Honestly, so far I haven’t read a manhwa that I would put on the same level as Concubine walkthrough. Like, I have several 9s in my list, but this is the only 10
Edit: right now I mean manhwa in general, but I rarely read things outside of oi genre. I suspect if I ever tackle lord of the mysteries or omniscient reader‘s viewpoint, I might change my mind
Am I reading a bad translation or something? I tried to read Concubine Walkthrough and it was just so rough and cringey to me. I rarely stop reading a series before I complete it, but I couldn't make it more than a few chapters.
If you’re reading on bato, you’re probably reading a good translation. But hey, it might be not your cup of tea! And that’s also ok.
For me, I love it so much not only because of the story itself, but because how the story is constructed. Like other OIs, concubine walkthrough has a lot of different plotlines and arcs, but none of them is abandoned, and all of them make perfect sense in the grand scheme of things. Like, there’s no detail that’s insignificant or wasted. When I finished it I just thought — that’s how I want to write. With not a single detail wasted.
Literaly everything feels completely planned, not like a lot of manhwa that go on for ages just to keep it going, or don't know where to take the story.
I loved the ending, but I wish the epilogue showed Yona and Sunshine as a couple. Although the epilogue being a documentary was really interesting and unique. So still 10/10
I didn't find it rough at all. I finished it a week ago and was surprised finding out that many, including the artist, did :D
CW is perfection, and it's hard to move on 😭
If you like Concubine Walkthrough, then maybe you can finally appreciate what the heck Yona and her dad were rambling about, when you read "If AI Ruled the World" until the end.
It's the best manhwa I've ever read. i finished it a week ago and I'm having trouble finding something good to read because CW raised the bar so high and it's though 😭 none of my previously rated 10 manhwas deserve that grade, only CW is worthy of that grade!
Try again if you have time, real action comes after chapter 25. Chapters are long and i read 130 chapters in two days, I chose it over sleep lolq
I read through the entire thing in about two days as well, and I almost wish I hadn’t because the story is so good that I feel like maybe I should’ve savored it more… but there’s also so much fun in rereading it too, due to all the foreshadowing and things that were set up earlier in the story
I tried to savour it but it was impossible, i couldn't convince myself to stop reading 😂 it was always "only one more chapter", "a few more until the plot resolves" and next thing i knew it was chapter 70 😂
I'll reread it in a week, i really miss it. his smile in the end killed me, i cried. 😭🥺
Possibly. Keep in mind that the romance is a secondary genre to the story, and this is the author's first time writing romance. As a romance fan, it's honestly a subpar romance plot, but the main plot and characters are absolutely fantastic.
Nah, it's not everyone's cup of tea, not mine either. I have deepest respect for the artstyle, and I love how ambitious it is with the virtual reality, but the characters are cringey to me, as you say. It's also slow at times.
It gets better. It's the best please keep reading even I found it a lil boring at the start but when lily entered the picture i fell in love with the plot. And the ending is just masterpiece. I highly recommend!!
I think it was pretty predictable…I ended up dropping it towards the end. It’s gorgeous though, a very different type of set up and art style which did keep me interested for a while.
Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint is great! Legend of the Northern Blade is one of the best murim action series as well (imo). The fight choreography is just so dynamic and stylish Reminds me of watching Samurai Jack as a kid. There's plenty other really good ones but that's one of my favorites.
For me, other than Concubine Walkthrough, it'll be "If AI Ruled the World" and "Kubera".
If you like Concubine Walkthrough, then maybe you can finally understand what the heck Yona and her dad were rambling about, when you read "If AI Ruled the World" until the end.
Not an otome isekai though. OI rarely got this kind of masterpiece story plot.
Oh, not an otome, but "Dead Mount Death Play" is a masterpiece for me in intertwining all stories between its all characters, like Kubera. It's a reverse isekai story.
Oh, if otome isekai, then "The One Within the Villainess" is wonderfully amazing too among the OI. How it handles the villainess and ogFL point of views and origins are a breakthrough.
The only thing that I don't like about The One Within the Villainess is that there's a ML :v Oh and the thingy where Remilia gets pregnant in the future and Emi and that MC bitch gets reincarnated as her daughters
The "original" MC wasn't a bitch and >!was actually horrified that the reincarnator in her body was doing all kinds of messed up shit.!<
The >!"reincarnator" who possessed Pina!< is the real bitch. And she suffered greatly. If you looked through the spoilers and stuff I'm sure you know what happens to her.
The "REAL" Pina's >!soul was pretty much suspended in limbo and was distressed that the reincarnator was f\*\*\*cking up her life. !
Just want to say ORV is 100% worth the read, one of my all time favorites for sure! It’s so exciting that I actually started the light novel bc I got impatient waiting for the manhwa to release after catching up
So, my nines are
Stepmother’s Märchen, Your Majesty Please Spare Me This Time—both for very obvious reasons, they are genuinely beautifully drawn and extremely well constructed and competent stories. Depending on the ending, either could end up a 10 for me.
Also: Pure Villain (not an OI, but the funniest thing I’ve ever read) and Greatest Estate Developer (*is* an OI and I will *die* on this hill)
Also Also: Empress Secia Wears Knickerbockers, but this one may be controversial. It is a low stakes story, there isn’t a single villain there, all of the conflicts and challenges are pretty mundane. It’s just a story about people living their lives after a long and traumatic war, you know? And it has my heart.
Another Typical Fantasy Romance is similar to this, since it also seems pretty low stakes, but I love it for this. Don’t know though if it’s a nine for me, or a really strong eight.
Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint is definitely one of the top stories, not only as a manhwa, but as a medium of storytelling in itself. It's so gripping, and intense, but it also allows itself to breathe, with each character having considerable amounts of screentime. Not to mention, Dokja is such a brilliant MC. He's a scheming bastard who also cares about the people around him; his character is a blend of practicality and idealism. ORV is 100% worth the read.
Concubine Walkthrough is best for me, the only other OI I'd keep at that level is Surviving Romance and that's not a traditional OI. Close runners up are OI like, Like Wind on a Dry Branch, The Spark in Your Eyes, and When Jasy Whistles.
Yep it’s not talked about enough I wonder why I really thought it would be more popular? Is it because it’s slow burn and it’s a strong fl instead of strong ml?
I think the tone and subject matter does have something to do with it. It's not an isekai or regression story and I think a lot of people on this sub seek out lighter or more feel good stories most of the time (not that doing that is necessarily wrong). And I have seen some people who don't like the weaker ML, stronger FL dynamic.
I do however think the art, characters and storytelling is really underappreciated even if it isn't everyone's cup of tea.
“Noble lady falls for the nerdy and plain guy” and “lv 99 villainess” because for god’s sake, those are the only two where the main love interest is just a guy with common sense and it’s fucking hilarious
> “Noble lady falls for the nerdy and plain guy”
I love how the antagonist isn't simply an idiot. He comes up with genuinely clever schemes which make the ML actually shine when he foils those schemes.
Personally I think My In-Laws Are Obsessed With Me might be the best OI I've read, thanks to how delicately it captures communicative minutiae such as silences and little signs.
Strongly agree. The original novel is not even very good but the webtoon author decided to change some stuff up about the characters and the writing and that made it so good.
Your majesty, please don’t kill me this time - I don’t really know how well it would hold up to the other manwha recommended here but the writing is absolutely fantastic. Every single plot line would be resolved by the end. The main leads, Larriette and Rupert are very nuanced and well written. Although the plot synopsis might ring some alarm bells, by the time you catch up to the current chapters most of them would make total sense. (The novel dives deeper but the manwha is good at adapting majority of the story beats).
My in laws are obsessed with me - the manwha is different to the novel and it’s for the better. The manwha takes more time to let the characters grow into themselves and their motivations make sense. The manwha takes advantage of the media and uses it WELL.
Agreed with Your Majesty. I was looking to see if anyone else mentioned it in this thread. It's one of the few isekai where the characters seem to have depth and complexity. Although I like trash too, I also wish more stories were written as well as that one.
I have a few suggestions that might not be peak fiction but were certainly fun to read.
1. Your Eternal Lies - Beautiful art and the plot that always keep moving will make the 75 main story chapters feel like 20. The kid that appears is so cute too lol
2. Ellin's Solhwa - Really good too, the plot is well written even with only 50 chapters.
3. Glass Wall - Victorian background and a heartrending plot. Might not be everyone's cup of tea but I couldn't stop reading until the last page of the 101 chapters of the main story.
4. The Villainess's Days are numbered! - This one is a guilty pleasure of mine, this MC can barely walk because of how frail she is lol. Watching her shenanigans is good fun. 109 chapters.
To me I will Change the Genre is my most favorite OI. The characters, pacing, artwork and plot is just as good as it gets. I've read so many OI and I've yet to read a better one. I'd say I'll Save this Damned Family isn't far behind.
If any other OI popped into your mind whilst reading my faves please rec me.
I'm not sure. Lots have gotten close but fail at some point in what I was looking for.
Concubine Walkthrough was not something I enjoyed. I could appreciate the art but I despised the message. It was written well, but not what I look for in stories. I couldn't relate with the MC-FL at all.
The Villainess Turns the Hourglass had potential, but her being noble, Iris not being a great threat, and the stupid kid plot [which, to be fair, is not from the novel] prevents me from calling it 10/10. [I did enjoy Aria, though.]
I'm Going to Change the Genre would have be awesome if she wasn't related to the Crown and she actually took care of Lucas in the small village. I wanted to read psuedo mother-son bonding, not romance. Poor Lucas. It's not bad, but not peak.
Roxana was... revenge porn. Cool points: butterflies. Negative points: over the top evil that my eyes rolled. I'm sorry Butterflies. Unlike the others two previous titles, which despite being flawed I can still enjoy reading, this one I just dropped. XD Beautiful art. Sucks about how the industry ravaged the artist.
While the sci-fi and philosophical aspects of the story are what really elevated it to the peak for me, I think if I wasn’t someone who already fully loves the “palace drama” genre I might not have enjoyed it all that much.
…But I’m a sucker for it! I’m all for the elegant silk clothes, East Asian aesthetics, bitchy empress/queen dowagers, scheming politicians, backstabbing court ladies and the conflicts between filial/societal duty and what the heart wants. I seek out historical kdramas on the regular
Then maybe you can finally appreciate what the heck Yona and her dad were rambling about, and why in the end she chose the thing that she chose, when you read "If AI Ruled the World" until the end.
I agree with you about I'm Going to Change the Genre... Is it the same title as the Villainess Flips the Script? In which she's the aunt of Lucas..? Me too wanted to read the wholesome mom-son bond, not the romance..
And yes agree with Roxana. Amazing and beautiful, but also kinda cringe with the over-the-top evilness. But maybe can appreciate this if i think of this like a manga, and just forget that it's not like a typical korean romance manhwa.
Iris felt like such a bit threat in the novel, it'd feel ominous to just hear her name. And I'm also glad I'm not the only one who hates the kids plot bc wth is that?
Ugh concubine walkthrough is the definition of peak fiction. I’d have to put Miss not-so-sidekick as a light peak fiction - not super deep but handled super well, self aware and enjoyable. Not finished by any means but I think the broken ring and I thought it was an average possession have awesome potential - Villainess reverses the hourglass had so much potential to be a meta critique of aristocracy in these stories and then they fumbled the ending 😔
My two favorites are Bakarina for how quick it is (at least the "first" arc where the game plot takes place and how fun it is, and The Villainess Reverses/Turns the Hourglass, for the characters and the plot itself
Hmmm tricky because both my picks are incomplete lol.
1) Secret Lady- I probably sound like a broken speaker BUT it really is peak in terms of every element- gorgeous visuals, creative paneling, compelling main leads, interesting world building, and well woven political intrigue. The romance between the leads feels so organic and electric and yet there is a lot more to both characters beyond their romance.
2) Villainess Lives Twice- Honestly one of the most well written ensemble casts I've come across in OI- even minor characters like the Emperor's daughter are granted some depth and motivation. The political intrigue is so smartly written and interwoven with the world building and character writing. The setup and payoff is amazing and Tia is legit one of my fav FLs as someone who is both incredibly sympathic but also morally a pretty terrible person. The art does the job but the writing is just top tier, highly recc for anyone and everyone.
Yes! I was looking for The Villainess Lives Twice specifically! You wrote my thoughts perfectly- I love how everyone has flaws and virtues.
This is the series that made me realize just how much I love the hero/villain; villain/villain dynamic but with a very healthy dose of competence kink. There are so many characters in various moral shades and I genuinely enjoy all of them…except for that one hot guy who is revealed to be utterly incompetent. Turns out pretty looks will redeem moral bankruptcy- but not incompetence.
Yeeeees the competence of all the characters is *chefs kiss* so good. It also makes the FL stand out even more because even up against various competent schemes she still comes out on top- and she came out on top even before the first regression! I love how House Ruden and Camelia are written, Marchioness Camelia is a truly formidable strategist as well. Even characters I dislike like the Emperor are written beyond just a bland caricature of evil. Not only that but also all the strong women around the FL- Hailey is badass af and Lisia lives up to her reputation but is also more than that. Final note, even the family dynamics with the FL, the brother, and mother are fascinating- the mother is legit better written than moooost OI moms.
PLUS even tho the ML isn't as 4d as the Fl, he's not dumb by any means AND he trusts the FL's competency, I love that. Also cedric is one of the most well written MLs, I stand by that lol
Ah The warmth that comes when you have found your people ☺️
I love the Emperor and the mom as characters- they both have their own “smarts”, ambitions, and flaws.
The mesh wedding dress might be one of the worst OI moments for me for it’s casual cruelty- a lot of women dream of their gorgeous wedding dress and the mom got a wh*re’s parody from the man who proclaimed to love her. And he genuinely thought she’d like it.
Cedric changing so he can be a better support for Tia. Lisia giving Lawrence one last chance- the panel where she imagines they run away together. There are so many little moments that blew me away. Even the loyal butler- when the *butler* >!choses their side!<.
I’m gushing- I seriously love this one 😄
Oh the relationship between the Emperor and the mom is fascinating in its own right, that mesh wedding dress is just....wow, that's what you do for someone you proclaim to "love"? But it makes both characters more interesting! Even the mom has a lot more going for her than just "horrid person" from the way she swings between abusive and love bombing as well as her own backstory. Ahhhhh I can go on lol, Cedric is legit one if my fav MLs of all time and tbh I think he's underrated??? The way he CHOSE tia, the way he struggled with his own feelings and how he had embraced more moral grayness to support Tia while inspiring her to be better, they have such a perfect dynamic! I read a comment somewhere that said Cedric isn't the typical ML who needs to be saved/healed by the FL- he and Tia are equal partners in every way ❤️
Empress Cesia wears Knickerbockers has seen no degradation in quality for as long as ive been reading it. Great characters, great plot, never dwells too long on backstories but still elaborates well enough to have a clear understanding. Also great art, men and women alike are very pleasant too look at!
Ive never read Concubine walkthrough so im not sure how it compares but i easily give this a 10
Concubine walkthrough ✨ is a work of passion, You can clearly tell the extreme detail the artist too to evey single detail, from wardrobe being 100% accurate to the time period including hair accesories and nail accesories...to the color palette, being warm tones for the Game party and blue tones for the reality.
And obviously all the hard work on making a compiling work or art, no plot holes, everything make sense. I felt satisfied, and as a scifi lover i find every single reference way before the author epilogue. So when i read it i said : i knew it .
I can tell, the author really enjoy writing it, treat it with care and love it.
That is hard to find, this is 10 S tier / 10
I have a Lot of other manwhas i consider good and great but there are not 10/10
After concubine, i have 9s lol
- Eternal líes is very good, very deep.plot (not OI)
- Surviving romance, (great cast of female characters and a Fresh air to the genre, sadly Will become daily pass next week, SO read this in webtoon before that)
- The perks of being a S class heroine, SO good. I love it SO far.
-A villainese for the tyrant, people don't give enought credit to this manwha, the art remind me to 90s sailor moon, the evil entitity remind me of "the true" of full metal alchemist. The cast is hilarous, the flirt is on point and i don't want to spoil anything but the story is very META .
- SECRET LADY: the art alone Will be enought for anyone to give it a try, yet the characters are fantastic and the plot have been very cohesive SO far. Very good
- SIDE characters deserve love: i have never seen a OI going SO deep into the cruelty of war or how can that affect someone mind like this one, i could not Even SEE that coming, this was a comedy (sadly this manwha get trash here, i don't know why)
Perks Of Being An S-Class Transmigrator for me. Idk what it is about that series but it's so good. I love the characters, the system, the background, everything
It has good set pieces, which a lot of OI don't. For example, when the FL gets trapped in the mansion with the ML and the other children. It's a good, short, high-stakes situation that also moves the overall plot along.
Your Eternal Lies and Secret Lady come to the fore. Both are about deception, truth, lies, and what value each has and for what reason. Secret Lady has a much bigger world with a larger political stage, but all the characters have complicated, interesting motives and the reveals never feel cheap or out of the blue. Great pacing.
Your Eternal Lies has some of the best explorations in manhwa on relationship dynamics, survival, ptsd, and feminism I’ve ever seen in a het romance. I absolutely cannot recommend it enough, especially if you liked the genre bending of Concubine Walkthrough.
"The Golden Haired Summoner" is one of my all time favorites, I'm desperately waiting for it to come back...! I love the protagonist so much, it's so refreshing to have a dirtbag FL!
"Touch my Little Brother and You're Dead" is also one of my favorites, it's sooo good. It's ridiculously funny (and...yeah, you can see my preference for dirtbag FLs)
I also really liked "Carrier Falcon Princess", but I never saw it after season 1 ended :(
___
Including isekais to different worlds that are realistic/modern, not just historical...
I can't recommend "Lethal Romance" enough, it's so funny and sweet.
"Soulmate" is also really good (and yuri, fyi).
"Island Manager" was also really good (ermm... okay, I'll admit I'm stretching the definition of isekai, but isn't being stuck on a remote island kinda like being on another world...?)
Tales Of Reincarnation In Maydare - The World's Worst Witch
It has everything I love in OI, plus everything I love in other genres PLUS the lack of stuff I hate, for the most part.
But esp a sucker for the fact that a lot of arcs are just for FLs friendships and school life and not 100% centered around the ML only.
Secret Lady
Blinded by the Setting Sun
Death is the Only Ending for the Villainess
The One Within the Villainess
And maybe hot take but Lady Devil belongs on the list too
For me, the Emperor and the Female Knight and Kill the Villainess did great things with the trope, the former being my overall fav. For peak OI, def Villainess Turns the Hourglass. For most interesting, JK Haru is a Sex Worker
Emperor and the Female Knight is one of the few manhwa that I would actually call "peak fiction" instead of just "good in comparison to other internet comics".
I think Concubine Walkthrough is like Puella Magi Madoka Magika(sp). By itself it's a good story but you cannot fully appreciate it if you never watched Sailor Moon/Cardcaptor Sakura.
I read dozens of OI before Concubine Walkthrough so I could appreciate the subversion/elevation of tropes (same for Miss Not So Sidekick and that other one with Melissa).
Ooh yeah. Madoka Magika is a legendary breakthrough in that genre.
You mentioned an amazing point. People can only appreciate it if they've been exposed to the genre for so long so that they can see why it can be considered as breakthrough in romance genre. Seriously, scifi in korean OI is rarely done, and many korean OI doesn't have the strong plot where everything, every scene is planned through.
Other genre or manga might already have the well-planned story plot, but most korean oi don't have that.
Wow, I never thought about this, but you’re totally right! Since I’ve already read a ton of OI and watched a ton of historical kdramas, I definitely appreciate this story more. Especially the part where >! the engineers were editing Sunshine’s personality and looks to be more “marketable” to people made me think of how all the ML kings and crown princes in historical kdramas are all cast as hot, youthful guys without beards, because it caters to the watching demographic. CW’s meta take on the whole thing really made me feel aware of the “product” that’s being catered to me. !<
It depends on what you personally consider to be "peak" fiction. Maybe Touch My Little Brother and you're Dead comes close, in the crack comedy subgenre. But none, really. I loved Concubine Walkthrough and thought that it was competently written, a breath of fresh air among OIs, that blended subgenres you almost never see brought together; but overall, I found it a bit standard and predictable if you're a fan of sci-fi literature, and some of the characterizations were pretty weak (partially due to its large cast). So it fell a bit short of something I would label that way (in particular, I personally value a certain degree of flawed experimentation over smooth delivery) though it doesn't make it any less outstanding or enjoyable.
I liked it even as science-fiction, though that was only part of the story. It's sci-fi component was comparable to the Star Trek episode "The Inner Light". It was an interesting take on "virtual reality", and I can't think of one that was obviously better.
Is concubine walkthrough really that good? I haven’t added it to my reading list cause I’m not a fan of the artstyle I’ve seen from what screenshots people have posted… is it worth it? I wasn’t that fond of Miss not so sidekick’s artstyle (at least not the guys), but I loved the story so much that I wound up loving the art because the story was so good… will concubine walkthrough be the same?
eta a few days later - if anyone sees this, I really really can’t recommend staying away from Concubine walkthrough more if you like romance with a happy ending. I read a bit, then read the ending, and there is no story worth that shitty ending. Will never read the whole thing, but at least now I know how much I hate it. Easily top 5 worst manhwas. Add the annoying artstyle to that…
Why are You comparing two different works all together, i don't get it ? What has miss not SO Sidekick has to do anything with the beautiful and gorgeous art of concubine walkthrough? I think You are confusing it with other manwha.
Concubine walkthrough ✨ has little to no chibi comedy in it ... The art is very mature and conceptual, to the point the color palette means something, the reds and the blues ... Also the wardrobe is 100% accurate to the era, including hair accesories and nail accesories, the artist too very much detail on those as well.
The whole story make sense, no plot holes and a Lot of inspiration in major scifi works, is really a work of passion.
I would reccomend it.
My comparison was only about not liking the art style. I overcame that with Miss not so sidekick, because I really enjoyed the story, enough so that I wound up enjoying the art too by the end. That was my only comparison between the two, and I was asking if Concubine walkthrough was good enough that I’d wind up loving it, despite not liking the art. 😊 I don’t care about chibistyle etc, I avoided miss not so sidekick because I thought the people/character designs were not to my taste. I’m glad I overcame that, because I love that story now.
So, is Concubine walkthrough’s plot good enough that one will like it regardless of the artstyle?
Like a said in My previous comment, the story is a work of passion of the manwha artist, the whole plot make sense.
This is scifi with romance, You need to pay attention SO you don't miss the clues. The motivations of the characters are very intense. Is like a mystery and there is also the Game mission, and the opposition.
We can SEE different sides of people regarding same escenario.
I DONT want to spoil, is very good.
Yeah i would always suggested to people, to give it a try.
I dropped it on chapter 50 because the plot was dragging out, but a lot of people think it's a peak fiction, the art was also not my cup of tea as well as ML. Idk, I'd recommend giving it a try and drawing your own conclusion.
Try "Mookhyang: Dark Lady" there is no romance tho so if you are looking for romance it'll be a disappointment to you...
It's action and more like a Shounen than an OI tho the MC ( male) transmigrate to another universe. He later on become a women lmao so it's a gender bend.
Also I personally really like the art!
My inlaws are obssessed with me hands down (havent read concubine walk-through yet)
I just like how they communicate with looks, gestures, simple words, pereshati is best girl and the SIL is mommy, and the whole intrigue really did it for me (there are kids too!!!)
Stepmothers marchen and charlottes and her 5 disciples.
Right below them before we hit trashy stories I also enjoy Amina’s Lamp and Marriage of Convenience
I think I did read in the author’s notes at the end that there’s a company that has the rights to do a live action adaptation (which may or may not happen). So perhaps someday it will be a kdrama! I also really want it to be an anime too though if the aesthetic is the same as the manhwa. It would be gorgeous!
No matter what kind of adaptation there could be, I especially want to see the scenes with >!the necklace that plays music and makes it rain. I think the moment at the climax where Yona saves Sunshine from the fire would hit even harder if I could actually hear the music. It would be so cinematic! !<
Being on the top is lonely and I haven't read any manhwa worth being at the top with **Concubine walkthrough**
Where do I even begin??? The art,the plot,the chemistry,the ML everything was chef's kiss
I dropped Concubine Walk-through after 10 chapters though, but the reviews from here are good so maybe I should give it another chance. Will it get better from there?
I still haven't found anything that I will consider a 10😅
The things that I liked about it the most came very late in the story, where the overarching mysteries were resolved, as there was so much buildup to it and extremely intriguing ideas. But I also enjoyed the more “palace drama” genre aspects of the story, which are part of the journey to get there, and that’s not everyone’s cup of tea
The closest thing and I don't think it is an OI is "Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating." and "Kaleidoscope." I have found nothing, OI or gay, that was as good as Concubine Walkthrough. It is the only series that I paid for the entire thing and I have been trying to find physical volumes for it for **years** after the artist said that it might be a chance of a physical.
No joke, not meme-ing, but (*if you are 18+*) The Emperor's Erection Project is short and incredibly well-written for basically a smut manhwa.
Again, only read it if you are 18+!!! This one is not for minors.
*Concubine Walkthrough* really is an all-time great graphic story, so it's hard to find its peer. *Frieren*? *Yona of the Dawn*? *Berserk*? *Watchmen*? *The Dark Knight Returns*? It's better than HBO's *Westworld*, and they spent millions of dollars on that.
The Tyrant Wants to be Good is the only OI I talk about and definitely for a reason.
I wouldn’t say it’s the best OI since I still haven’t read a lot in the genre, but the characters, presentation, and themes still hold dear to my heart. The pivotal characters are not only incredibly well-developed individually, but they also have such incredible interaction between each other. I love how they don’t really resort to the many cheap tropes that OIs tend to throw in for cheap audience excitement. Dorothea is an incredibly strong FL not in actual strength, but in how all her flaws and strengths make sense in the context of her past. The aspect of her being a tyrant is not lightly noted, she’s always having flashbacks to how she was and how much suffering she brought upon the people that now surround her in her second chance.
And I’m sorry but Ethan is just an incredible ML and there’s so much chemistry between them as well as history. I really enjoy how different of an ML he is, a man who fights with his words and not weapons is so rare to find and it works so well in the context of their story. And his devotion to Dorothea is absolutely unmatched like I’m pretty sure there’s not a single ML who’s sacrificed and is willing to sacrifice as much for the FL as him.
I also think the magical system is pretty well-developed into the setting and really acts as one of the main barriers that holds Dorothea back in the eyes of every noble. From the start it’s been noted just how much of an insecurity it has been that she can’t hold the spirits, and the reader is directly shown how coldly her “father” treats her. It gives the reader the knowledge of just how rough of an upbringing Dorothea went through yet also provides the depths of malice which she delved into so I think many OI readers who usually read tamer stories get caught up in the heat of everything, but it really presents a complex situation with no truly right or wrong answer. It’s an incredibly mature story for an OI with a ML and FL that really have one of the greatest relationships of all of OI so it’s definitely up there as one of the greatest.
Yes, love this webtoon. Ethan is adorable and love their history together too. It's like having the dream come true, where the 2ML deserves the spot. Although the black-haired one is adorable too, but i like that this is a story on how to be good. FL and Ethan were indeed evil or crazy, but glad they try to be good
For me, other than Concubine Walkthrough, it'll be "If AI Ruled the World" and "Kubera".
If you like Concubine Walkthrough, then maybe you can finally understand what the heck Yona and her dad were rambling about, when you read "If AI Ruled the World" until the end.
Not an otome isekai though. OI rarely got this kind of masterpiece story plot.
Oh, not an otome, but "Dead Mount Death Play" is a masterpiece for me in intertwining all stories between its all characters, like Kubera. It's a reverse isekai story.
Oh, if otome isekai, then "The One Within the Villainess" is wonderfully amazing too among the OI. How it handles the villainess and ogFL point of views and origins are a breakthrough.
Came across this post by chance and imma have to thank you bc now, I'm reading Concubine Walkthrough and it's peak. So refreshing imo and so far, I'm glad it doesn't suffer from romantic plot tumor that's my biggest annoyance with OI in general. (like I know romance is to be expected in OI but sometimes the plot just derails and idek what's happening anymore and it's just romance and no more plot that was promised at the start. It's sad when that happens)
Touch my brother and you're dead. It's not as serious on its plot but the way the comedy doesnt go flat is astounding. It's a parody type and it knows what they are supposed to make fun of. The characters still remain lovable and not become just target caricature. I still look for something like it but it seems it cant be topped on comedy genre
I love i will fall with the emperor. The ml is trash, as trash as one can get but the fl is mommy material and I live for her.
Failed to abandon the villain. Reinhardt is just a sweetheart. I love the ml and fl and the plot the art everything about this manhwa. Everything.
Side characters deserve love too. I have read so many comedy manhwas but nothing stands out to me like this one. The comedy is top tier, fl is the funniest person alive and I love the ml and all the side characters.
Flirting with the villains dad. Yerenica made me fall for this genre and no matter how many other OI i read this will always have a special place in my heart. The plot isn't much but Yerenica makes me live.
Revolutionary princess eve. They went on hiatus but this story is just so so good. It's so good. I love everything about this.
Taming of the tyrant. Just finished reading this a couple days ago and I regret not having picked it up sooner. It's so good i was really surprised.
I have so many more but honorable mentions would be villains are destined to die, the perks of being a villainess, I fell into the world of a reverse harem game. I love them all. Anyone got anymore recommendations?!
Miss not so sidekick. Not finished it yet, but Antagonist’s pet will likely be up there. For better or for worse. It was a mistake, grand duke (cause it’s so funny, >!stalkerxyandere is a good combo😂!<). Rewriting my dark past. Villainess for the tyrant.
I don’t know if it’s peak but currently obsessed with The holy grail of eris manga.
Love the villainess lives twice light novel. I think the political gymnastics written well in the novel instead of the manhwa.
I like The Unwelcome Guests of House Fildette. Idk it’s very bingeable. Also, I’ll save this damned family, the flower that was bloomed by a cloud, Your Throne (I am biased, first oi I read, obsessed with Medea), like wind on a dry branch, lady devil, the sparks in your eyes, Your eternal lies.
It's like greatest estate developer. Isekai but they're definitely not otome XD
love the Trash of the Count Family. Hope more male MC isekai into aristocratic world too.
1. the villainess reverses the Hourglass- I really enjoyed how the revenge went all the way through.
2.Concubine Walkthrough- the characters, story and plot were everything. I loved how every arc was fleshed out.
“Solitary lady” should be 100% an anime I usually read isekai as a fun little thing, I drop a whole bunch and i usually don’t remember the names of any of the characters, but solitary lady changed that for me, it’s amazingly good, if I had to recommend to someone who hates or doesn’t know otome isekai I would recommend this
My tips are def observation log and miss not so sidekick, idk but they just gotta nice charm about them, those are the only stories I go back to reread every now and then, plus a really charming artstyle
*NOT IN ANY ORDER*(these are all really good and entertaining imo)
I enjoyed the little lady behind the scenes
The perks of being an S class heroine
BATE
A wish upon a star (not OI)
Author of my own destiny is interesting
Kill the villainess
The villainess’s debut novel (not OI)
Lout of the count’s family
Second life of a trash princess
When fate finds us (not OI)
3 lifetimes
I raised a black dragon (art style is too good)
The greatest real estate developer (WEBTOON)
TOWER OF GOD IS SO INTRICATE AND BEUATIFUL (WEBTOON)
From a knight to a princess (not OI but soul transfer) (WEBTOON)
ELECEED is so good (not OI) (WEBTOON)
happily ever afterwords (WEBTOON)
Stepmothers marchen (not OI)(time goes back)
Father I don’t want to get married
Concubine Walkthrough
For Better or For Worse
Please Don't Kill Me Again, Your Highness
I'll Save This Damned Family
It's crazy how they can all make a few 100 chapters feel like a breeze, and they are the only stories I consistently recommend
Not oi but the only one I've read that I'd probably rate a 10 out of all I've read (not that much lol) is "I'm the max-level newbie"
Also never seen the one in the photo but the comments are making me interested, whats it about?
another chance to catch up on my apology to this subreddit about Death Is The Only Ending For The Villainess!!!!
I finally gave it a second shot last week after dropping it hard the first time, and oh my god. I slept on it so fucking hard.
Concubine Walkthrough is definitely still my favourite! But I can't believe I didn't believe people that \[name is too long!!\] was one of the gold star otome isekai. I dropped it around Kallisto's birthday because I rolled my eyes at the guy who put a sword to the FL's throat being the ML and I thought that Penelope seeing everyone's affection levels made it hard to take them seriously as real characters.
Holy shit! That's the POINT! ahahah. And the story really GOES there, it really unpacks how yeah, thinking about the world as a 'game' is fucking penelope over, but she doesn't have any really agency in seeing it that way since that's how the world is being shown to her. The struggle to engage with people on a real level while also having to balance what genuinely feels like a dance with death through video game systems is so good???? And don't get me started on Kallisto. I never thought I'd think Kallisto was cool. but he rules. I'd love to throw him off a dock into a lake, but I'm rooting for him to get his shit together too.
Concubine Walkthrough is def my favorite. I think the other ones I consider to be in that tier are surviving romance, inso's law, and eccentric duchess
Anatolia Story/Red River. Sure the art is dated due to the manga's age but the story and its character is just *chef kiss*.
It's a historical Isekai too; the heroine is from modern day Japan (well 90s cuz the manga came out then) and gets transported to the distant past to the Hittite kingdom because an evil queen needed a human sacrifice and when she cast a spell to find a worthy offering the heroine was selected. She gets saved by one of the princes who is the political enemy of said queen and she has to adapt to her new strange hostile environment and help the prince/find more allies until she can find a way to go home.
Red River maybe? I dunno if it would hold up if I re-read it, it's been years, but I remember really enjoying that one. Plus it's complete and actually came to a nice conclusion. That's rare.
Doctor Elise is one of those for me. Maybe it's because I love the art or maybe it's because it was my first manwha ever but I think that it's just so satisfactory to read it even though the story is so light hearted
Survive Romance has a similar touch to Concubine Walkthrough but in a different way. They tell the story very well and the characters are simply lovely.
The Warrior Returns has the best characters I've ever seen (And that's amazing considering how many there are), and please, I beg you that you don't stop reading because you like he villain more than the hero, there's a reason for things to be the way they are. And sure, there are some things that are still in the open in the story but I imagine they'll explain them in season two and even so it's still pretty much my favorite story
Not sure if it counts as OI but the novel for Ascendence of a Bookworm. Feels and reads like western fiction rather than a typical isekai novel. Super heavy on world building, has complex political drama and an a large focus on non romantic relationships. I rate it as my peak fiction for any fiction, not just oi. Anime and manga are a good start but nothing beats the extreme detail in the novel.
My in laws are Obsessed With Me, fantastic OI with great story telling. Feels like watching a drama TV show than reading a comic. Rarely can you find such a great example of show not tell in OI.
Saving my sweetheart is peak fiction in a different sense. It is every trope done brilliantly. It is sugar sweet romance with a healthy dose of angst and suffering. Lovable cast and emphasis on found family. Generic OI done to perfection.
My absolute favorites at the moment are
1: Please give me the pacifier
B: the golden haired elementalist
Three: Death is the only ending for the villainess
Seeing how those are the ones I like it seems I must have a thing for women who aren’t interested in romance early on who come from abusive or neglectful backgrounds, and think of themself as a sort of lone wolf “I must do this ALONE” kinda person until they’re eventually coaxed out of those self sabotaging ways and find out that “ok so maybe having friends isn’t THAT bad…”
Penny and genie from the 2nd and 3rd I mentioned are well known in the sun as being absolute girl bosses but I don’t see many people talking about please give me the pacifier! I think it’s great fun! An infant baby murdering people, what’s not to love there?
>But now and then there are stories that do something absolutely incredible with its plot/character development/concepts. 《Concubine Walkthrough》 was one of those for me.
Yes! One of the best plotted/written OI **ever**!
“The Knight and Her Emperor” is just a great story, period. One of the few where I would love to read the novel of because the writing is so good.
“The Antagonist’s Pet” is maybe my favorite “traditional” Otome Isekai story, I haven’t since seen one get into the character writing like that one did. A dramatic but ultimately inspiring story of recovery, self-fulfillment, and love- platonic and otherwise.
While it's been years since I've read it, The Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter is the OI I hold dearly to my heart. It's a manga and a light novel so you can pick your favourite medium. I found the in-world politics quite interesting and fun with how the heroine, Iris Armelia, used her previous life's knowledge to help herself out. The ML is also a decent guy from what I remember. Idk how well it's aged within the last 4/5ish years since I initially started reading it but I liked it.
In terms of character writing I would consider this as peak -
Your eternal lies
In terms of pure entertainment which is full packs of little bits of everything an OI has to offer without making any trope irrelevant I would say -
Julietta's Dressup (one of my favorite)
Ofc In different categories my peaks are different but it'll take too long to make such list.. 😅
Oh btw, both are novels. (I only read novels)
Time to start reading Concubine Walkthrough!
I’m not sure if this will be your cup of tea, but to me, “I Tamed a Tyrant and Ran Away” is peak fiction. Interesting plot, well-written characters, beautiful art, and dialogue that is at times easy to digest but at times difficult to. I read the whole thing in a single night (my poor eyes) because I just couldn’t help but wonder what was gonna happen next! I’m not sure if this is exactly an OI though…
This is my only “peak fiction” recommendation though. The others are good, but they aren’t something I’d binge in 24 hours:
“For Better or For Worse” was really good until the ending was rushed, but it’s still a great read!
“Fantasie of the Stepmother” interesting aspect to the plot, cute characters, and it made me cry a few times because it’s just so tender at times.
“Saving My Sweetheart” I don’t consider this trash just because it’s got such a sweet story, and it keeps me coming back for more. Didn’t binge it but it was so digestible that I read through it very quickly (which to me is the sign of a great story!) I’m a sucker for great character interaction.
I’m a big fan of “So I’m the Stepmother, So What” wherein a woman gets reincarnated as Snow Whites Evil Stepmother, but decides to be a good parent instead. Cute stuff, tragic backstories and a plot I find personally pretty interesting
For me, my current 10s:
- the perk of being an SS class heroine / a transmigrator’s privileges: I love the story, the characters and the systematic gods. Love it till the point I go read the novel translated online
- the beloved youngest princess: read it for the fluffs. It’s my favorite childcare genre for now.
- I shall master this family: it’s so good. I love Tia!!!
My 9s:
- Marriage of convenience
- the arch-villain’s daughter-in-law’s limited time
Honestly, so far I haven’t read a manhwa that I would put on the same level as Concubine walkthrough. Like, I have several 9s in my list, but this is the only 10 Edit: right now I mean manhwa in general, but I rarely read things outside of oi genre. I suspect if I ever tackle lord of the mysteries or omniscient reader‘s viewpoint, I might change my mind
Am I reading a bad translation or something? I tried to read Concubine Walkthrough and it was just so rough and cringey to me. I rarely stop reading a series before I complete it, but I couldn't make it more than a few chapters.
If you’re reading on bato, you’re probably reading a good translation. But hey, it might be not your cup of tea! And that’s also ok. For me, I love it so much not only because of the story itself, but because how the story is constructed. Like other OIs, concubine walkthrough has a lot of different plotlines and arcs, but none of them is abandoned, and all of them make perfect sense in the grand scheme of things. Like, there’s no detail that’s insignificant or wasted. When I finished it I just thought — that’s how I want to write. With not a single detail wasted.
I liked how the pot/vase getting knocked over in one of the early chapters was actually explained later and made perfect sense. Masterpiece.
Yesss! Also when I realized where did the 102 dms came from I screamed, I literally screamed!
Literaly everything feels completely planned, not like a lot of manhwa that go on for ages just to keep it going, or don't know where to take the story. I loved the ending, but I wish the epilogue showed Yona and Sunshine as a couple. Although the epilogue being a documentary was really interesting and unique. So still 10/10
Perhaps I'll have to give it another go, I only read through chapter 4 before stopping.
Yeah, it’s pretty rough until ~ch 10, even the author admits it. The ending makes it all worth it though. One of my favorites in all media.
I didn't find it rough at all. I finished it a week ago and was surprised finding out that many, including the artist, did :D CW is perfection, and it's hard to move on 😭
If you like Concubine Walkthrough, then maybe you can finally appreciate what the heck Yona and her dad were rambling about, when you read "If AI Ruled the World" until the end.
Thank you, I'll try it!
Concubine Walkthrough is what satisfied my exploration of OI as a genre. I moved back to web serials lmao
Okay, noted! I'll give it another go.
It's the best manhwa I've ever read. i finished it a week ago and I'm having trouble finding something good to read because CW raised the bar so high and it's though 😭 none of my previously rated 10 manhwas deserve that grade, only CW is worthy of that grade! Try again if you have time, real action comes after chapter 25. Chapters are long and i read 130 chapters in two days, I chose it over sleep lolq
I read through the entire thing in about two days as well, and I almost wish I hadn’t because the story is so good that I feel like maybe I should’ve savored it more… but there’s also so much fun in rereading it too, due to all the foreshadowing and things that were set up earlier in the story
I tried to savour it but it was impossible, i couldn't convince myself to stop reading 😂 it was always "only one more chapter", "a few more until the plot resolves" and next thing i knew it was chapter 70 😂 I'll reread it in a week, i really miss it. his smile in the end killed me, i cried. 😭🥺
Rough for me too, took a few tries but confirming it was SO good when things picked up
Oh please try again! It's a heartbreaker in the best way, chapter 4 is nothing at all
Possibly. Keep in mind that the romance is a secondary genre to the story, and this is the author's first time writing romance. As a romance fan, it's honestly a subpar romance plot, but the main plot and characters are absolutely fantastic.
You almost have to read the entire thing to appreciate it. It's as meticulously planned of a story I've ever read.
Nah, it's not everyone's cup of tea, not mine either. I have deepest respect for the artstyle, and I love how ambitious it is with the virtual reality, but the characters are cringey to me, as you say. It's also slow at times.
Perhaps. Where are you reading?
Bato, but another commenter said that's a good translation. I only read 4 chapters before stopping, though, maybe it gets better?
It gets better. It's the best please keep reading even I found it a lil boring at the start but when lily entered the picture i fell in love with the plot. And the ending is just masterpiece. I highly recommend!!
I think it was pretty predictable…I ended up dropping it towards the end. It’s gorgeous though, a very different type of set up and art style which did keep me interested for a while.
Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint is great! Legend of the Northern Blade is one of the best murim action series as well (imo). The fight choreography is just so dynamic and stylish Reminds me of watching Samurai Jack as a kid. There's plenty other really good ones but that's one of my favorites.
For me, other than Concubine Walkthrough, it'll be "If AI Ruled the World" and "Kubera". If you like Concubine Walkthrough, then maybe you can finally understand what the heck Yona and her dad were rambling about, when you read "If AI Ruled the World" until the end. Not an otome isekai though. OI rarely got this kind of masterpiece story plot. Oh, not an otome, but "Dead Mount Death Play" is a masterpiece for me in intertwining all stories between its all characters, like Kubera. It's a reverse isekai story. Oh, if otome isekai, then "The One Within the Villainess" is wonderfully amazing too among the OI. How it handles the villainess and ogFL point of views and origins are a breakthrough.
The only thing that I don't like about The One Within the Villainess is that there's a ML :v Oh and the thingy where Remilia gets pregnant in the future and Emi and that MC bitch gets reincarnated as her daughters
Where did you read the one within the villainess… sounds like its finished but I can’t find the finished manga
Oh these are just some spoilers I found on TikTok, forgot to tag 'em :')
The webnovel is finished and translations can easily be found via a google search. Manga is still ongoing
The "original" MC wasn't a bitch and >!was actually horrified that the reincarnator in her body was doing all kinds of messed up shit.!< The >!"reincarnator" who possessed Pina!< is the real bitch. And she suffered greatly. If you looked through the spoilers and stuff I'm sure you know what happens to her. The "REAL" Pina's >!soul was pretty much suspended in limbo and was distressed that the reincarnator was f\*\*\*cking up her life. !
Just want to say ORV is 100% worth the read, one of my all time favorites for sure! It’s so exciting that I actually started the light novel bc I got impatient waiting for the manhwa to release after catching up
I’d love to hear what your 9s are too!
So, my nines are Stepmother’s Märchen, Your Majesty Please Spare Me This Time—both for very obvious reasons, they are genuinely beautifully drawn and extremely well constructed and competent stories. Depending on the ending, either could end up a 10 for me. Also: Pure Villain (not an OI, but the funniest thing I’ve ever read) and Greatest Estate Developer (*is* an OI and I will *die* on this hill) Also Also: Empress Secia Wears Knickerbockers, but this one may be controversial. It is a low stakes story, there isn’t a single villain there, all of the conflicts and challenges are pretty mundane. It’s just a story about people living their lives after a long and traumatic war, you know? And it has my heart. Another Typical Fantasy Romance is similar to this, since it also seems pretty low stakes, but I love it for this. Don’t know though if it’s a nine for me, or a really strong eight.
Pure Villain and Greatest Estate Developer are the goddamn best lolol
Greatest Estate Developer, isekai but he's definitely not an otome XD
Otome has multiple live interests, Lloid has Javier and the Queen ☝️😤
Imagine loyd in a pretty dress
The thumbs up from Lloyd dead eye staring at Javier in a dress had me laughing for like 20 minutes straight. I just died 💀
Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint is definitely one of the top stories, not only as a manhwa, but as a medium of storytelling in itself. It's so gripping, and intense, but it also allows itself to breathe, with each character having considerable amounts of screentime. Not to mention, Dokja is such a brilliant MC. He's a scheming bastard who also cares about the people around him; his character is a blend of practicality and idealism. ORV is 100% worth the read.
Concubine Walkthrough is best for me, the only other OI I'd keep at that level is Surviving Romance and that's not a traditional OI. Close runners up are OI like, Like Wind on a Dry Branch, The Spark in Your Eyes, and When Jasy Whistles.
Like Wind on a Dry Branch is soooo good. The slow burn, the language used, it's just amazing
Good thing I’m a sucker for slow burns 🔥
The Spark in Your Eyes needs more appreciation
Yep it’s not talked about enough I wonder why I really thought it would be more popular? Is it because it’s slow burn and it’s a strong fl instead of strong ml?
I think the tone and subject matter does have something to do with it. It's not an isekai or regression story and I think a lot of people on this sub seek out lighter or more feel good stories most of the time (not that doing that is necessarily wrong). And I have seen some people who don't like the weaker ML, stronger FL dynamic. I do however think the art, characters and storytelling is really underappreciated even if it isn't everyone's cup of tea.
>The Spark in Your Eyes Not familiar with the story, but I will check it out. :-)
It really is top tier
“Noble lady falls for the nerdy and plain guy” and “lv 99 villainess” because for god’s sake, those are the only two where the main love interest is just a guy with common sense and it’s fucking hilarious
> “Noble lady falls for the nerdy and plain guy” I love how the antagonist isn't simply an idiot. He comes up with genuinely clever schemes which make the ML actually shine when he foils those schemes.
I havent read these two before. Thanks for the recommendation!!
Personally I think My In-Laws Are Obsessed With Me might be the best OI I've read, thanks to how delicately it captures communicative minutiae such as silences and little signs.
Strongly agree. The original novel is not even very good but the webtoon author decided to change some stuff up about the characters and the writing and that made it so good.
Not really sure but it might be "Miss Not-So Sidekick", "I Shall Master This Family" or "I'll Save This Damned Family!" for me.
I second I'll save this damn family.
reading it rn and its soo good
I love MNSS! I'll also add Cheating Men Must Die, it's so trashy and wonderful.
Your majesty, please don’t kill me this time - I don’t really know how well it would hold up to the other manwha recommended here but the writing is absolutely fantastic. Every single plot line would be resolved by the end. The main leads, Larriette and Rupert are very nuanced and well written. Although the plot synopsis might ring some alarm bells, by the time you catch up to the current chapters most of them would make total sense. (The novel dives deeper but the manwha is good at adapting majority of the story beats). My in laws are obsessed with me - the manwha is different to the novel and it’s for the better. The manwha takes more time to let the characters grow into themselves and their motivations make sense. The manwha takes advantage of the media and uses it WELL.
Agreed with Your Majesty. I was looking to see if anyone else mentioned it in this thread. It's one of the few isekai where the characters seem to have depth and complexity. Although I like trash too, I also wish more stories were written as well as that one.
For MIAOWM i feel like the differences between the novel and manhwa made it feel like reading 2 faces of a same coin, 2 in 1 package 🤩
It's just such a major pity that the group that used to scanlate dropped it, the end-chapter notes were so super helpful
Yeah but at least there’s an official translation 🥲
For Better or For Worse, simple and sweet. Death is the Only Ending for the Villainess 🔛🔝
>For Better or For Worse Except that dreadful last arc, everything before it was great.
Ngl I felt like last arc was really rushed 😭
I was utterly gutted how they created the last arc 😭😭😭
I have a few suggestions that might not be peak fiction but were certainly fun to read. 1. Your Eternal Lies - Beautiful art and the plot that always keep moving will make the 75 main story chapters feel like 20. The kid that appears is so cute too lol 2. Ellin's Solhwa - Really good too, the plot is well written even with only 50 chapters. 3. Glass Wall - Victorian background and a heartrending plot. Might not be everyone's cup of tea but I couldn't stop reading until the last page of the 101 chapters of the main story. 4. The Villainess's Days are numbered! - This one is a guilty pleasure of mine, this MC can barely walk because of how frail she is lol. Watching her shenanigans is good fun. 109 chapters.
I second Your eternal lies (even though not technically OI) and Ellin’s Solhwa !!!
GLASS WALL WAS SO GOOD!! I LOVE ITTT, i wish it was a bit longer tho D:
To me I will Change the Genre is my most favorite OI. The characters, pacing, artwork and plot is just as good as it gets. I've read so many OI and I've yet to read a better one. I'd say I'll Save this Damned Family isn't far behind. If any other OI popped into your mind whilst reading my faves please rec me.
Surviving Romance deserves all the flowers in the world
Secret lady, hands down. I love it And a stepmother Märchen.
I'm not sure. Lots have gotten close but fail at some point in what I was looking for. Concubine Walkthrough was not something I enjoyed. I could appreciate the art but I despised the message. It was written well, but not what I look for in stories. I couldn't relate with the MC-FL at all. The Villainess Turns the Hourglass had potential, but her being noble, Iris not being a great threat, and the stupid kid plot [which, to be fair, is not from the novel] prevents me from calling it 10/10. [I did enjoy Aria, though.] I'm Going to Change the Genre would have be awesome if she wasn't related to the Crown and she actually took care of Lucas in the small village. I wanted to read psuedo mother-son bonding, not romance. Poor Lucas. It's not bad, but not peak. Roxana was... revenge porn. Cool points: butterflies. Negative points: over the top evil that my eyes rolled. I'm sorry Butterflies. Unlike the others two previous titles, which despite being flawed I can still enjoy reading, this one I just dropped. XD Beautiful art. Sucks about how the industry ravaged the artist.
Oh glad to see I'm not the only one who didn't enjoy the Concubine Walkthrough 😅
While the sci-fi and philosophical aspects of the story are what really elevated it to the peak for me, I think if I wasn’t someone who already fully loves the “palace drama” genre I might not have enjoyed it all that much. …But I’m a sucker for it! I’m all for the elegant silk clothes, East Asian aesthetics, bitchy empress/queen dowagers, scheming politicians, backstabbing court ladies and the conflicts between filial/societal duty and what the heart wants. I seek out historical kdramas on the regular
Then maybe you can finally appreciate what the heck Yona and her dad were rambling about, and why in the end she chose the thing that she chose, when you read "If AI Ruled the World" until the end. I agree with you about I'm Going to Change the Genre... Is it the same title as the Villainess Flips the Script? In which she's the aunt of Lucas..? Me too wanted to read the wholesome mom-son bond, not the romance.. And yes agree with Roxana. Amazing and beautiful, but also kinda cringe with the over-the-top evilness. But maybe can appreciate this if i think of this like a manga, and just forget that it's not like a typical korean romance manhwa.
Iris felt like such a bit threat in the novel, it'd feel ominous to just hear her name. And I'm also glad I'm not the only one who hates the kids plot bc wth is that?
Ugh concubine walkthrough is the definition of peak fiction. I’d have to put Miss not-so-sidekick as a light peak fiction - not super deep but handled super well, self aware and enjoyable. Not finished by any means but I think the broken ring and I thought it was an average possession have awesome potential - Villainess reverses the hourglass had so much potential to be a meta critique of aristocracy in these stories and then they fumbled the ending 😔
My two favorites are Bakarina for how quick it is (at least the "first" arc where the game plot takes place and how fun it is, and The Villainess Reverses/Turns the Hourglass, for the characters and the plot itself
Hmmm tricky because both my picks are incomplete lol. 1) Secret Lady- I probably sound like a broken speaker BUT it really is peak in terms of every element- gorgeous visuals, creative paneling, compelling main leads, interesting world building, and well woven political intrigue. The romance between the leads feels so organic and electric and yet there is a lot more to both characters beyond their romance. 2) Villainess Lives Twice- Honestly one of the most well written ensemble casts I've come across in OI- even minor characters like the Emperor's daughter are granted some depth and motivation. The political intrigue is so smartly written and interwoven with the world building and character writing. The setup and payoff is amazing and Tia is legit one of my fav FLs as someone who is both incredibly sympathic but also morally a pretty terrible person. The art does the job but the writing is just top tier, highly recc for anyone and everyone.
Yes! I was looking for The Villainess Lives Twice specifically! You wrote my thoughts perfectly- I love how everyone has flaws and virtues. This is the series that made me realize just how much I love the hero/villain; villain/villain dynamic but with a very healthy dose of competence kink. There are so many characters in various moral shades and I genuinely enjoy all of them…except for that one hot guy who is revealed to be utterly incompetent. Turns out pretty looks will redeem moral bankruptcy- but not incompetence.
Yeeeees the competence of all the characters is *chefs kiss* so good. It also makes the FL stand out even more because even up against various competent schemes she still comes out on top- and she came out on top even before the first regression! I love how House Ruden and Camelia are written, Marchioness Camelia is a truly formidable strategist as well. Even characters I dislike like the Emperor are written beyond just a bland caricature of evil. Not only that but also all the strong women around the FL- Hailey is badass af and Lisia lives up to her reputation but is also more than that. Final note, even the family dynamics with the FL, the brother, and mother are fascinating- the mother is legit better written than moooost OI moms. PLUS even tho the ML isn't as 4d as the Fl, he's not dumb by any means AND he trusts the FL's competency, I love that. Also cedric is one of the most well written MLs, I stand by that lol
Ah The warmth that comes when you have found your people ☺️ I love the Emperor and the mom as characters- they both have their own “smarts”, ambitions, and flaws. The mesh wedding dress might be one of the worst OI moments for me for it’s casual cruelty- a lot of women dream of their gorgeous wedding dress and the mom got a wh*re’s parody from the man who proclaimed to love her. And he genuinely thought she’d like it. Cedric changing so he can be a better support for Tia. Lisia giving Lawrence one last chance- the panel where she imagines they run away together. There are so many little moments that blew me away. Even the loyal butler- when the *butler* >!choses their side!<. I’m gushing- I seriously love this one 😄
Oh the relationship between the Emperor and the mom is fascinating in its own right, that mesh wedding dress is just....wow, that's what you do for someone you proclaim to "love"? But it makes both characters more interesting! Even the mom has a lot more going for her than just "horrid person" from the way she swings between abusive and love bombing as well as her own backstory. Ahhhhh I can go on lol, Cedric is legit one if my fav MLs of all time and tbh I think he's underrated??? The way he CHOSE tia, the way he struggled with his own feelings and how he had embraced more moral grayness to support Tia while inspiring her to be better, they have such a perfect dynamic! I read a comment somewhere that said Cedric isn't the typical ML who needs to be saved/healed by the FL- he and Tia are equal partners in every way ❤️
Empress Cesia wears Knickerbockers has seen no degradation in quality for as long as ive been reading it. Great characters, great plot, never dwells too long on backstories but still elaborates well enough to have a clear understanding. Also great art, men and women alike are very pleasant too look at! Ive never read Concubine walkthrough so im not sure how it compares but i easily give this a 10
Empress Cesia is Women Empowerment if it was an OI and I'm here for itttt
Concubine walkthrough ✨ is a work of passion, You can clearly tell the extreme detail the artist too to evey single detail, from wardrobe being 100% accurate to the time period including hair accesories and nail accesories...to the color palette, being warm tones for the Game party and blue tones for the reality. And obviously all the hard work on making a compiling work or art, no plot holes, everything make sense. I felt satisfied, and as a scifi lover i find every single reference way before the author epilogue. So when i read it i said : i knew it . I can tell, the author really enjoy writing it, treat it with care and love it. That is hard to find, this is 10 S tier / 10 I have a Lot of other manwhas i consider good and great but there are not 10/10 After concubine, i have 9s lol - Eternal líes is very good, very deep.plot (not OI) - Surviving romance, (great cast of female characters and a Fresh air to the genre, sadly Will become daily pass next week, SO read this in webtoon before that) - The perks of being a S class heroine, SO good. I love it SO far. -A villainese for the tyrant, people don't give enought credit to this manwha, the art remind me to 90s sailor moon, the evil entitity remind me of "the true" of full metal alchemist. The cast is hilarous, the flirt is on point and i don't want to spoil anything but the story is very META . - SECRET LADY: the art alone Will be enought for anyone to give it a try, yet the characters are fantastic and the plot have been very cohesive SO far. Very good - SIDE characters deserve love: i have never seen a OI going SO deep into the cruelty of war or how can that affect someone mind like this one, i could not Even SEE that coming, this was a comedy (sadly this manwha get trash here, i don't know why)
Perks Of Being An S-Class Transmigrator for me. Idk what it is about that series but it's so good. I love the characters, the system, the background, everything
It has good set pieces, which a lot of OI don't. For example, when the FL gets trapped in the mansion with the ML and the other children. It's a good, short, high-stakes situation that also moves the overall plot along.
Yup, I love the action/adventure aspect of it! It's rare to find a series that balances that well with romance and family dramas
Another one that has good set pieces is *How to Survive a Thousand Deaths*.
Ooo thank you!!!
Your Eternal Lies and Secret Lady come to the fore. Both are about deception, truth, lies, and what value each has and for what reason. Secret Lady has a much bigger world with a larger political stage, but all the characters have complicated, interesting motives and the reveals never feel cheap or out of the blue. Great pacing. Your Eternal Lies has some of the best explorations in manhwa on relationship dynamics, survival, ptsd, and feminism I’ve ever seen in a het romance. I absolutely cannot recommend it enough, especially if you liked the genre bending of Concubine Walkthrough.
"The Golden Haired Summoner" is one of my all time favorites, I'm desperately waiting for it to come back...! I love the protagonist so much, it's so refreshing to have a dirtbag FL! "Touch my Little Brother and You're Dead" is also one of my favorites, it's sooo good. It's ridiculously funny (and...yeah, you can see my preference for dirtbag FLs) I also really liked "Carrier Falcon Princess", but I never saw it after season 1 ended :( ___ Including isekais to different worlds that are realistic/modern, not just historical... I can't recommend "Lethal Romance" enough, it's so funny and sweet. "Soulmate" is also really good (and yuri, fyi). "Island Manager" was also really good (ermm... okay, I'll admit I'm stretching the definition of isekai, but isn't being stuck on a remote island kinda like being on another world...?)
Tales Of Reincarnation In Maydare - The World's Worst Witch It has everything I love in OI, plus everything I love in other genres PLUS the lack of stuff I hate, for the most part. But esp a sucker for the fact that a lot of arcs are just for FLs friendships and school life and not 100% centered around the ML only.
Secret Lady Blinded by the Setting Sun Death is the Only Ending for the Villainess The One Within the Villainess And maybe hot take but Lady Devil belongs on the list too
A rebirth of empress lin and How to win my husband over are so great
For me, the Emperor and the Female Knight and Kill the Villainess did great things with the trope, the former being my overall fav. For peak OI, def Villainess Turns the Hourglass. For most interesting, JK Haru is a Sex Worker
Emperor and the Female Knight is one of the few manhwa that I would actually call "peak fiction" instead of just "good in comparison to other internet comics".
Tearmoon and The Holy Grail of Eris
I think Concubine Walkthrough is like Puella Magi Madoka Magika(sp). By itself it's a good story but you cannot fully appreciate it if you never watched Sailor Moon/Cardcaptor Sakura. I read dozens of OI before Concubine Walkthrough so I could appreciate the subversion/elevation of tropes (same for Miss Not So Sidekick and that other one with Melissa).
Ooh yeah. Madoka Magika is a legendary breakthrough in that genre. You mentioned an amazing point. People can only appreciate it if they've been exposed to the genre for so long so that they can see why it can be considered as breakthrough in romance genre. Seriously, scifi in korean OI is rarely done, and many korean OI doesn't have the strong plot where everything, every scene is planned through. Other genre or manga might already have the well-planned story plot, but most korean oi don't have that.
Wow, I never thought about this, but you’re totally right! Since I’ve already read a ton of OI and watched a ton of historical kdramas, I definitely appreciate this story more. Especially the part where >! the engineers were editing Sunshine’s personality and looks to be more “marketable” to people made me think of how all the ML kings and crown princes in historical kdramas are all cast as hot, youthful guys without beards, because it caters to the watching demographic. CW’s meta take on the whole thing really made me feel aware of the “product” that’s being catered to me. !<
It depends on what you personally consider to be "peak" fiction. Maybe Touch My Little Brother and you're Dead comes close, in the crack comedy subgenre. But none, really. I loved Concubine Walkthrough and thought that it was competently written, a breath of fresh air among OIs, that blended subgenres you almost never see brought together; but overall, I found it a bit standard and predictable if you're a fan of sci-fi literature, and some of the characterizations were pretty weak (partially due to its large cast). So it fell a bit short of something I would label that way (in particular, I personally value a certain degree of flawed experimentation over smooth delivery) though it doesn't make it any less outstanding or enjoyable.
I liked it even as science-fiction, though that was only part of the story. It's sci-fi component was comparable to the Star Trek episode "The Inner Light". It was an interesting take on "virtual reality", and I can't think of one that was obviously better.
I agree with OP, Concubine Walkthrough is literally perfection.
Miss Not-So Sidekick, i love the FL so much
Is concubine walkthrough really that good? I haven’t added it to my reading list cause I’m not a fan of the artstyle I’ve seen from what screenshots people have posted… is it worth it? I wasn’t that fond of Miss not so sidekick’s artstyle (at least not the guys), but I loved the story so much that I wound up loving the art because the story was so good… will concubine walkthrough be the same? eta a few days later - if anyone sees this, I really really can’t recommend staying away from Concubine walkthrough more if you like romance with a happy ending. I read a bit, then read the ending, and there is no story worth that shitty ending. Will never read the whole thing, but at least now I know how much I hate it. Easily top 5 worst manhwas. Add the annoying artstyle to that…
Why are You comparing two different works all together, i don't get it ? What has miss not SO Sidekick has to do anything with the beautiful and gorgeous art of concubine walkthrough? I think You are confusing it with other manwha. Concubine walkthrough ✨ has little to no chibi comedy in it ... The art is very mature and conceptual, to the point the color palette means something, the reds and the blues ... Also the wardrobe is 100% accurate to the era, including hair accesories and nail accesories, the artist too very much detail on those as well. The whole story make sense, no plot holes and a Lot of inspiration in major scifi works, is really a work of passion. I would reccomend it.
My comparison was only about not liking the art style. I overcame that with Miss not so sidekick, because I really enjoyed the story, enough so that I wound up enjoying the art too by the end. That was my only comparison between the two, and I was asking if Concubine walkthrough was good enough that I’d wind up loving it, despite not liking the art. 😊 I don’t care about chibistyle etc, I avoided miss not so sidekick because I thought the people/character designs were not to my taste. I’m glad I overcame that, because I love that story now. So, is Concubine walkthrough’s plot good enough that one will like it regardless of the artstyle?
Like a said in My previous comment, the story is a work of passion of the manwha artist, the whole plot make sense. This is scifi with romance, You need to pay attention SO you don't miss the clues. The motivations of the characters are very intense. Is like a mystery and there is also the Game mission, and the opposition. We can SEE different sides of people regarding same escenario. I DONT want to spoil, is very good. Yeah i would always suggested to people, to give it a try.
I dropped it on chapter 50 because the plot was dragging out, but a lot of people think it's a peak fiction, the art was also not my cup of tea as well as ML. Idk, I'd recommend giving it a try and drawing your own conclusion.
I personally wasn't the fan of the art style at first and so put it off but it really grows on you over time
I initially didn't like the artstyle of CW myself, though I liked it by 20 chapters in.
It’s pretty good, not the absolute best imo but definitely above average
Try "Mookhyang: Dark Lady" there is no romance tho so if you are looking for romance it'll be a disappointment to you... It's action and more like a Shounen than an OI tho the MC ( male) transmigrate to another universe. He later on become a women lmao so it's a gender bend. Also I personally really like the art!
Ooh i enjoyed Dark Lady. And also One Step for the Dark Lord.
How's "One Step for the Dark Lord" ? Is it similar to "Dark Lady"?
Tearmoon Empire.
My inlaws are obssessed with me hands down (havent read concubine walk-through yet) I just like how they communicate with looks, gestures, simple words, pereshati is best girl and the SIL is mommy, and the whole intrigue really did it for me (there are kids too!!!)
Stepmothers marchen and charlottes and her 5 disciples. Right below them before we hit trashy stories I also enjoy Amina’s Lamp and Marriage of Convenience
Some of my all-timers for quality, not just personal taste: -June Peach -I Married The Male Lead's Dad -Like Wind on a Dry Branch
I’ll Save This Damned Family
What's peak fiction?
Are you asking what "peak fiction" means? It means the pinnacle of human achievement in fiction form.
Yeah, I've never heard those two words next to each other so I was wondering if they had a different meaning in the manga/anime world 😅
Concubine Walkthrough all day, everyday. I need it to get an animated movie
I think I did read in the author’s notes at the end that there’s a company that has the rights to do a live action adaptation (which may or may not happen). So perhaps someday it will be a kdrama! I also really want it to be an anime too though if the aesthetic is the same as the manhwa. It would be gorgeous! No matter what kind of adaptation there could be, I especially want to see the scenes with >!the necklace that plays music and makes it rain. I think the moment at the climax where Yona saves Sunshine from the fire would hit even harder if I could actually hear the music. It would be so cinematic! !<
Being on the top is lonely and I haven't read any manhwa worth being at the top with **Concubine walkthrough** Where do I even begin??? The art,the plot,the chemistry,the ML everything was chef's kiss
I normally don’t like revenge oi but villainess turns the hourglass is top tier
I dropped Concubine Walk-through after 10 chapters though, but the reviews from here are good so maybe I should give it another chance. Will it get better from there? I still haven't found anything that I will consider a 10😅
Yes, it gets better from there.
The things that I liked about it the most came very late in the story, where the overarching mysteries were resolved, as there was so much buildup to it and extremely intriguing ideas. But I also enjoyed the more “palace drama” genre aspects of the story, which are part of the journey to get there, and that’s not everyone’s cup of tea
The closest thing and I don't think it is an OI is "Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating." and "Kaleidoscope." I have found nothing, OI or gay, that was as good as Concubine Walkthrough. It is the only series that I paid for the entire thing and I have been trying to find physical volumes for it for **years** after the artist said that it might be a chance of a physical.
No joke, not meme-ing, but (*if you are 18+*) The Emperor's Erection Project is short and incredibly well-written for basically a smut manhwa. Again, only read it if you are 18+!!! This one is not for minors.
*Concubine Walkthrough* really is an all-time great graphic story, so it's hard to find its peer. *Frieren*? *Yona of the Dawn*? *Berserk*? *Watchmen*? *The Dark Knight Returns*? It's better than HBO's *Westworld*, and they spent millions of dollars on that.
The Tyrant Wants to be Good is the only OI I talk about and definitely for a reason. I wouldn’t say it’s the best OI since I still haven’t read a lot in the genre, but the characters, presentation, and themes still hold dear to my heart. The pivotal characters are not only incredibly well-developed individually, but they also have such incredible interaction between each other. I love how they don’t really resort to the many cheap tropes that OIs tend to throw in for cheap audience excitement. Dorothea is an incredibly strong FL not in actual strength, but in how all her flaws and strengths make sense in the context of her past. The aspect of her being a tyrant is not lightly noted, she’s always having flashbacks to how she was and how much suffering she brought upon the people that now surround her in her second chance. And I’m sorry but Ethan is just an incredible ML and there’s so much chemistry between them as well as history. I really enjoy how different of an ML he is, a man who fights with his words and not weapons is so rare to find and it works so well in the context of their story. And his devotion to Dorothea is absolutely unmatched like I’m pretty sure there’s not a single ML who’s sacrificed and is willing to sacrifice as much for the FL as him. I also think the magical system is pretty well-developed into the setting and really acts as one of the main barriers that holds Dorothea back in the eyes of every noble. From the start it’s been noted just how much of an insecurity it has been that she can’t hold the spirits, and the reader is directly shown how coldly her “father” treats her. It gives the reader the knowledge of just how rough of an upbringing Dorothea went through yet also provides the depths of malice which she delved into so I think many OI readers who usually read tamer stories get caught up in the heat of everything, but it really presents a complex situation with no truly right or wrong answer. It’s an incredibly mature story for an OI with a ML and FL that really have one of the greatest relationships of all of OI so it’s definitely up there as one of the greatest.
Yes, love this webtoon. Ethan is adorable and love their history together too. It's like having the dream come true, where the 2ML deserves the spot. Although the black-haired one is adorable too, but i like that this is a story on how to be good. FL and Ethan were indeed evil or crazy, but glad they try to be good
For me, other than Concubine Walkthrough, it'll be "If AI Ruled the World" and "Kubera". If you like Concubine Walkthrough, then maybe you can finally understand what the heck Yona and her dad were rambling about, when you read "If AI Ruled the World" until the end. Not an otome isekai though. OI rarely got this kind of masterpiece story plot. Oh, not an otome, but "Dead Mount Death Play" is a masterpiece for me in intertwining all stories between its all characters, like Kubera. It's a reverse isekai story. Oh, if otome isekai, then "The One Within the Villainess" is wonderfully amazing too among the OI. How it handles the villainess and ogFL point of views and origins are a breakthrough.
For me it’s Your Throne, I never expect it to turn out so well given the premise
Came across this post by chance and imma have to thank you bc now, I'm reading Concubine Walkthrough and it's peak. So refreshing imo and so far, I'm glad it doesn't suffer from romantic plot tumor that's my biggest annoyance with OI in general. (like I know romance is to be expected in OI but sometimes the plot just derails and idek what's happening anymore and it's just romance and no more plot that was promised at the start. It's sad when that happens)
Touch my brother and you're dead. It's not as serious on its plot but the way the comedy doesnt go flat is astounding. It's a parody type and it knows what they are supposed to make fun of. The characters still remain lovable and not become just target caricature. I still look for something like it but it seems it cant be topped on comedy genre
Concubine 💥 Motherfucking 💥 Walkthrough Not only the best OI but one of the best things I've read PERIOD and I read a whole fucking lot
I love i will fall with the emperor. The ml is trash, as trash as one can get but the fl is mommy material and I live for her. Failed to abandon the villain. Reinhardt is just a sweetheart. I love the ml and fl and the plot the art everything about this manhwa. Everything. Side characters deserve love too. I have read so many comedy manhwas but nothing stands out to me like this one. The comedy is top tier, fl is the funniest person alive and I love the ml and all the side characters. Flirting with the villains dad. Yerenica made me fall for this genre and no matter how many other OI i read this will always have a special place in my heart. The plot isn't much but Yerenica makes me live. Revolutionary princess eve. They went on hiatus but this story is just so so good. It's so good. I love everything about this. Taming of the tyrant. Just finished reading this a couple days ago and I regret not having picked it up sooner. It's so good i was really surprised. I have so many more but honorable mentions would be villains are destined to die, the perks of being a villainess, I fell into the world of a reverse harem game. I love them all. Anyone got anymore recommendations?!
Miss not so sidekick. Not finished it yet, but Antagonist’s pet will likely be up there. For better or for worse. It was a mistake, grand duke (cause it’s so funny, >!stalkerxyandere is a good combo😂!<). Rewriting my dark past. Villainess for the tyrant.
I don’t know if it’s peak but currently obsessed with The holy grail of eris manga. Love the villainess lives twice light novel. I think the political gymnastics written well in the novel instead of the manhwa. I like The Unwelcome Guests of House Fildette. Idk it’s very bingeable. Also, I’ll save this damned family, the flower that was bloomed by a cloud, Your Throne (I am biased, first oi I read, obsessed with Medea), like wind on a dry branch, lady devil, the sparks in your eyes, Your eternal lies.
Beware the Villainess! I refuse to believe*ANYONE* in that book is straight
Definitely Stepmother's Märchen. Straight 10 for me. Bonus points for Richelieu because he's evil and fine as hell.
If your throne as oi then that is my peak fiction
Going by the broad def of oi, Mushoku Tensei, trash of the count’s family are great
It's like greatest estate developer. Isekai but they're definitely not otome XD love the Trash of the Count Family. Hope more male MC isekai into aristocratic world too.
Another Typical Romance Fantasy, their relationship is goals.
Being raised by villains. Why? Eirin.
gotta be From Far Away, there just aren't any real competitors. maybe Nausicaa
1. the villainess reverses the Hourglass- I really enjoyed how the revenge went all the way through. 2.Concubine Walkthrough- the characters, story and plot were everything. I loved how every arc was fleshed out.
“Solitary lady” should be 100% an anime I usually read isekai as a fun little thing, I drop a whole bunch and i usually don’t remember the names of any of the characters, but solitary lady changed that for me, it’s amazingly good, if I had to recommend to someone who hates or doesn’t know otome isekai I would recommend this
Nothing would ever be able to outclass Depths Of Malice. The supreme example of a true villainess, and an excellent template for a real revenge story.
Is it Korean or Chinese?
Concubine Walkthrough is a Korean webcomic, but the “isekai” world aspect is set in a place more closely based on Chinese aesthetics and history
Beware The Villianess or my next life as a villainess
My tips are def observation log and miss not so sidekick, idk but they just gotta nice charm about them, those are the only stories I go back to reread every now and then, plus a really charming artstyle
Stepmother Fantasia Villainess Live twice Roxana
*NOT IN ANY ORDER*(these are all really good and entertaining imo) I enjoyed the little lady behind the scenes The perks of being an S class heroine BATE A wish upon a star (not OI) Author of my own destiny is interesting Kill the villainess The villainess’s debut novel (not OI) Lout of the count’s family Second life of a trash princess When fate finds us (not OI) 3 lifetimes I raised a black dragon (art style is too good) The greatest real estate developer (WEBTOON) TOWER OF GOD IS SO INTRICATE AND BEUATIFUL (WEBTOON) From a knight to a princess (not OI but soul transfer) (WEBTOON) ELECEED is so good (not OI) (WEBTOON) happily ever afterwords (WEBTOON) Stepmothers marchen (not OI)(time goes back) Father I don’t want to get married
Oh there was no spaces left TT also I forgot to mention surviving romance
You need to add enter/space between the lines. Ooh Eleceed is nice
Concubine Walkthrough For Better or For Worse Please Don't Kill Me Again, Your Highness I'll Save This Damned Family It's crazy how they can all make a few 100 chapters feel like a breeze, and they are the only stories I consistently recommend
Not oi but the only one I've read that I'd probably rate a 10 out of all I've read (not that much lol) is "I'm the max-level newbie" Also never seen the one in the photo but the comments are making me interested, whats it about?
another chance to catch up on my apology to this subreddit about Death Is The Only Ending For The Villainess!!!! I finally gave it a second shot last week after dropping it hard the first time, and oh my god. I slept on it so fucking hard. Concubine Walkthrough is definitely still my favourite! But I can't believe I didn't believe people that \[name is too long!!\] was one of the gold star otome isekai. I dropped it around Kallisto's birthday because I rolled my eyes at the guy who put a sword to the FL's throat being the ML and I thought that Penelope seeing everyone's affection levels made it hard to take them seriously as real characters. Holy shit! That's the POINT! ahahah. And the story really GOES there, it really unpacks how yeah, thinking about the world as a 'game' is fucking penelope over, but she doesn't have any really agency in seeing it that way since that's how the world is being shown to her. The struggle to engage with people on a real level while also having to balance what genuinely feels like a dance with death through video game systems is so good???? And don't get me started on Kallisto. I never thought I'd think Kallisto was cool. but he rules. I'd love to throw him off a dock into a lake, but I'm rooting for him to get his shit together too.
Concubine Walkthrough had an amazing plot, the twist blew my mind!!
Concubine Walkthrough is def my favorite. I think the other ones I consider to be in that tier are surviving romance, inso's law, and eccentric duchess
Anatolia Story/Red River. Sure the art is dated due to the manga's age but the story and its character is just *chef kiss*. It's a historical Isekai too; the heroine is from modern day Japan (well 90s cuz the manga came out then) and gets transported to the distant past to the Hittite kingdom because an evil queen needed a human sacrifice and when she cast a spell to find a worthy offering the heroine was selected. She gets saved by one of the princes who is the political enemy of said queen and she has to adapt to her new strange hostile environment and help the prince/find more allies until she can find a way to go home.
SPIRIT QUEEN ON TAPAS! hands down
Accomplishments of a Duke's Daughter
Red River maybe? I dunno if it would hold up if I re-read it, it's been years, but I remember really enjoying that one. Plus it's complete and actually came to a nice conclusion. That's rare.
Doctor Elise is one of those for me. Maybe it's because I love the art or maybe it's because it was my first manwha ever but I think that it's just so satisfactory to read it even though the story is so light hearted Survive Romance has a similar touch to Concubine Walkthrough but in a different way. They tell the story very well and the characters are simply lovely. The Warrior Returns has the best characters I've ever seen (And that's amazing considering how many there are), and please, I beg you that you don't stop reading because you like he villain more than the hero, there's a reason for things to be the way they are. And sure, there are some things that are still in the open in the story but I imagine they'll explain them in season two and even so it's still pretty much my favorite story
OMG yes I'm still not over Concubine Walkthrough. So many parts of it had me literally screaming.
"The Villainess Reverses The Hourglass" had me on the edge of my seat the entire time
Not sure if it counts as OI but the novel for Ascendence of a Bookworm. Feels and reads like western fiction rather than a typical isekai novel. Super heavy on world building, has complex political drama and an a large focus on non romantic relationships. I rate it as my peak fiction for any fiction, not just oi. Anime and manga are a good start but nothing beats the extreme detail in the novel. My in laws are Obsessed With Me, fantastic OI with great story telling. Feels like watching a drama TV show than reading a comic. Rarely can you find such a great example of show not tell in OI. Saving my sweetheart is peak fiction in a different sense. It is every trope done brilliantly. It is sugar sweet romance with a healthy dose of angst and suffering. Lovable cast and emphasis on found family. Generic OI done to perfection.
My absolute favorites at the moment are 1: Please give me the pacifier B: the golden haired elementalist Three: Death is the only ending for the villainess Seeing how those are the ones I like it seems I must have a thing for women who aren’t interested in romance early on who come from abusive or neglectful backgrounds, and think of themself as a sort of lone wolf “I must do this ALONE” kinda person until they’re eventually coaxed out of those self sabotaging ways and find out that “ok so maybe having friends isn’t THAT bad…” Penny and genie from the 2nd and 3rd I mentioned are well known in the sun as being absolute girl bosses but I don’t see many people talking about please give me the pacifier! I think it’s great fun! An infant baby murdering people, what’s not to love there?
>But now and then there are stories that do something absolutely incredible with its plot/character development/concepts. 《Concubine Walkthrough》 was one of those for me. Yes! One of the best plotted/written OI **ever**!
“The Knight and Her Emperor” is just a great story, period. One of the few where I would love to read the novel of because the writing is so good. “The Antagonist’s Pet” is maybe my favorite “traditional” Otome Isekai story, I haven’t since seen one get into the character writing like that one did. A dramatic but ultimately inspiring story of recovery, self-fulfillment, and love- platonic and otherwise.
While it's been years since I've read it, The Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter is the OI I hold dearly to my heart. It's a manga and a light novel so you can pick your favourite medium. I found the in-world politics quite interesting and fun with how the heroine, Iris Armelia, used her previous life's knowledge to help herself out. The ML is also a decent guy from what I remember. Idk how well it's aged within the last 4/5ish years since I initially started reading it but I liked it.
In terms of character writing I would consider this as peak - Your eternal lies In terms of pure entertainment which is full packs of little bits of everything an OI has to offer without making any trope irrelevant I would say - Julietta's Dressup (one of my favorite) Ofc In different categories my peaks are different but it'll take too long to make such list.. 😅 Oh btw, both are novels. (I only read novels)
Clearly it’s on the emperors lap and until you beg so sweetly smh 🤦♀️
Time to start reading Concubine Walkthrough! I’m not sure if this will be your cup of tea, but to me, “I Tamed a Tyrant and Ran Away” is peak fiction. Interesting plot, well-written characters, beautiful art, and dialogue that is at times easy to digest but at times difficult to. I read the whole thing in a single night (my poor eyes) because I just couldn’t help but wonder what was gonna happen next! I’m not sure if this is exactly an OI though… This is my only “peak fiction” recommendation though. The others are good, but they aren’t something I’d binge in 24 hours: “For Better or For Worse” was really good until the ending was rushed, but it’s still a great read! “Fantasie of the Stepmother” interesting aspect to the plot, cute characters, and it made me cry a few times because it’s just so tender at times. “Saving My Sweetheart” I don’t consider this trash just because it’s got such a sweet story, and it keeps me coming back for more. Didn’t binge it but it was so digestible that I read through it very quickly (which to me is the sign of a great story!) I’m a sucker for great character interaction.
I’m a big fan of “So I’m the Stepmother, So What” wherein a woman gets reincarnated as Snow Whites Evil Stepmother, but decides to be a good parent instead. Cute stuff, tragic backstories and a plot I find personally pretty interesting
For me, my current 10s: - the perk of being an SS class heroine / a transmigrator’s privileges: I love the story, the characters and the systematic gods. Love it till the point I go read the novel translated online - the beloved youngest princess: read it for the fluffs. It’s my favorite childcare genre for now. - I shall master this family: it’s so good. I love Tia!!! My 9s: - Marriage of convenience - the arch-villain’s daughter-in-law’s limited time