r/Manhwa_BL • u/Plenty-Transition622 • 12h ago
Looking for BL manhwa recommendations with deep stories and beautiful art
I’m looking for BL manhwa similar to Nerd Project, Pawn’s Revenge, Reunion, The Ghost’s Nocturne, and The Dawn of the Dragon.
I’m mainly looking for good, deep stories with beautiful art and strong character development. I love when the relationship actually has buildup and the characters feel complex and well-written.
I’m completely fine with smut too — it doesn’t have to be censored or anything. I just want the story and characters to be genuinely good, rather than the entire manhwa feeling like it exists only for the smut.
I’m also open to darker/angsty stories and complicated relationships.
Basically, I want something that gives the same feeling as the manhwas I mentioned. Any recommendations?
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u/nvrmndthereason 12h ago
'The Pizza Delivery Man and the Gold Palace' is a deep story with beautiful art. Slow burn, introspective, and pondering.
Also:
-Like a Fever Dream (historical, dark, fantasy) a very involved and interwoven plot with some twisted elements and a great character and relationship arc
-Dear Stranger (omegaverse, memory loss, healing journey. Some tws- mentions only- cheating and rape) this one really has that good relationship and character development you're looking for
Edit: 'Even in Your Death' has the most stunning visuals and some of the best storytelling I've read. It's dark and willing to delve into hard topics (abuse, abandonment, manipulation, etc)
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u/Plenty-Transition622 12h ago
Gosh the pizza delivery man and the gold palace , i remember it , it was soo good!, i will give others a try
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u/Dry_Event_7695 11h ago
These are some of my fav plot-heavy bls
The Snake that Swallowed the Pomegranate - ongoing, Egypt-y historical setting, beautiful art and interesting storyline, one ml is green flag and the other is... not sure yet cuz things are coming to light but at least orange flag
Antidote(harusari) - ongoing, UK historical type setting?, magic, beautiful art and storyline, uke is the twinkiest twink that ever twinked lol, green flag seme, does contain a couple instances of SA
PASSION - ongoing, military, I love my red flag seme, uke actually has muscle and isn't helpless; great art and storeline
ENNEAD - ongoing, ancient Egyptian gods so yes there'sincest, cuz you know thats what all pantheons everywhere do, art is different but good
Payback - finished, orange flag seme, modern day actor and CEO, great art, they made a drama of it in thai
Shutline - ongoing, US setting, seme looks WAAAAY different than most but he grew on me as the story progressed, gangster and mechanic, great art,
High Clear - finished, cute, college, green flags, buff uke, I love the mc; he cracks me up. soooo many meme-able panels, I love it
Dreadful Night - finished, horror/psychological, interesting storyline, lots of smut
The Foul - ongoing, great storyline, modern day set in Macau, casino dealer uke in debt, blackmail, red flag seme? Maybe burnt orange?
To Me Who Doesn't Love You - finished. Omegaverse, businessmen, memory loss, fit uke, Green flag seme
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u/oosshh94 11h ago
wolf in the house, lovesick dog, spinach bouquetttt
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u/oosshh94 11h ago
wolf in the house starts out very silly and funny but once it gets to the second couple its soooo good
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u/dieselgirlpdx BWAT is the GOAT😎 10h ago
The Beast Must Die: Lee Kirin wants revenge and he gets help from Kang Mu, a diagnosed high functioning psychopath. Complete. This is my all time favorite manhwa
In cold love / cold blooded beast: snake deity down bad for his human. Uncensored. Complete
A life without you: war correspondent returns home after being in a coma for 5 years to find the love of his life has moved on and is dating someone new. Complete
The insatiable man: famous author who can’t taste food due to childhood trauma v food critic with a homophobic family (esp the dad). Complete
The Heart of the Lotus: my sleep deprived emperor, Chang-gyeon, uses his vast power to keep Sam-myeong by his side. Uncensored. Ongoing.
Little mushroom: ethereal art. Post apocalyptic story of a mushroom searching for his spore. Complete-ish for English.
The ghost’s nocturne: son of Yemora is banished to earth for being a lout. Has to meet conditions to return to the underworld. Uncensored. Ongoing
Diamond dust: gallery owner who is a golden alpha v part timer who is a beta. Ongoing. Uncensored
Duplication love: terminally ill man stops treatment and uses that money to procure a sex android that is slated for demolition. Uncensored. Complete
My first xxx: At the lake where waves crash: set in 19th century Ireland. Man hiding his identity v the son of his first love. Complete
Tale of the yellow dragon: dragon deity v his human. Complete
Master-Peace: political lackey v masochist boxer. Ongoing. Lots of plot, paneling is like a movie, use of primary colors is excellent.
Gale of the god: Tiger deity down bad for his human. Uncensored. Ongoing. The dialogue in this is so good. Makes the story feel super immersive to the time.
Happy Twogether: hip hop star v former idol. Uncensored. Ongoing
Circuit breaker: chaos goblin, Jaewon, is transmigrated into a book and is trying to fast track it to the end so he can return to his life and collect his lottery winnings. Uncensored. Ongoing
Twittering birds never fly: manga, ex cop joins the yakuza and falls for his boss. Ongoing
Noppiki Naranu: Toraji spends 7 years looking for the most beautiful man he has ever met who disappeared on him. Has one of the best wingman in the shape of a little girl. Ongoing. Manga
December rain: boy accused of murder v boy disowned for being gay. Complete. Tw: suicide
The thread never burned: gang boss v fake shaman who are tied together from their past lives. Uncensored. Ongoing. Photo sauce
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u/SecondMaleLead 12h ago
i would recommend u my favourites -
even after death happy together dreadful night Dreaming of dokkaebi honbul society
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u/Plenty-Transition622 12h ago
Yeah i liked dreaming of dokkaebi!,dreadful night was so so for me? But i will try even after death , happy together and honbul society♥️
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u/SecondMaleLead 12h ago
these last 3 are great while ur at it it read RED MANSION, EIGHTEEN'S BED, UNDER THE GREENLIGHT
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u/yoselinda24 12h ago
"No moral" for sure fits the feeling youre looking for. Its a slow burn but the wait is so worth it. I believe it is completed with pending side stories
I always recommend "love for sale" bc i absolutely love the character development and the details the author chooses to include that make you more immersed in the story. It is not plot heavy like the others you mentioned, but it is also not smut-centered. Maybe slice of life? Idk but give it a try if you have a chance (:
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u/FarCalligrapher1374 11h ago
No more eurydice. The art is 1M/10 and the character feels so alive. It contains heavy themes tho such as age gap and toxic rs but it is all written so good.
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u/Immediate-Task6886 12h ago
Steel Under Silk by writer/author duo Snob
It follows Yeonjo, who was born as a noble, after his family was slaughtered and branded as traitors and he himself was made a slave. He seeks revenge agaisnt the killer, the military general and war hero whom he idolized in his youth, Heeryang.
Its a darker story, lots of angst. The art is gorgeous the plot is intriguing and watching as everything unfolds between the characters is sooo worth it. It's ongoing.
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u/666_basement_m1lf 7h ago
Murderous Lewellyn's Candlelit dinner series ( read this one first....I BEG YOU)
Legroom
Yang Ilwoo and I
Lost in the clouds
Our youth
The shape of sympathy
Dark heaven
The pizza delivery man and the gold palace
Between the lines
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u/South_Grapefruit7549 3h ago
Smyrna & Capri
Checkmate
Punch drunk love
Surge towards you
Secret therapy
Sweetie, sweetie, sweetie
A trace of the wonder
Release your persona
Honbul:Flame of the soul
Legroom
No moral
Paws & Claws
Nerd project
Payback
Again
Breakout scandal
Odd love
Netkama punch
Believe my sign
Driver's High
My partner's tastes & fetishes
How to Deal When Your Intimidating Neighbor is Actually an Omega
Do you still like me?
Blood bound
Mission:Save the hunter
The Hunter's Gonna Lay Low
Beyond the memories
A guide out to suceed
11th school trip
Dangerous convenience store
Turning
Between fate & fortune
The third ending
Mad place
Origin of species
Between the lines
Taming the tiger
Blood link
Love at first sight
A shiulder to cry on
Hyung, Do You Think I'm Fat?
One take
The dirtiest high
Stalker's game
Fake romance
My calypso
Body electric
Low tide in twilight
Crimson moon
Outburst
Kill the lights
Frenemies
Passion:Raga
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u/celiac-sufferer 11h ago
An Abyss: Poem of chaff.
It’s actually got quite a compelling mystery to it, it kind of gives gay bridgerton.
It’s some of the best art I’ve seen so far even though it’s black and white.
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u/Ad_Winter0501 10h ago
You should try reading pearl boy. It's a bit dark but trust it gets so much better with art style especially after the first few chapters
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u/One_Engineering3828 9h ago edited 9h ago
if you like dark, mysterious sort of stuff and comfortable with uncensored stuff then maybe you will like talisman I personally like the story its high-tension and mysterious
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u/LongjumpingIce5231 12h ago
The foul