this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2024
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[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I am finally caught up with Bookworm. After about a month and a half of reading nothing but Bookworm I am at a loss of what to read.

Can I interest you in Cooking With Wild Game? I believe that this is the series that is closest to Bookworm. Granted I'm the only one who is saying this but I'm not delusional, so hear me out:

  • both series start with very low stakes (Myne: "I want to make paper to make a book"; Asuta: "I want to cook for this one person as thanks for saving me") and then slowly develop into casting ever larger and larger circles.
  • both are the opposite of the usual isekai power fantasy with the MCs being severely weaker (both physical and socially) than the people around them
  • both are raisin their standing due to their own hard work and not through some god given power
  • the development in both is very slow and character-driven instead of plot-driven
  • both are at the core a story about a class divide with the isekai MC breaking up the status quo
  • both feature a loveable cast who come with their own lives, motivations and wants
  • both have relatable characters that don't constantly look down on themself or have an inflated ego
  • both actually use the isekai aspect for the story instead of just using it a narrative crutch
  • META: both use the bonus chapters to flesh out the story with POVs of side-characters by showing what is happening behind the scenes outside of MCs direct involvement (see my point about side characters having their own motivations and wants)

I really don't think that there is another series that shares so many similarities with Bookworm as Cooking With Wild Game.

/end of sales pitch

And now just between us: Wild Game is a lot slower than Bookworm so this seems to be a turn-off for many. It's not exactly conflict-free but the what conflict there is is less dark compared to Bookworm. There is also some suspension of disbelief needed initially since the basic premise is that the tribe of people MC lands in has never tried to prepare food for better taste instead of just nutritional value. But I would argue that this is a very low hurdle if you can live with someone being transported to another world.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Thanks, yeah I remember you recommended it before.

Wild Game is a lot slower than Bookworm so this seems to be a turn-off for many.

I don’t mind a slower series, I enjoy Death march (Note - there is quite a bit of fan service and the MC has quite a few young girls with him but continues to go on about how he only likes older ladies) which took a volume to cover 1 week preparing to just leave for another city.

It does sound fairly similar. I will have to add it to my list.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

and the MC has quite a few young girls with him but continues to go on about how he only likes older ladies

Ah, the times I argued on reddit about whether or not Death March was a harem. Especially when the anime was announced people over there just dismissed it as a harem show. Yes, he has a party of girls with him but there was never any ambiguity about him seeing them only as companions/daughter figures. He never tried to touch them or did lust after them in his inner monologues. But for the r/anime crowd, it was a harem when there were girls in the party and that was that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Yeah it’s like Myne.

He collects daughters

Myne collects fathers