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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Content Warnings
Minor: Torture, Violence, Blood, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
what if we were obsessed w each other book Spins around happily
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My first book in 2025 ✨️
Gw mulai series ini cause I KNOW MY TASTE and damn they did not disappoint at all. Personally never love the tropes of 'enemies to lovers' but THEM? DEM I'll stick around to find out more. Not gonna lie ini background setting sama politicalnya emg rada butuh extra brain cells buat ngolah konteks but I don't mind it cause plotnya actually 'push' characteristics in our ML, MEREKA KERJAANNY FLIRTING MULU ELAH....IN FRONT OF MY SALAD??? Gw klok udh kesel ama orng gw kacangin INI MALAH SALONG TARIK ULUR WOY LAH
Gw mulai series ini cause I KNOW MY TASTE and damn they did not disappoint at all. Personally never love the tropes of 'enemies to lovers' but THEM? DEM I'll stick around to find out more. Not gonna lie ini background setting sama politicalnya emg rada butuh extra brain cells buat ngolah konteks but I don't mind it cause plotnya actually 'push' characteristics in our ML, MEREKA KERJAANNY FLIRTING MULU ELAH....IN FRONT OF MY SALAD??? Gw klok udh kesel ama orng gw kacangin INI MALAH SALONG TARIK ULUR WOY LAH
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Read for the ship. Stayed for the politics.
Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu (Novel) Vol. 1 by Tang Jiu Qing is an adventurous and politically charged story that will have you flipping back to the map and character index more than you'd care to admit. If you're looking for a light, breezy read, this probably isn't it. But if you're into intricate political intrigue and slow-burning romance, this is a series that will reel you in and keep you hooked.
Politics Galore
Let’s start with the politics. This series is dense, layered, and absolutely drenched in political maneuvering. There are so many factions, alliances, betrayals, and power plays happening at once that you’ll need to keep track of every detail to fully appreciate the story. I found myself re-reading passages to untangle the webs of deceit and shifting power dynamics. The sheer complexity of the political landscape is a treat. If you're like me and thrive on stories with heavy political content, you're in for a delight. But if that's not your thing, be prepared to let the politics wash over you—either way, it’s an essential part of the experience.
Let’s start with the politics. This series is dense, layered, and absolutely drenched in political maneuvering. There are so many factions, alliances, betrayals, and power plays happening at once that you’ll need to keep track of every detail to fully appreciate the story. I found myself re-reading passages to untangle the webs of deceit and shifting power dynamics. The sheer complexity of the political landscape is a treat. If you're like me and thrive on stories with heavy political content, you're in for a delight. But if that's not your thing, be prepared to let the politics wash over you—either way, it’s an essential part of the experience.
The Romance: A Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers
The romance is a long, slow burn that works its way through the pages with subtlety and tension. The relationship between Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan is a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers dynamic. It’s clear that they’re both drawn to each other, yet neither is willing to fully admit it, and watching that tension play out throughout the novel is both frustrating and rewarding. If you're a fan of slow-burn romance, this will be exactly what you’re craving.
The romance is a long, slow burn that works its way through the pages with subtlety and tension. The relationship between Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan is a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers dynamic. It’s clear that they’re both drawn to each other, yet neither is willing to fully admit it, and watching that tension play out throughout the novel is both frustrating and rewarding. If you're a fan of slow-burn romance, this will be exactly what you’re craving.
The Cast of Thousands
The story features a massive cast of characters, and it takes brain power to keep track of who’s who. The index and map are your best friends here because you’ll be referring to them often. The multitude of characters and their shifting allegiances means you’ll need a sharp memory, or at the very least, a good system for keeping everyone straight. While the large cast adds depth to the world-building, it also means you’ll occasionally find yourself lost in the sheer volume of names and factions.
Overall, Ballad of Sword and Wine is a novel that will keep you on your toes. With its intricate politics, slow-burn romance, and a sprawling cast of characters, it's a series that requires patience, attention to detail, and a love for complex storytelling. While the political intrigue might be overwhelming at times, it’s also what makes this story stand out. I’m excited to see where it goes, especially as the romance continues to build, and look forward to updating this review once the series reaches its conclusion. For now, though, it's a solid 4.0 for its depth, complexity, and the slow promise of more to come.
The story features a massive cast of characters, and it takes brain power to keep track of who’s who. The index and map are your best friends here because you’ll be referring to them often. The multitude of characters and their shifting allegiances means you’ll need a sharp memory, or at the very least, a good system for keeping everyone straight. While the large cast adds depth to the world-building, it also means you’ll occasionally find yourself lost in the sheer volume of names and factions.
Overall, Ballad of Sword and Wine is a novel that will keep you on your toes. With its intricate politics, slow-burn romance, and a sprawling cast of characters, it's a series that requires patience, attention to detail, and a love for complex storytelling. While the political intrigue might be overwhelming at times, it’s also what makes this story stand out. I’m excited to see where it goes, especially as the romance continues to build, and look forward to updating this review once the series reaches its conclusion. For now, though, it's a solid 4.0 for its depth, complexity, and the slow promise of more to come.
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Amazing, espectacular, I was confused in the beginning but it was so worth it.
Extremely intriguing but the plot is very dense and difficult to follow in some points. The characters are phenomenally developed and each interesting in their own way, they all contribute to the plot one way or another. It was a fun read!