Most stories I've found in NU can be placed into a handful of categories (romance, Xianxia, Wuxia, Quick Transmigration, etc.). Although each story within a genre is unique in its own way, they also tend to borrow a lot of ideas from each other. I'm looking for stories that are, at their core, unique. Maybe you can't really place them in a genre, or maybe the story has a major appeal you haven't found anywhere else. In summary: The story has to be unique in some way (at least as far as you are aware). The unique point of the story must be a major factor in your enjoyment of it. While the story doesn't have to be your favorite, please restrict your recommendations to stories you liked. DO NOT: recommend a story just because you liked it. I'm not necessarily looking for quality, but creativity (for example, ISSTH is amazing, but it doesn't belong on this thread). Examples: Demon Girl~Tale of a lax Demon: This draws from a hodgepodge of different genres, but ultimately it's a carefree OP amoral character doing whatever the heck she wants. The unique point, in the translator's own words, is the sense of "fluffy horror" that pervades many of the high points of the story. Kamisu Reina Series: This is hard to describe without spoilers. Suffice to say, the idea of the series is so out there, I've never seen anything like it. It presents a brilliant mystery with a baffling conclusion. Thanks for any recommendations you may have!
The Legend of Sun Knight - doesn't fit in the usual Chinese categories, has an array of interesting characters, has comedic scenes as well as dramatic parts, overall just an enjoyable read.
Reborn as My love Rival's Wife: Pretty unique imo since there's not alot of gender-benders in this site(that I know of anyways). Plus, its done real well so if you are into romance, I recommend. My Disciple Died Yet Again: Very unique imo since the concept about death is pretty cool. Yuusha-sama no Oshishou-sama: Mc is very weak, yet somehow is the hero's Master. I think that can be considered unique lol. I havent read that far so I dont know if it turns cliche afterwards. Running Away From The Hero: Pretty interestin becuase the MC starts off working in an evil organisation and is considered op becuase his weapon is op(and weird). Besides the setting being quite different, I think the weapon of choice is what really stands out lol.
kino no tabi Youjo Senki (though novel translation stopped) anything by ryogo narita: baccano, durarara, Etsusa Bridge, vamp, etc zaregoto Spice and Wolf Rakuin no Monshou
Well, if you really want to find more uniqueness... The Little Macho Girl Maria from Hell! ^ I don't know what to think of these two but by this point, it is too late to question what I read. Mary-san Comes on Foot The Witch and the Gourd of Stories ^ Kind of sweet. That One Time the Essay a Child Wrote over Summer Break was Way too Fantasy ^ Someone reading a hero's journey with a lot of retorts. And so She Dreams of Another World ~ The Pure and the Unwoman ~ ^ So laser beams are not considered feminine, that's new. The Story of a Macaron-Loving Girl Who Lived a Thousand Years Somehow. ^ Stories are kind of strange but have some nice parts. Grasshopper ^ Contemplative Demon King & Hero ^ This starts out normal at least, maybe not as unique... until the author goes somewhere. I Became the Hero’s Bride! ^ Hmmm, I don't know if I should even recommend this. I also want to recommend these but not sure if these are unique enough compared to the above: Semi Datte Tensei Sureba Ryuu Ni Naru About the Reckless Girl Who Kept Challenging a Reborn Man Like Me
Seductive Affairs This is a story of Prisha Khatri a regular college graduate, focused on her career, desperate to finally move out of her parents’ house and freshly dumped by her successful fiancé and famously fiery reporter Rajesh Lagheri. As their chemistry threatens to overwhelm them and Prisha is pulled deeper into the Seductive Affair, she must decide what matters most to her matters of the head or of the heart. The book has a lot of romance, tragedy, and drama. It is a very addictive book. You should go for it.
All KR novels were pretty new to NU so try to something like The Novel's Extra or The Second Coming Of Avarice
The Mech Touch, great worldbuilding and detailed explanation of mcs mech designs Abyssal Dungeon. Extremely in depth description into the lives of the dungeon creatures, more so compared to any other dungeon stories
Trafford’s Trading Club.. Great series, unique premise, the way the novel tells the tale is pretty interesting.
Legend of Sun Knight Running Away From The Hero Dungeon Defense Youjo Senki The Girl Who Ate a Death God