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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
slow-paced
The pacing in this book really suffers until it shifts gears around the final third and everything starts happening. That's also when things start getting explained and the tone shifts towards melancholy and a bit sad. NGL, the bit since Song Yao learned he unintentionally wreaked havoc on the fated loves of Tianshu and Hengwen... and that Hengwen was fated for someone else and he was pivotal to them coming together... and the angst from that easily raised this book a full star from my initial thoughts.
Nanming's a dick though. Fuck that guy.
Nanming's a dick though. Fuck that guy.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Never destined for each other and yet meeting; meeting though it was never meant to be. High is the bright moon in the sky; within sight but far beyond reach.”
july 20, 2024 - re-read update: with impulsive re-reads comes very tender feelings for this historical fantasy. with as much of a rush as i read it the first time, it’s no wonder i glossed over quite a bit. as a result, i felt a tad bit confused at the time, not sure if i fully understood the big twist that happens near the end.
thankfully, upon this second read, i ended up appreciating this story and its tales of fate & immortal strings so much more than i thought possible. despite any confusion that lingered in my first read, i still connected a lot to song yao, i was still engaged with the story, and i absolutely adored the dynamic between him and hengwen. but there was still that feeling of being a bit slow on the come-up. and so to read this book again, it wasn’t enough of a relief getting to revisit this world, there was also the pleasant surprise of being able to digest the author’s reveals that read much more smoothly.
i also came to find another favorite character in tianshu, who really just….has had some very bad luck in his time. but he does get to see the light for himself :’) another pro of re-reading this is that i got to see that light, too, and be more grateful for how much depth the author brought to him. his relationship with song yao always left a faint impression on me the first time, and now, it’s even stronger.
i love this story so much and am really glad for my mood reading tendencies. if not for that, it would’ve taken a bit longer to see song yao again; but thankfully, i got to see him & hengwen in all their immortal moments. and it was so so so good.
original review:
this book making me cry at the 90% mark should be a crime. it was so bittersweet :(
july 20, 2024 - re-read update: with impulsive re-reads comes very tender feelings for this historical fantasy. with as much of a rush as i read it the first time, it’s no wonder i glossed over quite a bit. as a result, i felt a tad bit confused at the time, not sure if i fully understood the big twist that happens near the end.
thankfully, upon this second read, i ended up appreciating this story and its tales of fate & immortal strings so much more than i thought possible. despite any confusion that lingered in my first read, i still connected a lot to song yao, i was still engaged with the story, and i absolutely adored the dynamic between him and hengwen. but there was still that feeling of being a bit slow on the come-up. and so to read this book again, it wasn’t enough of a relief getting to revisit this world, there was also the pleasant surprise of being able to digest the author’s reveals that read much more smoothly.
i also came to find another favorite character in tianshu, who really just….has had some very bad luck in his time. but he does get to see the light for himself :’) another pro of re-reading this is that i got to see that light, too, and be more grateful for how much depth the author brought to him. his relationship with song yao always left a faint impression on me the first time, and now, it’s even stronger.
i love this story so much and am really glad for my mood reading tendencies. if not for that, it would’ve taken a bit longer to see song yao again; but thankfully, i got to see him & hengwen in all their immortal moments. and it was so so so good.
original review:
this book making me cry at the 90% mark should be a crime. it was so bittersweet :(
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, War
Minor: Sexual content