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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First and foremost: look at this cover. I LOVE a pretty cover, and this is a PRETTY. COVER.
So, if you've been around a while (or, like, since February when I last reviewed a book, oops), you'll know I'm a massive sucker for Xianxia/Wuxia stories, and basically anything involving any hint of Chinese mythology in general. Add in one of my favorite tropes ever (time travel), and this was directly up my alley.
On that note, though, while I would consider this a relatively good debut, the story itself still felt like it was lacking something for me. Especially at the start, I struggled to get past the first 10%. It got better, sure, especially once we got a larger cast of characters with the princes thrown in, but I still read along feeling like I was waiting for something that didn't ultimately happen. A more thorough background of the story our main character, Shin'ar, or Mingshin as she's called by non-family members, went through before being punted back in time might have made her second go more enjoyable to read, but any information we're given on that was typically info-dumped on us, and it made it feel messier than it should have been.
The best part of the story, by far, was the trials. And maybe it's because I'm a sucker for trials, but I was so invested as they were going on, and the way they were written was the best in the entire book. The romance aspect hinted at while they were going on was a little left-field (the entire romance was sort of left-field if I'm honest, but that's how it be sometimes I guess), but it worked pretty well for one of the trials, even if I kind of hated the guy. (I don't want to say who, just in case you're going in blind, it might be a surprise idk.) In general, that whole section of the book really showed Mingshin as a character in ways she hadn't been before, and it endeared her to me far more than the start did.
(I only wish I had seen more of Yunle, because their friendship was the best relationship in the book for me. Justice for Yunle.)
By the end, though, I was lost again, and not in the way I enjoy being lost when it comes to books. Everything started happening at once and it became hard to keep up with the twists that, ultimately, didn't impress me at all. We know there's something up with Mingshin, it's literally a time-travel trope where she's thrown back to relive the last two years of her life (which, actually, only ended up being, what, a few months?). Something is flucky with this girl. Unfortunately, it was poorly woven into the other plot points, and I ended up being somewhat confused as to what the actual point was supposed to be. Without spoilers, that probably could have been executed much better. And paced much better, because wow did it all come at you fast. I have whiplash.
I'm assuming there will be a sequel despite it not being mentioned on Goodreads, and I will be reading it. I want more Yunle in my life.
But, to end this all off, I'll absolutely be keeping an eye on the author for more. I love me some Chinese mythology stories, and I'm always looking for more.
First and foremost: look at this cover. I LOVE a pretty cover, and this is a PRETTY. COVER.
So, if you've been around a while (or, like, since February when I last reviewed a book, oops), you'll know I'm a massive sucker for Xianxia/Wuxia stories, and basically anything involving any hint of Chinese mythology in general. Add in one of my favorite tropes ever (time travel), and this was directly up my alley.
On that note, though, while I would consider this a relatively good debut, the story itself still felt like it was lacking something for me. Especially at the start, I struggled to get past the first 10%. It got better, sure, especially once we got a larger cast of characters with the princes thrown in, but I still read along feeling like I was waiting for something that didn't ultimately happen. A more thorough background of the story our main character, Shin'ar, or Mingshin as she's called by non-family members, went through before being punted back in time might have made her second go more enjoyable to read, but any information we're given on that was typically info-dumped on us, and it made it feel messier than it should have been.
The best part of the story, by far, was the trials. And maybe it's because I'm a sucker for trials, but I was so invested as they were going on, and the way they were written was the best in the entire book. The romance aspect hinted at while they were going on was a little left-field (the entire romance was sort of left-field if I'm honest, but that's how it be sometimes I guess), but it worked pretty well for one of the trials, even if I kind of hated the guy. (I don't want to say who, just in case you're going in blind, it might be a surprise idk.) In general, that whole section of the book really showed Mingshin as a character in ways she hadn't been before, and it endeared her to me far more than the start did.
(I only wish I had seen more of Yunle, because their friendship was the best relationship in the book for me. Justice for Yunle.)
By the end, though, I was lost again, and not in the way I enjoy being lost when it comes to books. Everything started happening at once and it became hard to keep up with the twists that, ultimately, didn't impress me at all. We know there's something up with Mingshin, it's literally a time-travel trope where she's thrown back to relive the last two years of her life (which, actually, only ended up being, what, a few months?). Something is flucky with this girl. Unfortunately, it was poorly woven into the other plot points, and I ended up being somewhat confused as to what the actual point was supposed to be. Without spoilers, that probably could have been executed much better. And paced much better, because wow did it all come at you fast. I have whiplash.
I'm assuming there will be a sequel despite it not being mentioned on Goodreads, and I will be reading it. I want more Yunle in my life.
But, to end this all off, I'll absolutely be keeping an eye on the author for more. I love me some Chinese mythology stories, and I'm always looking for more.
adventurous
fast-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
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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
I love reading stories like these where the protagonist goes back in time or gets a second chance at life!❣️✨ Who doesn't have regrets lol. And bonus points if the book involves a revenge plot
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
I LOVE. the first few chapters are maybe a bit slow but TRUST ME IT'S WORTH IT!!! it's so thrilling i read it the whole day yesterday
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
fast-paced
This book was so fun! If you're a fan of the reincarnation/rebirth plotlines that are highly prevalent in manga/manhwa/manhua then this is a perfect book for you! Seriously go read it!
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
This was such a fun quick read! I really enjoyed the book overall but some of the dialogue felt a little juvenile and out of place for the characters. That one flaw was easy to overlook given the complexity and thoughtfulness of the plot and the character growth.
4.5 Stars!
This was so great! I had so much fun reading this and I will for sure read the next installment
We start off with a bang. Mingshin gets murdered by her romantic interest in the first chapter after having been instrumental in making him king. As she's dying she prays to the gods to turn back time and wakes up two years in the past with a second chance at life.
This story is filled with court politics, intrigue, betrayals, and smart, angry vengeful women. It has very common themes, plot structure, and execution of romance to most manhua graphic novels that are geared towards younger audiences.
This feels like a very middle YA book, mixing darker themes with simple, easy to understand writing. Honestly, it was an extremely bingeable and enjoyable read. Nothing was subtle about this fast paced revenge novel and I thought it was perfect just the way that executed and for the target audience it's trying to reach. I was cheering and rooting for Mingshin the whole way through. I loved how strong and smart she was yet there still was much growth in her character throughout the novel. The romance was pretty darn cute too!
Highly recommend!
Thank you to Union Square & Co. and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
This was so great! I had so much fun reading this and I will for sure read the next installment
We start off with a bang. Mingshin gets murdered by her romantic interest in the first chapter after having been instrumental in making him king. As she's dying she prays to the gods to turn back time and wakes up two years in the past with a second chance at life.
This story is filled with court politics, intrigue, betrayals, and smart, angry vengeful women. It has very common themes, plot structure, and execution of romance to most manhua graphic novels that are geared towards younger audiences.
This feels like a very middle YA book, mixing darker themes with simple, easy to understand writing. Honestly, it was an extremely bingeable and enjoyable read. Nothing was subtle about this fast paced revenge novel and I thought it was perfect just the way that executed and for the target audience it's trying to reach. I was cheering and rooting for Mingshin the whole way through. I loved how strong and smart she was yet there still was much growth in her character throughout the novel. The romance was pretty darn cute too!
Highly recommend!
Thank you to Union Square & Co. and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
i was eating up this whole plot tbh! also so here for yunle and fei i hope we get more abt them
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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