Recommend
I just finished reading infinite dendrogram and LOVED IT. But now I need something new to read. I’ve tried reading things like arifureta or overlord to get that game-like fix but the fights feel boring and strangely feel like the stakes are lower than in dendro.
Some things I liked about infinite dendrogram are: -each person had unique abilities that felt interesting and important. It wasn’t just “this guy is stronger than the last guy” (with a few exceptions)
-because of that, fights were well written and unique
-world building was amazing and all the characters and world really grabbed me and made me care about them
-video game setting made it relatable to me but still fantastical
-distinct sense of progression for the characters getting stronger
I’m mostly looking for an adventure story, bonus points if it has some action but only if it stays interesting. Some tropes like the harem bother me but if it’s a good story I can look past it. Obviously it doesn’t have to have all the things I mentioned, those are just a few things that I would enjoy.
Thanks in advance!
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If you're new to the medium and looking to start reading as a beginner, please keep the following in mind. As the industry grows and new series are introduced all the time, there's never a truly unifying "good beginner series." The common sentiment is that if you're new to Light Novels by way of another medium like anime or manga, your best bet when starting is to find some series with adaptations you already enjoy and to check if their source material has been licensed/translated. Light Novels aren't a stylistic genre so asking for what are good light novels for beginners will range widely based on the person and their taste. It's akin to asking the r/Books "What are some good books for beginners?"
Min-Maxing My TRPG Build in Another World - not a game setting (although the MC can improve his stats like he's playing a TRPG), but I quite like the combat descriptions and world building.
Rebuild World.
Reign of the seven spellblades.
The conqueror from a dying kingdom.
Moon blossom Asura.
The insipid prince.
Zilbagias the demon prince.
I would start with Log Horizon. A bunch of people are trapped in a game and they rebuild civilisation from the ground up.
Bofuri is also worth checking out. It’s a slice of life series about a group of friends playing a game together. Very chill
you know that log horizon is axed right?
I feel like the opposite of you lol. I can't get in to the game world type series b/c I feel like there are 0 stakes involved beyond a time commitment. I'm down to find some that might be good if others have some.
EDIT: Maybe Accel World?
I second Accel World. It and Infinite Dendrogram are so similar in so many ways that they're the only time that I deliberately gave two series that I love exactly the same score*, because I like them about the same amount and they kind of feel like the same series with a different skin or something. Just keep in mind that volumes 3 and 4 will probably feel somewhat uncomfortable to read at the time, but they're worth it in the long run.
*My rating system is too complicated to fully explain in few words, but for series that I "love" (instead of just "like"), I generally give them a score with enough decimal places that it basically becomes a rank. The idea is that that way, if someone asks me what my top 10 series are or whatever, I don't have to think on the spot and can just sort them by what score I gave them. Infinite Dendrogram/Accel World are basically the only time that I simply couldn't decide which series I liked more between two of my favourite series.
I've been hunting for the same "high" ever since I read Infinite Dendrogram, but so far, it's quite unique in the light novel scene. I heard Danmachi might come close, but I've yet to find time to tackle it yet, and the sheer volume count is quite daunting as well.
However, if you're not limiting yourself to just light novels, on the manga end, there is Shangri-la Frontier, which is quite similar.
As far main character goes, I would say Ray and Bell are similar in their heroism. Danmachi, however, is far darker the further novels go. I'm around volume 14, been a while since I last read the novel, and anime caught up with novels
Loner Life in Another World.
It’s a power fantasy but the MC is…let’s say “different.” Tons of humor. I guess it’s a harem but the MC doesn’t see it that way. It’s hard to describe the plot without ruining the fun.
I'll recommend two extremes. On the action side, Is It Wrong To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon. Also known as Dan Machi for short. A lot of action. Too much for my taste. I made it as far as Volume 14. If you want action, that would be the one. Harem aspect? Low. MC likes an adventurer who is part of a different house than him. Most of the women in his house want a romantic relationship with him. On a scale of 1 to 10. Harem aspect: 1, world building: 9, character development: 6, action: 14.
On the other side of the spectrum, we have We have Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. Character driven with strong world building. There are action segments throughout the saga, but be cause of the character development, there is a lot of slice of life content. Scale of 1 to 10. Harem aspect: 10. World building: 10. Characters:10. Action: 10.
Try
Unwanted heroic epic
Death's doughter
A sweet girl won't be fooled by villeness
Immortal ice empress