Well, smut manga typically features a lot of sexual imagery and scenarios. Regular manga, on the other hand, can be about anything from superheroes to school life and doesn't focus mainly on sexual themes. The main difference is the emphasis on sexuality in smut manga.
One example could be 'Love Hina'. It has a great story about a young man and his relationships with various female characters in a boarding house. There are some romantic and comical situations that border on the more 'smutty' side at times. The character development and the overall plot of the protagonist trying to find his place and love make it engaging.
The plot itself should be engaging. It can't just be a series of sexual scenes. Take 'Nana' for instance. It has a story about two girls named Nana who are on different paths in life. There are some romantic and passionate relationships in it. The overall plot about their friendship, career aspirations, and love lives holds the story together, and the 'smutty' elements are just part of the bigger picture of the characters' lives.
Well, among certain adult - oriented readership, they might be somewhat popular. But in the general literary community, they are not as mainstream as other types of fantasy stories due to their explicit nature.
Fantasy smut novels typically feature strong themes of desire. The characters' desires are not just sexual but also related to power, magic, or their place in the fantasy world. There is a lot of room for creativity in these novels. Authors can create all kinds of unique races, magic spells, and sexual taboos. They often play with the idea of forbidden love or lust, which adds to the allure. The plot is usually centered around the characters' relationships and how they navigate both the sexual and the magical aspects of their world. For example, a mermaid might fall in love with a human and the story explores how their different anatomies and magical natures affect their sexual relationship within the context of the overall story.
No. Fantasy smut stories often contain pornographic or vulgar content which goes against ethical standards. Such content can have a negative impact on the mental and moral health of readers.