Literature has evolved a lot over the years – paperbacks replaced hardbacks, only for e-books to take its place. And now, the literary world is being consumed by a digital phenomenon called web novels. These serialized fiction works are slowly taking the entire world – not just literary, mind you! – by storm.
And that brings us to these questions – what exactly are these web novels? How did web novels become so big in the literary world? And most importantly, why?
What Are Web Novels?
The term, web novels, itself is pretty self-explanatory – they are the books you read on the web. But there’s a catch. These are not classically published and known books that are made available online. Oh, no! Instead, these are original works written by anonymous writers. They are lengthy – as many surpass even 1000 chapters – dabble in different genres and are mostly free to read.
The origin of web novels – or web fiction, for that matter – dates back to the late 20th century. The first-ever web novel was actually an interactive fiction site called thespot.com. More than 160 thousand viewers tuned into the lives of a fictional group of friends living together in a beach house.
Unfortunately, the project shut down within two years of its conception. But it paved the way for similar projects, ultimately leading to people writing their own original serialized novels!
Why Are Web Novels So Popular These Days?
Web novels have always been popular in Asia, especially in China, Japan, and South Korea. And now that original works are being translated into English, more and more people are becoming aware.
Admittedly, a sizable number of stories are riddled with grammatical errors, exaggerated storylines, and sometimes, confusing dialogues. Yet, their popularity seems to reach even bigger heights with each passing day, leading people to wonder what’s so special about them.
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Serialized format:
Do you know how an ongoing TV series builds anticipation? Even if you don’t like the things happening in one episode, you still wait for the next one to satisfy your curiosity. The same applies to reading web novels!
Unlike novels or short stories, the nature of web novels is ongoing, for a lack of better word. The authors release new chapters either daily or weekly, each ending in breath-taking cliffhangers. This leads the readers to become so invested in these stories that they can’t help but eagerly wait for the next chapter.
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Variety of genres:
You’ll find web novels in a variety of genres – from romance and fantasy to horror and murder mystery. This is possible because these stories are written by fearless authors who love to bring their most interesting ideas to life. You might find more stories with a few select genres, such as billionaire romance, portal fantasies, slice-of-life, action, and world-building. But digging in deeper will lead you to works from other genres as well!
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Cost-effective reading option:
Web novel platforms usually work on a freemium model, where the first few chapters of most stories are free. The rest can be unlocked through in-app currencies or by finishing daily tasks. Usually, you have to pay first for a book you want to read, not knowing whether you’d like it or not. However, the web novels’ freemium model allows the readers to test the waters and decide if they’d like to read further.
This gives more readers – especially students and non-earners – access to stories they won’t be able to read anywhere else. You get to support budding authors, read exciting stories, and save money while doing so – it’s a win-win situation for all!
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Interactive reading experience:
Many readers, if not all, wish to get noticed by their favorite authors. With web novels, it’s more than possible! That’s because web novel platforms are designed to be highly interactive. Not only can you leave likes and ratings on the stories but also comments for the writers to read in real time. Most authors also reply to the feedback, adding more to the reading experience.
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Popular adaptations:
Last, but not the least, web novels have lately been picked up for dramas and movie adaptations. For instance, the 2024 K-drama, Marry My Husband is based on a web novel of the same name. Or that the web novel Love O2O is now one of the most-watched Chinese modern dramas. When people watch these series, they get introduced to – and eventually fall in love with – the world of web novels.
That’s not all, though! Streaming platforms like ReelShort, DramaBox, and Pocket FM also pick their content from web novels. The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband (ReelShort) and Saving Nora (Pocket FM) are prime examples of this!
4 Best Platforms to Read Web Novels!
Many platforms have cropped up over the years for the sole purpose of reading (or writing) web novels. These offer a treasure trove of juicy stories curated for all types of readers, from horror lovers to world-building buffs:
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Web Novel:
One can’t talk about web novels without bringing up webnovel.com! This global reading platform, launched in 2017, is a venture by China Literature, the country’s biggest web novel publisher. Their primary target audience was Chinese readers, but now you’d find most of the novels being written or translated into English.
The web novels here are divided on the basis of male and female leads. The male-centric comes with action-packed genres while the female-led stories are more on the softer side. You can also find comics and fanfiction on there in case you need something different to read!
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Wattpad:
Unlike what people think, Wattpad is not just about teen and fan fiction! The website, established in the early 2000s, started out as a platform for self-published stories. But now it has become one of the best sources to read web novels on.
Wattpad – both the website and the app – comes with a user-friendly interface, making the experience so much better. Unfortunately, the web novel library is not as large, as most people prefer it for reading romance and YA fiction. Yet, there are more than a thousand stories that you can browse through and enjoy!
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Royal Road:
Another popular name in web novel platforms, Royal Road is a well-rounded platform packed with a lot of advantages. Along with a large library of interesting novels and an intuitive filtering system, it also offers an interactive community. In fact, interactive here is an understatement!
Apart from the usual comments and ratings, readers and authors alike can take part in Royal Road’s active forum. There, you can read discussions on a web novel, request tips for reviewing, ask people’s book recommendations, and connect with fellow readers.
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Wuxiaworld:
Wuxiaworld has been around for almost a decade, establishing itself as a leading platform for reading Chinese-to-English web novels. It does offer works in a variety of genres, including sci-fi, fantasy, and comedy. But most works fall under the exciting Chinese genres of Wuxia (martial artists adventure) and Xianxia (immortal heroes’ fantasy).
Since the platform follows the freemium model, most stories have only a handful of chapters free. But Wuxiaworld runs limited offers on select previously-paid web novels, to provide a glimpse of what you’re missing out on!
What Are the Top Popular Web Novel Genres?
Web novels, as any other form of literature, are written in an astonishingly large variety of genres. Yet, if you look closely, there are some genres that appear more frequently than the rest, some of which are:
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Isekai:
Isekai web novels generally depict the hero transporting or reincarnating into another world with no hopes of returning back. This world could be a fantasy land, parallel universe, game world, or even ancient dynasties. Generally, the main character is down in the dumps, with nothing to live for, thus making this transition pivotal.
For example, in The Second Coming of Gluttony, the protagonist, Seol, has hit rock bottom in life because of his gambling addiction. But everything changes when he’s transported to a world called Lost Paradise!
Along with the usual escapism, Isekai stories also work as a wish-fulfillment for the readers, as if it’s them experiencing it, instead of the protagonist.
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Chinese fantasy:
Chinese fantasy is, quite understandably, a recurring genre, given how popular web novels are in the Chinese market. These are divided into further three categories – Wuxia, Xianxia, and Xuanhuan.
In Wuxia, the stories are grounded in Chinese martial arts history and lore, where the protagonist is an extremely talented martial artist. It is fast-paced, action-packed, and thrilling – but very much grounded in reality. As opposed to this, Xianxia focuses on the lowly main character navigating a magical, supernatural world. They go through a transformation through the art of cultivation to become Xian, or immortal.
Lastly, Xuanhuan web novels borrow the fantasy part of Xianxia and mix it with foreign elements. The end result is a thrilling sci-fi fantasy story with usual yet intriguing tropes and character archetypes.
These Chinese fantasy types sound quite similar, but you’ll only understand the difference after reading a whole lotta web novels!
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System-based fiction:
In these web novels, the main character, again a poor, helpless person, gets access to a system. This system – which could be a magical entity, a robot, or even an AI voice – is there to help the protagonist.
This help comes in the form of quests meant to ‘level up’ the protagonist’s life, but their nature is rather questionable. For instance, in My Pick Up Artist System, the system orders the hero to seduce a woman within a month or he’ll die. Whereas, the system in My Vampire System forces the protagonist to drink human blood.
But system-based web novels are still well-loved, as they have relatable protagonists, thrilling support ‘system’, and interesting twists and turns.
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Billionaire romance:
Billionaire romance as a popular web novel genre? That’s a no-brainer! These stories generally feature an all-powerful wealthy CEO opposite a helpless, exhausted heroine. Bonus points if she is a single mother – and the children are the billionaire’s kids.
There’s a lot of drama, chasing around, fights, evil exes and stepsisters, and in some cases, children. But as the story progresses, it’s replaced by a caring romance filled with love and laughter.
One of the popular web novels of this genre is How I Accidentally Married a Billionaire. Disrespected by family and betrayed by her boyfriend, Kiera Olsen sets off to marry a random guy, only to find out she’s already married. And the man turns out to be none other than her ex’s billionaire uncle!
Final Words
Admittedly, there’s a lot of room for improvement in web novels. However, one just can’t deny the way they’re revolutionizing the way readers access and read fiction. Web novels are affordable, easily accessible, and come in diverse genres that have something for all readers. Moreover, thanks to the simplified publishing process, aspiring writers can now realize their shared dreams much more quickly.
With the way web novels are evolving, it’s only a matter of time before they become the next big thing in digital literature!
