Where do I get friends like these? (Éminence Grise Female Lead Is Trying to Make Me Her Stepmom)
Much less nine of them
Big thank you for posting! I was worried that it would turn into an abandoned sub if I didn't keep posting but it would become increasingly intimidating if I was the only one posting (aside from the other one another awesome person posted the other day).
New to OI? My list of favorites
I realized I missed the low-hanging fruit of a favorites list. OI veterans have likely already read all these, but worth posting in case anyone is new to the genre.
I have too many favorites to list but here are some from each category that take the cake for me. *** Family: I'll Become a Matriarch in This Life
Awesome MC that does things within reason of her abilities, best father in an OI series that doesn't make his child earn his love, supportive family, and plot that keeps moving along. *** Romance: The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion (Complete)
Mentioned this one in the other post about sisters. Strong MC, sweet romance, a plot that reminds me of an old mystery book, art to support the mood of the series, and hilarious. *** Comedy: A Single Round at Romance is Enough
You'll only like this if the author's sense of humor matches with yours. I love it. It's comedy gold how the MC is exactly halfway between being done with life and ready to live to her fullest. The interaction between the characters is fun too. *** Plot: The One Within the Villainess
It keeps moving. No unnecessary filler, it's all plot. The MC is doing something every chapter towards the ultimate goal (and does it in the most badass way possible). It's nearing completion but updates slowly. I read the novel for this one and it's great to the end. *** Revenge: The Villainess Reverses the Hourglass (Complete)
Up until the revenge is completed, it's high quality. After that it drags to completion since the exciting part is over. Mielle's facial expressions makes her one of my favorite villains.
I'd agree a majority of the series leans towards SOL due to the leisurely pace but the suddenly sprinkled mystery elements definitely throw a curveball during certain points in the series.
Published in the last generation where smallpox was a reality (Source: Red River Ch. 22)
The author was born in 1960 and smallpox was eradicated in Japan 1979. Red River was published in 1995 so it's a testament to how tragic smallpox was to have a lasting impression on the author over a decade later.
Disclaimer that I haven't read it myself. My friend did and shared this photo with me back in late 2020 when COVID anti-vaxxers were emerging.
Ignoring that vaccination doesn't work like this, much less in an alternate world with completely different strains, the author has the right idea about vaccination. It's sad that it's become so political.
I've never seen this one, I'm going to take a look. I feel like there's probably a ton of awesome series out there that are completely forgotten because they're not bumped to new anymore :(
Slice of Life OIs
Drama and mystery are fun but can get tiring at times. Sometimes I just want to read about someone enjoying life in a different setting. These are my favorites that are relaxing even if not the most exciting plot-wise. *** Marronnier Farm Near the Imperial Palace
A soothing series about a lady who just wants to farm and cook. (Her resignment of being unable to afford land and a house is low-key relatable.) She gets the chance when her grandpa leaves her a plot bordering the imperial palace. Lots of friends and delicious dishes are made along the way. *** Tanaka Family Reincarnates/Tanaka ke, Tensei Suru
Silly noble family eats poisonous mushrooms. They all survive and as a side effect, they wake up realizing the whole family has been reincarnated from Japan and soon after find their reincarnated (now giant) cats. The whole family is of the mindset of avoiding anything that sounds like too much trouble. *** Saving 80,000 Gold Coins in the Different World for My Old Age
Japanese girl almost dies but instead gets the ability to hop between Earth and another world. She decides the best way to use this power is to open a convenience store and scalp sell Earth products to the inhabitants of the other world.
I Shall Survive Using Potions
Same author as the series above. An adult Japanese woman is accidentally sent to another world by Earth's god. As compensation, the god of the other world (who is madly in love with Earth's god), puts her back in her teenage body and gives her the OP ability to make any potion in any container. She sets out to become rich and find love. *** A Capable Maid
I'm not up to update so unsure on the current state. At least for the beginning I did read, the MC is a generous maid (former illegitimate princess) who receives a blessing to be "capable" which allows her to help out around the palace. Sweet episodes about how her actions have a positive effect on the people around her.
*** I Will Live as a Supporting Role in this Life
Honorary mention for being a series boring enough that the translators started playing bingo and dropped the series when they hit bingo on their second, expanded bingo card. (This is a joke. Don't actually read this unless you're struggling to fall asleep or want to see the masterpiece of a bingo card.)
I think I found the reincarnation of Dora the Explorer (Source: I Don't Love You Anymore Ch. 25)
I count five in the first photo and four in the third. Not a series I personally liked, though I appreciated that she moved on unlike some main characters that stay with the trashy original male leads.
I haven't read the third one yet, so thanks for the recommendation. I wonder who started the trend of naming characters Nivea/Neveah/Niveah. I envision the author in their bathroom mulling over their MCs name when they reach for a blue tin of moisturizer and, eureka, it hits them.
Otome Isekai+ dedicated to the genre where characters are transported to otome-inspired worlds
OVERVIEW A community for Otome Isekai series, the female-oriented genre where the main character is transported to an otome-game like world. Kept the name so people looking for an alternative to r/OtomeIsekai could easily find it, but added the “Plus” to reflect that the genre has evolved to include...
[email protected] https://lemmy.world/c/otomeisekai
I did not like her name when I started the series. The main reason being because the way some translators wrote it, I kept reading it as Persharti. Same issue with Shartiana in the Justice of a Villainous Woman.
The name's really grown on me after witnessing how amazing she's been through the series so far.
Positive Sister Relationship Recommendations
While I love OI, one of the things that bothers me about a lot of series is how they tend to pit women against each other, especially in families. There's a lot of series with positive brother-sister interactions (though it could be argued they swing too far in the other direction), but a sister generally either doesn't exist or is a bitch.
Below are some series that portray supportive sisters along with some of my personal opinions. If you have any recommendations, please share.
*** Cassmire: The Loyal Sword
Half siblings. Little sister is a bit intense in a good way, but it makes sense considering she and the MC only had each other to rely on for a long time. I like this series so far. Not really a spoiler since it's in the first chapter, but marking it on principal. I love that the MC genuinely cares for her sister.
spoiler
She loved and took care of her long before she realized she was isekai'ed and once she found out, it was basically, "nothing changes except I can now send my sister to a better life even if it's not with me."
*** Cheerful Countess Sisters (Complete)
Half siblings. The first part of this series was phenomenal, but I hated it from when the romance started. It went from a ten to a two with the unnecessary drama. Worth reading for the first part where the sisters get to know each other. *** The Princess in the Dumpster
Half siblings. It's been a long time since I read this one so not sure how it is to update. I love that she has an awesome older sister AND brothers AND all the siblings treat each other sincerely (the older sister is not pushed aside for the new younger one). *** Everything's Coming Up Roses
Step-siblings. One sister and one brother. I dropped this because it got too boring for me, but it tops my list for healthiest handling of trauma.
spoiler
The dad hires a child psychologist understanding that he does not have the experience to help her heal on her own and she doesn't magically heal, the childhood abuse still affects her long down the line.
*** An Unseemly Lady
Full siblings. There's a large age gap between the MC and her older sister so her older sister also plays a motherly role. Very sweet relationship. Though be warned that
spoiler
it's a sad series because the author was realistic in portraying how people drift apart with time.
*** Though I May Be a Villainess, I'll Show You I Can Obtain Happiness! VOLUME 1 CHAPTER 2
Half-siblings. It's an anthology of short stories. Volume 1 Chapter 2 specifically has a story relevant to this list. It's a fast and satisfying read. *** The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Masion
Full siblings. The sister only appears briefly at the beginning and middle so this series barely qualifies; however, it's one of my favorite series in general so I included it.
*** Two series I consider questionable for other reasons and don't recommend but technically include this dynamic with full siblings are My Sister Picked Up the Male Lead and I Became the Ugly Lady.
spoiler
(Yes, the series where her fat melts off)
Well TIL, that's awesome!
I don't think it works like that...but I'm not left handed so what do I know? (Source: Isn't Being a Wicked Woman Much Better?)
I've had this photo saved on my phone for a while since I burst out laughing every time I see it. I think it's probably a translation error, yet I also can't figure out what "left-handed" could be replaced with where it would make sense.