A review by arcticaster
Golden Terrace: Volume 1 by Cang Wu Bin Bai

emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.75

I only subtracted 0.25 star because of a couple minor plot inconsistencies in the political intrigue, but it really didn't detract much from the overall work. Especially since this is first and foremost a romance, with an accompanying political plot. There were some great elements of class struggle, homophobia, ableism, and morality in leadership.
The writing and translation were divine. the amount of metaphor and poetic prose used to tell the story was delicious.

As a person with a disability that effects my legs I GREATLY enjoyed the disability representation. There were little details with Fu Shen's chronic pain that were so niche and detailed that I swear the author either did great research or understands it first-hand.


They are such a healthy couple full of adoration and care for one another, and alone each character has a strong personality as well. It made their chemistry so fun to read, and you can tell exactly what they like about each other based on their own characteristics. I also like that their morals were similar but not identical, which occasionally caused minor irritation between them, but overall their ability to understand one another always wins out. 
Genuinely, I cried over how much they love and cherish eachother. They have the funniest little quips and teases, but their communication is excellent.
Also fantastic example of verbal consent for sex, stopping when consent is retracted, expression of boundaries, and communication during emotional and physical intimacy. 
The intimate scene is a fade to black with no graphic details, which I think was nice for this book. 
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