Discussion Suggestions for must-read novels

Discussion in 'Novel General' started by Parth37955, Oct 8, 2016.

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  1. Parth37955

    Parth37955 NU #3, [Dead Inside], Mid-Boss, Dark Dealer Staff Member

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    So I wanted to make a list of must-read starter novels for people new to (asian) novels. You can submit any novel (any suggestion for Invisible Dragon will be deleted). Specify the genre and why it would be a good beginner novel.

    I'll sort and list them here afterwards.

    Edit: keep it from being too adult. This is a list of the general newbie.

    Japanese Novels:
    • Reincarnation into another world:
      • Overlord
      • Mushoku Tensei
      • Gifting this Wonderful World <-comedy
      • Tate no Yuusha
      • kumo desu ga, nani ka
      • Tensei Shitara Slime datta ken
      • I was a Sword when I reincarnated <-cute
    • Romance:
      • Sevens
      • Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro
    • Ecchi:
      • HighSchool DxD
    • Magic:
      • Mahouka koukou no rettousei
      • To Aru Majutsu no Index + New Testament
    • Supernatural:
      • Ghost Hunt

    Chinese Novels:

    • Qihuan (basically has elements of western fantasy)
      • Coiling Dragon
    • Xuanhuan
      • Transcending the Nine Heavens
      • Doulou Dalu
    • Xianxia
      • I Shall Seal the Heavens
      • The Legendary Master's Wife <-yaoi
    • Kingdom Building
      • Release that Witch <-relief from the lack of good characterization in CN's.
    • Gaming
      • The King's Avatar

    Korean Novels:

    • Gaming
      • Legendary Moonlight Sculptor
    • Comedy
      • Running Away from Hero
    • Kingdom Building
      • Dungeon Defense

    Other:

    • Comedy:
      • Legend of The Sun Knight
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2017
  2. Shio

    Shio Moderator Staff Member

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    Ghost Hunt (horror/mystery/detective)
    ^ good story and is a good way to show people that there's a lot of different genre other than the usual shounen/shoujo
     
  3. Mookey

    Mookey Notice me senpai~~~ >_<!!

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    Kuro no Maou
    - I truly believe this would be a good beginner novel. The story itself runs like an English novel, which would be very accommodating to any new-to-Asian-webnovel person. Also, the dark and angsty theme would drive them away from rading these works ever again; saving them from an eternity spent wasting time anticipating releases for these novels like addicts wait on their drug dealers. Its a good story though.
     
  4. OverlyFriendly

    OverlyFriendly I should do something about

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    Invisible dragon
    Cause it teaches people people how a novel is so good its bad
    Pls don't kill me


    Konjiki No Wordmaster
    3rd person POV novel with pretty solid characters
    Fantasy/adventure/transported to another world
    Also one of the first web novels I've ever read

    It being translated by many people on different sites which can be a put off for many people.
    Though I would still recommend it :)
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2016
  5. henrywolf123

    henrywolf123 『<(-.-<) kriby master』

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    for xianxia i think coiling dragon would be a good into book because RWX has footnoted any possible confusing terms, and that will help to acclimate any potential readers.
    I also think LMS is a pretty good way to get started, because its amusing, and i personally started with LMS (i think)
     
  6. Hate

    Hate born

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    Running away from hero ~
    Filled with comedy and it will get any type of reader or non reader into the story
    Just with the amount of comedy it has
     
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  7. Robofs740

    Robofs740 Well-Known Member

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    I would recommend Everyone else is a Returnee. http://www.novelupdates.com/series/everyone-else-is-a-returnee/
    Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Romance, and Shounen
    Reason: EER has a decent amount of chapters out right now, and the reviews and ratings are pretty high up there, especially since the translations started a couple months ago (I know correlation does not = causation, but amount of time being translated can influence it a bit). It has a pretty frequent post rate, and what is the best thing of all? Well, since it is only at chapter 37 right now, when you catch up and read other things for a while. You can look back and say, "Hey, I was there when ___ chapter ___ was out."
     
  8. Leachinator

    Leachinator [Jedi master general] Most Special Snowflake

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    The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
    The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
    Storm Front by Jim Butcher
    The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
    The Graveyard Book by Niel Gaiman
    Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel by Susanna Clark


    Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
    Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
    Dune by Frank Herbert
    The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolf

    The first group are some of my top favorite fantasy books that I have ever read the second group are some of my favorite scifi books and all together they are probably some of the best fiction available.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2016
  9. Vorpal

    Vorpal Well-Known Member

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    Martial God Asura
    It's basically all elements of xianxia emphasized to the extreme so by reading this, it would be much easier to swallow the elements of other xianxia novels.
     
  10. Ratatoskr

    Ratatoskr [Aruruu's proud dad] [The False Gentleman]

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    To be a virtuous wife - romance
    :Its good as not cloyingly romantic that you barf out twilight series. the romance is just enough that its not overly spicy or salty. The characters are nice to read about. All in all, qu qing ju is peerless.
     
  11. jkmessah

    jkmessah WoC, GoR and TGS enthusiast!

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    To Be a Virtuous Wife for those looking for strong female protags with some palace intrigue. It's completed as well, which would be nice for newcomers. It also really introduces those terms that you end up finding scattered around CN novels.
    A shorter nicer read that I personally recommend would be Our Second Master. Fantastic story-telling with a good moral story. It's also completed.
    Lastly, I think I'd go with Douluo Dalu by TJSS. It's one of my first CN and it's well written. There is also the manga adaptation which might ease some people into it? The characters are more than just standard cookie cutters and cultivation is quite unique.
    I hope these recommendations are ok~
     
  12. Aternus

    Aternus Well-Known Member

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    MGA for xianxia. Its the one I started on and the first book available on kindle is what brought me here. Its not too bad but also not too good, which I think is perfect for starting out. Its a great introduction to the joy of a power fantasy
     
  13. Parth37955

    Parth37955 NU #3, [Dead Inside], Mid-Boss, Dark Dealer Staff Member

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    was going for novels on novelupdates. Though I would probably try them out.
     
  14. Alpcake

    Alpcake Sleepless Pillow

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    I would say Martial World is a decent starting novel.
    Definitely Coiling Dragon as it's a pretty simple novel
     
  15. Flamemaster

    Flamemaster [TheCakeIsALie][LordOfTheDivineFlame][ThePinkPuff]

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    I started with mahouko tensei and then ISSTH and then CD, personally recommend CD for first time if he has no otaku background, if he has one I'd say mahouko tensei<-though this novel made me hate every other harem novel cause the harem in this one is so awesome.

    starting off with finished novels is the best, cause it makes you addicted to pick another novel off the self.
     
  16. anhrefn

    anhrefn [NTR Sect Leader]       [True Ancestor]

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    LMS too

    LMS started this boom of VRMMORPG
    and there's a lot of chp
    LMS is the "foundation" of the VR fics
     
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  17. zamornews

    zamornews Well-Known Member

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    A thought through eternity by Ergen.
    I feel like this would be a good entry level Web novel for people wanting to get into chinese martial art novels because it has a very strong comedy while slowly tipping its toes into the martial art world (at the beginning at least, still haven't caught up).
    Should be a good one for casual readers
     
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  18. chencking

    chencking [Daolord Grammar Nazi]

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    Seven Unfortunate Lifetimes - It's short, yet incredibly tragic and sweet. It has some cultivation, but it sticks closely to Chinese mythology instead of the author making up a new universe, so it is much more understandable. Most importantly, it hooks you into reading it as long as you give it a few chapters.
     
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  19. Astarte677

    Astarte677 POHHHTAAAAHHHTUUUU

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    Overlord and Mushoku Tensei
    (Overlord)Gamers or not you will surely love this novel, the mc is super OP but the author somehow manages it not to be boring.

    (Mushoku tensei) Okay,,, hate it or love it,,, but as a NEET i can relate to the mc... I aslo cried hard to the ending soo... Its good...(the first novel i cried on)

    (Both are my #1 fav soo this might be biassed)

    Editted: Lemme add a few more titles.
    Mahouka - One of the few novels thats soo solid it would openly shove facts into your face the moment you question it...

    Sword art Online -Soo Before you crucify me, I'd first like to tell you that although its not the first VRMMORPG novel. You cant just deny the fact that it made the genre popular.

    Okay, SAO is pretty much a really immersive novel specially the first arc up to mother's rosario arc, but beyond that.(though it depends) stuffs seems to change. But overall its on of those hipnotic novels that would suck you up into its world.

    Tokyo Ravens - I dunno why its soo underrated but its one of my fav. Novels of all time. It involves reincarnation but its different. The character's are all likables, and the story seems pretty solid...You'll also wish you've got a teacher like jin-sensei...
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2016
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  20. chencking

    chencking [Daolord Grammar Nazi]

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    Infinite Stratos - For all that people hate it, it is the forerunner of harem novels, so you may as well let the new reader find out for himself what so many authors are plagiarizing.

    Gifting this Wonderful World - Hilarious.

    Mushoku Tensei - Also a forerunner, except for reincarnation stories.
     
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