Too many web novels, not enough filters

[cashew]

Halp.

OK, I'm having a hard time finding an original story that fits my taste despite the piles and piles and piiiiiiles of original BL web novels.

Would like the following elements:

• Historical setting, preferably actually set in a real historic era, but fake era is fine if the fictitious era isn't an excuse to ignore research.

• Equal partnership between the BL couple. Preferably mutually helping each other on a consistent basis. Doesn't have to be life and death, but hurt-comfort is always a bonus.

• Minimal age gap. A few years apart is fine, but should feel like they belong to the same cohort. The couple should feel like comrades in arms, not a mentor/mentee relationship.

• Uses semi-classical grammar consistently. At the very minimum avoids overtly modern expressions and internet slang/memes.

• Court politics. It doesn't have to be the focus, but it should matter to the plot progression on some level.

• Food descriptions. I feel like this should be an easy ask, what Chinese novel worth its salt doesn't describe food at some point?

Surely this is not a unique set of wants? If you know of stories that managed to tick all of these points, send them my way. Please and thank you.

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Yes, I'm still reading 《成化十四年》, but that's satisfying my mystery cravings and the BL relationship is very much not the focus. So now I have stupid BL cravings, but don't want to dig through billions of novels for something satisfying...

Comments

[tanithryudo]

> Uses semi-classical grammar consistently.

This is probably the hardest criteria on the list. People who can write that well probably wouldn't be trying to make money via enovels.

[cashew]

😭 《张公案》 actually have pretty good grammar, but sadly the plot and pacing needs help. I've noticed a trend where mastery of grammar and mastery of pacing tend to be at odds with each other. I don't get it. Surely being a professional writer means training both of these skills. And yet...it's either style over substance or substance with no style.

(Also, semi-classical isn't that hard, even I could fake it. It's just a matter of keeping the language concise and making sure to avoid the usual modern filler words. I'm not asking for full on 文言文, just enough for the language to feel "not modern".)