Quick answer (2026)
- Did Reaper Scans do novels? Yes. It translated Korean web novels as well as webtoons until it shut down in May 2025.
- Now: its novel translations are offline, and copies on other sites are unlicensed.
- Read legally: Wuxiaworld, Webnovel, Yen Press and Ize Press carry official English novels for many of the same stories.
Last updated: November 12, 2026 · By Robert
- Did Reaper Scans translate novels?
- Why do so many manhwa have novel versions?
- Which manhwa have official English web novels?
- Is it legal to read Reaper Scans novel translations on other sites?
- Where can I read Korean web novels legally in English?
- Should I read the novel or the manhwa first?
- How do novel chapters compare with webtoon chapters?
- What should you know before buying novel chapters?
- How do I check whether a novel has an official English version?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Plenty of readers remember Reaper Scans for webtoons, but the group also translated web novels: the text stories many manhwa are based on. This guide explains what happened to those novel translations and which popular series have an official English novel you can read today.
Did Reaper Scans translate novels?
Yes. Reaper Scans offered unauthorized translations of both web novels and webtoons, The Outer Haven reported when the group closed. After a cease-and-desist from Kakao Entertainment, it announced its permanent shutdown on May 9, 2025, and its novel section went offline with the rest of the site.
Kakao said the site had about 10 million monthly visits, as The Korea Times reported. A large share of those readers followed novels, often to read ahead of the webtoon.
Why do so many manhwa have novel versions?
Most hit Korean action manhwa begin life as web novels on platforms such as KakaoPage or Naver Series. A studio then adapts the most popular novels into full-color webtoons.
Because novels are published first and much faster, the novel is usually hundreds of chapters ahead of the webtoon. That gap is why scanlation groups translated novels: fans wanted to know what happens next.
Which manhwa have official English web novels?
The table lists popular series with a novel version and the official English home we could verify in November 2026. Where we couldn’t confirm one, we say so instead of guessing.
| Series | Novel author | Official English novel | Available in the US? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo Leveling | Chugong | Yen Press (print/ebook); earlier on Webnovel | Yes |
| Solo Leveling: Ragnarok | Daul | Wuxiaworld | Yes |
| Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint | singNsong | Ize Press (print/ebook) | Yes |
| Damn Reincarnation | — | Wuxiaworld | Yes |
| Overgeared | Park Saenal | Check Wuxiaworld and Webnovel for current availability | Varies |
| Return to Player | — | No current official English edition confirmed | — |
| The Esper’s Game | — | Its former English publisher (Yonder) has closed | — |
| Reaper of the Drifting Moon | Woo-gak | No official English novel confirmed | — |
Checked against publisher pages, Wikipedia and MangaUpdates, November 2026. Look the title up on Wuxiaworld, Webnovel or the publisher’s site before buying.
Is it legal to read Reaper Scans novel translations on other sites?
No. Copies of Reaper Scans translations on mirror sites are unlicensed, and many of those sites carry aggressive ads or malware. The safe and legal way is to buy or unlock the official English edition.
Official novels also support the authors and translators, and that is what keeps new chapters coming. Wuxiaworld, for example, credits its translators on every series page.
Where can I read Korean web novels legally in English?
- Wuxiaworld: official English translations of many Korean and Chinese web novels, with free chapters and a paid tier.
- Webnovel: a large catalog of translated novels with a coin system. It published Solo Leveling in 2018–2019.
- Yen Press and Ize Press: print and ebook editions of hit novels such as Solo Leveling and Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, sold at major US bookstores.
- Wattpad: one of the platforms Reaper Scans itself told readers to use when it shut down.
Should I read the novel or the manhwa first?
Start with the manhwa if you love the art and action scenes. Start with the novel if you want the full story and can’t wait for weekly webtoon chapters.
Many readers do both: they follow the webtoon week to week and read the novel to catch up on the plot. Just watch out for spoilers in comment sections if you’re only reading the webtoon.
How do novel chapters compare with webtoon chapters?
One webtoon episode usually covers only part of a novel chapter or a few short chapters. That depends on how much action the studio wants to show, so there’s no fixed conversion rate.
Fight scenes often get stretched across several webtoon episodes, while quiet dialogue chapters may be condensed or cut. Some studios also add scenes that aren’t in the novel, or reorder events so the comic flows better.
If you switch from the webtoon to the novel to read ahead, the safest method is to find the arc or event you just finished, not a chapter number. Fan wikis for big series usually list which novel chapters each webtoon season adapts, but avoid the spoiler sections if you plan to keep reading the webtoon.
What should you know before buying novel chapters?
Official novel platforms use different payment models, so compare them before you spend money. Here are the points to check first:
- Free chapters: most platforms let you read the first chapters free, and some unlock more chapters over time.
- Coins vs subscription: coin systems charge per chapter, while subscriptions give unlimited access to part of the catalog.
- Ownership: chapters you unlock live in the platform’s account. When a service closes, as Tapas plans to in March 2027, readers can lose access, so print and ebook editions are the safest long-term option.
- Region: a few titles are licensed only in certain countries, so confirm the title appears in your country’s store.
Buying through the official edition also tells publishers there is demand for more English novel licenses. That demand is how titles without an English release eventually get one.
How do I check whether a novel has an official English version?
- Search the title on MangaUpdates (novel entries have “(Novel)” in the name).
- Look at the “Licensed (in English)” and “English Publisher” fields.
- Visit that publisher’s site and search the title.
- If there’s no publisher yet, follow the Korean original on KakaoPage or Naver Series and wait for an official license.
Looking for comics rather than novels? See our Reaper Scans manhwa list and our legal Reaper Scans alternatives. For the full shutdown story, read what happened to Reaper Scans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Reaper Scans have novels?
Yes. Reaper Scans translated Korean web novels as well as webtoons until it closed in May 2025.
Where can I read Reaper Scans novels now?
Its translations are offline. Read official English editions on Wuxiaworld, Webnovel, Yen Press or Ize Press instead.
Is the Solo Leveling novel available in English?
Yes. Yen Press publishes the official English Solo Leveling novel, and the Ragnarok sequel novel is on Wuxiaworld.
Is the novel ahead of the manhwa?
Usually, yes. Korean web novels are released first and much faster, so they are often far ahead of the webtoon adaptation.
Are free novel mirror sites safe?
No. Mirror sites that copy scanlations are unlicensed and often show intrusive ads or redirects. Use official platforms.
Reaper Scans novels are gone, but the stories live on in official editions. We’ll keep this table updated as new English licenses appear. Back to the Reaper Scans guide.
