Hello Reader.
Fancy meeting you here.
Are you lost?
...I've been since the age of six.
This post won't help you find a purpose in life. However, it might help you navigate this novel and stave off your angst when I inevitably get distracted by a passing fly and forget to post anything for a couple of weeks months. Here, you'll find synopsises of the books posted so far, announcements, posting timetable & schedu-PFFFFFT HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Schedule. Right. Hahahaha... I crack myself up.
More seriously, this page, like this novel, is a work in progress. If you think of anything you'd like to appear here, don't hesitate to leave a comment.
Or you can always join us on DISCORD.
Future Chapters Statuses :
* Book 2 - Chapter 8: 100% [ 22 June 2019 ]
* Book 2 - Chapter 9: 100% [ 30 June 2019 ]
* Book 2 - Chapter 10: 100% [ 18 July 2019 ]
* Book 2 - Chapter 11: 100% [ 29 July 2019 ]
* Book 2 - Chapter 11.5: 100% [ 12 August 2019 ]
* Book 2 - Chapter 12: 100% [ 13 August 2019 ]
* Book 2 - Chapter 13: 100% [ 26 August 2019 ]
* Book 2 - Chapter 14: 100% [ 9 September 2019 ]
* Book 2 - Chapter 15: 100% [ 23 September 2019 ]
* Book 2 - Chapter M7: 17% [ In progress ]
THE STORY SO FAR:
/!\ Small spoilers if you read the synopsises past book 0 /!\
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Book 0: [Complete]
The Reckless Imbecile
[https://i.imgur.com/xLwFWJD.png]
Inside the whimsical fantasy world of the VRMMORPG Untold Tales, Elric Walker is a living myth, a true legend told at night over crackling campfires to spook noobs, a name that makes some gnash their teeth and others snigger – though still nervously, like that weird cousin you have who collects creepy porcelain dolls he calls each by its own name and who may or may not secretly be a serial killer.
In the real world, Nicolas "Nick" Siegel is a young, well-adjusted, pleasant, nothing-wrong-with-him-at-all-stop-asking college student whom his friends tease relentlessly about his game avatar's worldwide notoriety. And the slightly psychotic voice in his head isn't helping.
But now, Elric is trapped in a lost country overrun by the undead, where no outsider has stepped in centuries. Is this the beginning of yet another catastrophe of legendary proportions?
Warning. This book contains scenes of a rambling nature, unfocused MC, overly slow pacing, occasional typos, and an undead squirrel. May cause boredom, confusion, headaches, and temple rashes from scratching. Alcohol could intensify these effects.
START READING HERE
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Book 1: [Complete]
Out of Nowhere
[https://i.imgur.com/KMbOE09.png]
Nicolas "Nick" Siegel, aka. Elric Walker, is in a pinch. Hit by an unstable curse, his badass, laser-shooting, dragon/squirrel-slaying, inferno-summoning game character has been reduced to a frail girl with sharp teeth and a nasty haemoglobin addiction. To add insult to malediction, he's locked away in the highest room of the tallest tower of a castle guarded by a terrible fire-breathing dragon!
Stripped from his powers and unable to leave his secluded prison, Elric's fate might depend entirely on the whims of a mad god and the willingness to help of a half-orc warrior with grave anger management issue.
Meanwhile, in the real world, amongst everyday shenanigans, Nick finds himself faced with a conundrum when a petite creature with glaring interpersonal issues inserts herself in his life and thoughts. Who is this girl, and why does she commandeer so much of his attention?
Stalking getting to know her might be just what Nick needs to get his mind off his gaming woes.
Warning. This book contains scenes of an unfocused nature, mentally unstable MC, continued pacing issues, occasional typos, and an undead goat. May cause boredom, confusion, headaches, and brow cramps from frowning. The behaviour of the characters in this book should not be emulated under any normal circumstance. Oh, and there's gender bender in there. I shouldn't have to write it, but apparently, some people don't read tags. *snarky smirk*
START READING HERE
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Book 2: [Ongoing]
Brutal Slaughter (Working Title)
[https://i.imgur.com/7PtRCiJ.jpg]
Victoria and Athena have finally reached civilisation! But their troubles aren't over. In fact, it's the opposite! The minions of an ancient evil lich are on their trail. A villainous guild is eyeing them with malicious intent. Overzealous guards are patrolling the streets. Underwear thieves are acting suspiciously friendly. Ostriches might have formed an underground mafia. A strange new cult is rising in the capital slums. Elric's friends are being plotted against! And lurking in the shadows, a mysterious dark power may or may not be pulling the strings of it all.
And none of it might even matter if Vicky can't convince Thena to stick around.
But when there's a will, there's a way. And unfortunately for everyone else, the Reckless Imbecile doesn't know when to quit.
Warning. This book contains scenes of an... uncertain nature. I mean, it's a work in progress...
START READING HERE
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Reading Recommendations:
Bored while waiting for the next chapter, or simply looking for something to read? Why not check these out?
Three Square Meals
An ongoing erotic space opera, with great and likeable characters, a slowly unfolding plot of epic proportions, and a tone that can be dramatic but so far never tragic. (Don't read if you're against polyamorous bisexual relationships)
> It's 2779 and a retired Terran Federation Marine has taken up life as a trader. Follow John Blake's adventures as he travels the galaxy on his freighter, the "Fool's Gold". A two-million-word epic full of beautiful women, rampaging aliens, gunfights, space combat, and a mysterious heritage that will shake the foundations of the galaxy!
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Void Domain
A completed web novel with an amoral female protagonist thrust into a magical school with more intrigue than Hogwarts. It's a dark story, going darker as it progresses, and not for everybody.
> Brakket Magical Academy in Northwestern United States is on its last legs. Enrollment of new students is at an all time low. The academy instructors go out to recruit prospective children other magical academies have ignored. Eva is one such recruit. After witnessing her perform magic no teenage mage should have learned, an instructor of the academy offers her a full ride scholarship. Eva does not turn down the opportunity to learn magic in a proper capacity and quickly ships out to Montana. Barely a day there and things already seem off. Every student has the same scholarship, odd-smelling men wander the town, and a spider demon has decided Eva’s dorm room is the place to be.
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Vacant Throne
An ongoing web novel by the same author as Void Domain (so you know there's an above average chance of seeing the novel to completion). If you liked Void Domain, you should like this one. The theme is different, but the author's style is clearly palpable. It takes a typical setting of an MC dropped in another world. But the author keeps everything grounded in a realistic sense of struggle with a titillating sprinkle of mystery. And the world itself is enjoyably creative. I have yet to see a single goblin! (Also available here on Royal Road.)
> Alyssa Meadows, a worker at a local home improvement store, returns home one evening to her home invaded by burglars. A bad night gets worse when, after accidentally killing one, an angel appears before her and tells her she is destined to die. Alyssa takes exception to that and saves herself, only to find out that angels don’t like destiny being messed with. She finds herself shunted off to an alternate world filled with magic and monsters to preserve Earth’s future.
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Worm
You haven't checked out Worm yet? What are you waiting for! A monumental completed series about a teenager in a world of superheroes and villains, who soon discovers that the world isn't white and black but more a patchwork of dark greys.
> An introverted teenage girl with an unconventional superpower, Taylor goes out in costume to find escape from a deeply unhappy and frustrated civilian life. Her first attempt at taking down a supervillain sees her mistaken for one, thrusting her into the midst of the local ‘cape’ scene’s politics, unwritten rules, and ambiguous morals. As she risks life and limb, Taylor faces the dilemma of having to do the wrong things for the right reasons.
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The Zombie Knight
Fuck this series is getting long... I need to reread it from the start to remember all the characters! An ongoing series set in an alternate Earth with its own geography and political systems. Add in a bunch grim reapers and their immortal servants implicated in various levels from royalty to terrorists, and you get a right mess! A very enjoyable mess, though.
> A young man dies and is offered to be revived by a grim reaper in exchange for servitude. Responsibilities typically include the fight against abominable horrors, human or otherwise. However, this young man already has a few problems of his own... such as crippling shyness.
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Stone Burners
Another great superhero based story. It had tapered off reaching 2017 and gone on hiatus. But on September 9, 2018, the author published the 1st chapter of version 2.0. "I’ll be starting over from the beginning, with the story heavily edited." So we can only hope and cross fingers that it'll work out this time. Maybe wait some time before trying this one out, but I wanted to mention it because it's well worth keeping on your radar!
> Olivia has awoken to a strange world. With mere scraps of memories and a warped, unfamiliar body, she must find help to survive. However, terrorists, an urban legend, and an authoritarian government all threaten to snuff her out before she can find her footing.
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Midnight Moonlight
Werewolves, Vampires, Faeries and a severe case of Generalized Anxiety Disorder… Another romantic story with vampires and werewolves?! Oh, FFS! I thought we were past that! But what if I told you the protagonist is not an indecisive twat, but an indecisive neurotic maniac? What if I told you vampires didn't sparkle? What if the werewolves had troubles controlling their animalistic urges? And what if the fairies were monsters feeding off their prey's worst nightmares? It's an ongoing romantic comedy! (Don't read if you're against polyamorous bisexual relationships)
> Abigail is not afraid of anything in particular. She’s just… afraid. All the time. Of everything and everyone. She weaves wild stories to explain her state of perpetual anxiety to the people around her, preferring they treat it as a joke than treat her as a neurotic freak. It’s a plan that works well enough: with a little help from her best friend Megan, Abigail can almost pretend to be normal.
>
> But when Megan decides to help out with Abigail’s love life, Abigail finds herself trapped on a date with a ridiculously sexy man who accidentally lets slip that some of the things Abigail has “made up” are true – and that the rest of the truth is stranger than her fiction.
>
> Suddenly thrown into a world that has turned out to be crazier than she is, Abigail is going to have to learn to cope with werewolves, vampires, faeries, and being passionately kissed – and she’s going to have to learn fast, because there is a shadow war that has been roiling through the background of history, and she’s just come to the attention of all the players.
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How to be a Werewolf
While we're on the subject of werewolves... This one is an ongoing webcomic. It starts off black and white but the drawing gain colour later on. It's really fun! And to quote the author, "How to be a Werewolf is a long form, ongoing story, started in February 2015. It features a diverse cast, as well as a cast of mostly LGBTQ characters. It’s not as gay as I want it to be yet, but don’t worry, I’m working on it. Slowly. I hope you guys like slow burn romances, I guess?"
> Since being bitten by a strange wolf as a child, Malaya Walters has attempted to live a quiet life…hopefully a life free of attempting to eat her family or the customers at her family’s coffee shop. Being the only werewolf she’s ever known, Malaya has managed her condition by keeping tight control on herself and the world around her, with lackluster results. That is, until a strange guy wanders into her shop one day and introduces her to a whole world she never knew existed…
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The Elfhome Series
Here's a book series you'll have to buy. Sorry...? But it's worth every cent! It's an amazing blend of magic and technology, with an amazing female MC. )She can be a bit of a Mary Sue at times, I guess, but it never bothered me.) It's a great romantic fantasy with no love triangle and a cast of badasses who ride hoverbikes to escape magical terrorists. What's not to like?!
> Book 1, Tinker: Inventor, girl genius Tinker lives in a near-future Pittsburgh which now exists mostly in the land of the elves. She runs her salvage business, pays her taxes, and tries to keep the local ambient level of magic down with gadgets of her own design. When a pack of wargs chase an Elven noble into her scrap yard, life as she knows it takes a serious detour. Tinker finds herself taking on the Elven court, the NSA, the Elven Interdimensional Agency, technology smugglers and a college-minded Xenobiologist as she tries to stay focused on what's really important — her first date. Armed with an intelligence the size of a planet, steel-toed boots, and a junkyard dog attitude, Tinker is ready to kick butt to get her first kiss.
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Ancient Dreams Series
Another you'll have to buy. It's a trilogy. It's great. And it is simply the best dungeon story I've ever read (in my not-so-humble opinion.) It has all the right feelings of a LitRPG dungeon story with none of the annoying complicated system and grinding elements. I cried a little reading the prologue of the first book.
> Book 1, Ancient Ruins: Sistina awakened after millennia of dormancy, her memories in tatters and born anew. Residing in the ruins of an ancient city, she finds herself drawn into a war between two elven nations and the slaver kingdom of Kelvanis when she rescues a princess from slavery. With her domain containing hints of forgotten knowledge, Sistina becomes a dungeon, stronghold, and source of hope all at once. And perhaps, just perhaps, she could finally find love in her new life.
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The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage
As far as translated Chinese novels about a noblewoman who reincarnated as her past self and woves to take revenge while a handsome overbearing male chases after her... (Yes, that's a whole genre apparently)... this is my undisputed favourite. The female MC is smart and ruthless but not a hateful sociopath. The schemes are believeable. The male MC is powerful and arrogant, but there is actual chemistry between the two, not the stalker/Stocholm syndrome that passes as love in most of these stories. The romance is slow, and the male slowly falls in love instead of just seeing her once and deciding he's going to force her to become his wife... It's... It's a very sweet story, actually... If you don't mind the whole muders, backstabbing and scheming things.
No, really, it's a great novel.
> Shen Miao, the Di daughter of a military lineage, pure, amiable, quiet and yielding, foolishly in love with Prince Ding, threw herself into the role of a wife. After assisting her husband for six years, she finally became the mother of the world (Empress). She accompanied him to fight for the country, flourished the country’s territory, took risks to become a hostage in another country.
>
> But when she returned five years later, there was no place for her in the Inner Palace. The beauty in her husband's arms smiled brightly, “Older sister, the country is stabilized so, you should retire.” Her daughter met with a violent death and her son the Crown Prince was deposed. Her Shen family who sacrificed themselves for the country and the Emperor, not a single one of them were lucky enough to escape. With the change of one dynasty, everything was overturned. Her clan perished and she had to mourn for her children.
>
> Shen Miao never thought that being a married couple who have gone through trials and tribulations and mutually assisted each other was just a stage joke to him! He said, “Seeing that you have followed Zhen for twenty years, Zhen will grant you an intact corpse. You should thank this kindness.” As she died, Shen Miao made a malicious vow: In the time to come, she will take part in each and everyone’s end!
>
> Upon rebirth, she returned to the time when she was fourteen, when the tragedy had yet to occur, her family was still alive and she was still the pure, amiable, quiet and yielding Di daughter of a military lineage. Relatives hiding a black heart, Elder and younger (female) cousins are ruthless and malicious, the new Yiniang is like a tiger watching its prey and the disreputable man who wants to repeat the events? Her family must be protected, the huge enmity must be avenged, the Imperial seat of the country must also be a part of the trophy.
>
> In this lifetime, let’s see who can beat the others!
>
> But that little marquis from the Xie family, the arrogant and obstinate spear wielding youth, stood biasedly at her side and proudly said, “It’s just the fall of the Imperial power. Remember this, the world belongs to you. You– Belong to me!”
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Transmigrator Meets Reincarnator
This one's funny. Another translated Chinese novel, obviously. The female MC is fun and level-headed, very atypical for a Chinese female MC in this kind of novel, at least the ones I've read. So, an all around relaxing and enjoyable read.
> All Chu Lian had done was to read a book where the female lead had cheated on her wonderful husband. While wondering why, before she knew it, she was waking up in the body of that very same female lead! Wait, did that mean the handsome husband from the book was hers now? Chu Lian decided to welcome him with open arms!
>
> However, what she got wasn’t the kind husband she had been expecting. Instead, his personality seemed to have been completely flipped! He left her all alone on their wedding night… and just five days into their marriage, her dear husband abandoned his loving wife and left to enlist in the army!
>
> Fine! Be that way! She could pass her days perfectly well somehow, even if she had to do it alone! Chu Lian put her household in order, charmed the rest of her new family, and did a little business on the side. She even opened up some new trade routes! Her days passed peacefully and leisurely…
>
> Until her dear husband got into trouble at the frontline of the war. Hmph, isn’t he crawling back to me for help in the end? Forget it, I’ll go save him myself!
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Of Astral and Umbral
I've mentioned this one a few times. It's on this site, it's great, it's ongoing, it's a fantasy romance. Just check it out. Though, be warned that the author loves to be mysterious to the point of teeth grinding. Would be my top favourite on Royal Road if not for Atros Imperium.
> Their world is broken and so are they.
>
> Arianna is an outcast. Her affinity for darkness terrifies those around her. Haunted by dreams of another time, she doubts if she even belongs among her people. Rather than dwell on fragments of a forgotten past, she dedicates herself to protecting her twin brother and their people from the monsters beyond the city walls.
>
> The God of Balance, Nalithor, was born a Devillian prince. Twisted monstrosities and unhinged deities are a threat to the world’s mortals. His duty is to restore order, yet his superiors block every move he makes.
>
> In order to salvage their world, Arianna and Nalithor must overcome their foes. However, they must put themselves back together first…or Avrirsa will fall.
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Atros Imperium
Need it presenting? If you haven't check it out, do it now. One of the oldest ongoing series on RR and a consistently entertaining one, despite a few stumbles along the way. If you're put off the harem tag, don't be. At 3,577 page, the number of girls is two. Two! And you can imagine that with 112 chapters (loooong chapters) these two are more than decently fleshed out. Slow kingdom building, world exploration, decent geopolitics. Go for it.
> Anton Thorn died in an incident of his own creation, his body torn and shredded to pieces. Yet death and eternal rest did not await him. Gods, from another world, took his soul along many others to their world to fight an overwhelming and impossible foe.
>
> By chance and oversight his soul was missed by the gods, his soul destined to remain in limbo and torment for all eterinity. A few weak and desperate gods took a chance with him and brought him through to their world.
>
> Now sent far away from the battle, in his original body, to a small village in the husk of a dead kingdom. It is now up to him to restore the Kingdom and fight off anything that would threaten him or those he loves; be they human, beast, monster or hero.
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Mother of Learning
Time Loop done right! Hell yeah! Fun, drama, tension, magic! Ongoing since Oct 17, 2011. At the time I'm writing this, the latest chapter was published on Septembre 9, 2018. Damn... another one I need to catch up with.
> Zorian, a mage in training, only wanted to finish his education in peace. Now he struggles to find answers as he finds himself repeatedly reliving the same month. 'Groundhog Day' style setup in a fantasy world.
>
> This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
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Emissary of Death
Completed. A sweet romance in a world of gods and magic, with a bit of mystery thrown in. The middle of the story is a bit slow, but everything else is great.
> Being murdered at sixteen is bad enough; learning all your recent past lives had been unpleasant by design is worse. However, Katrelle's cycle of lives is broken by the God of the Dead… and then he offers her a most unexpected proposition.
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Desert Lilies
Completed. A short lesbian romance between a freed slave and a snake woman. Sweet, emotional and to the point. Loved it.
> The slave girl Andoué is rescued by a tribe of friendly snake-women. Slowly she learns life can be good and finds a home. Will she find even more?
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StarvingLunatic (Author)
Something a bit different here, since I'm recommending a whole author's work rather than one specific fiction. I loved everything I read that she wrote. All f/f romances. Here below are a few of my favourites, some might have been published and need purchasing.
> Celestial Reign: Tears of the Sun: Follow the lives of two girls, one a princess and the other her birthday gift, as they build a bond between each other while trying to make it through life in a society where females and others are looked down on.
>
> Celestial Reign: Baying for the Moon: Sequel to Celestial Reign: Tears of the Sun. Follow Xol and Ileana as they flee their home and move to the south into a country that needs help, which they give. They then face royal intrigue, war, and the difficult task of unifying humans and daijinn into one nation. (DocNS: Better than the first, in my opinion).
>
> Noble: Reva's become a burden on her family, so her parents decide to sell her. By a strange twist of fate, Francesca, who doesn't believe that a person can own another person, ends up owning Reva. Francesca does her best to be take care of Reva, but Reva doesn't make it easy.
>
> Please Baby: Jayce's life is going downhill after she rescues her little niece from an awful situation. Her girlfriend doesn't want the baby around. Her mother wants to take the baby from her. Things don't seem to get better until she meets Gus.
>
> Scarred for Life: Dane is a loner, having lost all faith in people...until she accidentally meets Nicole, a heavily put-upon lawyer who seems to have too much faith in people.
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Uncharted Streets
Completed. Another short and sweet lesbian romance. What? I love those. (Small anecdote: I once spent five hours going through Goodreads and Amazon trying to find that story again to reread it, only to remember the next day it was actually on Fiction Press... for free! Uuuuuuuuugh!)
> Devon's unhappiness with life, even with the expensive clothes, fabulous car, and incredible apartment, leads her to make a crazy spur of the moment decision. Jamie, a prostitute, believes the mistakes she's made in life have left her with no way out. That is, until she meets a new client with an unusual request...
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The Crow and the King
Completed. Romance? Yes. Lesbian? Not this one... though the girl is cross-dressing! (Why can't I enjoy normal romances?)
> When Crow, a young blacksmith comes to town, the Crown Prince Alexander takes him up as a great friend. But what the Prince doesn't know is that Crow is hiding a dark past and that he is really a she.
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Road to Kingdom
An ongoing translation of a JP Light Novel that marries adventures in a low fantasy medieval universe with sex. A lot of sex. So much that it becomes ridiculous. The MC also is ridiculous. This whole story is ridiculous. But somehow... epic? Kinda? It's entertaining, I'll say that much, and never boring. There is actually a good balance of sex and plot... I'd say 50-50? 60-40? The sex is getting pretty unrestrained in later chapters, so some might find it more than a little offensive. (...I like it though? *guilty sshrug*)
> This is the story of a young slave gladiator in an underground arena. He doesn’t know about his past or how he got to where he is, only that his name is Aegir, and that he is strong.
>
> One day he kills the boss and escapes the arena, joining a band of mercenaries as a new recruit. During one mission, they encounter the vampire, Lucy, who slaughters the band with her inhuman strength. After learning that Aegir only knows how to kill, Lucy lets him stay at her house, educating and taking care of him.
>
> Two years pass, and on the day of Aegir’s departure, they both exchange a promise that if Aegir becomes a king and owns the land of Erg forest, he can come and take her as his woman. Making this his life goal, Aegir set out on a journey to become a hero, a king, and found his own kingdom.
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Midnight Secretary
Manga, this one. Vampire romance in all its cliché glory, but it's a good one. I've reread it a few times. (Have I betrayed my identity as a teenage fangirl already?)
> Kaya Satozuka is a brilliant secretary who excels at her job, which is why she doesn't bat an eye when she's assigned to be personal secretary to Kyohei Touma, the very difficult managing director of Touma Foods. It doesn't faze her when her new boss seems determined to make her fail, and she even manages to take it in stride when she discovers the secret behind his prickly behavior…he's a vampire! But while Kaya easily adapts to late nights and keeping a schedule of his "dinner dates", will her ultra-competence help when Kyohei's smoldering gaze starts turning her way?!
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Kanata Kara (aka. From Far Away)
Another manga. Another romance. An isekai story from when isekai stories were still considered cool and relatively few in numbers.
> On her way home from school one day, Noriko is unexpectedly plunged into a strange and extraordinary fantasy world. Her troubles compound exponentially when she is rescued and befriended by a handsome young man by the name of Izark. He may be brave and courageous, but inside Izark lurks the darkest evil imaginable. And according to an ancient prophecy, Noriko possesses the power to unleash that evil. Now, inexorably bound together, these two unlikely allies must navigate a world both wondrous and hostile.
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Saver
Hey! That one's a manwha! Now, everyone takes out your bingo cards. We have an isekai, romance, adventure, with a cross-dressing female MC! One of my old favourites.
> Lena Ha is a beautiful and tough girl who is the captain of Kendo team. She meets Hye-Min Kang, the son of the president of a big company in Korea, and the two seem to feel love at first sight. But when Lena learns that she and Hye-Min are half-siblings, she runs away and falls into a strange body of water. When Lena comes to, she finds herself in a strange kingdom...and learns that she may be its only hope.
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Basara
You hate prophecies and chosen ones? You'll hate Basara with passion! Here's a story about a war between a handsome prince and a cross-dressing female rebel leader, who of course fall in love without knowing each other's identity and unknowingly trying to kill their beloved one. But, hey, those clichés had to start from somewhere before they became boring. This is a manga that was published from Aug 11, 1990 to May 13, 1998 after all!
> Sarasa grew up knowing that her twin brother Tatara was prophesied to be the "boy of destiny," the one who would overthrow the oppressive government and unite the people. When Tatara dies in battle, however, Sarasa realizes that it's up to her to secretly take on her brother's identity. On the way, Sarasa meets and falls in love with the mysterious Shuri, who may also have something up his sleeve. Together, she and her group of ragtag fighters journey across the land, attacking the many rulers and hoping to someday reach the leader of them all, the Red King.
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Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori (aka. Anatolia Story aka. Red River)
Manga. Girl from modern times gets transported into the past, romance and epic battles ensue. Have I become predictable yet? If you don't trust me, at least trust the 8.45 score on MyAnimelist.
> A seemingly ordinary modern day teenager, Yuri, is suddenly whisked away to the Hittite empire in ancient Anatolia, where an ambitious queen wants the girl for a blood sacrifice in order to murder all heirs but her son, thus seizing control of the throne. Luckily, the timely intervention of Prince Kail saves Yuri from the queen's grasp. Kail promises to send Yuri back to her home, but the queen's persistent schemes to kill them both, plus their growing feelings for each other, keep those plans delayed.
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Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä (aka. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)
Don't let yourself be put off by the old drawings. This. Is. A. Masterpiece. Read it and thank me later... or curse me for killing your eyes reading a crappy story. I personally think the drawing style adds to the mystically creepy atmosphere, but to each their taste.
> Humanity, once a technologically advanced and thriving civilization, has been pushed to the brink of extinction following a cataclysmic war known as the "Seven Days of Fire." The remnants of the human race now live in scattered kingdoms to avoid the unrelenting spread of the "Sea of Corruption," a colossal forest infested with dangerous mutant insects and fungi that produce poisonous spores.
>
> Nausicaä, sole heir to the throne of the agricultural kingdom Valley of the Wind, is thrust into a war after an ally kingdom, the imperialist Torumekia, invades the Dorok Empire. Forced to fight alongside the Torumekian military and their cunning princess Kushana, Nausicaä witnesses firsthand the horrors of war and its effect on both humanity and the environment. With her uncanny charisma and gentle nature, Nausicaä may be the only for hope for humanity as the ongoing war and the Sea of Corruption hasten the extinction of mankind.
>
> Set against the backdrop of a devastated world, Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä depicts the aftermath of human folly and the immortal power of nature.
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Sun-Ken Rock
Jobless loser mistakenly becomes a badass gangster and tries to hide it from his policewoman love interest, all of that supported by Boichi's kickass sexy drawings. It's silly, but it's awesome. If you want to read a manga that makes you go MAAAAAN YEAH!! and beat your chest like a dumb gorilla while crying manly tears, this is the story for you. And it's finished. I just found that out... eh. Time to finish it!
> The story revolves around Ken, a man from an upper-class family that was orphaned young due to his family's involvement with the Yakuza; he became a high school delinquent known for fighting. The only thing that motivates him to take action is through his romantic affections for a classmate, Yumi. After learning she decided to move to Korea to become a police officer, Ken leaves his life in Japan behind and tries to follow in Yumi's footsteps; due to unforeseen circumstances, he incidentally becomes the head of a local gang and tries to hide it from Yumi. As the leader, the gang is renamed the Sun-Ken Rock Group.
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Kiseiju (aka Parasyte)
Another old masterpiece. It was recently adapted in anime. Didn't see the anime, but I read the whole manga in one sitting a while back. Heard the adaptation was good, though, with pertinent upgrades to better fit modern times, so knock yourselves out.
> They arrive in silence and darkness. They descend from the skies. They have a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade—and take control of—a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces, so no one knows their secret—except an ordinary high school student. Shinichi is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?
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Übel Blatt
A dark fantasy manga perfectly in line with what you'd read on RR. Not the best around, with sometimes paper-thin villains and... let's say... little subtlety (I think I remember that in the first chapter, a woman gets raped by a horse... That kind of "subtlety".) Anyway, it's a great read nonetheless, if you want a dark power fantasy against ugly, despicable bad guys. Think Seven Deadly Sins meets Berserk. And the drawings are nice.
> When Wischtech threatened to invade the fiefs of Szaalanden, the Emperor dispatched fourteen youths. Of these, the Seven Heroes halted the invasion to herald a time of prosperity while the four Lances of Betrayal were supposedly defeated.
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> Two decades later, the Lances of Betrayal have reappeared and formed a bandit militia near the frontier fief Gormbark. A man with the black sword and a scar over his left eye slays an entire troop of that militia. He is identified as a boy, Kóinzell, and becomes as much an object of fear as of hope even as his own past, motivations, and purpose are a mystery to those he meets in his travel.
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Berserk
You know what it is. I know what it is. If you're not too squeamish and like dark fantasy, check it out if you haven't. (Here's the synopsis anyway if you were living in a cave these past 30 years!)
> His name is Guts, the Black Swordsman, a feared warrior spoken of only in whispers. Bearer of a gigantic sword, an iron hand, and the scars of countless battles and tortures, his flesh is also indelibly marked with The Brand, an unholy symbol that draws the forces of darkness to him and dooms him as their sacrifice. But Guts won't take his fate lying down; he'll cut a crimson swath of carnage through the ranks of the damned -- and anyone else foolish enough to oppose him! Accompanied by Puck the Elf, more an annoyance than a companion, Guts relentlessly follows a dark, bloodstained path that leads only to death...or vengeance.
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Dreamland
Manfra. It's great! It's crazy! It has a Fish Summoner! Excellent blend of humour and adventure, with orgininal powers and colourful characters. The original is in French, though, so if you speak the language, I encourage you to check it out in VO.
> On one side, you have the real world, and on the other, the world of dreams, imaginary and crazy. We follow the life of Terrence and his friends between those two worlds. He's a shy high-schooler who would like to seduce Lydia, the girl he likes since a long time. But one day, his life changes completely while during one of his nightmare, he overcomes his greatest fear...the fire. After that is the beginning of his double life with a normal high-school student during the days and a flame controller at night in Dreamland.
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07-Ghost
Manga. Complete. It's an old favourite of mind which--complete?! Since when? 2015?! Bloody hell! ...another one I need to catch up on. So it's kind of shonen-ai-ish, but it's great. I actually recommend checking out the anime, which covers chapters 1 to 25. It follows the manag quite faitfully, as far as I remember, and really, it's good shit... Maybe my memory is biased because I watched that anime at night in a stranger's house in the middle of the countryside... meh.
> Barsburg Empire's Military Academy has always been known for training the elite with potential to become superb soldiers who won't bring shame to the name of the empire. The students of the special program freely utilize an ability called "zaiphon" to fight... Everyone's capabilities are different, and in many cases, reflect their nature.
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Mars
Manga. Complete. Romance between painter girl and biker bad boy and... err... To be honnest, I remember jack shit of what exactly happens in that manag. The bad boy has a dark past... I think? But I remeber enjoying it very much, for all its genericness.
> Kira believes that Rei and all other men in the world are dirty. She stays away from her classmates, hiding in her art. What happens when the delinquent motorcyclist and playboy, Rei, gets a hold of one of her drawings, and actually wants to keep it?
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Kimi wa Pet
Manga. Complete. Adult working woman in her (late?) 30ies takes in a homeless younger 20-ish man, romance ensues. Sweet and well-written.
> Smart, successful and good-looking Iwaya Sumire works for a big newspaper. However, her boss asks her to leave for being too "perfect" a woman. Feeling angry and dejected Iwaya returns home depressed, and most of all lonely. However, she finds an unconscious young man lying in a box out the front of her home and takes him in. He looks like a dog she used to own called Momo. She dubs him Momo and decides to "keep him as a pet." It's the start of an unexpected life together as they overcome obstacles and become quite attached to one another. But can love like this exist?
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Orange Marmelade
Webtoon. Complete. A romance between a vampire and a racist... What? That's basically what this is. It's nice though...
> People are no longer afraid of vampires but that doesn't stop humans from discriminating against them. Can Mari Baek hide her identity when she falls in love with a popular boy who hates vampires?
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Taint
Back to a webnovel. Ongoing and slow updates, but steady ones. It starts as a dongeon survival story, and continues as a tale about an OP girl with very little common sense and even less empathy. It's badass, cute, and funny all at the same time.
> A little girl is kidnapped from her family by unknown assailants, is imprisoned into a gigantic, endless cave filled with ravenous monsters, is infected by the monsters’ poisonous blood, the Taint, and dies. When she wakes up again, she’s not exactly the same, either physically or mentally.
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> Her only goals in life, now: get out of this cave, and reunite with her family.
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> Oh, and also: slaughter, in as painful a way as possible, anyone who was involved in her imprisonment, anyone who profited from it, and anyone who even remotely gets in the way (plus those people’s families, friends, acquaintances, business partners…)
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Release That Witch
Damn long and ongoing. It's about kingdom building, rationality and prejudices. With a level-headed protagonist and no harem as far as I've read despite what it might seem in the beginning. A bit too slow for my taste, the kingdom building, but excellent in all other aspects.
> Chen Yan traveled through time, only to end in Europe of the medieval period, becoming Roland — a Royal Prince. But this world doesn’t seem to be the same as his former world. Witches are real and they really can use magic?
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> Follow Roland’s battle for the throne against his siblings! Will he win, even though the king has already declared him to be a hopeless case, and he has the worst starting situation? Only his experience with modern technology and the help of the witches — who incidentally, are known as devil’s servants and thus hunted by the the Holy Church, can help him succeed.
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> Now, let his journey begin!
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Fablehaven
Published 5-book series. Maybe a bit more for a younger audience, but I still like it.
> Book 1: For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.
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> Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken -- Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good -- powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.
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Sword of Truth Series (by Terry Goodkind)
Too bloody long, with a chosen one style hero, a mushy romance and terrible prophecies! It's somewhat as ridiculous as it's epic and I repeat, too bloody long, but I enjoyed every second of it. I actually read the first 10-ish books 3 times. I just love how everyone keeps spouting prophecies and the MC is like "Eh, fuck it. That's stuff is super inaccurate anyway." Give it a chance, it's a great series.
> In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help . . . and more.
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> His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence. In a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. Beyond awaits a bewitching land where even the best of their hearts could betray them. Yet, Richard fears nothing so much as what secrets his sword might reveal about his own soul. Falling in love would destroy them--for reasons Richard can't imagine and Kahlan dare not say.
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> In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed . . . or that their time has run out.
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> This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.
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The Pendragon Series (by D.J. MacHale)
Completed series of published books. I love the originality of the setup, the various worlds the heroes visit, and above all, I love that in the war that spans the entire series, the MC sometimes loose. There are a few books that end with the bad guy... winning. Period. Kinda left me staring at the ceiling for a while, those tomes. Again, it's aimed at a younger audience than I am now, but I have fond memories of it.
> Bobby Pendragon is a seemingly normal fourteen-year-old boy. He has a family, a home, and even Marley, his beloved dog. But there is something very special about Bobby.
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> He is going to save the world.
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> And not just Earth as we know it. Bobby is slowly starting to realize that life in the cosmos isn't quite what he thought it was. And before he can object, he is swept off to an alternate dimension known as Denduron, a territory inhabited by strange beings, ruled by a magical tyrant, and plagued by dangerous revolution.
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> If Bobby wants to see his family again, he's going to have to accept his role as savior, and accept it wholeheartedly. Because, as he is about to discover, Denduron is only the beginning....
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Robin Hobb (Author)
I warmly recommend any book that is part of the "Realm of the Elderlings" series and the "Soldier Son" Trilogy. Just start with the Assassin's Apprentice and if you like it, you won't be able to stop until you don't have books to read anymore. Robin's Hobb's books aren't pretty stories, but it's not grimdark for the cause. Realistic is a word I would use... if magic was a thing. And sadly, reality is not always pretty. Sometimes it's downright infuriating. And Robin Hobb excels in writing well-crafted character you may hate but can't help empathising with.
> Assassin's Apprentice: In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma.
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> Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals - the old art known as the Wit - gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility.
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> So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin.
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The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Series (by Michelle Paver)
Nature, tribal power, and, of course, a hint of dark magic mixed together wonderfully. One of the strengths of this book series is that one of the two main characters is a wolf, and he is not overly anthropomorphised. The chapters from the wolf PoV feel like they're from an animal's point of view, with simple understanding of the world, fuzzy notion of past and future, a strong sense of present and instincts. Very well-written, unique and enjoyable.
> Book 1: Six thousand years ago. Evil stalks the land. Only twelve-year-old Torak and his wolf-cub companion can defeat it. Their journey together takes them through deep forests, across giant glaciers, and into dangers they never imagined.
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Legend (by David Gemmell)
You cannot not love the story of the last fight of a old hero who's seen it all. For me, this book is my personnal definition of the word "epic". If you haven't read it yet, please try it out.
> He is DRUSS the Legend. His skill in battle has earned him a fearsome reputation throughout the world and the stories of his life are told everywhere. But the grizzled veteran has spurned a life of fame and fortune and has retreated to the solitude of his mountain lair to await his old enemy, Death.
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> Meanwhile, barbarian hordes of the Nadir are on the march, conquering all before them. All that stands before them and victory is the legendary six-walled fortress of the Drenai empire, Dros Delnoch. If the fortress falls, so do the Drenai. Druss reluctantly agrees to come out of retirement. But can even Druss live up to his own legends?
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Pour les francophones :
Pierre Bottero (author)
Anything by this man, I love. Sadly, his premature death leaves us orphan of more great works. But he leaves behind a legacy that, in my opinon, is uniquely poetic. I just love re-reading his books. Sadly, I don't think most of them were ever translated in English. A sad waste, if you ask me. But I'll put them here anyway.
* La Quête d'Ewilan, trilogie qui réunit D’un monde à l’autre, Les Frontières de glace et L'Île du destin
* Les Mondes d'Ewilan, suite des titres précédents, trilogie qui réunit La Forêt des captifs, L'Œil d'Otolep et Les Tentacules du mal
* L'Autre, trilogie qui réunit Le Souffle de la hyène, Le Maître des tempêtes et La Huitième Porte,
* Le Pacte des Marchombres, trilogie qui réunit Ellana, Ellana l'envol et Ellana la prophétie
> La quête d'Ewilan, tome 1, D'un monde à l'autre : La vie de Camille, adolescente surdouée, bascule le jour où elle pénètre accidentellement dans un univers parallèle, nommé Gwendalavir. Elle ignore tout de ce monde où, pourtant, on semble la reconnaître sous le nom d’Ewilan. Accompagnée dans sa quête par son ami Salim, elle réalise qu’elle possède un don prodigieux et que tout un peuple l’attendait pour reconquérir sa liberté et sa dignité. Camille doit vite apprendre à maîtriser son pouvoir, l’art du Dessin…
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The Millionaire Next Door
A complete story about a young man who takes control of his life and becomes successful while keeping his priorities straight. I was a bit hesitant at first because the story tends to feel a little preachy at times. But, really, it's a well-rounded novel where wish fulfilment is grounded in a good dose of rationality and realism. While not the most gripping story I've ever read, it's one that truly made me think at times.
> If happiness was measured in money there would be very few millionaires. This is a story about Dan Parker, a young man who starts his life as an adult with the odds stacked against him. Follow his journey of self discovery as he tries to achieve happiness. His story might make you wonder if you live next door to a millionaire.
Lastly, here are a few YouTube channels with interesting contents to occupy your time: Todd in the Shadows, Terrible Writing Advice, CinemaSins, Mother's Basement, Glass Reflection, Gigguk, Corridor Digital, Tale Foundry, Jonathan Young, DoodleChaos, Annapantsu, Lizz Robinett., and of course, EPIC RAP BATTLES OF HISTORY (it must be written in all caps)