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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
Me: I would like a historical romance in a unique setting
Priest: best I can do is 7+ volumes of court intrigue and politics
———
Well it wouldn’t be a danmei novel if things were straight forward
Priest: best I can do is 7+ volumes of court intrigue and politics
———
Well it wouldn’t be a danmei novel if things were straight forward
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It is time to branch out in my danmei experience. It is odd because I felt like I had this image in my head of all danmei were written like MXTX's style but now reading priest, I was completely wrong.
This book is definitely the set up for the plot introducing the characters and world, providing a solid foundation. (Also obligatory warning if you have issues with age gaps, nothing happens in this book but it is a godparent/godson relationship on the horizon). Characters are very forthright in their way of speaking which I appreciate. There is a lot of moving between different POVs, but I actually think this does it better than most western novels because, while different than what we are used to, provides much needed insight into what people are thinking in this world. This is incredibly important I think to counter perspectives like Chang Geng who truly thinks that no one would love him and that he has no meaning to those around him.
I have been thinking about mlm and BL a lot recently, why it is viewed as something shameful and this book reminded me that those ideas that others have about these writings be frivolous or less serious are wrong. There is a theme running throughout the novel about job automaton and what happens to humanity when machines replace work. In the times of AI, it feel incredibly poignant and relevant. I was struck by the depth of feeling the words provoked in me. I want to share my favourite section:
This book is definitely the set up for the plot introducing the characters and world, providing a solid foundation. (Also obligatory warning if you have issues with age gaps, nothing happens in this book but it is a godparent/godson relationship on the horizon). Characters are very forthright in their way of speaking which I appreciate. There is a lot of moving between different POVs, but I actually think this does it better than most western novels because, while different than what we are used to, provides much needed insight into what people are thinking in this world. This is incredibly important I think to counter perspectives like Chang Geng who truly thinks that no one would love him and that he has no meaning to those around him.
I have been thinking about mlm and BL a lot recently, why it is viewed as something shameful and this book reminded me that those ideas that others have about these writings be frivolous or less serious are wrong. There is a theme running throughout the novel about job automaton and what happens to humanity when machines replace work. In the times of AI, it feel incredibly poignant and relevant. I was struck by the depth of feeling the words provoked in me. I want to share my favourite section:
One day, even the most diligent farmer would lose to the tireless iron puppets roaming up and down the fields. Even the most peerless fighter would fall in the face of a heavy armor's cannon powerful enough to wipe out an army of thousands. Every single child of these times would face unprecedented revolution before they might once again find a place of their own, no matter if they were noble and blessed with riches or the lowliest of the low.
Those who lost in the elevated arena ignited by violet gold would never recover from their defeat--whether vast nations or the insignificant teeming masses, it was all the same.
When the world woke up to this inevitability, an unavoidable era of turmoil would arrive. It was only a matter of time. This was the pulse of the era. Whether one was an unmatched hero, a king, a noble, a general, or a minister, no one had the power to stop it.
Rating a danmei novel that has been split into multiple volumes is hard because it feels like you are rating the publisher's ability to subdivide the story than the actual plot. I am likely going to go back post finishing all the books and give my rating for the full volume.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
No
adventurous
medium-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:
N/A
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Xenophobia, Medical content, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-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