Webtoons have taken the world by storm, becoming a rising form of entertainment for anime and comic fans. Purple Hyacinth is one such webtoon that made a grand impression on readers. Created by authors Ephemerys and Sophism, Purple Hyacinth is a mystery webtoon that centers on a society rife with criminal activity, featuring an officer of the law teaming up with a deadly assassin — not hard to see why it's a fan favorite.
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Fortunately, there are tons of webtoons with similar themes for fans of Purple Hyacinth, who enjoyed the captivating blend of mystery, intrigue, humor, and romance that the beloved series offered. These select few are bound to keep you on the edge of your seat with their brilliant blend of intrigue and realism that audiences are drawn to.
10 Lore Olympus
Love Among Gods? It’s Messier Than You’d Think
- Author: Rachel Smythe
- Number of chapters: 280
- Status: Completed
Lore Olympus is a modern retelling of the Taking of Persephone by New Zealand artist Rachel Smythe, based on the myth of Hades and Persephone. Its brand of emotional realism and representation of women's role in Greek mythology endear the comic to fans. As of March 2024, Lore Olympus was the most popular comic on Webtoon and received numerous awards.
Going beyond the romance lure, Lore Olympus deals with dark themes like abuse and trauma, centering on Persephone, the goddess of spring, and her complicated relationship with Hades. Adding to the mix of thrilling drama and themes of empowerment, the series explores their union amid divine politics and personal struggle.
9 My Dear Cold-Blooded King
He’s Dangerous, Ruthless, And Mine
- Author: Lifelight
- Number of chapters: 90
- Status: Completed
My Dear Cold-Blooded King is another Webtoon guaranteed to entice and entertain. It follows the story of a humble peasant woman, Kihara Mei, who becomes entangled in the intricate world of royal politics. From an ordinary life as a merchant in the capitol, Kihara's fate drastically turns when she faces a challenge against deadly royal assassins and crosses paths with the mysterious and powerful Blood King.
Her life, as she knows it, is upturned in a web of secrecy, desire, and betrayal as she navigates the dangers of court life. My Dear Cold-Blooded King uniquely blends romance, suspense, and intrigue. It explores themes of identity and loyalty, and it has a set of interesting, well-written characters.
8 Siren's Lament
Love Hurts, But Nothing Like a Siren’s Song
- Author: Kaitlyn Narvaza
- Number of chapters: 94
- Status: Completed
Siren's Lament centers on the story of Lyra, a young woman living an ordinary, simple life. But nothing lasts forever, Lyra soon learns, as her comfortable life changes overnight as she has a chance encounter with a world of sirens. Faced with this new reality and caught in a curse, Lyra discovers a world much bigger than she could have imagined.
As she navigates this new world amid the complications of her feelings for a charming siren, she discovers the intriguing principles of love and sacrifice. Siren's Lament is most loved for its exciting blend of fantasy, intrigue, and mystery, delving into the consequences of desire.
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7 Bastard
Some Families Keep Secrets—Mine Keeps Bodies
- Author: Carnby Kim
- Number of chapters: 92
- Status: Completed
Bastard is a dark-themed webtoon series written by Carnby Kim, first published on Naver in 2014. It centers on the life of Jin Seon, a puny high school student with a dark secret: his father is a serial killer — a heavy weight for his young mind to bear.
Jin Seon struggles with the morality of his father's actions and faces intense pressure to protect his family, even with the heinousness of his father's crimes. The story unfolds, addressing themes of guilt and toxic upbringing, with Jin Seon trying to live a normal life despite all he's been exposed to. Bastard fascinates with its mix of suspenseful twists, family dynamics, and a deep dive into morality and the human psyche.
6 Not Even Bones
You’d be Surprised What People are Willing to Pay for a Monster
- Author: Rebecca Schaeffer
- Number of chapters: 51
- Status: Completed
Not Even Bones is a fantasy thriller webtoon based on Rebecca Schaeffer's novel. It centers on a teenage girl named Nita who lives in a world where supernatural beings coexist with humans. She soon grows a deep fascination with these creatures, even though, like her mother, she sells their body parts on the internet after dissecting them.
But Nita realizes her mother has gone too far when she brings home a live specimen. Things change when she discovers the dark secrets her mother has been hiding about their family in connection to the monsters. Nita soon enters a world of betrayal and intrigue, and most emerge from the rubble to find her true identity.
5 Unholy Blood
The Only Thing Scarier Than Vampires is The One Hunting Them
- Author: Lina Lim
- Number of chapters: 93
- Status: Completed
Unholy Blood is a paranormal romance webtoon series created by Lina Lim. It centers on the story of Hayan Park, a vampire who will go to any lengths to protect the ones she loves. Teaming up with a police officer, Hayan realizes she must do everything at her disposal to rid the world of the hunters that have plagued society for ten years and stole her chance at living a normal life.
Park becomes embroiled in her mission for justice and revenge. With a compelling storyline, Unholy Blood explores themes of good and evil, building suspense and emotional depth against a backdrop of the supernatural.
4 Locker & Opener
Every Lock Has a Key, and I’m The One Who Holds it
- Author: Manchi (Maanchwee)
- Number of chapters: 92
- Status: Completed
This is another webtoon fans of thrillers, mysteries, and crime can thoroughly enjoy. Locker & Opener is a webtoon written by Manchi (Maanchwee) and assisted by Nyangyan. It follows the life of a former criminal turned detective, Dobin Kim, who is highly skilled and has the special ability to "open" anything and everything, including people.
With his unique ability, he can "unlock" people to get the information he needs to hunt down criminals. Enter the "Locker" — his opposite and arch nemesis. They are caught in a dangerous game when Locker locks a witness, preventing Kim from getting the information he needs to solve an important case. Locker & Opener is all high-stakes with an enticing amount of mystery to keep readers on their toes.
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3 Third Shift Society
The Supernatural? It’s All in a Night’s Work
- Author: Meredith Moriarty
- Number of chapters: 30
- Status: Completed
Many stories prove things can change overnight. Such is the case in Third Shift Society. It effortlessly blends themes of mystery, fantasy, and the supernatural. It follows the life of Elle, who gets offered a new job working with a detective. When Elle discovers she has psychic powers, things seem to change drastically, as she teams up with her pumpkin-headed detective boss to fight against supernatural creatures that haunt the night.
Third Shift Society has an engaging plot and well-written characters that captivate readers with its unique narrative about the world of the supernatural and human grit when faced with impossible realities.
2 I Love Yoo
Love Isn’t Supposed to be This Complicated—so Why Does it Always Feel That Way?
- Author: Quimchee
- Number of chapters: 254
- Status: Ongoing
I Love Yoo is a romance webtoon series produced by Quimchee. It centers on the story of Shin-Ae, a girl who decides she wants nothing to do with love or people because of her troubled family background. Comfortable with her listless, unsocial, and loveless life, fate has something different in store for her, ruining her plan with a chance encounter with a stranger.
A s she navigates the complexities of her feelings, Shin-Ae is forced to deal with the emotional baggage she's carried all her life. I Love Yoo explores themes of love and personal crisis while delving into the impact of the past on the present. With its relatable characters, humor, and deep themes, it is a must-read for fans of romantic dramas.
1 The Uniques
In a World of Powers, it’s What You do With Them That Counts
- Author: Rachel Smythe
- Number of chapters: 215
- Status: Ongoing
Think of The Uniques as the webtoon version of Teen Titans, with seven teenagers charged with protecting the world. Set in a world where people are born with incredible superpowers and abilities, these teenagers' lives take a drastic turn in the wake of a disaster when they are forced to step up and discover their true potential, facing an uncertain future with unknown threats.
As they learn to harness their powers and work as a team, they encounter challenges, including villains and personal struggles. The Uniques addresses themes of friendship and alliance, exploring a world where superpowers can be too much of a burden.
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