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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I fear my brain is too tiny for this impressively large cast of characters. Getting through most of this book was slow and arduous and up till about halfway through, it felt like a chore to pick it up. This book’s entire plot is very heavily driven by politics and trying to keep track of every moving piece was very difficult for me. I was constantly flipping back and forth to the glossary to figure out who was who and why they were making the decisions they were.
However, once our two love interests FINALLY started having more interactions I will admit it flew by faster! I love their tension and the slow yet tumultuous fall into hateful lust? Also, the prose when these two describe each other is GORGEOUS.
However, once our two love interests FINALLY started having more interactions I will admit it flew by faster! I love their tension and the slow yet tumultuous fall into hateful lust? Also, the prose when these two describe each other is GORGEOUS.
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A slow start to a great series (one of the best historical political intrigue danmeis). Themes include revenge, human nature, the price of life and loyalty, belonging to place and challenges of birthright. The series as a whole is a very dark coming of age story paired with a surprisingly sweet romance that starts as an enemies/rivals to lovers.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars only because i struggled a lot following the plot
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, War
It's time again for my yearly danmei read... This one was so much more serious than what I read last year. Personally I found the actual yaoi to be kinda overshadowed by the constant political scheming and maneuvering. This read more like a historical political intrigue book and reminded me of my experience reading A Priory of the Orange Tree. While there are many differences including the scope of the world, fantasy vs not fantasy, and overall setting, the books share a large cast of characters, each working to fulfill their own goals within a cutthroat court. In each, I started out extremely lost about motivations and relationships (which probably would have been easier if I read these in print and referred to the provided character lists).
I'm not sure if I would characterize this as a slow burn because I think once the characters start interacting regularly, it heats up quickly? However they also don't interact much until midway through the book, with the first half mainly setting up exposition and their relative positionings in court. I did really enjoy the snark between the leads and how their relationship feels like a game. However because we spent so long establishing the politics, once Qing began focusing on the relationship I was like, but what's going on with the emperor!! I'm not sure what causes my other critique-- I feel a distance between myself and the characters, as though there's a pane of glass separating me from their emotions. This could be due to the translation, perspective (third person limited I think?), or just the scope/political focus of the novel making it difficult to get into the minutiae of emotions (I felt pretty similarly while reading Priory of the Orange Tree). I just prefer books where I get a greater sense of interiority with the characters.
Overall a very solid historical fiction! Not the easiest read (unless you're like naturally good at mapping the different political factions and character relationships) but enjoyable once you get the hang of it.
I'm not sure if I would characterize this as a slow burn because I think once the characters start interacting regularly, it heats up quickly? However they also don't interact much until midway through the book, with the first half mainly setting up exposition and their relative positionings in court. I did really enjoy the snark between the leads and how their relationship feels like a game. However because we spent so long establishing the politics, once Qing began focusing on the relationship I was like, but what's going on with the emperor!! I'm not sure what causes my other critique-- I feel a distance between myself and the characters, as though there's a pane of glass separating me from their emotions. This could be due to the translation, perspective (third person limited I think?), or just the scope/political focus of the novel making it difficult to get into the minutiae of emotions (I felt pretty similarly while reading Priory of the Orange Tree). I just prefer books where I get a greater sense of interiority with the characters.
Overall a very solid historical fiction! Not the easiest read (unless you're like naturally good at mapping the different political factions and character relationships) but enjoyable once you get the hang of it.
challenging
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
dark
emotional
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
fast-paced
Deeply political novel with court intrigue that was hard to follow at times but with tension and top quality banter between the leads to more than make up for it.
Xiao Chiye vs the temptation of Shen Zechuan’s nape.
I’m going to be straight up and say, don’t quiz me on those politics because I would most definitely fail. Did I have no clue who some of the characters were? Oh absolutely. Did I forget the relationships and which clan each of them belong to? Yes, of course. But did I still have a great time reading? 1000%.
As I made my way through the novel things started to click a bit more, shoutout to the character guide in the back, you are a blessing to me. Even though parts of this were very information heavy it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. I still felt myself frequently wanting to pick the book despite needing to lock in to understand.
I was living for the dynamic between Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan. The way they were enemies but then Xiao Chiye was practically demanding Shen Zechuan to be by his side at all times. And don’t even get me started on the tension between them. I was eating it up like a thanksgiving meal. Xiao Chiye wanted that cookie so bad.
Also Xiao Chiye kicking Shen Zechuan upon first meeting him was very andreil coded, I was like OH oKay yup I see where this is going.
I loved the illustrations in this one. They captured so much emotion and the art style was absolutely stunning. Might just have to allot time in my daily life to stare at them in all their glory.
Volume two I am coming for you!