r/koreanblnovels

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Eden is a popular VR fantasy MMORPG in its first season in an otherwise basically modern-day universe. After a nearly scuffed dungeon run, MC is left with the daunting knowledge that the Guild Master of the guild he just joined is a notorious high ranked player known for ruthlessly killing off even his own teammates when they annoy him. And the ML is left interested, ofc.

The MC plays a Paladin and unexpectedly ended up as the highest contributor to the class while largely playing solo. He's given a secret quest and ends up letting the (admittedly very useful) ML tag along to help, despite the fact their patron deities are enemies. ML becomes more obsessive and possessive as time goes on, even getting jealous of NPCs.

While it is set mainly in-game, it does also include their real life relationship, where MC is a college student on leave and ML is a shut-in chaebol.

MC is pretty great, he's a little oblivious, originally not too great at socializing, and more often than not the most normal person in the room. ML is hilarious, in game he's shameless (he's basically the epitome of the classic healer line, "but did you die?") and while he's better IRL, it's still there.

Their guild is one of my favorite parts, it's just full of trolls and the source of many highly enjoyable hijinks, lines, and moments. They're definitely the sort of players you'd hate to be up against, but would have fun with if guildies. ML's uncle is also fun, he's so relieved that ML has someone he likes that he >!suggests he kidnaps him !<(you can tell they're family).

The plot climax was a little odd, and not what I was hoping for as far as the >!game's season story ending!<, but I'm not actually sure how something like this could otherwise end, anyway. The first side story is more of an epilogue, too.

This is a pretty relaxed read, as most of the more serious/dramatic elements are in-game and therefore lower stakes. There is some coercive behavior and dubcon, but even most of that is in-game.

If you're not very familiar with MMOs, there may be some confusing concepts or terminology. I thought the worldbuilding and game mechanics were pretty interesting, not just a direct copy of a real popular game as far as I could tell.

There are R15 and R19 versions on Ridi and it's available in both volumes and chapters. The fan translation originally had some annoying mid story premium chapters, but it looks like only side stories are locked, now. And I've got a review on NU with some other details/thoughts/spoilers, as well.

sylhan, once the lord of khallak is reduced to a slave due to his madness and amnesia. as he struggles to survive as a slave for his childhood friend who is also a lord, his old love, gjord, appears in front of him- to sweep him off his feet. sparks fly, and clandestine meetings make him desire for more - he desperately tries to remember his glorious past and his lover.

I am lost in their world. Zombie apocalypse and bl. A-MAZING!

On top of that its TrashT Vs CrazyB. The novel is so good you can totally binge read but its too long. Only read 20% but felt like i need to promote. Its THAT good

From the tags Its gonna get real dark (black flag dark) but after reading 20% its really interesting...

[The trash always survives the longest in zombie apocalypses]

this manhwa is depicted from the male lead's pov. the male lead is a catamite, that is, a lowly boy kept for sexual practices for his master. abandoned by his mother after his birth, his vibrant yellow hair and blue eyes being "valuable" , he was raised by a pub owner, only to be sold as a slave at the mere age of 5. thereafter, he was bought by a duchess to serve as his catamite and after five years of inhumane treatment and humiliation, he was freed by a noble, a man whom he willingly accepted as his master. however, he was not fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of his saviour. "may you find freedom a gift to your liking" the words from his saviour made him determined to find purpose.

after 10 long years, graduating from abroad, jean has come back, a successful capitalist businessman, a fake noble to start revolution in a declining nation ruled by an ailing king, to rise against the very aristocracy who looked down on him. as his plans of starting a coup d'etat progress, his plans get awry as the unworthy crown prince, the crown prince who passes his day by painting naked models, indulging in liquor and sodomy, lays his eyes on him.

sasya, a small boy from a countryside, learns ballet from a lady in his village, without the knowledge of his mother. being sexually assaulted by his teacher, at a very young age, he realises that behind the praises, lied ulterior motives, just as his mother had said. kindness is not free after all. as he climbs to the position of chief instructor in the most reputed russian ballet institute, he flees the country, as he is hunted down by a duke whose dirty advances, he dared to refuse. as he lays unmoving in an inn, without any food and penniless, a kind and handsome man gives him his hand, a man who gave kindness, without asking for anything back. as sasya escapes to paris, the man, karel desperately searches for him. after all, for karel, it was love at first sight. karel gives up on his prosperous career, his opportunity to graduate from a renowned institute, all for sasya and flees to sweden.

as their love blossoms, both sasya and karel are devoured by their own demons. karel wants to bind sasya down, confine him only to himself. sasya, though being madly in love with karel, could not forget the stage, where his true desires lay. despite living a poor life, their days were content. as years pass, karel's obsession and possessiveness grow, suspicions arise as others begin to covet what is rightfully his. his sasya. sasya drowns himself in liquor and narcotics, his sanity starts to disappear. karel's overwhelming love, suffocates sasya as he begins to forget reason.

A brand new side story is out for the Love History Caused by Willful Negligence series, called A Love Story Written in the Margins. This makes it the 5th volume of side stories out now

https://ridibooks.com/books/3420000017

Kkaebi is a new legal website with officially licensed KR web novels. So far, they have 2 BL titles. There's been some discourse on Twitter a few days ago after Polarfox (publisher) announced a new BL novel translated and licensed by Kkaebi (https://x.com/polarfox_novel/status/2053669108206714972?s=20).

My thoughts:
The title art is genuinely awful and very obviously AI. The weird smudgy look is a giveaway, and the letters are shaped differently despite being in the same font. They didn't even bother trying. 😭 It’s a complete disrespect to the KR one (2nd slide). 😵‍💫 On top of that, they don't have translators credited anywhere and offer cheaper prices. This led to people accusing them of using AI/MTL for their translations.

What do you guys think?

Link to their website: https://kkaebi.io/
They don’t have any social media afaik.

Just discovered this subreddit so I’m excited to share some novels that I’ve hardly ever seen people talk about. I’ve always just seen people discuss novels with manhwa adaptions and that’s such a sham…. Anyway, here are 4 that can be found on NU!

Katabasis

Unique worldview: mix of Nameverse and western fantasy! The cold Duke, having been branded the quiet fifth Prince Lierne’s name, requests (forces?) the latter’s cooperation. Otherwise, an incurable disease would befall them… (* some dubcon and confinement elements)

Between the Laurel Boughs

Set in ancient Rome, the noble Hadrius and his family befalls an ill fate. On top of being betrayed by his lover, Hadrius is sold as a slave to endure hardships, where he meets a dazzling soldier (*healing, tragedy to happiness).

Hidden Piece Maker

Author’s first work (If I don’t Become the Main Character I’ll Die) is well-known but unfortunately not their second work! A slowburn hunterverse about a talented items craftsman Haeun and the sunshine hunter Woodam. Still ongoing in the raws but I can already tell the world making will be vast.

Bad Guy on Top of a Bad Guy

Everyone knows author Gyeja-nim for their other novels; Mangjong, Things that Deserve to Die and more, but don’t sleep on this equally funny and entertaining work! Soohyun is tasked to steal something that Hobeom is looking for. He runs away with an (literal) explosive exit but has no choice but to be caught (again and again…)

Let me know what you think of these novels!

ANOTHER ANGST RECOMMENDATION
mpreg, harem, politics, power bottom, historical, betrayal

the emperor, pretending to be a commoner, captivates the youngest master of the gyo household. yeon-ho foolishly believing that the emperor had fallen in love with him, agrees to the emperor seonjae’s proposal. however, entering the palace, he realises that he has been fooled by both the emperor and the empress dowager. to add to his suffering, the emperor doesn’t visit their marriage chamber on their wedding and yeonho comes to realise the emperor already has a man to whom he’s deeply in love with. the palace goes back on their word and gives seonho the lowest consort title. however the young master is not a pushover. he refuses to give in to his fate- after all, he is fated to be the empress

Here are some childhood friends to lovers novels I enjoyed! They tend to include my favorite tropes, such as unrequited love (that's not really unrequited), first love, separation arcs, and of course, PINING and YEARNING. These are all green flags, modern setting and virgin x virgin.

1. My Childhood Friend is Acting Strange: A super cute lighthearted high school omegaverse. MC is absolutely adorable and ML is a true tsundere. Only 18 translated chapters as of now, but I couldn't wait so I bought most of the volumes on Ridi.
2. Introducing My Manager: A slow burn showbiz one. MC is ML's manager and has had a crush on him since high school. Lots of misunderstandings and jealousy. It has a manhwa adaptation which I highly recommend as the art is absolutely stunning!
3. Mind the Gap: This one features the unique dynamic of an Alpha MC bottom x Beta ML top. Super angsty, but the pain hurts SO good. I was bawling like a baby at some point. 😭 The leads fell in love in high school, but due to misunderstandings, separated for 9 years. Upon reuniting, ML resents MC and treats him coldly due to their past. The MC is such a sad and pitiful character, and the way he yearns for the ML is so pure. I read the manhwa adaptation first which I highly recommend, although I prefer the novel because you get to see the MC's feelings and thoughts in its entirety. The tension is also much more insane.
4. The Owner of 3 Billion: A beautiful coming-of-age story that delivers incredibly heartwarming moments amidst sorrow. It features the leads growing up in the same poor neighborhood, both with their own struggles. In present time, MC is an announcer and ML is a professional soccer player. As if fated, his job leads him to reunite with ML, the gentle boy from his childhood. When I tell you the ML is the epitome of a yearning green flag. He is so hopelessly devoted to MC and cherishes him in the purest way possible. His unwavering affection for him made me wanna tear up so many times while reading. After becoming a famous soccer player, he doesn't forget his roots and remains extremely humble. Apart from soccer, MC is the center of his world. I wrote a long ass review on NovelUpdates but my reviews never get approved 💔

Feel free to drop childhood friends to lovers recommendations as I’m always looking for more! :3

junghyun finds himself sold off as a cheap commodity-figuratively ofcourse. a rich businessman pays off his mother’s and his debts without asking anything for return- or so it seemed to junghyun’s mother. her mother elated at the prospect of a new life of wealth and glory, fails to notice the lustful gaze of her new husband towards her own son. junghyun is terrified of his stepfather and is trying his best to shake off his stepfather’s interest in him. on the other hand, his stepbrother is equally obsessed and captivated with junghyun. as junghyun is slowly seduced by the unwavering and terrifying aura of his younger stepbrother, he finds himself in a risky forbidden affair. he must not let a single soul know of this illicit relationship- especially his stepfather, else his and his mother’s newly stable life might go into jeopardy.

inseop, follows wooyeon to south korea, to take revenge for the suicide of his dead friend jennie. despite being a timid, shy, extremely kind hearted person but forced to harm wooyeon- whom he had once loved. as he disguises himself as a highly capable assistant of wooyeon- his plans go awry because he finds himself enamoured by the ever charismatic wooyeon. to make things worse, wooyeon is a psychopath and he is slowly catching up on inseop’s sinister plans. as inseop struggles to hold onto reason to stick to his original aim, wooyeon gradually becomes deeply obsessed with his timid and frail assistant.
loveeeee this novel - beware, it’s only for dark romance lovers

Highly recommend this webnovel for anyone even slightly interested in action adventures, meta elements (if you're into orv!), and romance. It is so underrated.

One of the best Korean webnovels out there. In terms of the romance, it's a slow burn, but the characters are still intimate and trust each other deeply before that. They're partners and respect eachother so much.

Even outside of that, it has a fleshed out story with lots of mysteries. The action is actually intense and the characters have to work to win. The mc is genuinely smart and creative. The other characters are great too. If you're into found families this is for you! You can feel the passion and thought the author puts into the story as well. It genuinely feels like a love letter to story telling and world building. If you can, try to walk in without spoilers. Definitely check it out!