mint_frog's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This is the book where we start getting more of Chu Wanning's POV, which is my favourite. It's also the book where we start getting more glimpses into the 0.5 timeline, which are, for the most part, brutal, so beware the trigger warnings.

I had a good time rereading this book, it was fun! The whole Xia Sini plotline has my whole heart. It was so sweet and sad at the same time. The mystery continues building up quite well too. Mo Ran is getting more self-aware and thus less irritating and we get to see more of Chu Wanning, and he's not even suffering all of the time, what a treat!

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sci_twi02's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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paradicsomleves's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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steph_weigle's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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keddy4306's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The child turned around, "If you laugh, I will kill myself right here," practically written on his face.
(page 74)
Chu Wanning is the drama and I love it. 

Ye Wangxi was a respectable individual; he had no idea that Mo Ran, a rascal, was consuming his recount of righteous indignation like he would some trashy romance.
(page 189)
Mo Ran is such a gossip girl.

Chu Wanning ignored him and asked, "Did that child really exist?"
"Nope." Mo Ran was quiet for a moment, then he suddenly smiled, his dimples deep and charming. He squished the little kid into his arms and said warmly, "I made it up to tease you, obviously. Be good. Go to sleep."
(page 220)
The way this story broke my heart. The first time I read through 2ha I didn't notice the foreshadowing here. 

The rain came down in a deluge, blood pooling and flowing along the ground. The mother devoured her child's entrails.
(page 245)
This scene was beautifully written and will be imprinted on my mind forever. Heart breaking. 

So he simply sat there in the courtyard in a daze, surrounded by peach blossoms in full bloom, holding the clay jar that his little shidi had brought him all the way from the cave. A long while later, he sighed and slapped himself across the face, cursing in a low voice. "You good-for-nothing."
(page 324)
Wwx coded. This also broke my heart. Stupid Shi Mei. 

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Chu Wanning gazed at her, unimpressed. "What ought I be afraid of?" He paused, then pulled Mo Ran closer. "Listen up: This person is mine. I'm taking him."
(page 337)
Chu Wanning being
Xia Sini
for most of this book was critical for his character development. I forgot how fun it was to have them interacting as peers.

I love every time the Zhenlong Chess Formation happens. The white (general) pieces and black (pawn) pieces are exceptional.

Nangong Si and his pupper, Naobaijin made their appearance after Ye Wangxi
purchased/rescued
Song Qiutong, the
butterfly-boned beauty.
We're getting quite a few of the major players introduced, especially with the hints of Mei Hanxue sprinkled throughout the Peach Blossom Springs arc.

We also had our favourite mystery villain show up right at the end with Bugui: no return
(Taxian-Jun's sword)


Cry count: 3 but I cried longer and harder

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bombastic_sideeye's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Still funny, still gorey, still deliciously angsty. The plot is thickening though, and the mystery is slowly unfolding. So curious as to where the story goes from here.

As with the previous volume, mind the content warnings.

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adelphiereads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

In this second volume, we get to see how the relationship between the two main characters, in both their past and present lifetimes, is significantly affected by their miscommunication and prejudice. Mo Ran's prior knowledge of what happened in their previous lives is reason that their current relationship has improved. Still, people are always inclined to repeat their past actions regardless of its consequences. It usually takes something monumental for humans to ultimately stop repeating their mistakes. But I digress. In this volume, the author shows us the depth of the relationship between the two main characters and how fragile it is, how with a simple breath of a spell all of it could crumble into pieces. That's what kept me at the edge of my seat as I read through this book. It's a binge-worthy book and I can't wait to read the third volume. 

P.S. If you're looking for a danmei with heavy social relevance like MXTX's works, this is not it. 

P.S.S. I'd like to commend the writing of this author. It's so beautiful, moving and heartfelt. 

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junggi's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ez a rohadék visszatért. olyan fájdalmas volt, mikor a kis Xia Sini elsírta magát. annyira fájt nekem is. ez megint ütött. annyira megbabusgatnám. folyamatosan. de egészen dühítő is, hogy Mo Ran ennyire vak, de másik babám is megjelent, Ye Wangxi, akinek a nevére elsőre be sem ugrott, hogy ő az q_q jaj hát érte is megszakad a szívem. drága csillag. ő is jobbat érdemel. 
a könyv az aukció után zárul, amikor megjelenik az a  ******** fúú nagyon nagyon utálom, és Mo Ran szívében lepecsételi azt a rothadt virágot. és kövi kötetben fogok bőgni, pedig már ebben felkészültem rá.

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_calreads's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Reread

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waffles's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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