[MANHWA] You Think It's Easy Rewriting a Story? / 원작은 아무나 비트나 (2025)

Season 1. Based on a novel, also has alternative title, Anyone Beats the Original (title of the novel).

Reincarnation stories are all the rage these days, but I never thought I’d be the one getting reborn! But still, life as a rich man’s beautiful daughter is pretty sweet... except for one thing. No matter what I do, where I run, or who I romance, this novel is dead-set on getting me hitched to the handsome duke destined to kill me! There must be some way to change my fate, right? I won't go out like this!

I have no idea why the rates are so abismal on NU, this story in the form of manhwa is simply everything I search in the story. Great characters, slowly progressing plot that promises some twist, beautiful art. And COMEDY. Honestly, maybe the story may not seem like that, but the way it is drawn is simply HYSTERICAL.

FMC is a menace. She may be having the face of an angel (those who know load of villainess character have blonde hair will get PTSD from this), but she is so much more than just a pretty face.

In order to survive and change her fate FMC acted a bit unhinged at first, before she realized nothing changed her fate of marrying the villain. But later she realizes that there is more to the story and she.. actually joins her husband in his revenge.

Although he is a "villain" but he is such a sweet giant as well. He came to like this unusual woman who became his wife. She also came to love him.

The way they protect each other is everything.

It's also great that FMC befriended the original female protag. You know how often female characters are pitted against each other? Of course there is a fair share of those cannon fodder women here too, but when it comes to main characters it's not very often seen. It's a good trend that they get it done this way more and more.

Also it is obvious that something is brewing about the original male protag who is the crown prince. We do not like him in this house and he can piss off.

Although the stakes may seem high or low it is still very fun to explore the topic of fate or inevitability. Because FMC has no auxilary helping hand she has no idea if she changed anything or not. Something is definitely changing but is it enough? Will it work? Her choice changes with the flow of the story, which is a nice change of some set in stone path, like it often happen with majority of protags. 

Honestly, I was smitten by the story and the characters. Waiting for more.

[Chinese BL novel] 绿茶穿进虐文后[穿书] by 日光融融 / Green tea persona transmigrates into a tragic novel

I say green tea persona, because it's a BL story after all and the "green tea" girl is a boy.

Also at the moment of me typing this, this story is fully available on JJ for free, but I bet it won't be long before it'll be locked after it's completion.

Another point is the novel is officially not over, but we're moving towards it and basically overcame all the main points of the story.

(I am aware that the cover title and final title don't match, that's obviously because it changed along the way and I saved the old one, the cover changed to default ugly one)

Summary: An Yu, successful in his career, but a lonely person in life transmigrates to become a tragic unloved son of the An family. He promises to avenge the original An Yu, one who loved his family but whose feelings were never resciprocated, who had no idea why his life was like this.

Forced to marry the Xing family in the plot, now An Yu uses this marriage to his advances. Because he knows the plot, he also knows the secrets, the only thing left is to play along and release a bit of the tea scent. After all he is the premium green tea.

#1vs1, smart protag, found family, wealthy families, a bit of entertainment, fast-paced story

The story basically covers how An Yu who transmigartes, follows along with some of the plot, but also changes his own fate and avenges the original An Yu. Since he knows the secrets of the An family and his own.

From "forced" marriage to a loving relationship, from being a no one to becoming the center of attention. Although he is green tea premium, it does not mean he is a hypocritical fellow like his brothers, especially original shou of the story - An Shi. He weaved the lie within a truth. And he is quite sincere towards people he cares about.

This is actually a very upbeat story that almost gallops through the main plot. I feel like no part of it used too much space, a lot of things were "solved" in just few chapters and each instance was treated the same way. This is why the story feels very fast-paced and easy to read (no angst).

For a change our main protagonist An Yu does not berates the original An Yu, I see it often when authors inadvertantly compares the OG characters to their protagonists as if there is a need to show who's better (especially how their protagonists are a hundred time better and won't do all those silly things), but An Yu totally realizes the inability of OG An Yu to act, that he was basically cornered and had no power over his situation. He was abused since childhood and thus developed a weak personality that could be pushed around, but because he believed in his family he did as he was told to, not realizing that it will lead him to his doom.

The story starts a bit before the forced marriage. An Yu plays along at first, getting more and more out of An family. Not to mention some of it is a payback, while the An family can't do anything to him. Because original An Yu was framed for stealing the marriage, this time An Yu did not bother to clear things up even if he had proof, because he never planned to stick around.

Xing Zhan, ML, at first did not like An Yu and had the worst impression of him, but he was a person of dignity and did not make a scene at their marriage, later due to An Yu's influence of the tea persona he slowly figured out some inner workings of the An family and how An Yu was treated (I mean, the guy was basically malnourished, which was claimed to be "for his own good", he was treated so poorly to make him go through hardships and understand how those below him live, when he lived below the lowest point), so even if An Yu "stole" the marriage, Xing Zhan forgave him for it while finding that it was justified.

The marriage was actually for Xing Zhan to make his sick grandfather not worry about Xing Zhan leading a lonely life, so he chose An Shi from the An family, he didn't really care who, it was Mrs Xing's decision. An Shi had a perfect image on the outside, but others did not know how fake it was. Like Xing mother saw him saving a kitten (if I'm not wrong), but she did not know An Shi abused the kitten and it was An Yu who saved it. Xing Zhan thought it was strange, but he saw the cat, cat was basically skin and bones and you mean to tell An Shi cared for it while boasting that An Yu stole it. An Yu was also skin and bones, his health was quite poor, this is what made Xing Zhan think twice. Thank Gd ML is not oblivious type. Like what son of a wealthy family is malnourished? And some other details that played in An Yu's favor also became a part of his ever-changing opinion.

But nothing stays secret. Xing family soon found out about the stolen marriage. Once again, An Yu followed along with all demands, all prenuptial agreements, private agreements with the family and even Xing Zhan's friend. Because he knew he never planned to stick around when the marriage will end. He planned to take compensation and do his own thing. The Xing family was disappointed at first knowing the "truth". But with time their perception of An Yu changed and they still liked him, forgiving the incident and even regretting their rash decision. An Yu never really cared for the blame, because he totally could understand the idea of protecting your closest people from harm. If anything he envied Xing Zhan.

This story isn't about how An Yu is a total hypocrate and uses everything. It's more like truth weaved with a bit of lie as I said. Although he followed along for the health of Xing grandpa, he still liked the old man and cared for him with his heart, even when grandpa made him sign papers to leave Xing family with nothing. Mrs Xing also was baffled that An Yu "stole" the marriage, but later figured that An Yu wasn't like that and he even saved her life in the story.

But of course Xing Zhan is the one who came to regret his attitude the most. How could he have known that An Yu will become the love of his life? It's a bit cliche that he changed for An Yu, worked less, also became the second owner of the cat, cared for An Yu's health, even learned to cook.

Their quiet life made him feel home.

As for the An family, they slowly got their comeuppance. Even An Shi, whose image of the perfect boy was ruined (mainly by his own hands too). Maybe he was the type of assertive main character in the original story, but honestly the guy is rotten like his entire family.

The og plot described that An Shi pushed the marriage because he fell for another person. So not to seem scheming or ungrateful he derrived such a plot with his family. They also spread the word, which ruined An Yu's rep. But in this timeline An Yu befriended Zong Xiuyuan (og male lead) beforehand and they became close. Xiuyuan also was surprised to find that with time he felt how hypocritical and manipulative the moves of An Shi were.

Even the cat became the living proof of An Shi's hypocricy. After all he took it for Xiuyuan to seem benevolent, but never cared for the cat, only remembered when it was needed.

While og An Yu treated the cat like an only family and an emotional support.

The cat became like a mascot of the story, it doesn't play the biggest role, but some things came to light because of it. 

So main plotlines were dealing with the An family and development of feelings between An Yu and Xing Zhan.

In regards to their feelings, actually An Yu proposed to be more open about it, especially physically, which Xing Zhan refused (regretted it a hundred time later). But An Yu really did not want to stick around with this marriage, only because he did not want to be bound. In his previous life he saw too much in the entertainment world, where no relationship was pure love. It came to Xing Zhan to win An Yu slowly over again. And since they spent so much time together and truly became family, it was easier for him to accept Xing Zhan among anyone else.

Surely, the story is not over, but basically it dealt with everything it planned to deal at the beginning. I'm only waiting for the concusion.

It was one if not only novel that I was reading. I've been too much into manhwa lately.

RATE: 4,5/5.

[MANHWA] Not Your Typical Reincarnation Story / 흔한 빙의물인 줄 알았다 (2023)

Nothing is original.

Summary: Not all villains are evil. When Suna Choi reincarnates as Edith Rigelhof, the villain from her favorite novel, she is determined to change Edith’s life around and treats everyone with kindness. Although she marries the handsome Killian Rudwick, he is madly in love with the original protagonist of the book and mistrusts Edith because she is from a rival family. Will her marriage survive the whirlwind of family feuds, love triangles, and more? Will Edith find her happy ending?

I say nothing is original anymore, because it isn't. Although it says not your typical reincarnation story, but those who read many stories like that, they know damn well how unoriginal this is. If you new to the genre and this type of story though you may be surprised, but I may not want to introduce you to it through this story. Although it's relatively short.

My main problem was and stays with how plot forces FL stay oblivious. Any other person after a try or two would suspect characters the closest to the OG plot. But FL did not do it till the very end. She honestly believed in the good of people, but it felt silly of her to do so. The same was for some places that felt fakely dramatic, as if they were made to be drama for the sake of drama.

The rest of it was quite typical melodrama befitting this type of story. Character who have no idea that they're part of the plot and are tragically follow it as puppets. Slow realization of your past mistakes. Awakening of the characters. And Edith who has to endure it all knowing that people surrounding her are affected by the plot and she can't do anything about it.

Another problem with FL was she acting like a nympho at first... It was so odd.

Another critic is how the romance is handled... I still have no idea how why Killian started to feel that way about her. He was breaking off from the plot quite quickly, but in an awkward way. Of course it's good that he found her positive sides when she tried to defend herself. Same for Edith, she is attracted to his face before he does something that proves she can rely on him, which I find a tad bit shallow. But it also takes some time, since he is also under the influence of the plot. He often said things in an awful way, you wouldn't expect her to ever trust this guy.

The overall story is same old. Though author tried too hard to twist it a bit.

Spoilers of course~

The OG blonde girl. Not bothered to remember her name. Laughed hard how someone commented they're going to have PTSD when looking at blonde characters since they all are villainous. The OG blonde girl wanted to save OG Edith (feels so yuri) and OG Edith is awakened. At first we hear from Edith that she awakened ablity to call for "outside help" and she thought the author will have mercy, but the author is the one who brought mysery to all consequent Ediths. Time after time the story starts, author replaced the OG heroine and used everything to make Edith myserable. Edith died many times, each time it's a different girl from author's world (S.Korea). Now it's like 13th time and our new Edith. She is wary of the og plot events so she tries to avoid them, not realizing someone is setting her up all the time. They don't have enough proof, but Edith ends up with bad rep anyway.

There were three instances when author can place "conditions" that Edith must accomplish. Author thinks they're impossible but Edith manages to do them, even if she has no idea what they are. But with each condition met athor's authority is diminished and eliminated completely. Meaning more and more characters are awakened from the plot, unlike most important character who took time.

Although tormented by the plot Killian started to believe his wife more, especially when he realized that the ones winning from it are those he did not expect.

The author and the elder brother are found guilty of what they were doing behind the scenes. Their parents tried to fix it. And at this moment author left, meaning the OG heroine who started it all came back and lived later in monastery to atone for her sins and bringing up innocent lives to this world.

Author was sent back to her world. The eldest son being so obsessed with her followed in a while, but they of course did not have a great ending since conditions changed so much. From nobility to rundown house with a woman who does not resemble his lover and needing to learn and work.

Since the last Edith won the freedom for all previous people they chose to leave to another world. Edith stayed with Killian to enjoy her happy ending. 

Some say that beginning isn't the greatest but the rest of the story picks up. I'm not denying it. But I can't say it's that one great story.

I actually am impressed that it happened to be forgettable. Like only few days passed since I read it and a lot of details except the main points slipped from my memory. And that I was baffled by how FL was forced to be oblivious to who the culprit is...

[SHORT REVIEWS] #25 EXPANDED

I was thinking why not add other things I watch or would like to recommend in short reviews outside of books, reviews are for everything after all.

Point is, I was watching more these days than reading... Though reading webtoons is also reading, just a different type? But also the dramas~

NOVELS

KOREAN

Gilded Princess

Excuse me, wy this has low rating on NU?

First of all, the synopsis to this novel is shit, I was confused before I read it. And the story felt good. The prose is more thought through, the character has more depth and different choices to make.

The basic idea is, FMC is saved from kidnapping only to be betrayed by someone close to her, only then she realized that her thoughts of a normal life might be futile and only status and money will allow her to be protected, so she agrees to her families arranged marriage (MMC is not someone she is supposed to marry due this arrangement).

SPOILERS

She later finds out that her future husband has violent tendencies and her own family won't care about her well-being since they desperately wish to connect to nobility.

She grew up to be a perfect lady, not of her own free will, she was trained a bred to be the most graceful and beautiful vase her mother could think off. She always was against it inside before she gave up, but the violent future husband is not something she wanted for herself. In desperation she wants to escape only having nowhere to go and being chased and searched everywhere. The only person who came to mind was MMC, he once saved her, but he is someone who so far was on the opposite side of her because he wants to ruin the family she wanted to marry.

I think the story so far was quite good, it shows changes that take place with our choices and mindset etc.

My Arrogant and Insolent Shadow

Once again I dislike the summaries of Korean novels, they're confusing, can't you make it sound normal like what to expect? Sure, part of the summary is true, but a big chunk of premise is missing. She is a commoner girl, true, she lives in this small town, also true, she is hired (she needs money for her mom's medicine) to take care of some young master of unknown identity but noblest birth, very true, but he is also said to be living his last days in this small town, which made him so insufferable. She is the only one who could handle his temper and he was interested in this girl's attitude. So he asked her to return and serve him.

I though it sounded weird, but when I started reading I was again baffled by the difference of what I see in the summary and the novel itself. I don't know, I don't think my comprehensive skills are bad, it's just confusing information the way they write. So I was intrigued to keep on going, will continue to read. I admit I only started with few chapters and decided to leave it for later, since I was in the "let's clean bookmarks" stage.

WEBTOONS

MANHUA

Love by Mistake

(错撩)

(or manhua that has too many alternate titles, like The Wrong Flirt, Only for love, Accidental love)

Based on a novel from JJ and I never read it, but the premise of it is not new but the execution of manhua is EXCELLENT. The art is overwhelmingly gorgeous and fun.

The plot follows Zheng Shuyi (I like her og name, I know the Eng tl named her completely different) who was broke up with her boyfriend because of his cheating, he wanted to achieve quick success with the "right girl", while Shuyi noticed the presence of a RR Phantom in the scenario she thought of getting to know the infamous "uncle" of this little mistress girl, just to become an aunt and let her ex call her auntie, but who knew that she got the wrong person.

I had the same feelings when I was reading this as the previously reviewed manhua about two actors having a secret marriage. It did not click with me when it came to the book, but the visuals helped it become cuter, especially the FMC. I did not read the novel of this one, but saw some unfavorable reviews, while I think the manhua smoothes out the points brought up in those reviews. 

MANHWA

You think it's easy rewriting the story?

(원작은 아무나 비트나)

This is hysterical!! so far. FL is simply a ball of joy, because she is so fun and expressive. Love her antics. She is so suss. Even if she looks like a villainous heroine who is using her beauty for gain.. she actually does use it ahaha What a menace. Reading at least one good among others that are okay is already enough. Also I love the main characters a lot. They are the perfect example of opposite visual and character. The FL looks like an angel, but she is cunning and also likes to tease the ML. One the other hand ML looks a bit intimidating, but he can get shy because of how bold FL is.

I think the story perfectly combines story and art aspect to make the story engaging and entertaining.

The plot of the story is how FL who was in a modern world and also had some not so ordinary life transmigrates into a book and at first wants to escape her fate and does not want marry the duke (ML, who is a villain in the story). Although she knows his backstory and the reason for the revenge, she is still not truly connected to him. While ML's story is fuller than what we see, especially when he explain it himself what pushes him forward. Later on he meets FL, who is definitely not what he expected and his opinion of her starts to change. He is not someone without reason, so we can see why he changes. I think they fit each other pretty well and thus the story might change because of her influence, which she thinks she doesn't have.

I find it very entertaining and would continue. I saw that it only has Season 1 so far (;_; )

ALSO, how many MLs have black hair and red eyes lol!!

I became the Tyrant's Chambermaid

(폭군의 침방 시녀가 되었다)

How very convenient that a hotel employee transmigrates to become a chambermaid of a tyrant, an unloved prince who will become Emperor in the story. Honestly, the tone of it is quite gruesome, but what makes it better is the reaction of FL to things, more like her inner voice. ML has quite a character so as the FL said it's a dark fantasy romance etc. It does not follow the fully angst way, which I'm thankful for. But ML's character is quite heavy.

In a way it's the same as those stories about a secretary to unhinged boss, we saw plenty of those. Thus she has to survive with everyone eyeing her.

Also I chose this cover, because I like it more.

The Crow's Prince

(하필이면 까마귀가 되어버렸다)

I think you can make the crow girl into a meme and an emoji pack, the way she reacts is priceless. I heard it's based on the novel and the novel has more serious tone? But honestly how do we know? Don't authors take at least some part in the process and give an okay? Otherwise who would adapt it this way.

Anyway, a zookeeper, which is rare for stories, travels to the game world and stumbles upon a prince who is destined to become the future Emperor, or so we think. He is her best choice to follow if she wants to find a way to return home. They develop a close relationship during the time they stayed inside the woods while she helped him to recover, so he took her back to the castle.

Here we find that there is another contender for the throne who was always against others. I thought they were half-brothers, but no, they're blood brothers and this guy acted as if it's a sure thing to get the throne. Only because they were the wolves and those who awakened their powers and could transform could become the future ruler. The younger brother was aided by a dark magician and their scheme was eventually revealed. But it's only the beginning.

I think the story might get a turn to be more serious from here, but who knows, the FMC who could later transform into human called Rainelle is the one who makes the day. I have no idea if they ever get any troubles, ther relationship can be called solid and they care for each other so much. I suppose all the trouble will be external, after all we did not really entered the plot at the point where I'm currently reading.

Mother's Contract Marriage

(엄마가 계약결혼 했다)

I was wondering what type of story it will be. But I can't say much, by far it's quite sweet and cute.

Saw it in YT shorts. Forgot for what reason I decided to check it out. I'm sure it's something about her mother and the current Emperor.

The basic premise follows a girl Lylica, she and her mother lived in slums, before one day her mother acted differently (her mother obviously regressed), later her mother entered a contract marriage with the Emperor and Lylica came along. Her pure heart truly started changing people around her, because she always thought the best of people, had faith in them (unless they were truly despicable and her instinct told her so) and also was not marred by the palace intrigue.

The background plot reveals the struggle between the Emperor and aristocrats. The Emperors of this country are the saviors in the history, they led the people to survive, descendant are said to have the dragon blood (yeah, even in Western fantasy it's all about dragons~), so this is why they inherit the throne, while aristocrats want to join the Imperial family by marriage to take control of power. Both the current Emperor and his heir (nephew) both have mothers of common origin.

Sometimes reading about someone so innocent and nice is pretty healing and Lylica is that type f character. The story like many others here not only involve European ambience, romance, but also fantasy elements.

Shards of a Broken Glass Slipper

It looks gorgeous and very distinctive. The picture is quite heavy-loaded with bold colours and imagery. Also the style of storytelling feels a bit dramatic and theatrical.

The plotline is based on the Cinderella plot, where the sister is always hated, but the female protag is like the most precious girl in the world, although her actions are always the same, as they say fake white lotus.

The pacing to me feels a bit slow, but that's all because the beginning has a lot of flashbacks to how contrasting FL's reality is to the story.

Must say that I was intrigued by the first scene, since FL offs herself in front of female protag. All because she wants her perfect life to ne marred with the scene of her gruesome death in front of female protag.

Later FL describes how with her lack of knowledge the servants of the household mistreated her and made her look like a fool, always trying to compare the female protag and herself. Which led to FL's twisted personality. Now she tries to get back things to those who wronged her. Her past life is really heavy I'd say. Female protag is always doing things in the same way, if she can't say smth back she cries, thus the crying baby gets the candy. And also makes FL look bad.

The beginning had a great build-up, but tbh the scene where they play cards bored me, since it took so long and overexplained every detail, which I think if we never play this type of game ever again it did not matter. But if we do, I'm pretty sure the rules will be explained again, because ppl can't remember much.

Author of my own Destiny

(내 남자 주인공의 아내가 되었다)

COMPLETED. This is the only one I finished from the list of mentioned. I'm not sure if I need to give it a separate review, I might do that.

The plot follows the author of her own story who enters the plot and become the villainess Fiona Green. She cared a lot for the characters she created and felt immense guilt that few strokes of her writing decided someone fate to be tragic. Burdened by it she treated the ML of her story with care and love, though she still felt a bit detached since she never considered to be the target of his future affection. Later on she befriended female protagonist and another woman who is a villainess of her story (yay girl power). Together they face the advercity that happened because of her own plot choices.

Her story became conscious and the villainess who became the final boss assimilated with what is called Darkness in this world, entity that can bring ruin to this world.

Although she is the author of her story, but it's not under her control. What happens to characters is not up to her. She fights her own guilt and tries to save this world. And save her characters.

It's an interesting take. The FL is actually quite dimensional, since shows so many sides of herself.

I also love the found family trope among the others. Also female friendship, I found it's a pity there wasn't enough of it.

FL is a true protag of this story, it is very FL-oriented. A great point is also there is no-nonsense points in the story, since a lot of "conflicts" were solved through COMMUNICATION and no stone was left unturned. They did not drag it for forever, they solved it right away and thus the relationship had such a great foundation. It's just other stories love to have these miscommunication tropes so much it's infuriating.

All in all it was a nice story.

PS: It has an alter. title, I became the wife of the male lead, which I think is not really fitting, Author of my own destiny was even used in narration. But becoming a wife... can be considered as a final outcome, since it happened in the very end lol.

DRAMA

Moonlit Reunion

(子夜归)

THEY HAVE A CAT. Also chose tis poster since it's less messy, it may not have all the characters, but I love the idea how simple it is.

It is a fine watch, was attracted to FL's character and actress, since she looks like a doll, so pretty. Tian Xi Wei, my new baby to follow❤

In the way I can describe it as short as possible the story follows (so far) the dealings with demons among humans, And all those cases are handled by a human master who hides among people and a demon cat girl, who judges those who did something wrong among humans and is a part of the Demon Market.

I watched a video with her with edits from how FL acted domineeringly and those are some humorous shots that caught my attention. In general she hides the fact that she's a demon, but she gets attracted to the human cultivator/master guy, the same story is from his side. He falls for her as a girl and yet to find out that she's a demon. But when it comes to dealing with raging demons they have no idea that they're basically on the same side.

It can be found on YT, yeah you can watch it officially and with Eng subs.

New Life Begins

(卿卿日常)

I suppose it will be a group portrait type of drama with extensive cast, judging by the poster. Found it randomly on YT, most likely was recommended because of Moonlit Reunion, since it has the same actress for FL. The premise of this story is interesting, since brides from all regions that are very distinct come to the palace to become wives of Princes. FL is from a place that is into farming, so she's all about food. She wanted to get kicked out early, but caught attention of a sickly prince and eventually married him.

To me the actor who plays the male lead doesn't have what I'd call "the face of the male lead", he also looks younger than the girl. My own perception.

But the story is light and should be easy-going. I know I have no idea what I'm talking about I watched like ep 1 and that's it. But I was attracted to the atmosphere and will see where it'll take me.

Melody of the Golden Age

(长乐曲)

Reason - because the male lead is played by the actor who played Mu Sheng in Love in Eastern Fantasy, Ding Yu Xi, this is what I call the face of the male lead, those gorgeous eyebrows, even if they're drawn. But the ancient clothes fit him so well. The story, or his character in particular feel a bit darker~

FL did not leave a good impression on me in the first episode, I have no idea why, I hope it reverses later. She is the daughter of a concubine who was trained and has extensive invastigative skills. She served in the Ministry of Justice. Although it's cool that she achieved that, but of course it's like another mysoginistic environment. 

Then the marriage bestowed on her family falls on her shoulders since her sister wants to escape this amrriage. She has no idea that ML is not so indifferent to her. They have a past~ 

ANIME

Debu to Love to Ayamachi to!

(デブとラブと過ちと!)

This is so good so far, I watched half of it and waited for it to be released in full before finishing. The FMC is such a ball of light and confidence, she honestly gave me such a good feeling.

The story folows our FMC who got into an accident and got amnesia, she forgot all her bad days and her character made a reverse, she became full of life and confidence and she didn't care a bit that she had weight. Honestly, I think this anime has such a great message on things like not fitting the image, being teased and bullied and how to handle it. How to love yourself and be confident. I really liked this type of positive FMC.

Spy x Family (Season 3)

I finished the season...Release me from this. I don't want to continue watching, but what do I do with Anya. The story struggles to progress anywhere before few last episodes. Only half of this season had any meaning, the rest of it is water that keeps on repeating itself.

It's one and the same situation over and over again like there will never be any progress at all. The characters do not change as well. I can handle Anya, since her character is more fun even if she is an empty head. Loid is a good person, but Yor started to get on my nerves. An adult woman who can't change her ways and acts like a dumbass all the time. I should find it funny, I don't.

Anyway what I'd like to say is that the ways this anime is shown starts to get old. It's the same thing over and over again. Whenever the chance to become better is presented any exciting chain of events that might lead anywhere is cut short and we repeat the process.

Do modern people not see or don't care for this type of storytelling which is not great.

Honestly, all my hopes were up for the final episodes, but it was the same old shit. Also it really got on my nerves. First Loid who escaped decided it's a great idea to throw away the pipe which was his only weapon during the chase. Later Fiona again has a lovestruck girl moment, while she chases someone, I mean.. time and place? Author never follows, it should be funny, not to me, she is portrayed as this competent idiot. It's good that men are also idiots, otherwise I'd think this show is sexist.. IT IS towards EVERYONE. It's cool that Fiona's feelings allow her to uncover her potential, but later with legs and arms broken she still thinks how to plot and become Loid's wife... You know what they say about jokes that are repeated for a hundredth time? Yeah, rotten.

❧

Arrow of Fortune by Jacquelyn Benson

Third book in the Raiders of the Arcana series. I really need to get my s* together and read it, since it already came out. Maybe the difference is that I was actually waiting for this one unlike previous two that I found and they were already available. Same with other books, they came out long ago, but I still keep them unread... I would like an answer to this.

Some mentions, since these are future releases:

All Hail Chaos release date was moved to May. Will I see book two?

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer, never read her but traveling to books is our vibe here, I want a western take on it (unless you know, it's going to be "inspired").

Murder by Moonrise is the final in the trilogy, I hope to see how Patrice McDonough will finish her wonderful story.

A Wretched Folly by Lynn Messina. Beatrice will get 14th bok in the series. I've finished 7. I slowed down to enjoy it. BUT OH GOD IT INCLUDED PINEAPPLE. You really need to know the lore of these book to know why it matters ahahaha This author really uses things that appear prior to use them later, so ingenious.

[Chinese BL novel] 快穿之来啊，来作死啊 by 巳辞 / Quick transmigration, come out to die

The novel is from 2017 and it shows.

I don't have a cover except default and this novel managed to spoil things so I'm vengeful.

Summary: Tong Daojun, resentful at the fate of his life he is bound by the system V587, his task is to not let Children of Destiny absord the fortune of the worlds. He is doinf these tasks to buy a reverse pill just to get back home, but on the journey he falls in love with a person and finds that his life and his fate hold a deeper secret.

I'll move it out of the way, I liked some of the details as a background plan that was shown in the final reveal. If some of the things in this one did not exist I'd say it is a very light-hearted and fast-paced book, when you know things are going to be fine anyway and the tasks are being completed with fast speed.

Oh yeah many of the chapters are locked because there is a lot included and author does not use the current "drive" or the "boat being hit by waves" metaphor.

Child of Destiny that absorbs the fortune of the plane is not new concept. And they harbor malice towards the MC. But the ease of him doing tasks is mainly because he prevents some crucial points from happening. And sometimes task is completed just somewhere in the background. The stories are pretty shallow, just for the sake of making things turn fast.

The rest of the story is just mentioning how after the completion he and his lover are having their peaceful life together.

I'm not spoiling what happens but want to mention why this novel basically slid down for me.

Exhibit A. In the arc with the "ultimate bottom" who is MC's brother in the plot, MC to preent his brother from attracting three designated MLs pairs him with an uncle who took over after their parents passed, so he is at least 10 years older, but he also said some phrase like he noticed this brother as a kid and saw his grow up...nope from me dawg.

Exhibit B. MC returns to his own plane and he is a child star, he meets ML who is also a child star and honestly they start to act intimately, while both of them are only 5. Big nope.

RATE: 1,5/5. For everything before you spoiled it.

[Chinese BG novel] 觉醒后创死所有恋爱脑 by 芷柚 / After awakening, all those with love brains will be crushed by me

I have a feeling like I added at least two webnovels with similar premise and I have them mixed up. Or not, who knows?

Summary: Ji Qiuwan was awakened from her love-brained persona and then she realized that her entire family is like this, they're basically a cannon fodder family who lose themselves to love one after another and have a really bad ending.

She herself always chased after her fiance with words of love and subservient attitude.

Her brother will be part of domineering CEO and innocent assistant plot.

Her sister will fall for a Phoenix man

While her second brother will be a paranoid person.

All takes root in the previous generation where her mother is now a widow, but her father is said to die because of another woman. But the son of that woman with a heroine halo is actually her fiance who dislikes her, it was a pay back moment for the sacrifice.

When the veil falls everyone stars to slowly waking up.

This is the type of story where people stop being influenced by protag halo and start seeing things as they are.

I personally overall did not like this novel, since it was rather plain. For a novel released in '24, it did not discover anything new and actually used pretty common methods to deal with love brains (will explains in spoilers). And although it is short (50ch) to me it felt dragged. But that's solely my opinion.

So the story takes place when Ji Qiuwan awakens. Because the beginning was so cliche I admit I skipped a lot while reading.

She of course will slowly start to change and the first step is to take away the power of her brother who already started to make contact with a new assistant who is the part of the innocent girl who attracts domineering CEO plot. He acted like a brainless fool for her and she of course disregarded the overall situation and cause a lot of problems for everyone around them.

Thanks to her connection to her fiance she took away the project as a payment for the previous engagement, annulled it and took helm of her family.

To make her brother prove himself she sent him to a branch office, where he eventually saw his "true love" for what she is, a troublemaker who needs constant validation and support, no questions asked.

He was the first one to wake up.

Although rumors circled aruond their family she did not care, her next plan - her sister and the Phoenix man. Again old trick of cutting her from family volunteerly allowed the girl to see the true face of the man who made sweet promises.

The third and last is her second brother who liked a girl, but did not know how to convey his feelings, which led to a difficult situation where he takes her to a villa, basically the black room plot. But Qiuwan arrived in time and slapped the dude. It is not described in a funny way, but actually she explains to he where the root of the problem was.

Now it's all about their family, the secret surfaces early on. Both her mother and father did nt do those things because they wanted to, but they had a system, they prayed that one day all those tasks will be over, but the heroine - Song Yun - always called their father over when she had troubled love life. In one of those cases their father passed away (mind you, they were grown kids by then).

To make up Song Yun promised the engagement between two families.

What I liked overall is how we see the consequences of the veil falling off and ppl started seeing how willful and unreasonable Song Yun is, she got too used to being pampered and things done her way. They were always in love, but they were awful parents. I'm actually happy about one part, when their family business failed (since both parents started distancing and seeing other people on the side, and his father meddled in the business because of his new lover), Qiuwan's ex-fiance did not suffer much, since he was also the victim of this relationship and had his own shadows (why he treated Qiuwan poorly). The same influence that the Ji kids all had, their family suffered because of the system and they all grew up with a wrong perception of love and wanting love, so this is why some fell for sweet talks (like the sister) or like eldest brother (who saw kindness in the innocent assistant).

This part of the novel was to my liking.

What I particularly disliked was actually how Qiuwan's fate was laid out at the end. At first it feels like a career novel (with a cheap feel), but she did things only to make others wake up. She herself at the end suddenly said - oh, I'm not against marriage and got together with Lu family. Explanation, though I still don't get it a little. As I se it, Lu family had two sons, because of Song Yun's interference and the words of a master she forced the second son's family to leave they indeed lived abroad. Lu Xian grew up with his family and of course became successful like all protags, so yeah. He is connected to that Lu family. And Qiuwan chose him.

I don't know the romance if there were any felt really cheap and spontaneously we have such an ending, liek she got it all, brought her family to success, now she can retire and do her thing.

Although sounds nice, but I honestly felt the execution of it all felt off.

So yeah the overall it's a mid for me.

PS: Only after finishing I noticed that I had another novel from them I tried to start, now it's in DNF pile with the caps comment - SO MELODRAMA

RATE: 3/5.

[MOVIE] Wake Up Dead Man (Knives Out 3) (2025)

The director got me for the second time.

I think it's a decent continuation to the series. Although I consider Knives Out mysteries a very peculiar type of movies, since they're the rare ones that can be watched as stand-alones and in no particular order, since they're not dependent on each other.

Before watching I had all type of theories what this movie will be and the director is such an unreliable narrator at times that he gets me every time, because I'm a bit lulled to sleep and my vigilance isn't high when suddenly you get a platter with a card, the words on the card - oh sorry, it's not really what happened.

It's interesting how he manages to play with perception. Just give you a little bit which is open for interpretation, but how are you sure if it's what happened? Even with close-up shots. Oh got, he got me there too! From previous movies I knew that close-up shots matter, but at the moment of you seeing them you don't really realize which part is important or as in my case my imagination did not feed back any good ideas. Only when I reached the end it was like - damn it, he got me again.

Same for the mystery. Damn, he's good at it. I liked it, honestly.

I don't think that any of the characters outside of few main actually get much time, but I find it interesting that each of them can be discussed and interpreted. Same as topics, it doesn't take some solid stance, but actually brings in multiple povs, just like real life would be. I like that some bits and pieces can create a picture. Not the one that creates the mystery, but the characters.

It was a really good watch. If one feels it's too simple, maybe it is, maybe it's not, but what is certain is that Rian Johnson is good at his job.

RATE: 8/10.

The devil is in the details~

the devil Elvis lol

Shalom y'all. What is that in the back~

Haven't noticed the man in the background on the first watch.

It's just part of interesting details in the movie. Even for the simple characters they all have something around them. But that's exactly why I think it's crucial in the final revelation. These movies are great on the re-watch when you look at the picture with a purpose.