Recommendations Looking for fantasy novels about cooks, alchemists, blacksmiths, etc.

[RepresentingWrath]

You can go ahead and self promote, but there are a couple of criteria. I won't read boys love, girls love, gender bender. The second one, I want close to zero fighting scenes. To give you better understanding, if there are 100 chapters, I'm willing to tolerate 5-10 chapters with fight scenes. I don't really care about fluff or slice of life, but... I won't read the story if it consists of mostly fluff with occasional cooking or crafting, give me at least 50-50 ratio.

As usual, if your self promote and your story satisfies those criteria I will rate your story 5-star, maybe even give a review.

 

[StoneInky]

You can go ahead and self promote, but there are a couple of criteria. I won't read boys love, girls love, gender bender. The second one, I want close to zero fighting scenes. To give you better understanding, if there are 100 chapters, I'm willing to tolerate 5-10 chapters with fight scenes. I don't really care about fluff or slice of life, but... I won't read the story if it consists of mostly fluff with occasional cooking or crafting, give me at least 50-50 ratio.

As usual, if your self promote and your story satisfies those criteria I will rate your story 5-star, maybe even give a review.

Sammmeeeee. I love these kinds of novels. But soooo fewwww do it well.

Will also sit and wait for recs.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Sammmeeeee. I love these kinds of novels. But soooo fewwww do it well.

Will also sit and wait for recs.

Highly recommend Bartender. It's not a novel but a manga, not fantasy either, still recommend it if you haven't read it already.

 

[Ruti]

To give you better understanding, if there are 100 chapters, I'm willing to tolerate 5-10 chapters with fight scenes. I don't really care about fluff or slice of life, but... I won't read the story if it consists of mostly fluff with occasional cooking or crafting, give me at least 50-50 ratio.

I was going to recommend something that matches well, then I realized the novel no longer exists at all (it got full deleted)

 

[Empress_Omnii]

Will also sit and wait for recs.

I can't give recommendation for Sailus considering I nearly exclusively have lesbians in my reading list.

But I can think of two recommendations that kinda fit? I haven't read them in a while so... maybe I'm misremembering

This one is plant cultivation and drugs

Cultivating Plants

What if you wanted to discover a world of magic and plants, but cultivating nobles, hashish-obsessed assassins, and a tight budget were constantly a nuisance in your way? Aloe had been a simple girl who lived with her mother; yet after her grandfather died, she finds herself the heiress of...

www.scribblehub.com

This one should technically count? I think it has sword making...

September Swords

In the world of Kreth, a Living Blade is one of the most invaluable assets you can have. Living Blades are simply blades and other weapons that have a soul. The soul of a Living Blade is formed as the smith infuses energy from their own soul into it. This...

www.scribblehub.com

 

[StoneInky]

I can't give recommendation for Sailus considering I nearly exclusively have lesbians in my reading list.

But I can think of two recommendations that kinda fit? I haven't read them in a while so... maybe I'm misremembering

This one is plant cultivation and drugs

Cultivating Plants

What if you wanted to discover a world of magic and plants, but cultivating nobles, hashish-obsessed assassins, and a tight budget were constantly a nuisance in your way? Aloe had been a simple girl who lived with her mother; yet after her grandfather died, she finds herself the heiress of...

www.scribblehub.com

This one should technically count? I think it has sword making...

September Swords

In the world of Kreth, a Living Blade is one of the most invaluable assets you can have. Living Blades are simply blades and other weapons that have a soul. The soul of a Living Blade is formed as the smith infuses energy from their own soul into it. This...

www.scribblehub.com

Thanks!

Unlike Wrath, I do not mind GL or BL. I'm fine with GameLit, but I hate LitRPG. (Most of em, anyway.) But I DO agree with them on harem/reverse harem. They suck. (Unless they are queer polyamories.)

 

[cabbag3]

Although it's a manga, Isekai Izakaya is always a fun suggestion.

 

[StoneInky]

Although it's a manga, Isekai Izakaya is always a fun suggestion.

Already tried that one, lmao. In fact, I think I've tried nearly every slice-of-life manga that exists(?)

So novels, plz.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Although it's a manga, Isekai Izakaya is always a fun suggestion.

Read it.

 

[Ruti]

Already tried that one, lmao. In fact, I think I've tried nearly every slice-of-life manga that exists(?)

If you accept farming there's Isekai Nonbiri Nouka

 

[StoneInky]

If you accept farming there's Isekai Nonbiri Nouka

Already tried. I already went to a site and read every single slice of life I found.

So hopefully stuff from here, please. Novels.

 

[Ruti]

So hopefully stuff from here, please. Novels.

that's all then, unless you wanna read one that hasn't updated since 2022 (the other options are either stubbed, dead, or deleted)

 

[Arkus86]

There is this one webnovel, "Spending My Retirement In A Game", which is literally about an old guy playing a game as a sort of unique omni-crafter class. I don't remember how much fighting there was, but the main focus should be crafting and adventure.
The bad thing is, it is on Webnovel.

 

[LEGENDGOD1]

Thanks!

Unlike Wrath, I do not mind GL or BL. I'm fine with GameLit, but I hate LitRPG. (Most of em, anyway.) But I DO agree with them on harem/reverse harem. They suck. (Unless they are queer polyamories.)

did you check this thread of mine? i could use your advice https://forum.scribblehub.com/threads/am-i-cooking-something-here.22944/

on how i can make it more GAMElit type instead of litRPG or is it already fine?

 

[Whoops]

Hard to remember novels without much combat tbh, most of the crafting novels tend to have quite a bit of conflict while gathering materials etc.

Solo Farming In The Tower - Farming / Cooking / Fantasy
Combat is mostly silly and over in a flash.

 

[Ruti]

Already tried. I already went to a site and read every single slice of life I found.

solo farming in the tower?

 

[StoneInky]

solo farming in the tower?

...Oh god I hate that novel. Dude acts like he's some sort of bigshot parading around, while basically taking advantage of everyone else. He has everything handed on a silver platter, and he's not even likeable. Would step on and kill 100%.

I especially dislike how he interacts with the dragons, lol.

 

[Ruti]

I especially dislike how he interacts with the dragons, lol.

To be fair he's the only guy who can farm that high In the tower

 

[StoneInky]

To be fair he's the only guy who can farm that high In the tower

Dragons in Eastern literature are supposed to be gods helping mortals survive. Western literature has em as evil and terrifying meat-eating lizards. Neither gives one about farming.

But in this novel, they are allllll over this dude. It's unfair and feels like a plot device.

Just a personal thing. It's boring when one of the supposed strongest race acts this way. And to some rando with a horrid ego and personality.

 

[Vaay]

Grand Warlock: My System Gave Me Infinite Classes

You are going to love this one. A treat for any LitRPG lover.

Style:

Clear, fast-paced, and immersive. The author writes with confidence, blending crunchy LitRPG elements with vivid fantasy without bogging the reader down. Exposition is handled well, and big moments hit hard. There's a cinematic quality to action scenes and class evolution sequences. Sometimes descriptions lean generic, but never to the point of confusion.

Story:

The plot starts strong and stays compelling. Robb's situation is desperate, the world is hostile, and the power system gives real room for creative progression. The overarching mystery (what is this system, why him, what is this world) develops in layers, with steady reveals that feel earned. Stakes go from personal to cosmic without losing the thread.

Grammar:

Very clean. Up to chapter 70, there are no major grammar or formatting issues. Dialogue flows well, and tense, punctuation, and structure are all consistent. A few stylistic hiccups here and there, but nothing immersion-breaking. Professional-level polish for a web serial.

Character:

Robb is likable and smart, and he avoids the usual Isekai pitfalls. No edgy loner routine, no clueless idiot moves. His growth feels earned. Side characters are hit-or-miss early on (some are more functional than fully fleshed), but the mentor arcs and rivalries start adding layers by chapter 50+. Emotional stakes are growing steadily with the power level.

Overall:

This is a sharp, engaging LitRPG that knows what it's doing. Robb's infinite-class system opens the door to wild, unexpected power paths but it's handled with a good mix of logic and creativity. There's no "system ex machina", you watch him earn each upgrade. The world is brutal and strange, and the writing keeps things grounded even as the scale escalates to star-breaking, law-crushing insanity.

If you like progression fantasy where the system respects your intelligence, this is worth your time. And if you're into Isekai without the baggage of constant info-dumping or over-personal drama tied to every skill, you'll probably binge this one fast.