[NOVEL] A Malevolent Connection by Lynn Messina

We're back reading about Beatrice.

Despite suffering a few initial setbacks, the former Beatrice Hyde-Clare has settled into her new position nicely.

Thanks to Lady Abercrombie’s machinations, she has secured the admiration of society and finally earned the respect of her staff. Even the lessons in defending herself, which her husband, the Duke of Kesgrave, insists she take if she wants to continue in her dangerous avocation, are going well. Save for the dreaded pineapple chunks chef André insists on putting in her beloved rout cakes, everything is perfect.

But then she learns from a most unlikely source that Kesgrave’s malevolent uncle is scheming to destroy her happiness. Determinedly, she resolves to meet the threat head on—a plan that immediately goes awry when the duke asks her to allow him to handle the matter.

Stand idly by while dark forces muster?

Well, no, Bea can’t possibly do that—especially not when the villainous relation winds up bludgeoned to death with a candlestick.

Beatrice Hyde-Clare. Book 8

I had true laugh out loud moment when book started with Bea and her pineapple dilemma. Honestly, I love when book has some of their own quirks, even if it doesn't really matter, but it adds to the picture nontheless. I've seen the latest covers, imagine me just rolling around because it had the pineapple on it, this joke is never ending.

Otherwise it felt so good to be back. Witty writing style, fun and easy-going plot. Everything set for you to have a good time if you're up for it.

This time the story is more about Beatrice and Damien instead of it centering on the mystery.

Since the two became married they did not have any conflicts, it doesn't mean what this book describes is a big conflict they had, but it's still a pretty obvious hurdle that was expected. And what is really great that the two of them take it upon themselves to communicate instead of shtting down. Well, at one point Damine was most insistent on that and props to him.

Thing is both Beatrice and Damien lived such different lives and of course to Beatrice what happens between the two of them is much more than she could have ever expected from a huasband, someone who promised to be equal with her. But the only problem arising was that sometimes Damien makes decisions without prior discussion with her, even if he bases it on his own knowledge of her. But what she wants is to be true equals, were they talk and discuss, it doesn't mean she wants to always win the argument, she can do as he wants if he presents his argument. But for that they need most basic communication face-to-face. And it's not like Damien did those things maliciously, it's just the bad habit of who they were until their marriage. Both she and him has been living a completely different life with completely different expectations from their partners, then they fell in love, even if they were so different. They can't change with a snap, but they still have enough love and respect for communicating like adults.

This is what I found the most central to anything else.

I mean I love their moments together, they share a lot of tender affection. It's interesting to see them grow and change. Beatrice is not someone who wants her husband to change solely for her and not put any effort, even if he promised her she can do as much. Same for him.

What I love the most about the serie sis that you really can't take one and read it, it's such a fascinating tapestry that slowly reveals itself. Even mysteries themselves have connection to Bea and her husband or not.

As mention this time mystery is not so prevelent and it's not a big deal. Although the mystery is connected to Damien's uncle who actually planned to hire someone to make him a widower.

True to her self Bea at first actually did not put much into it, some that she admitted to have as this carelessness, which was not malicious or thoughtless. Only a week ago she protected herself from an intruder and she is safe and sound, so maybe that emboldened her to think less of the real threat before she realized it's not as innocent.

This also adds to their overall dynamic because Damien always cares for her safety, while she can bolt somewhere without thinking much about it.

But the mystery itself is solved pretty quickly, only knowing most of what participants of it had to say for Bea to come to conclusion who did it and why.

Maybe one of the aprticipants will be appearing again in future book, I have no idea, it's just usually like that.

Otherwise I'm not spoiling the rest of it, it's such a short book and it's actually a delight to read.

RATE: 4/5.

[Korean BG novel] Cling to me, even if you hate it / 싫어도 내게 매달려

To be honest I was surprised to like it as much as I did. As not a big fan of angst this has a lot of it. But I can bear drama, if it has reasoning behind it and not simply a tragedy for the sake of being a tear-jerker and nothing more.

#regression, drama, misunderstandings, political intrigue, second chance

Ariana regresses in time and it's been some time of her and Kenneth being married. In her previous life she was despised by him and everyone around him all because of her family.

Kenneth and Ariana actually met a long time ago when she was still a girl, she was always kept inside by her cruel mother and not allowed to have anything because everything will eventually belong to her brother.

Kenneth saw a shy girl with big blue eyes that longed for going outside caught his attention, he took her out and saw her happiness. They grew up slowly and she asked him out after graduation, not realizing that her family will use that to their advantage, despite Kenneth actually supporting Ariana's brother in business, he was betrayed by her family, because of their date at opera his location was compromised and the shooting happened. Ariana thought he died, but she hoped he was still alive and safe.

Meanwhile her family rejoiced as imperial family's dogs, finally reaching the place they thought they deserved, they threw their own daughter / sister in the hands of a cruel prince who others knew as benevolent but who was abusing women behind the closed doors. What did it matter to them if she suffered?

But Kenneth returned and he pointed his rage at those who betrayed him, including Ariana's family.

When that family fell as scapegoats imperial family even benevolently offered Ariana as a bride, since she did not have time to become princess.

Ariana asked for help to be saved, but she had no idea how different her words sounded to him, who thought for all these years she betrayed him.

She loved and felt guilty, endured.

He loved and hated himself for his feelings.

Few years later when Ariana was driven to the edge she shot herself in front of her husband. But instead of dying she regressed in time where she had one more chance. All she wanted now is to ensure that she became pregnant with her daughter, the only ray of sunshine in her life. And then she wanted to disappear.

If you expect him to grovel, he will grovel. They will go through many things together to finally reunite.

I find that her ability to give him a second chance has a certain strength. As you might read it right now, you may think he does not deserve it. But you have to wait till the moment when we see the past and the Kenneth's side of the story is revealed what he did. It's a lot. Eventually by the end of the story the power dynamic changed and Ariana is the one holding reins over who is in charge. Kenneth would get along with any of her decisions and that is his atonement.

When I finished reading it I really felt like I was looking at a torn family picture that was put together again, you can see the image, but you also see the tear marks.

Maybe this will sound like I'm going on a tangent, but I liked the built-up misunderstandings between them, it's not some empty ones that characters created for themselves. They have real basis and something that created a rift between them, eventually making them lose any desire to be honest.

And Ariana held the shortest end of the stick here.

First of all, let's not forget the fact that many miss and even author to me kept not mentioning when it should have been mentioned. During the opera attack it wasn't just Kenneth who was targetted but his parents were killed in a gruesome way. He knew his location was compromised because of Ariana, but despite her screams she was dragged before she could do anything.

Later she was claimed to "seduce the Crown Prince", basically her reputation was ruined by imperial family and her own. There was one striking moment when the prince told her to smile otherwise she knew the consequences and for survival she smiled as brightly as she could, that became a photo in a newspaper that Kenneth saved and looked at from time to time to remind himself of her betrayal.

Imagine being betrayed like that. He was already prejudiced towards her but then she asked to save her. He loved her and wouldn't actually want anything to happen to her, but he loathed himself and this feeling.

Eventually she was guilty for what her family did and thought it was unforgivable, but she also still loved him, this is why she endured a lot from him. The staff didn't treat her with care because of their master's attitude and they even openly discussed what would happen if a true lady came into their household.

The breaking point for her was the loss of her daughter who was only year old. With no adequate medical care the girl was gone. And the father did not treat this episode with care.

Later she shot herself and regressed.

Now she wanted to only have her daughter and disappear. Many of what happened created and built small misunderstandings as well. Like the Theodora, the woman everyone waited to become next Kenneth's wife (which was far from Kenneth's plans, he never wanted this union everyone talked about). Or Kenneth actually thought she still had something for crown prince (again, because of that photo and she also tried to escape once at very unopportunate time). And Kenneth loathed imperial family, they were the ones who orchestrated the whole incident, but pushed Ariana's family as scapegoats and he couldn't really raise the coup, but he could undermine their influence.

The way we deal with imperial family is a separate line, but honestly it comes to others as surprise that Theodora belongs to a family who are praised for standing up behind Kenneth but actually acted under imperial order now. They planned to place Theodora as a wife and slowly swallow the family worth behind Kenneth.

Even Ariana's image slowly changes because of revelations about the crown prince. But does she care? Not.

During an incident she takes a chance to disappear finally and after few years she and her cute daughter now live happily. Although it's still sad to see how while she gives everything to her daughter she can't protect her from all harm and prejudice as a single mother.

Meanwhile Kenneth was still searching for them, he believed that before he sees her body he won't stop searching. I mean he even visited graveyards, imagine going there in search of your beloved woman.

This is big spoilers but the fantasy part mainly concerns their regression and unfairness towards Ariana, all thanks to nun. She asked Kenneth to not let the war happen when it was in imperial family interests, when they can't usurp his wealth through a wife then they want to ligitimately occupy his resources of his own territory. He worked tirelessly, mind you knowing that he buried his wife and also his daughter was buried too. He only hoped that she will be able to regress, not to the ideal time, but at least somewhere when their daughter was not born yet. Eventually he achieved what he was hoping for, but he died for the cause. He regains those memories only later in the novel. Of course he is devastated by everything, but the moment is interesting, before he regained memories he was acting how he would always do, a bit of manipulation a bit of emotion, but from that point on he realized the weight of his actions and he would move only according to her will. He might perish, but she must stay safe.

What I liked the most when he told her - Nothing is your fault, all my words and all my actions are my sins to bear.

This time when he said he will act only as he wishes she could finally believe him, she stopped being afraid and feel guilty for everything. Which also allowed her to give him a second chance and give them a try.

All in all angsty novel, but I think it's a good one. Rare for these novels to have such a good background work done that make you believe why they have certain attitudes etc. As characters they slowly grow and change. Their love also changes.

RATE: 5/5.

[MANHWA] On The Way To Meet Mom / 엄마를 만나러 가는 길 by GOMYANG

This is the best thing I've read in a while.

Despite such an obviously-sounding title the premise of this manhwa is what surprised me the most (the lore of this world he lives in).

This story is short but so precious, I recommend anyone to give it a go, you definitely won't regret it.

Because I came into reading this with zero spoilers, except for knowing the title and the cover (the very exact one of the manhwa itself, which attracted me in the first place). This is why I'd like to give a vague summary as well.

A found child was brought into child protection facility where Mori meets other children and slowly learns new things. Such as there are parents, such as there is a mom. As time goes by he receives his first letter and is told that he now has a patron, the letter is simple "hello" and the gifts are simple and well-thought. Seeing his friend reunite with their mother Mori starts to imagine what his mother would look like, so he sets on a journey to meet mom.

Now spoilers~

[SHORT REVIEWS] #35

Mainly Korean galore, since I only read those lately. I'm surprised myself, but I found some that would satisfy my tastes.

First and foremost, very unhinged characters (which I adore) in this contract marriage story. I actually bookmarked it when I was browsing one day and noticed this cover and just left it hanging for a long time, never thought that by random search on a site with countless number of novels I will stumble upon it.

BOOKS

KOR

Love Acts Cunningly, Revenge Unfolds Ecstatically

In this rofan Yul as FMC transmigrates into unknown land and before she has time to do anything she is sent to psychiatric hospital (well, thanks to author who portrayed disoriented person after transmigration, not everyone is as cool and chill, you're in a different body, that should fuck you up a bit). She is given a chance to get out of that hellish place, but on a condition.

The gorgeous and unhinged man on the cover is a bit cornered by his grandfather who wants him to find a wife and have a kid, but Zayed, ML, is not so keen on finding a woman to really settle down, but he has to find a special case among those with a special abilities (the lore reminds of you of sentient and guides).

This is why he finds Yul, she is a girl who fits everything he asks about a woman, not to mention, he finds her fascinatingly interesting.

Years of being locked up Yul cursed herself for inactivity or just being soft due to education and upbringing that led to her current situation. Instead of standing and taking things in, she should have clawed her way out or at least smashed a vase on the head of this body's stepmother.

Now she is known as the most unhinged patient and a mad flower, unassuming in face, but dangerous.

To make things clear how unhinged they are, they watched unbothered as her hospital with all staff / witnesses burned down, she even helped pour oil. Btw don't pity them, this is not some happy hospital, which brings many tw upfront: abuse, attempted SA, human experiments etc.

That's how the two of them come together. A story of slowly growing feelings.

Also a side-note, the language is pretty. It does not try to be too flowery, but it's not dry either. I notice a lot of time the writing styles may feel clunky (or is it translation?). This here I read in a breeze. I read basically all available chapters and am waiting for others to become available.

Elegant yet vulgar

May be not everyone's cup of tea, but I realized I might like angsty stuff, but not maxed out on tragedy.

The gist of it.

Lavian, FMC, lived her entire life in abusive home without completely realizing the depth of how it influenced her. She is not some mindless person, she realizes the hypocrisy of her father who drove their family to the edge of ruin. He cares for his lifestyle and is pretty lavish, while his wife and daughter live a pretty modest lifestyle, but what he is best at is using his daughter to sell to highest bidder due to financial troubles.

Klen, MMC, on the other hand needs access to noble circle, he hates nobles and their hypocricy, but he is searching for his biological father and without access he has no way of finding more info. A noble-born daughter for a wife is a great solution to all troubles.

This is how two unite and Klen emphasizes that they are nothing more but a contractual marriage.

Although the story has a sort of misunderstanding, but it is based more on their lack of understanding each other and the world they live in.

Klen is partially insecure and this leads him to prejudice.

On the other hand Lavian is slowly walking out of the shadow of her household, but it's not easy to break the habit. Also her growing feelings for her husband are almost snubbed by his repeated emphasis they won't be anything else.

I think author did a good job at creating a more complex situation with a lot of motivation and reasoning behind characters' actions and how it leaves them with a lot of untold things.

I read around 1/4th and I must say that I liked the development, it's slow but I'm in for it.

Marital Relations

I already wrote a review for this one at NU, but I can't help mentioning it here, since it's ridiculous!

I saw the title and thought - I can smell the whiff of melodrama, I read the contents and it's simply melodrama and I read the half of it, since it's short and it is that type of shouting melodrama where things would break apart if you apply any kind of logic.

I think FMC is called Da-hye, I'm sorry I'm bad with spelling Korean names. She was mostly away studying after her mother's death and a new stepmother taking her place. Basically she was sent away "for her own good". Gaslighted for years.

But her stepmother did not even attmpt to pretend, same as her stepsister who talked very rudely to her all the time. The father is not in the picture most of the time and it's unknown how he dealt with it at all, because he is certainly biased.

So in this situation I have no idea how FMC shed so many tears because of them, she should be adult by now and she sometimes come back only to find out that her place is getting smaller, so where this deep feeling of betrayal came from I wonder. Since she finds stepsister with her fiance she knows she has no one on her side and she cried a lot. A bit of shameful tears and angry tears are allowed, but crying for bastards, really? Okay.

Anyway, here loopholes started for me. First, how did she not know the house of her mother was transferred to stepmother and she couldn't even enter. We start from some evening banquet due to father's retirement, but you mean to tell me she never visited mother's house. Otherwise why she lives outside alone.

It all actually happened after she overheard stepmother and stepsister talking about the transfer of property and not only, how stepmother knows her daughter wants to get / snatch a rich heir (fiance) by her pregnancy. They were described as such clownish villains. I wonder how FMC never took out the phone to record their talk, I mean just shove it to your dad despite the consequences.

So she is so surprised and hurt, later she asked what wuld happen to the house, but lawyers said it's hard because it's tranferred. I suppose there was now will, otherwise if the will is present any action from stepmother can be disputed.

Thing is if FMC wanted to go all out.. and this bish.. she doesn't want to make it too loud, but honestly I thought - how stupid can you get? How MMCs call these women smart? And are supposed to be smart themselves? Because her sister is pregnant and if she really wants a rich heir, considering her situation she might as well go for him till the end, everyone will see their relationship and will put two and two together, they will gossip anyway. Not to mention popping out a kid in few months will tell them all. So what's the reason to stay silen. She said she doesn't want to be talked about in connection to them, since she felt filthy. Sound excuse, but at the same time, considering situation it won't work.

I remember watching Attorney Woo KDrama and I remember there was an episode of failed marriage, but the girl still won it, since she was "promised" something out of this marriage. 

Surely FMC did not even get engaged with the guy, but she could at least be on a higher ground. yet it felt liek she was hopeless all the time.

ALL BEFORE the MMC appears.

Surely she is saved by hot hunk of a man who is tall, dark and sexy.

He honestly waited for her to be desperate enough to ask him for marriage, I was like - why would she do that? She can do whatever she wants, she has reputation abroad, if she wants to leave she might as well do so. Why stay in this shithole.

he asked her to marry him suddenly during sex btw. Which was kinda meh considering it was her first time and he just didn't stop. So she actually agrees to it as if there's no other choice, well, he promises to help her get revenge as a person of power.

She mentions phrases like "they destroyed my life", but I was sitting and thinking in what way they did it? Thing is she is a priveleged girl, she got education in paintings, she got reputation etc. They hurt her emotionally by just being bad people, true, but in general they did not abuse her physically or deprive her of anything. They also were bad people for years, from what I'm catching. They're clownishly evil. Even her stepsister talks like such a bitch to her all the time and she mentioned it has been going on for years now.

I could understand if she was in a situation of watsed years, brainwashed, unwanted, her fiance would use all her worth and then move on to his mistress, she'd be drained of her inheritance.

If you want to fight and claw either be smart about it or be loud about it. To me she is neither.

All in all it felt like a cheap drama, it's also short one I will finish when it becomes available, I kinda want to see how this silliness will go on.

My Husband's First Love Is carrying His Child

Well, this is the type of misunderstanding that I dislike.

FMC fell in love with her husband at first site, despite any opposition she asked her father for marriage and they indeed marry. He was playing a perfect husband but was basically using her for her status. Although sounds awful compared to what is described it's still how it is. She lived in a bliss before he inherited his title and stopped pretending and she also found the truth. What followed is cold violonce, he said he was busy and she never saw him since. The situation sounds really bad.

What she remembers last is how she devastated by years of loveless marriage finally asks for a divorce only to die in front of him (poisoning from what I can tell). And f course we hear him in a state of panic and disbelief.

Before this she wanted to hold on to him, but the ex-consort to Emperor came to her with a big belly and said to divorce her husband, since she carried his child. FMC on the other hand could not produce heir due to miscarriage she had years ago, but also her husbad was absent in her life.

Later she wakes up before he was given his title and things changed for the worse, but now she stopped loving him. Loud declaration but honestly...

I have questions. I read only like 20 chapters before I jumped to chapter 80 or smth to see if we progress, and one phrase caught me off guard, she said only a week passed since their contract.

What is the contract? After she woke up all changed she also had attitude change and asked him for divorce, while he said he can't have it so soon, let's do year later and hoping to never let her go. Oblivious dude who can't realize he loves his wife with obsession.

My question is - why FMC believed the woman with a child. Of course it is known that she grew up as adopted daughter, she assumed this built a bond between them, but she has no proof of their love tbh, she only assumes things.

Another point to make, these characters always talk about love, but they never give trust tbh. because the girl had no doubts her husband will be so happy when she offers divorce.

On the other hand her husband isn't any better, he assumes she is in love with the Emperor, just because she grew up with him. He never explains why he thinks like that. I suppose there was a mention of "incident" but what that was is unknown. I think author failed miserably to establish where exactly their misunderstanding originates from. It's not some random idea, it should come from somewhere.

His wife is close to Emperor, but as siblings (they're also cousins), she was sent to palace basically as hostage when she was little, and the future Emperor took care of her when she was a child till now. It doesn't mean they have this undying love. The guy became the Emperor and he could marry her if he was in love, they were not obstructed by anything.

But he believes her actions are false. All the love she showed is a pretense (why? unknown), even her idea of having a child he thinks she wants a child from Emperor, which to me sounds really crazy.

And the problem is they don't communicate and make things difficult on purpose with no sound reasoning, so this will make reader quite mad.

Another pretty cover, but the content can't catch up. I'm thinking of just skipping.

Even regret is luxury for you

This one managed to be entertaining. Bordering with melodrama it has a lot of twists in personal relationships like a soap opera. The more you read the more you dog how interwined relationships are. I thought it's going to be like any other story when the fiance of FMC comes to her to claim to accept his mistress, since he fell hard in love. I thought he's going to be a senseless jerk with inflated ego, usually stories follow this path. But then magic stones came into picture and you know one of them is capable of manipulation, which changes the entire picture of the past and present.

FMC Daphne is a daughter to Marquise, she has been engaged by the order of former Emperor to Leonhardt of the Duke's family (secret here). They grew up together, but Daphne has a special place at home, because she is believed to be a daughter of her mother's ex-husband who died. her mother and current father had whirlwind marriage right after she found her husband is dead. So when a girl was born not resembling both she was believed to be illegitimate (oh, it would be so ironic if her brother will truly invent something that could determine the relationship and she happens to be biological daughter an dthey all treated her horribly). Although they did not beat her, unlike her second brother, but they surely ignored her presence, only the youngest son was close to her, but the rest of them is plainly horrible as a family.

After her return she planned to save them, since father and first son fell for schemes, then impuslive second son was def. murdered. She tried to salvage the family, but that last voyage destroyed their family. It was a ploy from the beginning. She tried to salvage her relationship with her fiance too, but he was so enamored with his love affair. Eventually she scrapped by as she could only to be finally betrayed. The situation has many events piled up instead of what I mention briefly. But despite her altruistic behavior it doesn't mean she forgave them, she just wants them to be a strong backing.

Others have partial awakening to their past behavior but of course it's futile.

And then there is galore of personal relationships and the intrigue.

The pace is pretty fast, characterization is interesting. Also a lot of characters speak very straightforwardly and are being honest. Though at other times author acts as if they don't trust reader and often supplement the dialogue with insterts of what is meant by what is said if the phrase is not too direct. Not annoying, but a bit treating readers like we're chicks waiting to be fed info.

Well, it's quite okay. For those who like a bit of melodrama taste~

Cling to me, even if you hate it

I need to make a separate post for this one, because I finished reading it. But I consider it emotionally good story. It's full of angst, but it's one you cannot stop reading for some reason.

Ariana (FMC) loved Kenneth and waited for him even if her fate was dire, she was consumed by love and guilt during their marriage, since her family betrayed him. Kenneth (MMC) loved and hated himself for these feelings, he believed that the girl he loved betrayed him. All reason left him, he couldn't trust her. This is how they spent several miserable years where he was cruel. All before she left him.

After regression Ariana decided to just use her husband for their unborn daughter and then disappear to give birth in peace and let her daughter be born again and survive. But things did not go as planned.

I won't go into details and will leave it for a full review, but I liked the emotional entanglement in this one. Both had their own motication for love and hate. They managed to overcome it eventually, but I really liked how author portrayed it in the end, it's not the classic 'you suffered and I suffered, we did bad things, so let's move on and try to rebuild out love' instead MMC confesses to his deepest regrets and affirms that it's only his fault, anything he said were his sins that he will carry. She also said that she might never forget all the hurt, but she also felt liberated from their power dynamic.

In the end you get an image of torn picture that is put together, it's still a picture but can't be whole again. I found strength in these characters who decided to rebuild their love amidst the rubble.

I think there is certain strength and bravary in doing so. Many would say - girl, leave him and for a modern reader it is true. And I would agree that it would be true for a completely hopeless case and if anyone saw Kenneth in real life they'd say - Ariana, girl, leave his ass behind. Only reading you realize the depth of their feelings.

Also, what a beautiful cover.

I became the wicked mother-in-law of my mother-in-law.

Loved this one so far. I'd say Alicia, FMC, in the first life was first gas-lighted and misled into working tirelessly, she believed in the love of a person who was not worth it (her mother-in-law), but after she served her purpose she finally saw the true power of her mother-in-law who could bend the law and thanks to corrupt officials get rid of anyone.

Let's not look at FMC from a higher ground, she was a young woman who was led into believing things, slowly brainwashed and fear instilled in her, only for later to be used and discarded.

her mother-in-law is a very ambitious person, she used her position to reach unimaginable hights of power.

FMC is then reborn, or should better to say she now became her deceased aunt. She is now in the past when her mother-in-law was still young.

So how can she become a mil of her own mil?

She married Duke, whose adopted son is from deceased older brother, this adopted son was granted to marry Helena, the infamous mother-in-law from hell, so yeah this is how FMC became an elder to someone close to her age.

Messy and I love it.

But also promises a lot of political intrigue and all those ming games.

FMC is actually very resourcful and has a vast knowledge, especially pharmacology. MMC is attracted to her a bit early but we don't mind that. He is a powerful figure, but because of constant threat from monsters he is always away, this is why it left the rear open to intrigue carried by ambitious Helena.

Also I adore that Alicia wears black dresses, it was an accident at first, but she decided to make it her own thing, MMC also wears mostly black and it's the sign of their lineage, black hair and eyes.

This is why the cover is accurate.

The Monster Duke was fooled. I'm terminally ill.

DNF. It just wasn't my cup of tea. FMC regresses in time before her family is betrayed, her ex-husband was a complete trash, but there were moments described as if she loved him so much that she forgave him so many things. After regression it feels that what was described in the past and now are two different people. After all she is a knight, she could kill monsters, but she did not stand for herself during abuse from her husband. Just because.. love. She even describes it as if they're like that in her family, we choose one person. But math isn't mathing.

Also sometimes writing is weird. For example, MMC has some sort of curse, half of his body resembles stone and he has rumors about himself, but when she proposed to him and he revealed his hand she was asked if she was not afraid of him and the girl literally said - are you afraid of rocks at the side of the road? girl, you compared him to rock on the side of the road, are you okay?

The setting is about FMC who regresses, her family was framed as traitors, she was abused by her husband when she became pregnant, he basically lied to her from the beginning.

her family is described as loving etc. but when she returns and claims to marry the Duke they oppose and she can't tell them honestly why. There are many ways to go about it, but she basically sent a marriage proposal for herself. Since she wants his influence and wants revenge on those who framed her family.

But honestly I couldn't care less to continue, the story didn't call for me. I skimmed through and still didn't vibe with it, but I can see why some might find them cute.

My Husband's Cinderella

DNF'd it pretty quickly. First of all the phrase "I will make you the Cinderella fo the century" is so fucking cringe, but I let it pass, but it was a warning sign for me I might not like it and I didn't vibe with it at all. Felt like characters were merely caricatures.

I also went to read spoilers because I kinda wanted to know what happens but without reading the whole damn thing and knowing what will happen I'm not impressed.

The beast bit the throat of the late Empress

Confusing title because when I see "late someone" I think only of one possibility and it's not being late for a meeting.

Strong DNF, since the writing was too childish.

First two chapters just established it for me. At first I thought that positioning in description felt weird, like where are we, why are we in many different places that don't connect, but whatever.

Figurehead Empress is caught, of course her cowardly husband escaped by himself. So imagine this, she's on the run, everything happens in a blurry and it's all fast-paced, then she is caught and brought to the new Emperor and hear me out, she is BLINDFOLDED now, like when it happened? Why do this? What is the logic? Just so she will be surprised to see when his face is revealed? I couldn't care less, it just felt so dumb.

And the first thing the guy says - serve me. And he is our future male protag. At the time I felt like someone needs purging. And even if he gave her a chioce to die or to serve, she of course chose to die as a noble thing to do, but of course it didn't go as she planned. At that point I could imagine where this is going. And I wasn't going to go with it.

You Majesty, The Empress Has Had Enough

Another one I didn't like. I didn't like protagonists and also the story is meh to me, so I skipped it.

Was not impressed by FMC, since she kinda had some growth, but at the same time she didn't, and I don't like the little animal scared of everything type.

The situation between her and her husband also felt weird, first of all he treated her poorly and there were rumors going on as he would take a consort.

She and him are from two different parts and the marriage should have been a way to ease the tense relationship, but as we readers know the result is not like that. But what puzzled me is how guarded she felt, as if she was oblivious to everything and thought hard work will win everyone over. I mean if you're on that level you shouldn't be living under a rock and not realize how dire the situation is and the hard work she planned to do won't work. And she felt like she was outside of that information, which I don't believe.

I can understand her awe for her husband who is a true hero, but her opinion doesn't change because of the harsh treatment, also puzzling to me. Because if you continue to treat him well just because and are not disillusioned then something is wrong with you.

Another point which felt weird to me is how cold-hearted he was, saying all the cliche stuff of the trashy male character, never believed her, but we should have felt that there was something else beind that or not? Because much later it is revealed that the Magic Department or how was it called almost blackmailed the Emperor into having the consort and they threatened him with Empress' life, but then they should have someohow figured out he cared? But outwardly he acted like a scum. I suppose every secret has an explanation, but i couldn't be bothered, this is why I skipped through and no one should rely on my opinion of it.

What they had just wasn't my thing.

US

Finally started this one. Honestly, I just like how this author writes, there si something about the wit I'm catching and how things flow. I'm happy that I found them, I am mad at myself that I finally have an author I like but I stall reading them.

What catches me is that despite some sort of understanding forming between two main characters in the first book, they're far from being close and I like it doesn't sound forced.

Also the book starts with a lively limb that presumably searches for its' body.

Honestly saying the scene where they examined it impressed me, it really felt more in line of what they do and in their conclusion they partially feel the connection to Afflicted (living dead), which is pretty sound thing to conclude. Instead of saying - I don't know, it could be anything.

Surely it is apparent that the story will tie to something close to Frankenstein. But it's because we know it, characters don't.

Due to Korean novels galore I didn't touch anything else, not even watched anything except Running Man show.

Have no idea what got to me, maybe because I found the site instead of going through NU and that helped, because I didn't see the ratings or reviews (many I mentioned I was the only one leaving reviews). Also I didn't rely on what's popular and just let it go.

It also helped that despite Korean authors loving the drama, some of it wasn't bad. I can eat some angst, but shouldn't we make it appealing?

Anyway, I have more in my bookmarks, but I decided to put part of it here.

[NOVEL] The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

Sybil Delling has spent nine years dreaming of having no dreams at all. Like the other foundling girls who traded a decade of service for a home in the great cathedral, Sybil is a Diviner. In her dreams she receives visions from six unearthly figures known as Omens. From them, she can predict terrible things before they occur, and lords and common folk alike travel across the kingdom of Traum's windswept moors to learn their futures by her dreams.

Just as she and her sister Diviners near the end of their service, a mysterious knight arrives at the cathedral. Rude, heretical, and devilishly handsome, the knight Rodrick has no respect for Sybil's visions. But when Sybil's fellow Diviners begin to vanish one by one, she has no choice but to seek his help in finding them. For the world outside the cathedral's cloister is wrought with peril. Only the gods have the answers she is seeking, and as much as she'd rather avoid Rodrick's dark eyes and sharp tongue, only a heretic can defeat a god.

The Stonewater Kingdom. Book 1

I got distracted while reading this, a first sign that not everything was good. I also think it's quite telling that second time in a row my best liked character is a side character - gargoyle. I heard everyone loved him, I'm with you on that.

I also haven't read the synopsis before reading, so at least the first part where things were unraveling it was more or less like a surprise to me. But certain things stuck to me.

I feel like I'm going on a rambling rampage with this one, like a lost lamb trying to find its' path, path of semblance of logic.

When I first started it was promising. The mysterious spring of water smelling of rot and flowers. The shrouded abbess that leads everyone to listen to brainwashing rhethoric. Some Omens. Some Dreams and Diviners. And a new boy-king who gets all bad portents (in retrospective, it's kind of ironic). Also don't forget one slouching knight who is so hot and blashemous. And gargoyle, the talking gargoyle was the best.

Honestly speaking I wasn't mad at the idea, the problem started with details. And they're mostly connected to world-building, which had potential to be good, but overall leaves the impression of being unfinished, not well-thought. And too serving the purpose of the "twist".

My second problem would be with relationships (like friendship and love). let's start with this one, since it's faster to explain.

Relationships don't have a decent build-up for me to believe them. We only hear about many things, but we don't see them.

For example, Six or Sybill wants to know the truth where the girls disappeared, the other diviners and it is portrayed as if they had such sisterly love for each other, which I couldn't care less, because you don't see it being shown, only told.

her relationship with gargoyle is more profound, since it has history and they travel together and go through adventures, so here you can see truth in her anguish.

As for the relationship between Sybill and Rory (heard the Germans were laughing at names, since Traum means Dream in German and.. it's honestly like naming the Kingdom, Kingdom) I couldn't believe in them too. At first I thought - wow, they have different beliefs, they might clash. And they do, until you realize it's like a banter between kids who tug at each other because they can't express their insta-something. Maude even said she knew he was done for even back at the very beginning, meaning all that banter was just empty talk. And also a missed opportunity to me, since they stood on opposite sides at first.

As for the world-building, here I have more questions than ever.

So let's admit that the Abbess managed to convince people through several centuries this place existed that Omens are real and she is the most powerful, because we need allegory on religion right. Which led me to the first important question our protagonists didn't really ask or consider when they went on a quest of killing Omens (mind you, two were killed off sceen, which usually considered not good, but whatever) - what would be after the Omens are killed? You have a flock of believers who are now without a shepherd and what do you do with them?

If you let yourself play with this notion a bit you will realize that our protags are not really that smart, considering that Maude should be the oldest one by age is surprising. So if you put two and two together you won't really be surprised by the "big twist" at the end. I was waiting for it for a long time, since author dropped thick hints here and there. So couldn't be more obvious that boy-king is an ambitious prick.

Second important question - have you ever wondered what will happen if you give one person five magical items? No? Pity. Of course you would get a backstabber and a power-hungry person. But unfortunately our protagonists weren't thinking of that at all.

I honestly at first thought, would be interesting to see what would they do against mobs of people who were robbed of their faith. But no, I won't see it, since one logical thing that can be done is redirecting it towards something new, which many would think of, not our protagonists.

Now practical things.

Kingdom itself. If you look at the map, the Kingdom is more like a small island. I say this because it is mentioned that from one hamlet to the tor they traveled for one day only, so the place is not as vast. But it means they don't have too much space for sustaining itself or have a big population. Even if when we read about Seacht it feels like the city of knowledge and stone is pretty big. But at the same time not.

This info on size is important for the economy. Because when you reach the mountains of gold that are hidden within coffers of every Omen you want to ask - how is that possible? Not the existence of it, but the sheer amount and what is described, that abbess receives payment for divination, then part of it returns into her supporting foundling houses, some for nobles, other part is spread towards Omens, but such drainage of money kinda doesn't look good. Let's not absolutely lose the logic of things, shall we?

After visiting several hamlets you start to think that two and two don't add together. And you also start to think about one interesting thing - you haven't seen enough. I honestly thought - there's not enough info for me here. I understand we meet these places in passing, but it feels too vague and shallow. Do these people live their lives only doing one thing only? Like one place is for knowledge, admirable. Other place is full of fishing folk. Okay. Other only knows how to grow trees for its' wood. Fine. Another only knows how to weave. Sure. Who grows crops then?

Btw I haven't seen them eat even once! Or shower, another aspect worth mentioning. Boy king is mentioned drinking ale or wine, but you have to have crops for that and a vineyard.

I think about stuff like that when I read.

Although it sounds like I'm a hater here, but I'm not, I liked some places separately. Especially gargoyle which made the journey all worth while. There were some points that were good as revelations (not the big twisty, but most I liked when we find out that abbess does not only create the lie, even those dreams are fake too, which makes you spiral into another dimention of questions, but let's not go there).

Oh it's not that important but the physical side of things also made me question reality. Especially when Maude was described to have several broken bones but she walks around and even fights, which is really such a pile of bs.

The way they destroyed the cathedral too. Which led me to another question connected to lore of this spring. What was said about gargoyles and the truth about them in connection with Sybil. Since when you connect one and one you know what I'm talking about if you read it.

As a result I can't give this more than 3,5, especially in comparison to previous duology. At the end of this book I got distracted by a Korean novel and I read it with such enthusiasm, it had a complicated relationship, so it made me think it over if I truly prefer slowburns actually. Only then I returned and finally finished. Not a good sign for me if such things happen. And I don't have a burning passionate desire to find out what happens in the second book. What a bummer.

RATE: 3,5/5.

[MANHWA] On your knees, Your Highness! (Season 1)

I forgot that this was over and I never posted a review about it.

Everyone dreams of knocking out their insufferable boss, but what if that boss is a war hero, a duke, and constantly breathing down your neck? For Chloe, enduring Curtis's relentless inspections was a daily struggle... Until a royal marriage decree offers her an unexpected way out.

Official Eng translation can be found here.

One thing, it was too short. Not much actually happened during those 42 chapters. We meet our protagonists, we get to know them more during this time, their situations and relationship, since Chloe would love to deck her boss if given opportunity. But then a proposal of fake marriage changes everything.

This story has insufferable king you'd want to obliterate. He is the main pain in the ass I'd say. A good deal of chapters was actually spent on a conflict at the ball where Chloe was accused of selling a gift given by ambassador from some other country and she was defending herself. Tedious tbh that it took so long and after that just few chapters of possible emotional development, or awakening, before the season 1 was over.

I still would recommend this just to have a good time. I'm not a fan of 3D objects in manhwas that make every other one look similar or even borderline stupid (like even the crown on Chloe's head on the main page looks so bad it's incredible how they thought it looks good). But the original art and the humorous parts of it are worth the laugh. Chloe often makes faces, especially when she is unimpressed and it's hilarious, I think this type of story really wins with moments like that. Both protagonists are fun to follow and learn about them more, Chloe's unusual family, Curtis' unfavorable situation etc.

The only disappointing part that follows manhwas like a shadow is how long it takes between two seasons. It usually takes months and who knows what might happen.

[Chinese BG novel] 我在恋综世界里摆烂 by 禾树里 / I'm just lazying aroound in the world of romantic novels

(I'm also surprised that this is supposed to be a cover)

I made a second attempt at reading this one and once again I failed. It's nothing much but for some reason my interest keeps failing at the same place, around 40+ chapters.

This story is about Shi Yue, she was a rich heiress in her own world that entered entertainment business and became an actress for the fun of it, before she fell in love with the craft and eventually became famous. Now she transmigrates and becomes a girl with failed family and gambling father, she is now just like Internet celebrity who became famous because of her beauty when she was interviewed after the college entrance examination, but after that she was pretty much an unknown person, while she continued her studies.

She also has a system that wants her to follow the scripts and fall in love but Shi Yue says she'd rather operate screwdriver all day. She knows that she is actually a biological daughter of a wealthy family, but babies were swapped after the birth and she lived her miserable life since (og Shi Yue). Shi Yue who arrived during high school basically changed her fate through studying. To others it always felt like suddenlt there si this pretty, smart and confident girl.

This is mainly a harem type of story because Shi Yue has many potential love interests, but you'll be disappointed who will be the final ML of the story, because the story does not make him look good at the beginning. And his name is Shen Chengchuan. His problem is he was the first to investigate Shi Yue and find that she was actually a daughter of Feng family he wanted to take down (likethe classic you cause my father to die so I'm back for revenge type of setting). Like any man he thought it's going to be easy to impress a girl, but he had no idea that he came into contact with pretty experienced rich heiress who didn't take these men seriously.

Honestly, I stopped basically in the middle every time and by that time none of the male interests were good enough. So I have no idea what happens next and considering this was my second attempt I decided not to follow through.

But Mr Shen pushes Shi Yue towards a dating show where all male interests who partially have a story with Shi Yue will appear.

Spoilers~

Male interest #1. Shen Chengchuan, a promising talent who accomplished creating his own company which is very successful. He has a beef with Feng family because they caused his father to become a scapegoat for their scheme and eventually not handle the pressure and unalive himself. I could understand why people didn't like him, because he treated Shi Yue like any other girl and wanted to use cheap tricks, not to menion the idea of using her for his own plans. His actions are just choppy and reactional because Shi Yue does not act by the book. I really couldn't get the moment when he felt like yeah this was my girl and I'm going to fight for it, others had stronger feelings.

Male interest #2. Yan Shuhe probably has the most interesting arc of all men to me, because his situation with Shi Yue is more profound. They knew each other from high school, but at that time he never realized his feelings and basically just felt most comfortable with Shi Yue around. But it didn't stop him from dating many girlfriends from school to university and he was a playboy. Maybe he treated love so cheaply because of his own family situation, divorced parents and cheating father who would go for anyone. he actually remarried to Shen Chengchuan's mother and they became step-brothers. But Shi Yue didn't see the same situation from the light of Yan Shuhe, to her a lot of his escapades with women was surely not welcomed, since she was constantly disturbed by them or was subjected to rumors of sort, some even insisted she was in love with Yan Shuhe but kept it a secret. Yan Shuhe actually didn't take the beginning of this dating program seriously, he just wanted to distract Shi Yue from becoming target by Chengchuan, but instead found himself caught in the past and slowly realized his feelings he had for so long, which grew stronger each day. At least he was more complex compared to others.

Male interest # 3. Jiang Shuiliu is a famous actor and is very aloof young man. He went through some traumatic experience during his first years after debuting so young and later it took a toll on him. During those times he met a person online, which was original Shi Yue, our Shi Yue continued to play games with him and they could talk about anything, but they never opened up about their real identities. On the show it happened to be a concidence that Shi Yue blew up her cover and Shuiliue realized that the girl he was talking to, who pretended to be much older single mom, is actually a girl in front of him. So he started his pursuit. At the point where I stopped it was not clear if his feelings were love and for who, for present Shi Yue or the past one.

Male interest #4. Jian Huai is another rich heir who lived pretending to be a common guy, he worked close to where Shi Yue lived, this is why she knew him beforehand, but thanks to system she figured who he is. Outwardly he is sunny and approachable, but in reality he is very manipulative and calculating, likes watching people destroy themselves. Like one actress on this dating show he made her fall for him so quickly, but later she was so obsessed with him that she lost all reason. he was interested in Shi Yue because she was once agin "not like other girls".

The story itself is nothing much, daily interactions at the villa they lived during filming, their daily lives outside, interactions etc.

Most of the time it felt like stream of consciousness, when someone starts with a mnologue, for example, and then it continues as a text, a recollection of memories and feelings. In this way author expressed what their characters feel etc.

Of course it all went not without a conflict, but mostly on the internet, especially Shi Yue who was accused of this and that because others were jealous of her, of course all troublemakers were women, because women can't see other women succeed. Also public was pretty against her since she was a nobody, but Jian Huai was a nobody too, so double standards. Many viewers after some time asked Shi Yue to publish a book on how to tame men, because they witnessed how she didn't put much effort but was eventually surrounded by majority of men in that dating show.

I stopped reading before she was recognized back to the Feng family, I honestly lost interest and the way paparazzi chased her and Shen, while Jain Huai used helicopter to take her away I thought to myself this was too melodramatic moment for me, I'm out.

From last chapters I took a look at she indeed returned to her familu, she was dealing with her eldest brother, who wanted to basically sell one of his sisters to some dude he knew for cooperation. Shi Yue was dealing with her father, at least it felt like she pinned him down. Good for her. She didn't continue with entertainment business because why. The "fake daughter" was actually on her side. It felt like she and Shen Chengchuan came together but had something going on before she gave him another chance or smth. Jian Huai was so twisted in the head that he didn't mind any position just so he could stay with her (he was like, I can wait, but I can also sabotage). As for two others I have no idea.

There was nothing inherently bad about it, well, before helicopter, but in general my interest just vanished slowly but surely. So I decided not to torture myself and put it down with finality.

RATE: DNF