Hi...how are you? If you don't mind me asking what are your top 5 favorite danmei novels (until now)? And why? Sorry if you've answered this question before.....
Hi, sorry for being slow at answering!
Ok, so I liked the 3 from MXTX:
Β - Grandmaster of Diabolic Cultivation/ Mo Dao Zu ShiΒ
This one I loved but it has a particular style that ppl might not like in that it feels jumpy, confusing and with information gaps while reading, even though eventually everything that matters does end up being explained...in other works this would probably be just lazy writing, but here it is clearly an intentional choice bc 1) she doesnβt do this in her other novels 2) this is in WWXβs pov and dude has heavy ptsd and adhd, plus he tends to pretend to take everything lightly as a coping mechanisms...all this put together and itβs easy to understand why the story has such an unreliable narrator that even the other characters constantly point it out. I ended up loving this extra layer of storytelling.
Β - Heaven Officialβs Blessings/ Tian Guan Ci Fu
If youβre in the mood for a saga type long ass novel with a ton of interesting side stories and side characters with a main character who is a true cinnamon bun in sweet romance with a side dish of sweet sweet aaaangst.
- Scum Villains Self Saving System
The most entertaining out of all of them. It manages to be a parody of two genres, both danmeis and wuia/jianghu harem het novels (fighter of destiny style) with OP leads, while also being its own cute and funny story with a heart to it.
Β - Meatbunβs 2ha/ Dumb Husky and his White Cat ShizunΒ
What if someone took a look at the parody that is SVSSS and said...βno, you know what? This really deserves to be an epic, long ass, and I mean, topping old classicsβ length novel packed with angst, filled with pain and topped with despair...and then weβre sprinkling some funfetti on top to fool yβallβ...and you know what? thatβs some good cake. (If youβre into cdramas SVSSS is to 2ha what The Romance of Tiger and Rose is to Goodbye My Princess).
- Priestβs Sha Po Lang:
Steampunk China plus creepy voodoo tribal ritual magic, involved in internal and external wars over petrol (with a different name) and with our leads in Iron Man suits, fighting, among other enemies hot young(er) hands on, on the field, western troop General, the Pope, that I can only visualize in my head as Jude Law. I tell you all of this nonsense just to say that instead of the ridiculous fun this should be, it ends up being a very compelling romance with lots of scheming and heavy plot and some heartbreaking scenes.
This is a court drama type novel with friends-to-rivals-to-lovers that is just the right length and compelling with not too many plot twists but two main characters who are really great both individually and together and this is the one out of all in the list I feel like re reading the most. It really is a solid read and I feel like Iβm selling it short, bc it really is good. It is similar to Sha Po Lang and To Rule in a Turbulent World, a simpler version of those but not worse for it.
(Since you said top 5 and Iβve said 6, I regretfully cut down Heaven Officialβs Blessing bc even though I love it, unlike MDZS or SVSSS, it didnβt feel like a standalone novel because some of the several storylines of the side characters that I loved were left open ended (although the main characters had a complete story arc), as if this book was supposed to be the first of a series and those characters would have their own spinoff books where Iβd know where their story took them...except this really is a standalone, and so the lack of resolution bothers me).
- To Rule in a Turbulent World
This one doesnβt go in the top 5 list yet bc itβs not fully translated, last time I checked (tho itβs very near the end). As an ongoing novel, I adore it. If the ending isnβt terrible it might be in my top 3. Itβs similar to the two above in plotlines but it has a quality to it that it takes care to make every character in it multidimensional. There are no good and bad characters, even the ones on the opposite side are given something that makes them relatable and human. Plus, the characters all change throughout the novel, most of all the protagonists and the novel gives itself breathing time between events where you just chill with the characters and learn about random things like agricultural practices.Β
This one is just that light fluff feel good one that is great to pick up from time to time since itβs on going. Dumb Jock husband did everything wrong in his first life, gets a re-do and from then on itβs adorable respect the spouse juice and awe of said spouse smarts. Cute. Also, thereβs a baby pet tiger.
>> Others I did like, just not in the top 5:
Β -Faraway Wanderers and Lord Seventh/Qi Ye by Priest:
Qi Ye is similar to To Rule in A Turbulent World/The Golden Stage/Sha Po Lang. I really liked it still, just a tiny bit less than these. Since itβs the same author as SPL and I think it was written earlier, I have to say, the writing only got better.
Faraway Wanderers is a short read, but youβre only gonna like it if youβre ok with amoral main characters (I guess that is true for many on this list but itβs more obvious in this one bc the novel and the characters are unapologetic about it).
- YuWu by Meatbun - Still reading it, but is isnβt grabbing me like 2ha did.
>> I assumed you only wanted danmeis as in period fantasy bl novels, but if we go modern, fantasy or not:
Β - Silent Readings by Priest:
I love crime fiction novels (love Ding Moβs novels) and this is that type of conspiracy, murder novel with smart criminals and smart investigators. Little romance, but still there.
Priest is hilarious and except the last part that gets a bit heavy on the lore this is just a joy to read. Also pretty short.
I read it a long time ago and itβs okayish, with some cute and some weird, problematic characters.Β
Also read it (this is 2 books) ages ago...and this one is NOT cute. It starts out as a pretty normal, but kind of toxic very typical oldschool drama/manga romance right down to the step brothersβ trope....and then it keeps escalating to new levels of WTF am I reading?!! All I have to say for this one is, that while I cannot recommend it per se, nor say itβs good, the title really is fitting, bc it is addictive as f.
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