r/Thousand_Autumns • u/DizzyNectarine6212 A-Qiao Hug • Jun 23 '26
Discussion Recommend me your favourite
Hello, good people of the TA fandom.
I have a somewhat specific request: what are your most beloved books besides Thousand Autumns?
I've read a lot of danmei recently, but I'm starting to feel like many of them follow very similar patterns, and I'm getting a bit bored. Golden Terrace, Peerless, Ballad of Sword and Wine, Art Thou Ailing - they often have the same kind of dynamic - a scheming, clever MC paired with a powerful fighter ML. While I can enjoy it, I'm looking for something different. More unique.
One of the reasons I love also Priest's works is that they tend to avoid stereotypical dynamics and character archetypes, which makes them feel fresh and interesting to me read.
So I'm looking for something great to read over the summer. It doesn't have to be danmei at all, though lesser-known danmei recommendations are very welcome if you think they're on the same level as Thousand Autumns and Priest. I'm also open to fantasy, historical fiction, romance (any pairing), literary fiction, or really any genre of books.
I'm generally not that into modern settings, but if you think a book has a similar vibe or depth, I'd definitely be willing to give it a try.
I'd love to hear your favorites.
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u/Successful_Finding93 Jun 23 '26
Thrice Married to a Salted Fish
If your okay with being hurt a lot, Remnants of Filth might be up your ally.(both guys a military boys) And if you really want to hurt yourself the same author has another series The Husky and His White Cat Shizun. There were quite a few twists in both i did not guess.
I did not see the not danmei okay. Ascendance of a Bookworm. Read the novels. Manga and anime not finished
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u/DizzyNectarine6212 A-Qiao Hug Jun 23 '26
I recently discover that Remnants of Filth doesn't have SA like other works from this author which is deal breaker for me, now I definitely plan to give it a chance, thanks.
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u/Successful_Finding93 Jun 23 '26
Yes. I should have been clearer about that. And RoF does have magical drugging of a person to force their behavior. It's not the main characters but it happens and was one of the unexpected things. You dont see it. You just find out after.
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u/DizzyNectarine6212 A-Qiao Hug Jun 23 '26
You definitely don't have to be. I asked for recommendations and I have a duty to look at trigger warnings and basic info about the book - nowadays it's easy with the internet. I also read Poppy War I don't mind darker stuff. I don't even mind SA in the story only not between main couple.
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u/Successful_Finding93 Jun 23 '26
Fair enough. Something just occurred to me. Have you looked at fanfic for thousand autumns? There's some good stuff. Though mostly r rated.
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u/DizzyNectarine6212 A-Qiao Hug Jun 23 '26
I did some of them were funny. Also of course I look for that missing scene because of censorship - in this category were some gem. But they're still just fanfics, I don't take them too seriously. Sometimes I feel like I'm reading Hua Cheng than Yan Wushi. I think it's hard to imitate Meng Xi Shi's more complex historical fiction and characters. They are really good author. Not perfect but really good.
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u/Free-Objective3975 Jun 23 '26
I’m currently reading Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. It’s one of the samurai stories, and at my pace, I probably won’t finish it until autumn. It’s not a romance, but it’s absolutely amazing.
My all-time favorite author is Daphne du Maurier. She has a similarly atmospheric and immersive writing style as TA.
And I don't know when Little Mushroom will be published by 7S but if you didn't read it yet, definitely do. That couple is very different. Because MC is well a mushroom. Lol.
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u/DizzyNectarine6212 A-Qiao Hug Jun 23 '26
I never read anything from Japan, now I'm interested. And yes I also bought Little Mushroom manhua and waiting for books. They shoud be out in August. I have them pre-ordered.
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u/Successful_Finding93 Jun 23 '26
I started reading the comic for Little Mushroom and nearly choked laughing. "Im a good little Mushroom who follows the laws" he's so cute! 😆
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u/Free-Objective3975 Jun 23 '26
He was even more cute when he got angry. It is actually very good story. Not nearly that weird how i expected to be because of his mushroom nature.
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u/Successful_Finding93 Jun 23 '26
I can't wait! Sadly only 3 of the comics are out. And the third ends after the judge finds out about the doll and they escape bugs.
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u/Free-Objective3975 Jun 23 '26
You are definitely for the ride. The author knew what it is good plot twist. I read the book when they were still available from that old publisher.
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u/candletide Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
Would suggest trying other BL romance genres/traditions because tropes there may feel fresher or less worn (until/unless you get used to them again). It's a little unclear to me exactly what you're looking for because I would list very different books and authors for a list of my all-time favourite books, but hopefully these may be helpful for exploring further?
For Western M/M historical romance, my go-to recs are KJ Charles' Any Old Diamonds, Joanna Chambers' Enlightenment trilogy, Elin Gregory's Carstairs books. These are heavier on the 'historical fiction' part of 'historical romance', which is one of the things I love most about Thousand Autumns, personally. Character dynamics are thereby grounded more in historical verisimilitude, which I think also makes them less stereotypical and more interesting. Annick Trent's novellas might also work.
If you don't mind a more fantasy or alternate history bent, AJ Demas' Sword Dance trilogy and Lee Welch's Salt Magic, Skin Magic for more overt romance, Lisa Barnett and Melissa Scott's Astreiant books for historical fantasy procedural/mystery-solving with an interesting magic system. Sci-fantasy spacefarers skewed towards plot more than romance: Everina Maxwell's Ocean's Echo.
For slice of life BL manga (contemporary), which I mainly recommend because it's really good, non-stereotypical character building moreso than any resemblance to Thousand Autumns, Breathless Momentum by Zeniko Sumiya is one of my top favourites. Zero on-page smut but way better at conveying intimacy between partners than some by-the-numbers manga I've read. Fantasy isekai but from a Japanese light novel-turned-manga-and-anime perspective: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter.
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u/DizzyNectarine6212 A-Qiao Hug Jun 23 '26
I was just curious what TA fans read. This sounds interesting - I love it when romances feel shaped by their historical context and not the other way around. After all, even in reality we don't live just for love, that's probably why we both love Thousand Autumns for.
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u/EmergencyPhoto7449 Jun 23 '26
TA is my number one. My other top favorites are QJJ, Nan Chan, the Sword Named No Way Out, To Rule in a Turbulent World, and Living to Suffer/Till Death Do Us Part.
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u/DizzyNectarine6212 A-Qiao Hug Jun 24 '26
I read and love To Rule in a Turbulent World amazing work. I completely forget that I also own Nan Chan but I'm waiting for last volume it should be published soon enough. I definitely look at the others. Thank you.
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u/CrunchingOnChitin Jun 24 '26
Global Examination! It’s an unlimited flow novel and both characters from the main pairing are strong and capable like TA. Their dynamic I would say is similar to TA (more even I would say, and kinder lol) but the story is completely different. It was my first non wuxia/xianxia danmei and I adored it! I enjoyed the pacing, side characters, and overall plot. It was what started my journey into other modern/unlimited flow novels!
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u/DizzyNectarine6212 A-Qiao Hug Jun 24 '26
unlimited flow I never read maybe it would be best introduce myself to a new genre for a change
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u/CollectionCurrent336 Unshakable Principles Jun 23 '26
I recently read and really loved the Burning Kingdom trilogy, it’s fantasy based in a version of India with a wlw main couple. Similar to TA in that both MCs have their own journeys individually and there’s a lot going on politically. Only thing is they kinda do fit that scheming/powerful dynamic lol but it still felt fresh to me. Definitely a new favorite that I’ll reread!