# Novel Updates, The Best Reader for Light Novels — Web Novels: Read Asian Fantasy

> Comprehensive reader for Asian fantasy web novels on iOS. (iPhone/iPad app by HLK.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novel-updates-the-best-reader-for-light-novels/id1217728042 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [HLK](https://appshunter.io/developer/513928785)
- Category: Books, Entertainment
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 1.70/5 from 128 App Store ratings · 94 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 9+
- Requires: iOS 10.2 · 10 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2017-06-09
- Data updated: 2026-07-29
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novel-updates-the-best-reader-for-light-novels/id1217728042/reviews.md

## What is Novel Updates, The Best Reader for Light Novels?

* You want to find ALL your favorite favourite novels in one place? Try Novel Updates!! Find ALL your favorite wuxia, xianxia (& a lot more) novels, and enjoy the best reading experience on iOS!
* The best Light Novel Reader for iPhone AND iPad. Created by fans for fans!

To try it is to love it !!! 

Novel Updates was designed with one goal in mind: providing the best experience for asian fantasy readers ! 

Novel Updates is the reference for light novels readers !! 
It allows you to read chinese, japanese, korean, thai, indonesian, filipino, vietnamese, malaysian (and a lot more) web novels!! 

DOWNLOAD NOW!!

## Key features

- All favorite novels in one place
- Wuxia and Xianxia novel support
- Best reading experience on iOS
- Light novel reader for iPhone and iPad
- Supports Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and more

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $2.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Novel Updates, The Best Reader for Light Novels?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 📚 Extensive novel collection and variety
- 👍 User-friendly interface and navigation
- 📱 Convenient mobile reading experience
- 🔍 Good filtering and search capabilities
- 📖 Easy list management for tracking novels
- ⬇️ Smooth scrolling instead of page flipping

**Cons**

- 🐛 Chapters fail to load or load indefinitely
- 💀 App frequently crashes when opening chapters
- 📭 Empty content display with no novels showing
- 🔌 Poor connection with main website
- ⚠️ Paid premium features don't work properly
- 🚫 Search and filter functions unreliable
- 📱 Not optimized for newer phone screen sizes
- 🔄 Account sync issues between devices
- ⏱️ Extremely slow performance and loading times
- 🚨 No customer support or dead support links

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Chapters display 'null' instead of content
- Loading indicator never completes
- App crashes on chapter selection
- Force close errors on startup
- Search returns no results despite novels existing on website
- Filter options don't work correctly
- Premium purchase not recognized after reinstall
- Bookmarks don't sync across devices
- Latest release section missing or blank
- App incompatible with iPad Pro and new aspect ratios
- Login button non-functional

**Most requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Download chapters for offline reading
- Reading history and progress tracking
- Bookmark functionality
- Chapter-level progress saving within chapters
- Push notifications for novel updates
- Account restoration across devices
- Better integration with main website

## Recent user reviews (10 of 94)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novel-updates-the-best-reader-for-light-novels/id1217728042/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Dead app

*2024-04-10, version 1.0.4*

No novels or anything inside completely empty.

### 1/5 — Need update

*2024-02-28, version 1.0.4*

Cant log in

### 1/5 — Waste of time & money

*2022-08-11, version 1.0.4*

Could someone please explain to me how an app for reading books just does not work even when it has been paid for? Anybody looking to read books on novel updates, stick to the website! To describe the app as garbage, would be dishonest- it does not work that well! I’ll be unsubscribing. Thank goodness, I only paid $2.99 and I still consider that I was robbed.

### 1/5 — Horrible!

*2021-07-09, version 1.0.4*

I’d give zero stars if I could. Nothing comes up. I tried it since the web site can be hard to navigate, but this is even worse.   Why is this app even stillavailable  in the store?

### 1/5 — Not recommended

*2020-12-04, version 1.0.4*

I won’t recommend this app.. I don’t know if it’s a scam or something is wrong with the app at the moment. I downloaded it and then upgraded with $4.99, but not a single novel in the app. The whole app is empty. Useless!!!! Waste of money and time!!!

### 1/5 — No books display! Even after paying the apps!!

*2020-11-26, version 1.0.4*

First download.. nothing displayed at all. No list of books showing. Thought need to buy it first. Once paid, still got nothing. Please refund if this is continuing. Also, this apps can't connect with old account? I already have an account with novel updates for web reading. Kindly check the issue guys!!

### 1/5 — terrible

*2020-10-25, version 1.0.4*

I can’t find any novels on this app it is all blank and when I search for any novel it comes up blank I may be doing something wrong but I can’t find anything.

### 1/5 — Has literally nothing

*2020-09-21, version 1.0.4*

This app has literally no novels on it lmao

### 1/5 — I wanted to give no star that’s how bad it is

*2020-09-03, version 1.0.4*

Upon downloading, it’s a super simple design with only search n add functions which are both not working. I could see just empty spaces upon entering so I tried searching my first novel and nothing came up.( the novel does exist, I’ve searched in on the novel updates website and multiple similar websites) is the developer the same as the website or is it just a dud version???

### 1/5 — ?????

*2020-08-25, version 1.0.4*

When I downloaded the app it didn’t show me anything

## Frequently asked questions about Novel Updates, The Best Reader for Light Novels

### What kind of novels can I read on this app?

This app is designed for reading Asian fantasy web novels. It specifically supports popular genres like wuxia and xianxia, as well as novels from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Malaysian origins.

### What devices is this app compatible with?

This application is optimized for iOS devices, serving as a light novel reader for both iPhone and iPad. It aims to provide the best possible reading experience on these platforms.

### How much does the app cost?

The app is free to download and use. It offers in-app purchases, suggesting that some features or content might be available for an additional cost.

### What makes this app the best for reading light novels?

The app was created by fans for fans with the primary goal of providing an excellent reading experience for Asian fantasy readers. It consolidates a wide variety of novels into a single platform.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.0.4 — 2017-08-14

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Stability Update

### 1.0.3 — 2017-06-29

Enhanced reader mode fo Gravity Tales

### 1.0.2 — 2017-06-26

Bug fix

### 1.0.1 — 2017-06-13

- Bug fix

### 1.0 — 2017-06-09

No release notes.

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## More apps by HLK

- [Manga Library, The FREE Manga and Comics Reader: Import your CBZ, ZIP, PDF, RAR, CBR files.](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manga-library-the-free-manga-and-comics-reader-import-your-cbz-zip-pdf-rar-cbr-files/id1024476257)
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- [Manga Café, The Best Manga Reader, View & Download Online Chapters](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manga-cafe-the-best-manga-reader-view-and-download-online-chapters/id1067675297)
- [Anime Nexus: Watch Animes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anime-nexus-watch-animes/id6745183743)

All apps by HLK: https://appshunter.io/developer/513928785

## Related topics

[novel updates](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/novel-updates) · [wuxia novel](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wuxia-novel) · [light novels](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/light-novels) · [novel chinese](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/novel-chinese) · [jornada perfecta fantasy](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/jornada-perfecta-fantasy)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-29.*