Notes on the Aberrant Studies of Kraft

Comforting Reads Rooted in Safety, Scientific Farming, Strong Writing, and Knowledge

After reading millions of novels, I've dug out the collection I've built up over more than a decade. From youthful enthusiasm to maturity, from immersion to critical scrutiny, I've gradually formed my own standards. Here you'll find authors skilled at painting vivid scenes, crafting compelling plots, writing believable couples between (normal) people, or exploring specialist fields, as well as those whose work is simply captivating for reasons hard to pin down. Of course, since this list reflect

Books I Read for Myself

Most are books I've read from my own bookshelf, or ones whose blurbs caught my interest. (Mostly by established authors?)

Journey to a New World

My personal reading recommendations. I enjoy works that carefully create a richly detailed world, focusing on how the protagonist interacts with that world and the people in it. I dislike clunky Systems, excessive game-like descriptions that feel lazy and make it hard to get immersed, and plots, characters, or worldbuilding that don’t hold up to scrutiny. I especially love adventure stories. I like following the protagonist as they explore the world and uncover the unknown, watching them and the

Premium Picks: No Mediocre Reads

A stubborn stone may nod, but it will never be fine jade; a withered tree may bloom again, but it will never become a pillar. To speak of ice to summer insects is to waste your breath; to play a lute to a cow is to waste your effort.

Food for the Soul

High quality, though it may not be an easy read. Still, it's worth taking the time to read. Focused on efficiency, with no filler unless the story is especially compelling.

For Another Time

Haven't decided yet

A Selective Reading List of Excellent and Decent Xianxia

Every book on this list has at least one clear strength that makes it worth reading. P.S. I favor books with fresh writing styles or exceptional skill in at least one area. Traditional wish-fulfillment stories and books with stale writing are almost nonexistent here. I don't give scores or label everything as either “Good Herb” or “Immortal Herb,” because everyone has different tastes, and drawing distinctions too finely can start arguments. That said, the standards for making this list are pret

Chaoyang's Footprints

Only ongoing or not-yet-completed works are included. If you only want to read one book, scroll straight to the bottom of the list. That's where you'll find the one I like and recommend most. I'll divide my recommendations into four tiers. Tier One Books worth rereading, which I consider excellent and strong across the board. Tier Two Books worth seeking out, with some truly exceptional qualities. Tier Three Readable books without any glaring problems, or with some particularly strong point

Great Reads to Check Out

A record of novels I've read and my thoughts on them. (Fan fiction isn't included in the reviews on this list.) Rating guidelines: Scores may vary by 0.1 depending on the circumstances. Five-point scale: 0-2: disjointed or contains questionable views; 3: average; 3-5: quite good or offers something to learn. Ten-point scale: 0-3: idealized wish-fulfillment or awkward prose; 4-6: average or has some standout moments; 6-9: no obvious plot holes, distinctive or memorable, or especially gripping.

A Personal Collection

For my personal collection

My Home Library

What can ease your worries? A reading drought. What can ease that drought? Reading. I personally prefer physical books, and most of my recommendations have print editions. They're all worth a read. There are too many books, so I've put fantasy novels on a separate list. [Getting Started] Good picks for getting into the genre [Top Picks] Books that have been published in print [Classics] Timeless reads

Novels I’m Following Now (Niche Picks)

Some novels I've finished or am following. I liked them, so I'm sharing them with everyone.

[Dark Fiction] Stories Never Die, and Passion Lives On

A tribute to the authors who create out of love. I want to record stories that are destined to disappear, and hope they'll see the light of day again sometime in the future. (I prefer stories with no female lead and darker themes. I like stories that don't follow formulas, and I care about the prose.) (The list owner has completed a novel, "Infinite Strange Games," and is currently serializing "The Game of Sinners." Please add them to your collection, leave a comment, and show your support~~~)

[Honest Long Reviews: In-Depth Takes on Popular Books]

🍂🌾⭐🌙🌞👑 [Objective reviews of popular titles from various charts, plus recommendations for some overlooked gems] There are too few authors with real insight. Without insight, an author is destined to achieve nothing. I only include books by authors with real insight. A book itself doesn't have to be insightful, but its author must be. P.S. Feel free to recommend or submit underrated hidden gems, at least 200,000 words long.

Jinji Bookhouse: Smart, Cold-Blooded, and Imaginative

I've personally read every book on this list, and they're all top-notch. I've been reading for over a decade, and I can't stomach books that are clearly awful.

Heartbreaking, Funny, or Just Lighthearted?

As long as it's fun, who cares if it's realistic? 🎃 The stories have a coherent worldview, even if it doesn't match yours. There are uplifting stories too. Whatever the tone, these are good stories that can touch your heart. (Ahem, there are lighthearted and silly ones too~) 1. I only list one book per author. If an author has a new work worth reading, I'll bump it up here (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧ 2. To see some of the removed books, tap “List owner only” in the upper-right corner of the comments (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡

My Current Reading List

Some books I'm following.

A Veteran Bookworm's Treasures

A reading list from a decade-long veteran reader

A Book Drought Emergency Kit

An emergency kit to help you through a reading slump. Every book here is interesting and worth a look. The completed ones are excellent, and the ongoing ones have their merits too. (Please don’t come after me if one got abandoned QAQ.)

Personal Reading List | A Storehouse of Plot-Driven Reads

I prefer stories focused on careers. The most important thing is an interesting plot, followed by a well-rounded one. Good writing means telling a good story, not piling on fancy words. Multiple heroines or romantic ambiguity are major drawbacks for me, though that doesn't mean the list has none.

Some Novels I've Read

Mostly completed novels, across a range of genres

Books I've Read: History, Nation-Building, Western Fantasy, Fourth Calamity, and More

Latest update: Too lazy to write recommendations. Leaving this here for 2025. A record of books I've read 🚩 (More for tracking than recommending) 🌀 I like infrastructure-building, business management, farming, Fourth-Dimensional Disasters, history, and behind-the-scenes stories. But I'm open to other genres when I'm out of things to read, so my tastes are pretty broad. 🌀 Reviews cover only the parts I've read and are updated as I go. The fan-value indicators generally reflect my actual reading

Yi Wo You and Nan's Reading List

Web novels I think are worth reading

......Book List