So lately, I found myself unable to enjoy most of the mainstream current "top" manga, anime, or LN.
After some pondering, I decided that Rakuin no Monshou has really blown my mind off... so, unconsciously, I was looking for some challenging read (please don't point me to psychological medical book ) like Rakuin was. Whats important for me:
1. Male main character
2. No harem or ecchi... really seriously hate those, or Madan no ou would me one of my favourite
3. Tactically smart main, even if no war to speak of, at least on battle or daily conversation
4. Twisty storyline where we could not guess the outcome (figuring and keep guessing is part of the fun, no? ^^ )
5. A little bit of romance would be nice
6. Maybe hidden power or identity (?) but thats not very important
7. Maybe something like a hidden gem like Rakuin

Thanks in advance for any pointer...
Xoxo

Yeah, I tend to not really enjoy a lot of mainstream titles. Maybe it's because they're over-hyped, or maybe they're just too simplistic for me and rely on the same popular (and overdone) tropes, but I just can't seem to ever get into them. In any case, I've got two words for you: Pandora Hearts. It has everything you're looking for and is the most (completely built up and justifiable) plot-twisted manga I've read to date. I really can't recommend it enough.

(Yup, I really adore and respect it, and I consider it a literary masterpiece of the 21st century and would write a thesis on it if ever I had the opportunity~ )

A very mainstream yet nonetheless beautifully done series is Fullmetal Alchemist. It's one of the few mainstream titles I feel actually deserves its hype, and if you haven't read it yet, you're doing yourself a huge disservice.

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"Now, everything is... just..."

writer | librarian | critic

Gotta second Rokka no Yuusha, great novel.

If you haven’t read Hakomari yet, do yourself the favor. The 9.3 is justified in my opinion.

On the manga side, I can recommend Bokura no Kiseki. Got twists, romance, hidden identities, smart male lead, you name it.

Rokka no Yuusha is supposedly great ? I've seen the two first episodes of the anime and I damn hated it.

I'd recommend No.6, by far my favorite japanese novel ( not even considered a LN ). As mangas, Pandora Hearts and Shin Angyo Onshi have really good twisted plots and are extremely fine works. I can't really remember anything else.

Oh, sure I looooooooove FMA. The fuhrer is so adorably evil <3

Will give pandora heart a try tonite~

Yes! Bokura no Kiseki is so great! I just sincerely wish for it to be translated faster <3

I will try those... Tho... Shin angyo onshi... That artwork doesnt look really delectable, does it?

Last edited by blakraven66 at 10:25 am, Sep 4 2015

Gekiga is the opposite of mainstream as Kirihito Sanka can prove and fits criteria 1, 2 (as graphic sex and rape are the opposite of ecchi), 3, 4, 5 (but it is very heavy and tragic) and 6 to a degree for the protagonist and certainly the prostitute.
I even wrote a short review and i don´t get criteria 7.

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I also read EU/US comics and am a librarian.
Manga-Masters, My ANN-Lists + Imdb

I know they already said it, but i have to say it one more time so you go for it: Pandora Hearts. It's the best manga i have read in a long time. There's no end to the twists and turns, has a very unique story and with lovely parts to it.
I hope you enjoy it ^^

LMAO, definitely starting it tonight

blame
that's a twisty word as being a title

Vampire Juujikai Major twists and little romance but the story does not revolve around it. Honestly I believe it to be a bit underrated despite the high rating.
Shin Angyo Onshi x2
Spiral - Suiri no Kizuna very interesting story with unexpected twists and inteligent characters.
Zetsuen no Tempest strategic minds, twists, romance....
Liar Game very good! There are a couple of TV dramas out as well.
Bloody Monday it's more like triller, mystery, detectives.
20 Seiki Shounen Mystery doesn't even begin to describe it. It's one of the best out there.
Rokka no Yuusha (Novel) I second it. The anime is good but it cover just the first volume and the experience is different than the novel.
Wuming Qishi (Novel) The dialogues are funny, the story full of twists and a little romance to boost. The characters are actually crafty and there are a couple of conspiracies going on that come to light gradually.

spiral... now thats definitely twisty~ one of the first manga I finished
I am reading rokka right now... but the main doesn't really connect with me...

I'm always on the look-out for those types *sigh* they're really hard to find. Especially without harem or ecchi. Anyhow, here's a few from the top of my head :

Ajin
Chang Ge Xing aka Chouka Kou (female lead, but ... you can hardly tell the difference since she walks around as a man most of the time anyways because it's more convenient)
maybe Trinity Blood (but it's been a while since I've read it so...)
legend of the galactic heroes
maybe Hatenkou Yuugi
Cesare
Historie
psyren
spiral
ouroboros

ah, can't think of any more...

edit: you wanted light novels too right?

zaregoto series (those twists - you won't see them coming)
baccano series (another level of awesomeness)
durarara! series (that one's kinda mainstream but who cares, it's awesome)

Last edited by pixerl at 4:52 pm, Sep 7 2015

*hug and kisses*
Riiiight ? Harem really ruin the fun of reading right? Harem feels like... What? Outdated by a thousand years, give or take ^^ i believe most (not all, i know) women would rather keep their pride and divorce rather than to share their man. Suffice to say, each time I see harem feels like it degrade women and true love


Love your list... I put them on bookmark, and will check them after I finish with pandora~ its a real awesome story



Done. I'm totally hooked contact me when you are done with that thesis... I would like to read that too. lol



I got to agree. At the start it has D.grayman feels to it,, but the twist and turn is really much better

Last edited by blakraven66 at 8:58 am, Sep 11 2015