What I'm reading this August

[elidelio]

Decided to make a tag to keep track of what I'm doing. It's been years since I last read an "actual" book but I've been reading a ton of webnovels hehe so I figured I should put 'em here.

What I've started:

History's Strongest Senior Brother / 史上最强师兄

I kept seeing this one recommended alongside Cultivation Chat Group (which is also on my reading list) so I decided to start it. I've only read a few chapters but so far I'm pleased, it hits all my favourite tropes (transmigrating into the villain, clever protagonist, strong to stronger, etc.) and the typical xuanhuan worldbuilding infodumps that usually make my eyes glaze over have been minimal so far, so it's been a fun reading experience. Actual stuff happens on every chapter and the MC keeps being a cool, clever badass.
I have a weakness for characters who are done with everyone's tropey bullshit so I'm liking Yan Zhaoge a lot. This feels pretty much like an archetypal power fantasy where the MC just keeps landing win after win, and, honestly? I'm so into that shit.
There's almost 2,000 chapters of this already so, unless the story majorly drops off at some point, I think I'll be casually reading it for a long time.

Fairy Trap / 페어리 트랩


The only reason I started reading this one was bc I saw someone point out the MC on the cover looked like Kim Dokja lmao. Talking about the MC, idk how I feel about him, sometimes he gets on my nerves, but I can also sympathise with him. Sort of. The ML is your typical super strong, super clever, overbearing, yandere-ish, psychopath-ish, possessive dude. I was expecting as much going into it so no complaints from me there. I'm only up to chapter 35 so maybe they get some character development? I'm not complaining though, since I'm still gonna read it. So far the novel has pretty much met my expectations going in, so I don't really have much to say about it atm.

She is the Protagonist / 她是主角


Aw hell yeah this one's been on my list for a while and I finally started it. I'm really liking it so far, I especially love how much of a shameless bootlicker Yu Rubing is haha. No romance yet (as of ch 30) but I'm really interested in seeing how the two leads' relationship develops. And to know more about the worldbuilding, some interesting things are happening behind the scenes.....
 
What I'm up2d8 on (some highlights):

Grocery Store N.514 / 514号杂货铺


I can't wait for this case with the multiple murdered women to be finally over omg I hate everyone involved. Ok not actually hate, but the culprits are super irritating and the ghosts are a little irritating too (like I get it, you were unjustly murdered and so was your unborn baby but, like, get over it? jk jk pls don't kill me). On the plus side maybe after this Lin Hua'an and Jiang Chengyan will finally move their relationship along so there's that silver lining to look forward to.

Transmigrated into a Heartthrob Novel and Went OOC / 穿进万人迷文的我人设崩了


The translator for this one is back!! When we last left off, the MC was being dense as fuck while the love interests finally gathered around him. Coming up, he's going to continue being dense as fuck while his lovestruck, jealous shidi tries to keep his shit together. He's so dumb I love him. I don't know what it is about lazy protagonists who are just oblivious to everyone's romantic advances but they really tickle me so.

The Male Lead’s Backyard is on Fire / 男主后院着火了

I think someone is picking this one up again? I stopped reading when I saw it'd been dropped but I might start it again if I see more activity. Imma have to start from the beginning because all I remember is that I liked the MC but I don't remember much about the FL.
 

Whatever else on my mind:

I was made aware that the author of The King's Avatar (which I will finish reading one day I promise I'm almost 1,000 chapters in) has another King-themed eSports novel called The King's Moment, and I kinda wanna start reading it? It's also only 500~ chapters from what I could find so that's like a perfect length. But I think the translator dropped it last year and their site is down for me atm so idk.

Also here's to another month hoping for an update on Encountering a Snake (遇蛇). I don't wanna have to MTL it the translation was so pretty ಥ_ಥ