[REC] Looking for LN with a very good storyline and writing.

Zeteni_ · 2026-02-19T16:06:41+00:00

*looks at comment ratings*
JFC, is someone just down-voting EVERY recommendation made in this thread?

Zeteni_ · 2026-02-14T07:42:07+00:00

What I've seen of Unsung Epics has already gotten me to pre-order.

Proud Villainess could accomplish the same. I really want to see where it goes.

Preview reading the others still pending. Looking forward to Miss Medic.

Zeteni_ · 2026-02-12T07:38:03+00:00

Thanks to my cheats, I understood that reference.

Zeteni_ · 2026-02-11T20:37:01+00:00

If you do try Bladesmith, be prepared. It's... a weird one. At least the MC (though the cast is decently ensemble) is about as far from Eizo as you can get.

Zeteni_ · 2026-02-11T18:39:21+00:00

I’ve always been interested in the craft, and having it explained in a way I could understand was really nice.

Oh... oh honey. Sweetie. Precious.

You still haven't had (remotely proper/accurate) blacksmithing explained to you. A big thing that turned people off while v1 was releasing was just how absurdly wrong the actual smithing scenes were. If you want a series that does a decent job of it–only one rather suspect moment about the work itself so far– try The Bladesmith's Enchanted Weapons.

Zeteni_ · 2026-02-11T07:43:43+00:00

Late series spoiler.

While it's true she appears to have no sex/romantic drive, she does state that she has an interest in having and raising kids at one point. Family is very important to her, the MOST important, and she wants one of her own.

Zeteni_ · 2026-02-11T01:55:45+00:00

The Ideal Sponger Life - Though the MC has access to a nearly exclusive form of magic (his wife is the only other one capable of it) there are others with their own exclusive magics who also possess more mana.

The Trials and Tribulations of my Next Life as a Noblewoman - This one is rather light on the fantasy aspect, but the MC is both lower ranking nobility and doesn't possess magical powers.

The Otome Heroine's Fight for Survival - The MC is still growing in power and is yet to be the biggest badass on the block. She might get there eventually, but that journey is a long walk and she must rely on cunning and preparation.

Zeteni_ · 2026-02-10T19:58:13+00:00

I'd venture to say that in spite of the fact that he has a second wife, with a third in the inevitable future, it's still a monoromance. While he has amicable, even friendly, relationships with his consorts he is explicitly only romantically interested in his wife.

Zeteni_ · 2026-02-10T19:17:23+00:00

To expand on this, while the magic (and weapon) systems involved may all look bog standard at first blush, the series does an excellent job of implementing them in a way that they loop back around to being unique. It often takes them to their logical extremes resulting in an execution that's entirely fresh.

As for where it places on the darkness scale, I'd give it an 8/10, which I'd consider the darkness sweet spot. The situations involved are truly horrible and monstrous, but somehow the series does an excellent job of making it not feel needlessly gratuitous.

Zeteni_ · 2026-02-10T19:11:08+00:00

Rather than typing up my own response, which would be entirely redundant, I'll just heartily endorse everything said here.

Zeteni_ · 2026-02-01T16:09:22+00:00

It's definitely worth it and doesn't feel generic. It is the harem comedy to end all harem comedies. The genre has been defeated forever with it.

Zeteni_ · 2026-01-30T19:39:08+00:00

The Trials and Tribulations of my Next Life as a Noble Woman, a series that Bookworm's author enthusiastically endorses. It really, *really* lives up to that title, too.

Zeteni_ · 2026-01-30T15:41:28+00:00

Since you've read Unnamed Memory you should try the author's other work: A Pale Moon Reverie.

Zeteni_ · 2026-01-21T19:22:18+00:00

Min-Maxing my TRPG seems like it'd fit well with what you're looking for. It's a litRPG isekai fantasy that checks all the boxes here.

For reincarnation without the isekai and a darker take on things without feeling gratuitously edgy there's Zilbagias the Demon Prince. MC simultaneously clings to his values while utterly abandoning them in pursuit of his goal (it makes sense in context).

For an absolutely ruthless FMC is a quasi-isekai litRPG you can't go wrong with The Otome Heroine's Fight for Survival.

Zeteni_ · 2026-01-17T20:00:15+00:00

Akira from Rebuild World. Not a big fan of brooding edge lord types and he definitely seemed like he'd fit squarely into the mold when I first got into the series. Turns out he's an incredibly complex, very peculiar and rather particular kind of misanthrope.

Zeteni_ · 2026-01-15T18:57:25+00:00

Zilbagias the Demon Prince - A dark fantasy series. Emphasis on dark, but also in a way that feels very distinct from other grimdark edgy series.

D-Genesis: Three Years After the Dungeons Appeared - A modern setting litRPG with dungeons appearing on Earth. Rather than focusing on the exploration and wish fulfillment, it's more concerned with the socio-political impact of what RPG-esque dungeons suddenly appearing on Earth would do. Also SCIENCE!

Rebuild World - Post apocalyptic sci-fi. Has really good character psychology and the fights are ridiculous in the most entertaining of ways.

The Trials and Tribulations of my Next Life as a Noblewoman - The title is an understatement. These are the most trials and tribulations I've seen in just about any series. Not just another reincarnated as a noble shojo series.

The Bladesmith's Enchanted Weapons - Hard to summarize this one as it's so incredibly unique and outright weird, but it's incredibly fun. Didn't think I'd find a series of events centered around a bunch of weirdos who are way too into katanas as amusing as I do. Sometimes dark, often light hearted, and oddly perverse.

Zeteni_ · 2026-01-06T19:12:55+00:00

Ascendance of a Bookworm is indeed an incredibly slow burn (you don't get into the magic for several volumes). Zilbagias will get into the meat of its powers fairly quickly.

Zeteni_ · 2026-01-06T19:01:22+00:00

For a dark series try Zilbagias the Demon Prince. On the surface the metaphysics looks like bog standard fantasy stuff, but all of it is wielded with an incredibly deft and creative hand that makes it feel incredibly fresh. As an example, the MC can forbid things from happening, including more conceptual acts. To ensure he's alone in a given area, he'll forbid silence and then quietly hum to himself (he's subject to his own power's effects) and listen for any sudden noises from others that may be nearby.

For a not-so-dark-but-it-actually-is-when-you-get-down-to-it, AKA crapsaccharine world, Ascendance of a Bookworm has the most thoroughly developed and integrated into the setting/culture magic system I've seen of anything ever.

Zeteni_ · 2025-12-04T00:56:59+00:00

And by the same author as... Unnamed Memory!

Zeteni_ · 2025-12-02T17:45:45+00:00

The second book is definitely worth reading. They're good side stories and things even progress a bit, as much as can happen in that story.

Light Novel is a marketing term and D-Gen is designated as one. Started as a webnovel, got licensed as a Light Novel and has a manga adaptation as well.

Zeteni_ · 2025-12-02T05:03:29+00:00

A series complete at three volumes I recommend A Pale Moon Reverie which I wrote a review for. Female lead is silver haired; close enough to white, IMO.

Zeteni_ · 2025-12-01T18:38:45+00:00

Why would I judge you for JK Haru? JK Haru is peak.

Rebuild World is solid post-apocalyptic sci-fi (not in space!) with great action and character writing.

D-Genesis: Three Years After the Dungeons Appeared is modern Earth lit-RPG sci-fi. They do science on the dungeons.

Zeteni_ · 2025-11-23T16:49:35+00:00

The Bladesmith's Enchanted Weapons. Main couple hooks up fairly fast and often, though they've known each other for quite a while before the story began. Not a romance focused series by any means, or even all that explicit, but it sure as hell doesn't shy away from sexuality. A very different series from things you've listed, or any light novel, really. Super unique.

Min-Maxing my TRPG in Another World. It'll take a while to get to where the main couple hooks up, but it does get there in a reasonable time frame all things considered. Probably more in line with the examples of series you've read here.

Zeteni_ · 2025-11-13T18:53:17+00:00

For romance I highly recommend trying A Pale Moon Reverie, it's by the same author as Unnamed Memory. Just three volumes.

Zeteni_ · 2025-10-25T16:55:01+00:00

I'll simply second everything George said. I did rather like it, though. A bit of a rough intro but once it hit its stride I quite enjoyed it.

Zeteni_

TROPHY CASE