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adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-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
I felt very conflicted about this novel and it was incredibly difficult for me to rate. As a big fan of historical political intrigue novels, I was excited to read a new novel that's a baihe and had high expectations going into this novel only to leave somewhat disappointed.
Pros/Cons:
- 8/10 The World Building. I love love loved the first half of the book. Yes, it was incredibly slow, but we got so much world-building (the military, the capital, and everything in between), relationship-building (I still look at the friendships built in this section fondly), and excellent character backgrounds (specifically the background, drive, and personalities of the main characters). Unfortunately, this all crumbles apart (for me personally) in the second half- especially the last 20 or so chapters. I'm not sure if people were complaining about the lack of romance and all the war/battles, but the switch up of the novel being mostly political intrigue with a subplot of romance turned into a romance novel with some weak political stuff going around in the background. More on this later, but I felt blindsided by this switch and the pacing of the last arc.
- 8/10 Side Characters. Some of my favorite side characters written!! I love my side lesbians. I love how the side characters are written with care and they have their own stories outside the main characters. You can really see the strength of the side characters in the chapter with Yu Wan's confession. I know a lot of people are fans of the side characters in the extra (I am as well!), but Yu Wan's confession as this heart that was lacking with the extras (most likely because the extras are much more light-hearted). Also I loved loved loved Lin Yue- loyal, funny, and I can't talk about him in full because I will breakdown. I have a huge grudge against the author over the choices she bad in the last arc, but one of my largest complaint is thatwe never hear or see Lin Wanyue's military friends after she returns to the capital. It's such a disservice to the relationships and friendships (brotherhood!!) she built in the first half of the novel. I just can't understand why the author would back this choice, because instead of getting closure to those important side characters we get extras from other side characters? Don't get me wrong, those side characters are a delight but what about LWY's old military comrades?
Overall, I agree with the author's statement that "if you get [the main couple's romance], you get it. If you don't, and feel that it's washed out, that it's not satisfying, I can't do anything about that." And I just didn't get it. I like the main characters individually, but their relationship just didn't work for me... which I guess doesn't matter- glad they're happy and the author is satisfied... it's their baby ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Pros/Cons:
- 8/10 The World Building. I love love loved the first half of the book. Yes, it was incredibly slow, but we got so much world-building (the military, the capital, and everything in between), relationship-building (I still look at the friendships built in this section fondly), and excellent character backgrounds (specifically the background, drive, and personalities of the main characters). Unfortunately, this all crumbles apart (for me personally) in the second half- especially the last 20 or so chapters. I'm not sure if people were complaining about the lack of romance and all the war/battles, but the switch up of the novel being mostly political intrigue with a subplot of romance turned into a romance novel with some weak political stuff going around in the background. More on this later, but I felt blindsided by this switch and the pacing of the last arc.
- 8/10 Side Characters. Some of my favorite side characters written!! I love my side lesbians. I love how the side characters are written with care and they have their own stories outside the main characters. You can really see the strength of the side characters in the chapter with Yu Wan's confession. I know a lot of people are fans of the side characters in the extra (I am as well!), but Yu Wan's confession as this heart that was lacking with the extras (most likely because the extras are much more light-hearted). Also I loved loved loved Lin Yue- loyal, funny, and I can't talk about him in full because I will breakdown. I have a huge grudge against the author over the choices she bad in the last arc, but one of my largest complaint is that
Overall, I agree with the author's statement that "if you get [the main couple's romance], you get it. If you don't, and feel that it's washed out, that it's not satisfying, I can't do anything about that." And I just didn't get it. I like the main characters individually, but their relationship just didn't work for me... which I guess doesn't matter- glad they're happy and the author is satisfied... it's their baby ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War
Moderate: Eating disorder, Infertility, Kidnapping
Minor: Miscarriage, Lesbophobia
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
THE LAST EXTRA (underworld) WAS FUCKING UNDERRATED! I SHRED TEARS TO THAT!
SOBRANG GANDA NIYA NAPAKA OH MY GOD.
This book made me cry, laugh, stressed me out. Fuck its roller coaster feeling. Im new to this genre yet it breaks me and complete me at the same time. No chapter is a waste! Im telling you! Its so good!
This author is solely focusing in reality. Her thought of reality that written in. The the character has their own perspective as their own thoughts.
ALL OF THEM HAS THEIR OWN DEMONS! (Showing the reality of life really. It amuses me.)
Im crying i love them all. All of the characters are unique.
Ill read the author's other books to what i need to be prepared cause what she's writing is not just a fiction, rather it's a new world.
IM EXCITED!
PLUS I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO READ THIS BOOK! HUHUHU
Lin Wanyue x Li Xian 🩷 POWER COUPLE!
SOBRANG GANDA NIYA NAPAKA OH MY GOD.
This book made me cry, laugh, stressed me out. Fuck its roller coaster feeling. Im new to this genre yet it breaks me and complete me at the same time. No chapter is a waste! Im telling you! Its so good!
This author is solely focusing in reality. Her thought of reality that written in. The the character has their own perspective as their own thoughts.
ALL OF THEM HAS THEIR OWN DEMONS! (Showing the reality of life really. It amuses me.)
Im crying i love them all. All of the characters are unique.
Ill read the author's other books to what i need to be prepared cause what she's writing is not just a fiction, rather it's a new world.
IM EXCITED!
PLUS I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO READ THIS BOOK! HUHUHU
Lin Wanyue x Li Xian 🩷 POWER COUPLE!
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cannibalism, Cultural appropriation
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Yes
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-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:
No
This is one longass book.... I don't even know where to start.
First of all , this is published online and fan translated. The writing (or translation) on a technical level, is not very good. It's extremely stilted a lot of phrasings are odd. And as someone not familiar with this genre a lot of terms were puzzling and remained unexplained within the story. Before starting the book you really should be awareof this, it didn't really impact my enjoyment and I got over it quickly.
The format also affects the pacing, it has short chapters and was published daily. On one hand I think this sort of platform and format offered the author the freedom to go where she wanted with the story. It's very slow paced and I think an editor would cut down a lot of it and it would lose a lot of it's charm (this could ultimately be for the better but I think letting the author have full control has it's own benefits) not to mention this sort of story isn't likely to be published in the first place. The short chapters make the long overall story easier to digest. It also has very short paragraphs, perhaps this is normal in chinese but it stood out to me as a bit odd. But again this just made the read feel quicker.
For the first half of the story I thought id be giving it 5 stars despite the technical issues which I was willing to look over because it's not traditionally published or translated and it didn't make me enjoy it any less. A bit after the halfway point when all the set up was supposed to start to pay off....it just didn't. Things were glossed over and resolved in ways in convenient ways. Ultimately I felt very unsatisfied with almost all conflicts resolution. For example my biggest problem was
Some people think the ending was rushed, honestly by that point I had lost most of my investment, and didn't care because the stuff I did care about got resolved in such unsatisfying ways. I read most of the extras and I actually really enjoyed a side character who gets more development there, author explained why she put that in extras but I think that could have been fit into the main story and made it stronger for it. As is most side characters are extremely flat and you're only there for the main couple. Who I do like, a lot. I wouldn't have read this long a book if I didn't. But that's also why I was annoyed with the non-resolutions of their clashing world views.
I've been very negative but I did enjoy most of the book a lot, the ending did "ruin" it a bit but it's still the first novel of an indie author and I will definitely check out other things by her but this one I can't in good conscience give more than 3 stars, still would recommend it , just know what you're getting into.
First of all , this is published online and fan translated. The writing (or translation) on a technical level, is not very good. It's extremely stilted a lot of phrasings are odd. And as someone not familiar with this genre a lot of terms were puzzling and remained unexplained within the story. Before starting the book you really should be awareof this, it didn't really impact my enjoyment and I got over it quickly.
The format also affects the pacing, it has short chapters and was published daily. On one hand I think this sort of platform and format offered the author the freedom to go where she wanted with the story. It's very slow paced and I think an editor would cut down a lot of it and it would lose a lot of it's charm (this could ultimately be for the better but I think letting the author have full control has it's own benefits) not to mention this sort of story isn't likely to be published in the first place. The short chapters make the long overall story easier to digest. It also has very short paragraphs, perhaps this is normal in chinese but it stood out to me as a bit odd. But again this just made the read feel quicker.
For the first half of the story I thought id be giving it 5 stars despite the technical issues which I was willing to look over because it's not traditionally published or translated and it didn't make me enjoy it any less. A bit after the halfway point when all the set up was supposed to start to pay off....it just didn't. Things were glossed over and resolved in ways in convenient ways. Ultimately I felt very unsatisfied with almost all conflicts resolution. For example my biggest problem was
Spoiler
Wanyue is mad at Li Xian for years for being a murderous manipulative weirdo but when they "talk it out" Li Xian just goes, well, i don't regret what I did, and I'd do it again, but also I am out of the situation that I need to do that sort of thing now. and Wanyue is satisfied with that..? Like I'm sorry this is the lamest resolution possible. Maybe something was lost in translation there but even so this conversation made no sense to me and was extremely unsatisfyingSome people think the ending was rushed, honestly by that point I had lost most of my investment, and didn't care because the stuff I did care about got resolved in such unsatisfying ways. I read most of the extras and I actually really enjoyed a side character who gets more development there, author explained why she put that in extras but I think that could have been fit into the main story and made it stronger for it. As is most side characters are extremely flat and you're only there for the main couple. Who I do like, a lot. I wouldn't have read this long a book if I didn't. But that's also why I was annoyed with the non-resolutions of their clashing world views.
I've been very negative but I did enjoy most of the book a lot, the ending did "ruin" it a bit but it's still the first novel of an indie author and I will definitely check out other things by her but this one I can't in good conscience give more than 3 stars, still would recommend it , just know what you're getting into.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
emotional
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i didn’t think any book would come close to jwqs, which has been my best read of this year, but the author has outdone herself. this was actually her first book but holy shit is it a masterpiece.
the political intrigue, the schemes, the plans, the depth of the main and side characters, the plot, just everything about this was gorgeous.
“in this life of mine, i’m so glad that i could have you as my wife.”
i cannot describe the love i have for lin wanyue and li xian. both were such good main characters. just them.
the second to last and last chapters (technically the extras) made me cry. i cry kinda easily at books but oh my god. i was sobbing.
okay now to try to make this somewhat of an actual review.
the amount of foreshadowing that was later revealed was amazing. it was so amazing i got mad i didn’t notice sooner. but just the amount of thinking and care that was put into the plot and characters was breathtaking. some of it i only comprehended after reading the author’s notes but once explained it was that much better. speaking of the author’s notes, they added so much to the story. i loved reading them.
now for the one thing i didn’t really like. the author did the same thing as jwqs. she tried to put too much plot in the last ten chapters or so (of the main story, not the extras). she just tried to do too much in 70 pages. it should’ve been fleshed out more. this also happened with jwqs, like i said. i do like how she ended both stories, though. with a happy ending and a peaceful, quiet life for both main characters. honestly she puts her characters through a lot.
but other than that this book was an absolute masterpiece. i would definitely reread all 1500 pages again just to experience the story once more and to catch the foreshadowing.
the political intrigue, the schemes, the plans, the depth of the main and side characters, the plot, just everything about this was gorgeous.
“in this life of mine, i’m so glad that i could have you as my wife.”
i cannot describe the love i have for lin wanyue and li xian. both were such good main characters. just them.
the second to last and last chapters (technically the extras) made me cry. i cry kinda easily at books but oh my god. i was sobbing.
okay now to try to make this somewhat of an actual review.
the amount of foreshadowing that was later revealed was amazing. it was so amazing i got mad i didn’t notice sooner. but just the amount of thinking and care that was put into the plot and characters was breathtaking. some of it i only comprehended after reading the author’s notes but once explained it was that much better. speaking of the author’s notes, they added so much to the story. i loved reading them.
now for the one thing i didn’t really like. the author did the same thing as jwqs. she tried to put too much plot in the last ten chapters or so (of the main story, not the extras). she just tried to do too much in 70 pages. it should’ve been fleshed out more. this also happened with jwqs, like i said. i do like how she ended both stories, though. with a happy ending and a peaceful, quiet life for both main characters. honestly she puts her characters through a lot.
but other than that this book was an absolute masterpiece. i would definitely reread all 1500 pages again just to experience the story once more and to catch the foreshadowing.