Manga like Koukyuu no Karasu

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto

Also known as The Apothecary Diaries.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Mystery

In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.
Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That's her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao's façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor's favorite consort... so she can taste the lady's food for poison!



Tags: Female Protagonist , Foreign , Detective , Medicine , Historical , Maids , Adoption , Royal Affairs , Politics , Economics , Asexual , Primarily Adult Cast , Conspiracy , Agriculture , Episodic , Heterosexual , Primarily Female Cast , Religion , Drugs , Ancient China , Tragedy , LGBTQ+ Themes , Meta , Go , Age Gap , Crossdressing , Shogi

Saiunkoku Monogatari

Also known as The Story of Saiunkoku.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance

The story, which takes place in the fictional medieval empire of Saiunkoku, follows the adventures of Shuurei Kou, a descendant of a noble family that has fallen on hard times.

Her father works as a librarian in the Imperial palace, a post which offers prestige and respect, but little compensation. Shuurei teaches in the temple school and works odd jobs to make ends meet, but her dream is to pass the imperial examinations and take a post in government, a path forbidden to women.

Shuurei's plans come to an abrupt halt when the Emperor's Grand Advisor makes a startling offer, which is joining the imperial household for six months as the young Emperor's consort, and teach the Emperor to be a responsible ruler. If she succeeds, the financial reward will be great.

The story details Shuurei's growing relationships with the Emperor and other members of the court, the intrigues that surround imperial politics, and her commitment to better herself and her country.

Note: This entry consists of 18 regular volumes, 4 volumes consisting of side stories, and a single volume consisting of short stories.



Tags: Josei , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Work , Family Life , Urban , Mythology , Philosophy , Unrequited Love , Ancient China , Kingdom Management , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Politics , Crime , War , Found Family , Ghost , Gods , Travel , Royal Affairs , Male Harem , Tragedy , Assassins , Bullying , Marriage , Time Skip , Pregnant

Tsuki no Kage Kage no Umi

Also known as The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

Except for her red hair, Yoko Nakajima is a typical, obedient Japanese high-school student. Her life is fairly ordinary—that is, until Keiki, a unicorn in the guise of a young blond-haired boy, tells her that she is his master and must return to their kingdom. When the boy mysteriously vanishes, Yoko is left alone, confused, and wandering through a foreign land with nothing to help protect her save a magic sword and a magic stone. When Keiki suddenly appears at Yoko’s school, little does she realize that her life is about to change. Lost in a strange land--without a map—and demons on her trail, Yoko begins her quest for both survival and self-discovery.



Tags: Politics , Youkai , Female Protagonist , Crossdressing , Mythology , Historical , Isekai , Swordplay , Anthropomorphism , Magic , Ensemble Cast , School

Natsume Yuujinchou

Status: Finished
Genres: Supernatural

Collection of short stories.

Tags: Shoujo , Male Protagonist

Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen Dai 1-bu - Heishi no Musume

Also known as Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 1.

Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Slice of Life

Part 1 of Honzuki no Gekokujou.

A certain college girl who's loved books ever since she was a little girl dies in an accident and is reborn in another world she knows nothing about. She is now Myne, the sickly five-year-old daughter of a poor soldier. To make things worse, the world she's been reborn in has a very low literacy rate and books mostly don't exist. She'd have to pay an enormous amount of money to buy one. Myne resolves herself: If there aren't any books, she'll just have to make them! Her goal is to become a librarian. This story begins with her quest to make books so she can live surrounded by them! Dive into this biblio-fantasy written for book lovers and bookworms!



Note: This entry covers 77 chapters of the webnovel (chapter 01 - 77).

Tags: Reincarnation , Isekai , Family Life , Female Protagonist , Economics , Urban , Tragedy , Disability , Class Struggle , Survival , Rehabilitation , Magic , Work , Urban Fantasy , POV , Coming of Age , Writing , Gods , Mythology

GOSICK

Also known as Gosick.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Romance

The year is 1924, the place, Sauville, a small European country neatly tucked beside the Alps...

Kazuya Kujo has been studying abroad at the prestigious Saint Marguerite Academy, where urban legends and horror stories are all the rage. Most Kazuya ignores -- but the story of the "Queen Berry", a mysterious ghost ship, really gets to him. Of course, his brainy friend Victorique is much more intrigued by true stories, and she uses her unrivaled logic to solve mysteries even the town's famous detective can't. Ironically, it's Victorique's inquisitive nature that leads the duo to board a ship that matches the "Queen Berry"'s description to a tee, a ship that might just hold the key to solving a sinister mystery...

Kazuki Sakuraba's modern twist on Holmes and Watson-- pairing Victorique, a brittle young girl with doll-like looks with her eager-to-please sidekick Kazuya-- make this international bestseller a must-read murder mystery.



Tags: Historical , Cult , Tragedy , School , Heterosexual , Shounen

Reimei no Arcana

Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Romance

Based on the manga Reimei no Arcana, the novel follows Nakaba when she was still living in Senan.



Tags: Shoujo

Tsuki no Shirosa wo Shirite Madoromu

Also known as A Pale Moon Reverie.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Fantasy , Romance

Irede, the town of fine drink, masterful performing arts, and holy courtesans, was built long ago as an offering to a god. Travelers gather here in droves from across the continent, but unbeknownst to them, shades—creatures who lead humans astray—lurk in the streets. Sari, a maiden with the ability to bind shades, is the proprietress of a living myth: the courtesan house Pale Moon. And when she meets Xixu, a shadeslayer fresh from the capital, restless shadows begin stirring beneath the town’s surface...

Tags: Male Protagonist , Oiran , Gods , Royal Affairs , Heterosexual , Demons

Futsutsuka na Akujo de wa Gozaimasu ga Hinamiya Chou Nezumi Torikae Den

Also known as Though I Am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

In a kingdom inspired by historical China, five clans put forth their maidens as imperial consorts–but only one will be crowned empress. The frail and beautiful Kou Reirin, the so-called “butterfly” of the imperial court, is a shoo-in to marry the crown prince. But when “court rat” Shu Keigetsu lashes out at her during the glittering Lantern Festival, it’s Reirin who wakes up in the dungeons! Body-swapped by her assailant to steal her position at court, Reirin’s plight seems dire…to everyone else! Now that she’s got a robust new body, not even the looming threat of execution can stop her!



Tags: Josei , Body Swapping , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Conspiracy , Tsundere , Historical , Revenge , Magic , Villainess , Mixed Gender Harem , Love Triangle

Ikka Koukyuu Ryourichou

Also known as Culinary Chronicles of the Court Flower.

Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Romance

Rimi has spent most of her life making food for the protector god of the land. She is suddenly sent as a tribute to the great empire of Konkoku, becoming one of the emperor’s concubines. She comes close to losing the taste of her home country, but she is saved by the cuisinologist Shusei. As she dreams of a reunion with the kind scholar, she does her best to survive in the envy-filled rear palace with the help of her natural cheerfulness and her skill as a cook. Then out of nowhere, she is arrested and sentenced to be executed on the charge of disrespecting the emperor! How will Rimi get out of this mess? Find out in this China-inspired fantasy story about a princess and her love for food surrounded by gorgeous men.



Tags: Food , Female Protagonist , Shoujo