduction of an arguably better love interest.  <<less

A reviewer stated that if one likes Legally Blonde, one of my all time favorite movies, that one would like this. And that reviewer didn't lie. In an A/B/O world, this is a story that heavily focuses on being an omega, and what that therein entails. There is a lot of talk about expectations, societal standards, what makes an omega 'good', what's is true 'independence', how is true partnership achieved amongst the genders, and many other questions such as that. ... more>>

The MC is especially good. Our guy essentially wakes up and realizes that he needs to find a new direction in life. While adrift a bit, he takes comfort in his 'knowledge' and seeing the friendly rapport with the Pro!Shou as a positives. decides to strive for a better ending for himself.  

The major problem some might have is that there isn't much actual escapism here which is why many of the reviews read like ideological manifestos.  <<less

Mecha otaku drops horrible ex to drive mecha and somehow becomes a revolutionary. ... more>>

The problems with this story is that it's not really a highly romantic story that most people prefer on this site. While that is A-Okay with me, reviews seems to skewer it for that. Our MC is a mech otaku and his mind stays on that, and ditching his ex, for the majority of the story.  <<less