Discussion Rules for picking up novels

I have several rules when it comes to choosing novels to read.
1.Ratings must be above 3.5 star.
2. Translation is still ongoing.
I wont read novels that translator abandoned. But there are excetions...
3.If the series is abandoned, then:
-If it is chinese xianxia, it must be on lnmtl so I can continue reading it.
-If it is Japanese light novel, at least 1/3 of the series has been translated.
-If it is Japanese web novel, then at least 50 chapters translated.
-For korean... Every korean novels i read is still being translated so i dont have a criteria for this lmfao. Except for Dungeon Defense but that series is on hiatus so...
And thats after considering genres tags, reading comments...

What about you guys? what are the criterias that you guys set for yourself?

 

Criteria is plural, criterion is singular. No such word as criterias.

 

Okay. No yaoi, no harem, no stupid forced romance (Especially within the first few dozen chapters), a realistic MC.

Sadly, basically every novel feels like it has at least one of these.

 

I only have one rule: MC must be an interesting person.

 

I judge it by the cover.

 

1. If I like that tags
2. If I like the description
3. If I feel like it

I'm a spontaneous and arbitrary person.

 

My sequence is:
1. Synopsis
2. Tags and genre
3. Read the reviews with low star

 

I mostly just look at the title -> synopsis and see if i would like it. Then it depends on my mood. I have so many novels that i have yet to read after bookmarking them.
I mostly go on feeling and don't rationalize why i ihose to pick up or abandon a novel. If a novel has been on my to read list for a long time and still has only one chapter then i don't even bother trying to read it

 

Title and the Cover
Then.....I'm actually one of those rare guys that Pay Attention to synopsis....even for CN novels.
Then....I guess I'm also one of those guys that read the review. I only care about the Bad Reviews cause whether they are true or biased, then at least you can expect something from the novels.
Then finally, just read it to see if it's fit my taste.

 

1. If its JP KR or CN
2. Summary/Synopsis
3. How fast the release is
4. First Chapter (if garbage translation or readable)
5. Tags and Reviews(Normally I dont even reach #5)

 

1. Synopsis
2. Tags and genre (novel with no romance or polygamy and such got the priority to check)
3. Chapter1 (+chapter0/prologue if exist)

 

1: Title or cover art gets me to click
2: Synopsis/introduction is interesting
a) If it's a female protagonist I'm gone, just personally can't handle how the male leads are perceived
b) If it includes the phrase "just an ordinary x school boy" there needs to be a damn good/interesting premise to keep me from clicking away immediately
3: Check genre/tags for stupid stuff
a) If there's stuff like 'adjective protagonist' x 7 it's not a good sign IMO
b) Rape victim becomes lover is an immediate no
4: As last resort read reviews to see if anyone complains about tired cliches, how bad the plot armor is, or generic background harem characters that get little to no development besides "MC doesn't treat me like everyone else! *swoon*"
5: Chapter count
a) If below 15 or no new chapters in the past 2 weeks moved to lack of chapters holding
b) If not sufficiently hooked by premise to start reading immediately, moved to lack of interest hold

 

For me it's gotta be CN or maaaaaaaybe CR if I'm up for it, but it's gotta be on WW or WN for me to try it, because if it's not there 95% it's not gonna get finished and I can't have that

 

1. number of chapters - must be 1/3 if it's not that long, around 50 if kr novel, others shud be 100+
(only exception is yaoi.. as long as the synopsis is good, i'll read. i can google translate it anyways)
2. tags/genre - especially the kind of mc
3. synopsis - must be interesting to me
4. stars - dont care much
5. reviews - only if i still havent decide

 

1- I don't trust ratings of things that ppl doesn't expend money to own read.
2- I prefer to binge read, so I kind of like it when they are nearing completion or complete instead of ongoing.
3- when reading CN I don't expect much quality, but at least I like the mc to be decisive, for passive mc there is JP. and KR mmm haven't read a lot, but the few that I can remember had such a disappointing ending....
4- at least readable english.
4- I prefer reading on websites that have open comment system, or that use something global (wordpress, disqus, FB, Google) instead of having to register... (so that I can curse author whenever is needed)
5- darkmode or reader mode.

 

Truly a man of culture

 

I usually look for the genre first, generally fantasy elements (xianixa, xuanhuan, typical fantasy, etc) then I look for what the man character is. There's a lot of novels with those genres, but the mcs are almost always very similar, so I look for the more interesting ones. Also I generally rule out harem, yaoi, etc. After that I look at the synopsis and reviews, typically the 1 star, 4 star, and 5 star ratings. Then I just pick and choose from there. Oh also, they need to have a consistent translation schedule.

 

No harem
Somewhat realistic/unforced love
Must have like, 20+ chapters
Interesting storyline/MC
Nothing under 2 stars
If the reviews say the characters personality changes halfway through I stay away