I'm Out of Books. Looking for Spy Novels with Protagonists Who Aren't Overpowered. A Golden Finger Is Fine. 书荒，求谍战文，主角不要太逆天了。可以有金手指

1. 1 谍 The Little Spy's Rise to Power 谍战小特务的逆袭 Winter Isn't Hot冬天不热Urban2.8M WordsCompleted He is the lowest-ranking undercover agent in the Military Statistics Bureau, yet he can spot Japanese spies in a vast crowd. He is also an expert operative, infiltrating enemy-occupied territory to assassinate traitors who sell out their country and vanish without a trace. Because: “Scanning Eye” in operation... 184.3kReads9.5Score20.1k14d adds

   Reader note

   Overall, I'd give it four and a half stars. The subject matter is appealing, and the plot is quite novel for this genre. As the author admits, the book has many shortcomings, but overall it's still quite good. I hope the author continues to improve!

2. 2 穿 Transmigrating to Republican-Era China: The Spy Enters the Game 穿越民国：谍影入局 One Little Orange一只橙橙橙子Modern Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Transmigration to the Republic of China era + resistance-war espionage + multiple identities + spies within spies + mutual devotion (Main story complete, bonus chapters in progress) One day, Lin Ruotang suddenly transmigrated to the Republic of China era. She wasn’t a young lady from a wealthy family, a concubine, or a schoolgirl. She was a refugee who had nearly starved to death. She had barely transmigrated before she was on the brink of starvation. Luckily, a kind stranger gave her a sesame f 23.3kReads9.2Score2.5k14d adds

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   This fits perfectly. The female lead has a cheat ability, but it's practically nonexistent; the power isn't too great, making it a very realistic story. After reading the entire novel, you'll feel like you've watched a thrilling, passionate, exhilarating, and patriotic spy thriller. It's truly a great read. The author's characters are rich and well-developed, with both positive and negative characters possessing duality. There are no purely good or purely bad people. The main story revolves around patriotic underground members of the Communist Party during the Republic of China era, specifically focusing on the female lead's entry into the underground party through a "cake," where she and the male lead join forces to infiltrate the 76th Special Agent Organization and the Kuomintang's Military Intelligence Bureau as "multi-faceted spies." I want to preface this by saying that if you don't like any romantic subplots, I suggest you don't read this. If there are couples and you really enjoy romance, I also suggest you don't read this, because there aren't many romantic subplots. Also, if you like wish-fulfillment stories with characters having a space-time advantage, I suggest you don't read this. The female lead doesn't have a space-time advantage, but she does have some non-extraordinary advantages: enhanced memory, agility, and increased strength. And these aren't exaggerated effects, which makes it more realistic, more interesting, and better highlights the female lead's character. It allows her to stand out among a crowd of people who rely on their intellect and mentality. You have to remember, this is a spy novel. Adding a space-time advantage might be convenient, but it would also make it less interesting. Spy novels rely on intelligence, and external advantages can actually hinder the performance of those intelligences. The female lead is truly a patriotic, brave, and grateful character. She speaks three foreign languages, has a photographic memory, and is both innocent and intelligent. From her initial meeting with "Mountain Eagle," her wisdom, courage, and composure under pressure are evident. She can see beyond appearances to the essence of things, making her a truly chosen spy. Although she transmigrated from a peaceful era to this chaotic world and is initially a naive and somewhat naive college student, her convictions are incredibly strong. When it comes to her country, she can overcome all fear and dedicate herself wholeheartedly to serving her nation. She's a very upright person. The funniest part is that all three parties thought she was naive and easy to control, essentially sending her on a mission within a mission, instantly elevating her status. It's also worth mentioning that the female lead is a character who grows and develops, so don't expect her to be incredibly capable from the start. You might not even be able to do as well as her in that situation. She needs time to grow and gradually become stronger. The male lead is also a very good character—upright, capable, and her strongest support. He's also a virtuous husband who treats her very well; you have to read the story to experience it for yourself. This novel not only features a career storyline but also a romantic subplot. The male and female protagonists are like-minded revolutionary comrades whose revolutionary friendship naturally evolves into love. The romance doesn't feel forced or contrived; the overall tone remains focused on the revolutionary cause. It avoids sacrificing emotional depth for the sake of the story, making it feel like a mission log. This is a truly excellent work; the career storyline is the main focus, supplemented by the romance to balance the oppressive and heavy atmosphere, without sacrificing the greater good for the less important aspects. The novel has an open ending, with the epilogue continuing the mission from the previous chapters. However, the epilogue also has an open ending, hinting at the capture of another spy. Many felt the ending was rushed, but this is precisely the characteristic of an open ending—it doesn't provide a predictable conclusion, giving readers more room for imagination and adding depth to the story. The author's writing is truly excellent. With further refinement of the content and writing style, and a greater emphasis on detail, the novel could easily be adapted into a TV series. Casting popular stars would guarantee a huge hit, given the compelling premise: a time-traveling female lead and espionage elements. This novel is best read slowly; otherwise, you might not understand some parts, and the characters' identities are somewhat complex, as is typical of spy fiction. While watching a TV series might not be so complicated, this is a novel, so it's best not to skip around. Okay, enough praise; words are inadequate. Let's get to the main point. I read this novel like a TV series, imagining the scenes in my mind – it's very engaging. Don't be swayed by the comments; don't just believe everything you hear or assume things. Think about the historical context and the characters' backgrounds. Many seemingly illogical points in the comments actually had their place in the era. Try to see things from the perspective of the characters and the story, not with modern ideas. Don't just look at the surface, and don't overcomplicate things or get too hung up on them. That's all I have to say. If you really can't read it, don't force yourself. If you're just looking for entertainment, don't bother. This novel isn't suitable for judging based on a single reading. Good writing will find its appreciator; a gem won't remain hidden forever.

3. 3 谍 Espionage: From the Start, I Could Hear People's Thoughts and Expose Japanese Spies 谍战：开局偷听心声，识破日谍 Daily Ten-Thousand-Word Writer日万小写手Urban3.7M WordsCompleted Su Mu wakes up one morning and finds he has transmigrated to the Republic of China, becoming a low-ranking agent for the Military Statistics Bureau! Just as he’s losing hope, he gains the ability to read people’s thoughts! Agent at No. 76: Damn it, how did our secret plan to arrest the deputy chief of the Military Statistics Bureau get leaked? Chief of the Special Services Section: Damn it, who exposed the top-secret agent infiltrating Mountain City? I’ll kill him! Headquarters of the Plum Bloss 64.5kReads8.8Score5k14d adds

   Reader note

   It's really good, highly recommended.

4. 4 穿 I Won't Wear Patched Trousers After Transmigrating; I'll Become the Richest Person in the Republic of China 穿越不穿补丁裤，我在民国当首富 Poor Sanqi!贫穷的三七呀！Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Republican era + no despicable characters + building wealth + light espionage and resistance-war elements + no romance + ensemble cast + slow and steady development First: Let me repeat something important three times: this is still not an over-the-top wish-fulfillment novel X3! Second: There is no rebirth, no revenge, and no face-slapping. The original owner’s wishes and quests may come up from time to time. If you don’t like the premise, feel free to leave. We’ll meet again somewhere down the 12.6kReads9.3Score1.3k14d adds

   Reader note

   The female lead can control some animals and swallow gold, but because she's cultivating and there's karma involved, the plot feels somewhat frustrating. Some parts of the story drag on, mentioning killing someone for revenge but dragging it out, leading to worse outcomes. Miss Xu clearly gathered information about Wu's family and Li's situation, yet only on her deathbed did she send Lu to tell Wu about the murder of that woman named San Shi. She clearly said she wanted revenge but took no action. She knew about Wei Er and wanted to kill him but didn't do anything. With so many connections and money, couldn't Lu have easily found someone to take action against Wei Er? Knowing that Xuezi suspected him and tortured Miss Xu, he didn't kill her first. Knowing that war was about to begin, how much would killing her change? Why didn't the female lead kill the Japanese woman, whom she could kill? Why didn't Lu Wenying act?

5. 5 快 The Everyman’s Rise to Greatness Through Quick Transmigration 快穿之路人甲奋斗成大佬 Young Hero Yun's Sword云少侠的剑Modern Romance3.1M WordsCompleted [No Romance + Quick Transmigration + Gender-Flexible Protagonist + Building a Strong Nation] When Shui Miao (Si Shui) was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, she encountered Shi Lei (Rock), a hapless passerby A System. They signed a contract and began traveling through myriad worlds. The protagonist has no plot armor or golden finger (probably). Each transmigration is a life of its own. I’ll do my best to avoid simplistic writing, so please go easy on me. Quick Transmigration World One: Money 35.1kReads9.2Score2.8k14d adds

   Reader note

   Starting from chapter 165, the female protagonist transmigrates into the body of a widow. She begins by losing her husband and son, and rises from a lowly latrine worker to become the top intelligence agent for the Red Army, but tragically dies before dawn.

6. 6 穿 Transmigrating to 1940: The Eight-Year-Old Farm Girl Goes on a Rampage 穿越四零，八岁农女杀疯了 Salty Fish Is My Trade咸鱼本渔Modern Romance484k WordsCompleted Li Xue had fallen asleep in her dreams. When she woke up, she had become an eight-year-old girl. The girl had witnessed her entire family being killed, and in her terror, she had died too. From the girl's memories, Li Xue learned that it was now the year 1942. She wanted to cry but had no tears left. Wiping them away, she resolved to take revenge on those who had wronged her and settle every score. 7.4kReads8.9Score47014d adds

   Reader note

   All six are female-oriented novels set during the War of Resistance against Japan, and all are completed.

7. 7 四 The Forties: A Cheat-Code Life With Superpowers 四零年代：拥有异能的开挂人生 Momo de01默默de01Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Feel-good power fantasy + alternate 1940s setting + supernatural abilities + pocket dimension + fleeing famine + fighting the war of resistance alone + no romance] Yun Fei, a space-powered survivor of the apocalypse, hides inside her pocket dimension when zombies breach the city. She thinks she can wait out the crisis there, then cautiously escape the zombie encirclement. Little does she know that a superpowered person outside happens to self-destruct... Her pocket dimension sends her soul to 8.5kReads8.3Score42414d adds
8. 8 四 The 1940s: Conquering the Hard Years 四零：干翻艰苦年代 Yellow Sand, Heart in Sorrow黄沙心悲凉Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [1940s + Farming + Pocket Dimension + Artificial Intelligence + Growth] In a time of war, little Jiegeng was abandoned by her own mother. With her baby brother in her arms and the help of an artificial intelligence, she took one step at a time out of a small mountain village and grew into a towering tree. 9kReads9.3Score1k14d adds
9. 9 穿 I Transmigrate to the 1940s and Make Waves with My Space 穿越四零，我靠空间兴风作浪 Yellow Sand, Heart in Sorrow黄沙心悲凉Modern Romance832k WordsCompleted [Alternate-History Power Fantasy] + [Strong Female Lead] + [War of Resistance Against Japan] Zhuang Jingzhu, a PhD who had returned from overseas, died alongside the ringleaders of a criminal gang to avenge her father. She transmigrated to another world much like Earth, where a great famine was raging and the entire nation was fighting back against the Japanese. Using her spatial ability, she cleared out Japanese weapon depots, grain stores, and hospitals, seized supplies to support the resistan 11.4kReads9.0Score1.1k14d adds
10. 10 穿 Transmigrate to the 1940s: Starting in 1940 穿越四零：从1940开始 Light Sleep微眠Urban651k WordsCompleted War of Resistance, no romance She uses her farming pocket dimension as a warehouse and slaughterhouse, gradually finding a way out of despair. With no food or clothes, she takes them from the enemy's warehouses. Du Jiaojiao: Now that I'm here, I won't let these Japanese devils have an easy time. 10.1kReads9.0Score54114d adds
11. 11 鬼 Japanese Invaders, Don't Run! The Strongest Couple of the 1940s Joins Forces to Wipe You Out 鬼子别跑！四零最强夫妇联手歼敌 A Wisteria Vine一支藤萝Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Military marriage + fleeing famine + transmigrate into a book + war + an era-version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith + deadly combat + alternate Republic of China] Yun Chuyou has transmigrated into a book again, becoming the fake heiress and female supporting character in the male-oriented novel Beacon Fires Across the Land. With a face so beautiful she can get away with murder, she should have had every advantage from the start. Instead, her “landlord father” kicks her out, starving refugees try to rob 7.9kReads9.0Score84714d adds
12. 12 谍 Espionage: I Became the Biggest Secret Agent 谍战：我成了最大的特务头子 Brother Bao宝哥Urban3.6M WordsOngoing In the twenty-fourth year of the Republic, Xie Yanlai transmigrated back to Beiping. As a Whampoa Military Academy graduate assigned to reinforce the Beiping branch, he foiled Major Ishikawa of the Special Higher Police's plot to buy off Beiping's political leaders within half a month, breaking the record for the fastest promotion of a Whampoa graduate. A month later, he took down the North China Army's secret treasury. Three months later... Xie Yanlai was able to repeatedly earn outstanding mer 3.4kReads8.8Score33014d adds
13. 13 谍 King of Spy Wars: This Undercover Agent Gets Danger Alerts 谍战之王：这个卧底有危险提示 Reading Along with You陪你一起读书Urban2.0M WordsCompleted Espionage + Triple Agent + Ruthless + Danger Alerts + Foresight He is the most prized disciple of Kenji Doihara, head of the Special Higher Police. He is the colonel and deputy station chief most admired by Dai Li, head of the Military Statistics Bureau. And he is also the underground Party’s elusive master assassin, “Deep Sea.” Three identities, countless faces. He walks in darkness, yet his heart always faces the light... Chu Tianheng’s soul transmigrates to an era ravaged by war. Using “Dange 17.5kReads8.5Score1.5k14d adds
14. 14 谍 Espionage: From Shanghai's Little Beggar to the King of Spies 谍战：从上海滩小乞丐到特工之王 Old Li's Pistol老李的盒子炮Urban2.9M WordsCompleted Chen Shaoan’s soul transmigrates to old Shanghai, where he becomes a beggar scraping by. By chance, he saves a wounded woman, and ends up stumbling into the Military Statistics Bureau. With the Japanese invasion of China underway, Chen Shaoan uses his Role-Playing System to purge traitors, capture enemy moles alive, and assassinate senior Japanese officers, becoming a world-renowned king of spies. 8.1kReads8.7Score78014d adds
15. 15 最 The Strongest Warlord: Turning Defeated Soldiers into an Iron Army Against Japan 最强军阀，由溃兵打造成抗日铁军 Zombies Love Eating Children丧尸爱吃小孩Urban2.0M WordsOngoing Ye Qingshan, a retired special forces soldier, unexpectedly transmigrates to the Songhu battlefield during the War of Resistance Against Japan. Starting by rallying scattered, defeated soldiers, he uses his knowledge of the future to build an ironclad army against the Japanese, one step at a time. 1.2kReads9.3Score16814d adds
16. 16 谍 Espionage: Starting with the Assassination of the Emperor 谍战：从刺杀天皇开始 Circle Six圈圈六Urban661k WordsCompleted Li Wencheng transmigrates to a parallel world, returning to an era when every inch of land is soaked in blood, and awakens a System! A year later, he witnesses the horrors of the Battle of Shanghai. Acting on impulse, he accepts a hell-level mission: travel to the island nation and assassinate the emperor! 2.2kReads8.1Score11314d adds
17. 17 谍 Espionage Agent: From the Start, I Was Just a Nobody in the Juntong 谍战特工，开局军统当混子 Ice Cream Cone甜筒冰淇淋Urban329k WordsCompleted [Republic-era espionage + building an independent power + a male lead who never takes a loss + special operations] Shen Lang bites the dust and unexpectedly is reborn in the Republic of China era. The descendant of a veteran of the War of Resistance, he is determined to become a Communist spy. But the original owner of his body was a useless errand boy in the military intelligence service... A complete deadweight, too... And now someone has a gun to his head, about to use him as a scapegoat... H 457Reads6.9Score—14d adds

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