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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
first off, my personal opinion on this book does not reflect the idea that others shouldn't read it.
that being said, this book was not my taste, that being a first among my reviews where i usually review to recommend books objectively.
after reading snippets of the manga and buying the light novel back in 2022, i thought i would enjoy it, even having much more context that display's each person's emotions that are not conveyed in the manga panels. and after reading this year after putting it off during a reading slump, my tastes in books has definitely changed.
the plot, being slightly unoriginal considering it somewhat parallels with the cinderella story, was still interesting, focusing on a topic that tends to get overlooked in a story, that being a person's trauma or memories that play in a role of someone's cognition (my psychology self is getting too excited as this). most of that buildup towards the end was fruitless as there was a generic issue that arose around the climax and was too rushed. the motivations between the antagonists were downright terrible; they didn't have the chance to take a firm stance on their actions and felt more cookie-cutter than complex.
the characters, most of the supporting roles, felt so bland. they played a role for the plot and they delivered the bare minimum. one character, however, did exceed my expectations slightly and would argue they were more interesting than the main character. that's not to say that the protagonist was also boring, i just think she was not fleshed-out enough to be a plausible character. she did feel like she was confined to a box and some of her actions felt like they were used to drive the plot forward.
the trope that i saw in the manga was not promised in THIS BOOK. it happened in the blink of an eye, and then the story kept moving forward, which is disappointing because i was hoping for it to get dragged until enough time was elapsed for a connection to start forming (and just to put my two cents in of my biased view which in no way affects my personal recommended rating, i was not interested in the relationship at all. i didn't feel what they were feeling, despite how emotional it was).
save your time, read the manga. i'm "legally" obligated to read the second volume because i got myself into this mess.
i will definitely not be recommending this as my favorites, but if i do come across someone who enjoys fluff and angst, i would likely suggest this book.
overall, two and a half stars. yikes. cover is five stars. that is some exquisite cover art.
that being said, this book was not my taste, that being a first among my reviews where i usually review to recommend books objectively.
after reading snippets of the manga and buying the light novel back in 2022, i thought i would enjoy it, even having much more context that display's each person's emotions that are not conveyed in the manga panels. and after reading this year after putting it off during a reading slump, my tastes in books has definitely changed.
the plot, being slightly unoriginal considering it somewhat parallels with the cinderella story, was still interesting, focusing on a topic that tends to get overlooked in a story, that being a person's trauma or memories that play in a role of someone's cognition (my psychology self is getting too excited as this). most of that buildup towards the end was fruitless as there was a generic issue that arose around the climax and was too rushed. the motivations between the antagonists were downright terrible; they didn't have the chance to take a firm stance on their actions and felt more cookie-cutter than complex.
the characters, most of the supporting roles, felt so bland. they played a role for the plot and they delivered the bare minimum. one character, however, did exceed my expectations slightly and would argue they were more interesting than the main character. that's not to say that the protagonist was also boring, i just think she was not fleshed-out enough to be a plausible character. she did feel like she was confined to a box and some of her actions felt like they were used to drive the plot forward.
the trope that i saw in the manga was not promised in THIS BOOK. it happened in the blink of an eye, and then the story kept moving forward, which is disappointing because i was hoping for it to get dragged until enough time was elapsed for a connection to start forming (and just to put my two cents in of my biased view which in no way affects my personal recommended rating, i was not interested in the relationship at all. i didn't feel what they were feeling, despite how emotional it was).
save your time, read the manga. i'm "legally" obligated to read the second volume because i got myself into this mess.
i will definitely not be recommending this as my favorites, but if i do come across someone who enjoys fluff and angst, i would likely suggest this book.
overall, two and a half stars. yikes. cover is five stars. that is some exquisite cover art.
Spoiler
i don't know how to feel about the eight-year age gap,,, i get that miyo is old enough to be an adult, but SHE JUST TURNED NINETEEN. AND KIYOKA IS ALREADY TWENTY SEVEN. TWENTY SEVEN!
A very cute light novel that carries a few clichés that are totally worth the time. Although it wasn’t unique per say it was incredibly enjoyable and fulfilling. I absolutely loved the Cinderella vibes of this story mixed with beauty and realism.
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
My first attempt at a light novel and a nice change of pace from my usual romance book. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next instalments. There were moments were I felt like the side characters were over the top in their behaviour, but I gave it the benefit of a doubt as it read like a manga to me.
Not at all what I expected. It was ok, the main girl was so annoying that about halfway through I just skipped a few chapters.
It was also difficult to read as it jumped characters and POV randomly.
It was also difficult to read as it jumped characters and POV randomly.
Çok klişe ve öngörülebilir ama kitapta hanımcı bir beyimiz var o yüzden beğenerek okudum.
Hanımcılık daima kazanır.
Hanımcılık daima kazanır.
Similar to the intricate details and soft tones of the cover, this story is about one neglected girl with low-self esteem finding trust and love in a somewhat impossible place.
I own both the physical and eBook version of this light novel and it’s solely because of the cover! The cover is both beautiful and mesmerizing and it was a hard pass to not buy both versions. However, I was thoroughly disappointed when I found out that neither version had any additional pictures in the book. Although this book may look like a calm and detailed story, it talks about some heavy themes such as abuse, trauma and child neglect; please read with caution.
Told in alternating views, the story follows Miyo Saimori. In a world where the gifted are privileged for being able to see the Grotesqueries, Miyo is an ungifted child born from an arranged marriage. When her mother passes, Miyo’s father turns a blind eye on her causing Miyo to face the wrath of her step mother and step sister all alone. As Miyo passes marriageable age, she is sent to Kiyoka Kudou as a potential fiancé for him. Kiyoka is known as a ruthless monster due to all his marriage candidates leaving within three days. However, as Miyo lives with Kiyoka and they get to know each other better, the love blossoms between the two. But there’s someone after Miyo and Kiyoka will do anything to keep her safe!
The story reads almost like a transcript or script to an anime. It switches between character perspectives as well as introduces flashbacks or background information, as needed. At first, this format was a little difficult to read and understand whose perspective we were in, given there are no headings or indication, but I did get the hang of it about a quarter of the way into the book. The multiple perspectives and background information provided as needed was actually kind of nice. I liked how it wasn’t a big information dump in the beginning and the multiple perspectives added details and different views. It allowed me to understand each character and why they may have been acting the way they were.
There aren’t a whole lot of characters in this book and not many are likable. Each character has their own personality and there’s a reason behind it as mentioned in the story, which may or may not appeal to readers. No one in this story is a ‘perfect character’ or similar to anything I’ve ever read before. They are all quite stubborn in their own ways with their own faults and lack of growth.
The world building isn’t great but there’s enough to understand the story. The gifted were an interesting concept to me but wasn’t the highlight of this light novel thus it wasn’t discussed much. I’m hoping the purpose of volume one was to introduce our main characters and establish the trust and bond between them, because I would like to read more about the gifted and their unique abilities in the next volume. The abilities were not very clear and ranged greatly between individuals and even between families. There is a bit of action but again, it’s not descriptive and Kiyoka is just way too strong so the fight ended quickly.
This is a romance. The romance is actually very cute but also very pure. It’s gradual to say the least and nothing comes unnaturally. It’s just a romantic relationship built on care and trust as well as trying to understand the other partner. I liked how the relationship was respectful and how Kiyoka started liking Miyo before he knew about her past. There are a few instances of typical shoujo scenes but they were more a pleasant addition to the story than repetitive or annoying.
Overall, I did enjoy this story and am looking forward to reading the next installment. I think I’ll also pick up the manga to see the visualization since pictures are always a nice addition. I’m really glad that Miyo, after many hardships, found Kiyoka who will support and cherish her and she’s also slowly building her confidence and self-esteem.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
I own both the physical and eBook version of this light novel and it’s solely because of the cover! The cover is both beautiful and mesmerizing and it was a hard pass to not buy both versions. However, I was thoroughly disappointed when I found out that neither version had any additional pictures in the book. Although this book may look like a calm and detailed story, it talks about some heavy themes such as abuse, trauma and child neglect; please read with caution.
Told in alternating views, the story follows Miyo Saimori. In a world where the gifted are privileged for being able to see the Grotesqueries, Miyo is an ungifted child born from an arranged marriage. When her mother passes, Miyo’s father turns a blind eye on her causing Miyo to face the wrath of her step mother and step sister all alone. As Miyo passes marriageable age, she is sent to Kiyoka Kudou as a potential fiancé for him. Kiyoka is known as a ruthless monster due to all his marriage candidates leaving within three days. However, as Miyo lives with Kiyoka and they get to know each other better, the love blossoms between the two. But there’s someone after Miyo and Kiyoka will do anything to keep her safe!
The story reads almost like a transcript or script to an anime. It switches between character perspectives as well as introduces flashbacks or background information, as needed. At first, this format was a little difficult to read and understand whose perspective we were in, given there are no headings or indication, but I did get the hang of it about a quarter of the way into the book. The multiple perspectives and background information provided as needed was actually kind of nice. I liked how it wasn’t a big information dump in the beginning and the multiple perspectives added details and different views. It allowed me to understand each character and why they may have been acting the way they were.
There aren’t a whole lot of characters in this book and not many are likable. Each character has their own personality and there’s a reason behind it as mentioned in the story, which may or may not appeal to readers. No one in this story is a ‘perfect character’ or similar to anything I’ve ever read before. They are all quite stubborn in their own ways with their own faults and lack of growth.
The world building isn’t great but there’s enough to understand the story. The gifted were an interesting concept to me but wasn’t the highlight of this light novel thus it wasn’t discussed much. I’m hoping the purpose of volume one was to introduce our main characters and establish the trust and bond between them, because I would like to read more about the gifted and their unique abilities in the next volume. The abilities were not very clear and ranged greatly between individuals and even between families. There is a bit of action but again, it’s not descriptive and Kiyoka is just way too strong so the fight ended quickly.
This is a romance. The romance is actually very cute but also very pure. It’s gradual to say the least and nothing comes unnaturally. It’s just a romantic relationship built on care and trust as well as trying to understand the other partner. I liked how the relationship was respectful and how Kiyoka started liking Miyo before he knew about her past. There are a few instances of typical shoujo scenes but they were more a pleasant addition to the story than repetitive or annoying.
Overall, I did enjoy this story and am looking forward to reading the next installment. I think I’ll also pick up the manga to see the visualization since pictures are always a nice addition. I’m really glad that Miyo, after many hardships, found Kiyoka who will support and cherish her and she’s also slowly building her confidence and self-esteem.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
My Happy Marriage (わたしの幸せな結婚) karya Akumi Agitogi.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Live reading thread: here
• age gap
• cute romance
• he feel first
• a beautiful man with a gentle demeanor
• a woman with a dark past, and a man who saved her from the past
Miyo: “I would like to stay with you, if you would permit it.”
Kiyoka: “Permit it?” He chuckled. “You’re the only one I want to live with. No one else will do.”
Miyo: “…!”
Miyo Saimori, anak tertua di keluarga Saimori dijadikan pembantu oleh keluarganya; ayah yang memalingkan wajah darinya; ibu tiri yang membencinya; dan saudara tiri yang lebih unggul darinya.
Di Kekaisaran, memiliki kekuatan berbakat menjadi pengatur nasib. Di umur 5 tahun mereka akan di lihat apakah memiliki kekuatan berbakat atau tidak.
Di umur 19 tahun, Miyo tidak memiliki kekuatan bakat. Sampai akhirnya ia dikirim ke kediaman Kudou; menjadi tunangan Kiyoka Kudou (27), kepala keluarga.
***
Cerita ini berlatar belakang di Jepang, pada masa Kekaisaran (late Meiji/early Taisho era) yang dipengaruhi Barat dan teknologi.
Terlepas dari age gap yang, lumayan jauh, cerita berjalan dengan baik. It's heartwarming story for me, walau ada bagian emosi bagaimana keluarga Miyo memperlakukannya sebagai pelayan hanya karena ia tak memiliki kekuatan berbakat.
Miyo diusir dari kediamannya sendiri dengan cara menjadi tunangan Kiyoka. Mereka (keluarga Saimori) berpikir bahwa jika Miyo dikirim kesana akan mati di selokan. (LOL)
Kiyoka is a gentle, beautiful man, despite his quiet demeanor. Cara dia memperhatikan Miyo, tidak mau salah paham karena sikap Miyo (dan akhirnya ia mencari tau sendiri), dan pada akhirnya Kiyoka jatuh cinta. (THIS IS SO CUTE!). Kiyoka ngasih Miyo kimono pink pucat karena dia tau, kalau Miyo pakai itu cantik banget + itu salah satu kesukaan Miyo.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Live reading thread: here
• age gap
• cute romance
• he feel first
• a beautiful man with a gentle demeanor
• a woman with a dark past, and a man who saved her from the past
Miyo: “I would like to stay with you, if you would permit it.”
Kiyoka: “Permit it?” He chuckled. “You’re the only one I want to live with. No one else will do.”
Miyo: “…!”
Miyo Saimori, anak tertua di keluarga Saimori dijadikan pembantu oleh keluarganya; ayah yang memalingkan wajah darinya; ibu tiri yang membencinya; dan saudara tiri yang lebih unggul darinya.
Di Kekaisaran, memiliki kekuatan berbakat menjadi pengatur nasib. Di umur 5 tahun mereka akan di lihat apakah memiliki kekuatan berbakat atau tidak.
Di umur 19 tahun, Miyo tidak memiliki kekuatan bakat. Sampai akhirnya ia dikirim ke kediaman Kudou; menjadi tunangan Kiyoka Kudou (27), kepala keluarga.
***
Cerita ini berlatar belakang di Jepang, pada masa Kekaisaran (late Meiji/early Taisho era) yang dipengaruhi Barat dan teknologi.
Terlepas dari age gap yang, lumayan jauh, cerita berjalan dengan baik. It's heartwarming story for me, walau ada bagian emosi bagaimana keluarga Miyo memperlakukannya sebagai pelayan hanya karena ia tak memiliki kekuatan berbakat.
Miyo diusir dari kediamannya sendiri dengan cara menjadi tunangan Kiyoka. Mereka (keluarga Saimori) berpikir bahwa jika Miyo dikirim kesana akan mati di selokan. (LOL)
Kiyoka is a gentle, beautiful man, despite his quiet demeanor. Cara dia memperhatikan Miyo, tidak mau salah paham karena sikap Miyo (dan akhirnya ia mencari tau sendiri), dan pada akhirnya Kiyoka jatuh cinta. (THIS IS SO CUTE!). Kiyoka ngasih Miyo kimono pink pucat karena dia tau, kalau Miyo pakai itu cantik banget + itu salah satu kesukaan Miyo.