Genres and tags explained

Genres

The broad kind of story. A novel usually has one or two.

Fantasy10,604 novels

Magic, monsters and invented worlds, usually Western-flavoured.

Modern Fantasy6,647 novels

Fantasy set in today's world: hunters, dungeons and powers appearing in ordinary cities (a Korean favourite).

Xuanhuan5,113 novels

Chinese "mysterious fantasy": cultivation and martial power in a world that isn't tied to Chinese myth.

Xianxia3,588 novels

Chinese fantasy of immortals: cultivating toward immortality with Taoist ideas, sects and heavenly realms.

Martial Arts4,594 novels

Wuxia and murim: martial artists, sects and the martial world (jianghu), usually with little or no magic.

Urban5,291 novels

Modern-day city life in China or Korea, often with a hidden power, a system or a rise to wealth.

Historical4,666 novels

Set in a real historical era: dynasties, wars and politics, sometimes with a time traveller.

Sci-Fi1,916 novels

Science fiction: space, future technology, mechs and alien worlds.

Game2,564 novels

Stories inside or about games: virtual reality worlds, esports or game-like rules.

Horror944 novels

Fear first: ghosts, curses, monsters and survival against the unknown.

Mystery1,846 novels

Puzzles, crimes and secrets to uncover.

Military1,114 novels

Armies, soldiers and war, from tactics on the ground to grand campaigns.

Sports1,492 novels

Athletes and competition: football, baseball, basketball and more.

Romance4,622 novels

The relationship is the main story.

Romance Fantasy4,964 novels

Korean "rofan": romance in a fantasy noble world, often with a reborn or transmigrated heroine.

Historical Romance1,053 novels

Romance in a historical setting, such as Chinese court or Joseon dramas.

BL1,073 novels

Boys' love: romance between men (danmei in Chinese).

GL36 novels

Girls' love: romance between women (yuri, baihe).

Fan Fiction1,040 novels

Stories set in someone else's world: anime, games, films or other novels.

Slice of Life1,394 novels

Everyday life and small moments rather than big conflicts.

Comedy1,912 novels

Written to make you laugh.

Drama2,307 novels

Emotion and conflict between people take the lead.

Light Novel505 novels

Light, fast reads in the style of Japanese light novels, often with anime-like characters.

Premise

Regression3,476 novels

The protagonist goes back to an earlier point in their own life, keeping their memories, to do it better.

Reincarnation3,740 novels

The protagonist dies and is reborn as someone new, often remembering their past life.

Transmigration4,259 novels

The protagonist's soul lands in someone else's body, in their own world or another.

Book Transmigration675 novels

The protagonist wakes up inside a novel they read, often as a doomed side character.

Isekai1,685 novels

The protagonist is transported to another world.

Time Travel1,208 novels

Travel to the past or future.

Second Chance1,067 novels

A do-over at life after failure, betrayal or death.

System3,107 novels

A game-like interface only the protagonist sees: quests, rewards, stats.

Game Elements1,211 novels

Levels, stats, skills and other game mechanics in the world itself.

Leveling824 novels

Growing stronger in clear, game-like steps.

Virtual Reality527 novels

Much of the story happens inside an immersive VR game.

Infinite Flow460 novels

The protagonist is thrown into world after world (often horror-themed) to survive their trials.

Apocalypse890 novels

The world is ending or has ended.

Post-Apocalyptic624 novels

Life after the world ended: ruins, scarce resources, rebuilding.

Zombies239 novels

The undead are a central threat.

Survival1,507 novels

Staying alive against harsh conditions is the main struggle.

Dungeons258 novels

Exploring dangerous dungeons for loot and power.

Tower Climbing228 novels

Climbing a tower floor by floor, each floor a new trial.

Hunters630 novels

Ranked hunters fight monsters, usually in modern Korea.

Gates143 novels

Portals that open into monster-filled dungeons in the modern world.

Academy543 novels

A school for magic, martial arts or heroes.

Alternate History1,568 novels

Real history goes differently, often because of a time traveller.

Power and setting

Cultivation1,834 novels

Training the body and spirit through stages of power toward immortality.

Sects982 novels

Martial or cultivation schools with their own disciples, rules and rivalries.

Immortals283 novels

Beings who have transcended death, and the world they rule.

Alchemy145 novels

Refining pills, potions or elixirs.

Magic1,480 novels

Spells, mana and mages.

Necromancy151 novels

Raising and commanding the dead.

Summoning140 novels

Calling creatures or allies to fight for you.

Beast Taming311 novels

Taming and raising monsters or spirit beasts as companions.

Superpowers1,475 novels

People with special abilities beyond magic or cultivation.

Monsters1,031 novels

Monsters are a major part of the world.

Demons559 novels

Demons, devils or demonic cultivators.

Gods409 novels

Gods walk the world, grant power, or the protagonist becomes one.

Dragons388 novels

Dragons play a big role.

Vampires72 novels

Vampires play a big role.

Elves58 novels

Elves play a big role.

Mecha178 novels

Giant robots and piloted machines.

Space345 novels

Set in space or among the stars.

Cyberpunk231 novels

High tech and low life: corporations, cybernetics and neon cities.

Kingdom Building712 novels

Building and ruling a territory, town or nation.

Politics1,330 novels

Power struggles, factions and statecraft.

War2,020 novels

Battles and wars are central.

Strategy452 novels

Winning through plans and tactics rather than raw strength.

Mercenaries185 novels

Soldiers for hire.

Knights183 novels

Knights and chivalry.

Adventurers44 novels

Guild adventurers taking quests.

Nobility1,474 novels

Noble houses, titles and high society.

Royalty1,988 novels

Kings, queens, emperors and princes.

Palace Intrigue609 novels

Scheming in the imperial palace or harem.

Ancient China567 novels

Set in historical or ancient-style China.

Joseon203 novels

Set in Korea's Joseon dynasty.

Three Kingdoms216 novels

Set in China's Three Kingdoms era.

Modern Day2,711 novels

Set in the present-day world.

Western Setting276 novels

A European or Western-style world.

Work and life

Business2,016 novels

Building companies, trading and making money.

Wealthy Family1,553 novels

Rich families, heirs and inheritance fights (chaebol in Korea).

Entertainment Industry889 novels

Actors, idols and show business.

Celebrity420 novels

Fame and life in the public eye.

Streaming169 novels

Livestreamers and online broadcasting.

Esports35 novels

Professional competitive gaming.

Cooking311 novels

Food and cooking are central.

Medicine302 novels

Doctors and healing, modern or traditional.

Farming391 novels

Growing crops and building up land; "zhongtian", slow and steady.

Crafting171 novels

Making things: smithing, building, inventing.

Professional1,288 novels

Following a career or profession in detail.

Writer211 novels

The protagonist is a writer.

Music231 novels

Musicians and music.

Art56 novels

Painters and other artists.

Lawyer65 novels

Lawyers and the courtroom.

Detective358 novels

Detectives solving cases.

Crime326 novels

Criminals, gangs and the underworld.

School Life848 novels

Students and school.

Office393 novels

Work life in an office.

Family1,226 novels

Family relationships are central.

Child Protagonist384 novels

The protagonist is a child.

Raising Children457 novels

Bringing up children, often unexpectedly.

Slow Life614 novels

A relaxed pace with little danger: farming, shops, quiet days.

Healing443 novels

Comforting and warm: stories that make you feel better.

The protagonist

Overpowered MC3,662 novels

The protagonist is overwhelmingly strong from early on.

Weak to Strong1,126 novels

The protagonist starts weak and climbs to the top.

Genius3,077 novels

The protagonist is exceptionally talented.

Cunning MC656 novels

The protagonist wins with wits and scheming.

Ruthless MC240 novels

The protagonist shows no mercy to enemies.

Kind MC348 novels

The protagonist is good-hearted.

Villain429 novels

The protagonist is, or was destined to be, the villain.

Villainess476 novels

A heroine in the role of the story's villainess, often trying to escape her doomed ending.

Anti-Hero27 novels

A protagonist without classic heroic values.

Hidden Identity1,406 novels

Someone hides who they really are.

Female Protagonist2,382 novels

The main character is a woman.

Male Protagonist6,933 novels

The main character is a man.

Strong Female Lead563 novels

The heroine is capable, powerful and in charge of her story.

Gender Bender168 novels

A character changes gender.

Face-Slapping210 novels

Arrogant people look down on the protagonist and get humiliated when proven wrong. A webnovel staple.

Revenge2,865 novels

Getting even is the driving goal.

Romance

Harem516 novels

Several love interests for the protagonist.

Reverse Harem289 novels

Several love interests for the heroine.

Contract Marriage645 novels

A marriage that starts as an arrangement or deal.

Arranged Marriage154 novels

A marriage arranged by others.

Childhood Friends196 novels

Love between childhood friends.

Enemies to Lovers108 novels

Rivals or enemies who fall for each other.

Office Romance259 novels

Romance at work.

CEO185 novels

The love interest is a powerful CEO.

Obsession840 novels

An intense, possessive love.

Yandere73 novels

Love that turns dangerous or violent.

Sweet398 novels

Light, happy romance.

Angst478 novels

Pain and heartbreak in the romance.

Fluff64 novels

Cute, light-hearted moments.

No Romance392 novels

No romantic plotline.

Tone and other

Dark518 novels

A grim, dark tone.

Tragedy74 novels

Expect loss and sad turns.

Thriller882 novels

Tense and suspenseful.

Mature325 novels

Adult themes or content.

Translated

An official or fan English translation exists.