[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

[NOVEL] A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica Speedwell Book 4, where we have gothic vibes, island with a castle with a foggy weather and rains, stone and gloom, old velvet nibbled by moths and even a garden with poisonous plants (used, but not in a sense you'd expect). The habitants are living under the impression that the owner's bride escaped the island on her wedding day because he girl vanished into thin air. Some believe she never left and her ghost still haunts the halls of the castle.

Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell is whisked off to a remote island off the tip of Cornwall when her natural historian colleague Stoker's brother calls in a favor. On the pretext of wanting a companion to accompany him to Lord Malcolm Romilly's house party, Tiberius persuades Veronica to pose as his fiancée—much to Stoker's chagrin. But upon arriving, it becomes clear that the party is not as innocent as it had seemed. Every invited guest has a connection to Romilly's wife, Rosamund, who disappeared on her wedding day three years ago, and a dramatic dinner proves she is very much on her husband's mind.

As spectral figures, ghostly music, and mysterious threats begin to plague the partygoers, Veronica enlists Stoker's help to discover the host's true motivations. And as they investigate, it becomes clear that there are numerous mysteries surrounding the Romilly estate, and every person present has a motive to kill Rosamund...

Veronica Speedwell. Book 4

I must say I quite liked the atmosphere of this book. Even the prose and descriptions tended to give the story more gothic feel.

But before that we have an intro where Veronica takes off for half a year, just after she and Stoker were on the verge of confessing. Veronica, being interrupted, backtracked a lot. And upon her return said something ridiculous that they should stay as collegues. Bless Stoker for his stubborness and actually covertly fishing for Veronica's feelings, because the girl eventually started to regret her choices, no matter how sensible they were.

As mentioned in the summary Veronica is traveling to an island where she meets the Romilly household. Each member has a story with the missing bride, but it all happens to be dust thrown into reader's eyes as a distraction.

The owner of the castle is set to finally find out the truth about what happened to his bride, occupied by the main questions:

- What happened to his bride?

- Where is her body if she never left the island?

- Whodunnit? 

Veronica and Stoker are just passer-by in the situation, but Veronica's desire to snoop around wins her over and while doing so they uncover more and more details that help solve the case. Also each member of the house is pretty mysterious in their own connection to the missing bride.

I came to terms that these two are not truly methodical in their actions and some of the mystery solving comes with the feel of convenience I'd say. You can also give it all an explanation of course, if you are inclined to do so.

My list of suspects by the time we're introduced to all the members was always around 3 and when it came to one particular event at least one person was always on the list of guilty.

After reading of course you can return back and trace the personal motive, but while reading these things are not as obvious, they're kinda tossed among the others.

What I was partially disappointed about is how perpetrator gave themselves away at the end, so it wasn't like Veronica and Stoker calling everyone to one room and pointing fingers of - you've done it.

Another interesting part I think is about Rosamund and the perspective. We never know her personally, only from the words of other people and she gives completely different impression, but what I was inclined to believe is testimony of women who were close to her. In stark contrast came the adoration of men.

But I honestly was thinking I'm given Stoker's ex-wife flashbacks 2.0.

Overall I liked the story, the relationship question was finally solved in a flashy way. The mystery was also solved, not without a moment of enlightment from Veronica I must admit.

More about in spoilers.

SPOILERS

Part 1. Introduction / setting

The castle is situated on top of the St Monnard's island, it has a layered structure with many gardens, including vegetable and medicinal, the even have one closed garden with poisonous plants, also they have an orchard and vineyard. A bit away is a village with many fishermen living there. The legend says the Romilly family started from a union between a mermaid and a man. Not far from the island you could see three small islands that were called three sisters. With high tideas they disappear. Like any castle it also has many underground secret tunnels that lead different ways and with high tide some of them get submerged in water.

The Romilly family lived with conviction that Rosamund disappeared on her wedding day and no one knows what happened to her. There are several theories covered in press that discussed this case extensively, from getting cold feet as a new wife, to escaping with a lover and the cornish folk that lives on an island even believe she became a dove and flew away (not helpful). If she's dead or alive is not known. But she's missing, no missing boat was reported though, she simply vanished.

At first no one speaks of her, only with time we realize that each member has some connection to Rosamund in one way or another. I had three strong suspects at first, but eventually perpetrator gave themselves away, it was my only doubt if they had accomplice or not.

During the dinner upon their arrival Malcolm Romilly (the owner of the castle) brings up an evidence that Rosamund might have never left and if she didn't then she must be dead. The evidence is her travel bag with her personal things.

Part 2. Mystery

So if she's still on the island then where is her body? Can it be found? the island was searched not once, she must be somewhere still. And if she's dead then who killed her? because accident is unlikely in such scenario.

Part 3. Investigation

Mainly comes in a form of asking the members of this family questions, if they had conflicts with the girl or if they've seen or heard anything in particular. Veronica and Stoker don't have much progress because people themselves are not willing to share a lot of details and some even say to give it a rest.

What gives the investigation a push (and us readers with a perfect suspect) is what happens during the seance by one of the members, Helen Romilly. When the small company of people was gathered together and the light went out they could hear the sound of harpsichird, the instrument Rosamund played when she lived in the castle. But when they reach the musc room it happened to be empty (theatrics). Each member is shaken to the core and everyone have their own reasons to be disturbed. On the other hand Veronica and Stoker discover a secret passage that connects the room with library. It's a castle with a lot of nooks and crannies.

To me that highlighted the housekeeper at least as participant of the murder right away. Only she was absent from the room and she's the one with motivation as well. if she had any accomplice, I had no idea.

What happened next dropped shade on every member of the family, even on Stoker's brother, Tiberius. But it all happened to be nothing compared to sudden disappearance of the host. Where had he gone? He vanished like his bride. before that I kinda suspected hima  bit, because with novels like these you sometimes never know what might happen next, but after he disappeared I knew he was surely innocent and all the details that were dropped bit by bit were nothing more but a distraction. It would have been too stupid to start it all and then disappear.

All before Mrs Trengrouse herself showed up, the housekeeper, with a gun and made our trio swim towards the First Sister, because the boat was faulty it drowned and because of the high tide our trio thought they were done. Stoker swam all the way to the village to ask for help. Although it seemed a high stake moment but it was resolved pretty fast and veronica with Tiberius were saved. It was also the moment when Stoker confessed that he loved Veronica enough to die for her (trying to swim in such dire conditions). This is the part which I found silly, like what she would say if they really disappeared? Would she claim they were searching for Rosamund and met with accident, too many to count.

When Veronica came around she had epiphany that when they found the Rosamund bag in malcolm's room, they found it in a secret place, they missed the part that it was a double layered one. So they rushed to break the pannel finding exhausted Malcolm and unlucky Mrs Trengrouse with him.

Malcolm shares the reason his housekeeper held him captive for several days, that he guessed she was at fault. Mrs Trengrouse was grabbed by him and the door closed with the two of them trapped.

The housekeeper also confesses to her deeds, but she never says where the body of Rosamund is. It came to Veronica afterwards and they tried their theory eventually finding the body in a wine barrel.

Note: I have no idea about the decomposition in alcohol, because it was described as if she was preserved in good condition (3 years passed btw). Also I have no idea how housekeeper danced around the barrel itself, they had wines, but she surely didn't feed other one from Rosamund's barrel, I hope, otherwise you can imagine what would happen.

Part 4. Characters / motivation

Malcolm Romilly (grieving owner) was geniuninely searching for answers. He fell for Rosamund and was happy to have her as his wife, so it drove him quite mad that it was unknown for so long. The finding of the bag was the key to solving this puzzle. The dust in the eyes of the readers I was talking about is how he was described as a bit of a violent man, he was expelled for it during school days. he also could have done something in a heat of the moment because we as readers eventually find out that Rosamund had an affair with Tiberius during her weeks preparing for the wedding and she also became pregnant, so she was with a bastard child when she married.

Rosamund. Let's start from her, since she is such a peculiar character. She never appears and only exists in memories. She is, as we find, ambitious and calculating, also manipulative and almost demanding. She befriended malcom's sister during school days and eventually milked that friendship to her own advantage. She almost demanded to be invited to the island where she soon became engaged to Malcolm. Otherwise her birth is not noble, she was a governess that was not satisfied with her fate. When she finally settled down it was also not enough for her, since she met with Tiberius who fell madly in love with her (why? don't ask, what men saw in this vile creature I don't know) and she had an affair with him. Finally bearing his child. But she refused to marry Tiberius, since he was not as easy to manipulate. Her plans were vast, she openly said what she's going to destroy Mertensia's gardens and even send Mrs Trengrouse away. To women she was nasty. So here we have it, ambitious gold digger and a bitch who was unfaithful to her betrothed.

Mertensia Romilly (loves her plants, even poisonous). her main motivation of harming Rosamund can only be directed at their one big fight when Rosamund claimed she wants roses and peonies around the gardens and not all that junk Mertensia worked for. You need to know that Mertensia is more than a scientist, she cares not only for decorative flowers, but knows remedies. It's her one big passion and Rosamund, who used their early acquaintance and openly now hated Mertensia, threatened to destroy all her years of hard work and even her own existence. With poisonous plants in her garden, ooh I even imagined what would it be if she Rosamund was there.

Helena Romilly (fake medium) she is a widow of Romilly's second son. She has no real reason to wish Rosamund harm, but if she was not there her own son would inherit the island as the only surviving male. But it was obvious she was hardly any threat. We find she became a fake medium to support her son, since Malcolm had his own period when he was unreliable. Her own seance scared her too, since she never planned the harpsichord part and geniunely thought it was real.

Her son Caspian is nothing but a cuddled young man with too many dramatics. Not important character.

Mrs. Trengrouse, the housekeeper of the household. Has been there since Mr Marlcolm was little. She is truly proud of their place and how it runs. She is very protective of every member. So her loyalty runs really deep. But it's because she is a woman of service it was easier for her to see things. Such as Rosamund's true nature and the secret of her pregnancy with a bastard child.

Her motivation was actually protection, she couldn'y see a woman with a bastard child making the whole house restless. Who knew, maybe Mr Malcom would even forgive her because fo his deep love for her (after all the instant reaction Malcolm had when he figured Mrs Trengrouse was at fault, was to strangle her). I also think it's crime of passion, she herself said that she saw red and before she knew it it was a done deal. Because she knows everything about the castle she concealed her body in a wine barrel where it was later found (the hint was that Mrs Trengrouse never drank the local vintage herself, while she drank liquor). I tend to think that if se was given time and was more methodcal about it, she'd just use something from the poisonous garden, she knew her way around it a bit. But she gave herself away because she wanted the topic of Rosamund to be buried and forgotten, she never expected that the bag would be found.

Tiberius (heartbroken lover). Honestly, he can go fuck himself. I honestly think veronica is too easy on the understanding side when Tiberius finally revealed the entire backstory. because of his resemblance on the harpsichord art they figured he had conenction to Rosamund, so they were lovers, so he had an affair with his best friend's bride, okay?! Next is he left the island and was absent during entire wedding and missing part, since he traveled to other country and married by the demand of his father. He was abusive to his wife, not physically but emotionally, so he's a scum, since his wife died in childbirth. At that time he got telegram from Rosamund about the pregnancy and that child was his, so he missed the crucial time. Honestly, I couldn't see anything good about Rosamund, but this guy was head over heels for her, like.. why. But whatever. He himself is not the greatest example of high morals. Rosamund suits him best since she's similar to him. But what got to me is how Veronica was too quick to forgive I suppose, he saw him grieving for everything he had done, especially to his wife and she said everyone needs a second chance, sure, but let's not make it so quick. Don't know, didn't like her there.

Not to mention we have more and more details about Stoker and Tiberius' childhood and it was not good of course, since Stoker is the result of their mother's affair. They were hating on each other since childhood, but were too similar at the same time.

Conclusion: Mrs Trengroouse was actually given poison by Mertensia, she was the one most devastated by the truth, yet she didn't want it all come to light and become another family scandal the press can chew on.. Malcolm was beyond himself because of that period and the truth, he was eventually taken away traveling. Mertensia stayed as the head of household. Tiberius acted like a domineering CEO during last parts before they found the body. Honestly the more you know how manipulative Rosamund was the more you don't understand his choice. She is described as such a poor soul as if she's the only one like that, but she's nasty to others and this is why I'm so harsh about her.

Well, and Veronica and Stoker were finally happy in love.

RATE: 4/5.

[SHORT REVIEWS] #34

BOOKS

CHN

Lin An Si, it's your turn again to be ranted about. No really, what is wrong with this author.

[BL] 穿书成隐藏大佬堆的幼崽 by 林盎司 *JJ

Yu Qingye transmigrates and become a "fake" master, but he is only 5 years old (15yo before transmigrating, which honestly doesn't matter she can't pay attention to her own settings, while the beginning was more believable, later he instantly felt like he fell into IQ loss and then he just acts too mature, in the span of mere 10 chapters mind you) and the real master is actually reborn. Yu Qingye's plan is to see what this body's real family looks like, because he doesn't trust the real young master retelling of his life and actually exchange early on while they're still little.

The real young master isn't actually a good person as well, which is very cliche, he is of course hypocritical and ungrateful, only remembers his rich aunt that spent money on him, while pours dirt on his uncle who took care of him and protected him with his life in a car accident. His parents who brought up the young Yu Tian (his name in this universe) are the same as their kid, they start to treat badly their kid even before they received the paternity test. Honestly the entire chapter about the dinner will go into annals of her writing, since you can't be more old-fashioned when describing the parents of the real young master, of course they're homophobic when it comes to uncles raising the boy, also prejudiced towards them so much, don't even question or want to see for themselves how exactly they treat the kid, they just go along with a kid. Any adult knows that kids can say as it is, but also say as they see it. I wasn't even surprised at her portrayal by that point. And of course it's done for one purpose only.

Very cliche plot where a baby who is so good and sensible will turn out the darling of the family and family will reveal that they're actually not a simple family, that both his unces (uncle and his lover) are successful people who don't reveal their true identity for some reasons, also other members who are some prominent figures in disguise will show their tail as well I'd say.

Maybe Lin An Si thought that previous story was so successful that she's going to repeat it. Because in her previous story we had a troubled young man who only turned I don't remember how old he was, 18 maybe? she decided it's going to be super tragic to let the boy be unloved by his two parents who used money he earned when filming as a child star on their two new families the boy had no idea about and she decided to add the snot by making the boy pass being hit by a car. Here the beginning is same tragic, the MC is unloved in his family, his parents divorced and he had to stay with his dad, his mother left him with no strings attached and not looking back, he lived under the same roof and felt like a bag for punching and of course be servile to his younger brother. Of course his dad was such a scumbag that he will make him drop out of school and turn to work (did not work because at the same night MC transmigrates). Stuff like that Lin An Si seem to come to love so much. But the thing is she likes to do it to showcase the contrasting lives where now they'll be loved and cherished just for who they are.

But I don't buy it, the parents of these kids don't get their comeuppance and the kid, which was a problem for them is gone and they get no retribution (maybe they do, I DNF'd the previous work pretty quickly).

The next thing I predict for this story is that it'll be long, it'll be so long that you'll be surprised. I already saw through the style of this author few novels ago, she likes to add unnecessary stuff, it's my ongoing joke about 30 shower scenes and it came from this author. So the story is not only long but watery af. Imagine this, the famous Heaven Official's blessing is just 200+ chapters, my favorite Nightmare Live is 700+ but it is a complex multi-arc novel, Lin An Si ballooned her previous work to be 500+ chapters of family drama.

This time around she decided to make MC even younger before he transmigrates, well, I could get his reactions and fear at first. I thought "wow, is she going to make a different MC and make him really sound like a teen?" was my naive thought. But honestly it's like his IQ jumped around. At some parts he feels clever and mature, at other times author tries really hard to make you believe that he was so socially inept that he doesn't understand if the actions of "real" young master are common or not, as if he never communicated with anyone before or even witnessed his own family's relationship. He may had no friendly relationships before, but the kid does not live in isolation, we've all been there, where we can sit in our own corner but still see what others are doing or how they interact. And also have our opinion on it. She made it sound as if the boy lived under a rock all this time. And I don't believe it as always. So many stories she wrote and her portrayal is still on that level, but she built a following that supports her so props to that. If you like their repetitive stories then you're welcome to know their new story is being published. But any interest I had in her vanished when I realized she just recycles her own stuff.

[BL] 民国花旦重生后爆红娱乐圈 by 折吱*JJ

(mtl:A Republic of China actor becomes a sensation in entertainment industry after his reborth)

The story covers the life of Chu Jiu who has struggled in times of unrest and became a popular performer desired by many, but then he met his tragic end at the hands of invaders. But his life did not end at that, he found himself traveling to the future and becoming a celebrity embroiled in scandlas. Chu Jiu takes pity on Xiao Chu as he calles the owner of the body, because the person is not without acting talent, but his mentality of being stressed and not being keen on social relatiosnhips led him into the trap. The same person who claims tot ake care of him on the show is the one sending the most negative news about him. And this could have been Xiao Chu's last stage if Chu Jiu hasn't arrived in time.

What things Chu Jiu hasn't seen in his life? This actor named Ning Xi who thoroughly used Xiao Chu's popularity to his advantage certainly is not getting away. He is a pro at playing along. He will show him what a talent means.

The internet that was buzzing with news saw new episodes of the acting variety show and found themselves being attracted to the changes in Chu Jiu and his acting skills improving. Chu Jiu was not bothered and might have continued like he always did, but among the judges was a guest star renowned for his acting skills - Lu Hanzhang.

Being very experienced at flirting Chu Jiu didn't mind approaching the aloof actor, even if he met the rejection he was still intrigued because he never saw a person as Hanzhang before. But as their relationship develops he finds that their roles changed.

Let's start from the good part. I liked the relationship.

It starts with Chu Jiu openly flirting with Hanzhang, but Hanzhang acts like a gentleman, he doesn't get angry or gets petty. Because in Chu Jiu's mind no strings were attached is when he was the most firvolous. But later on the more he got together with Hanzhang he realized that Hanzhang is the type of person who once he gets serious it will be because of deep affection that won't be easily dispelled. So when Chu Jiu decides to cease his flirtations, because he knew he couldn't commit to a relationship he is confessed by Hanzhang.

Hanzhang is actually very prejudiced towards Chu Jiu, but later when they work more together he is surprised to find more new sides to Chu Jiu he knew nothing about. He knew that flirting won't go anywhere and actually thought of making himself clear one day, but eventually realized that he took care of Chu Jiu like no other person and he might have come to like him. This is why he decided to confess his feelings, being surprised that Chu Jiu did not agree. He knew and felt that Chu Jiu is not indifferent, but their level of affection is different. But he didn't give up.

Chu Jiu found that no one else in the world would fit him like Hanzhang, he makes him so comfortable, he is so caring. He let the feelings in his heart grow and the more time passed he found that feelings became more profound. The only question left was... it seems he is not the one who will end on top.

I did not finish it. An I'll tell you why. It would have been interesting and the relationship would really pull through if the style of sriting wasn't this meandering. I can't even express well how tedious it was to read and I started skipping parts before decided that I had enough and finished the last chapters.

The relationship and storyline unfortunately get lost in unnecessary details. It's funny to me because when things needed details they lacked them, but when it came to some basic stuff it went on and on without stopping. And it's not like those details were important, but some important parts would get lost in such heavy text.

Also the problem it seems in author treating readers as kindergarteners, not only writing something basic, but also explaining in details the motivation for actions or words.

Because of the barrage of words I'm sure I missed several illogical parts. It was just too much. Such meticulousness should have a purpose, but the only purpose I found here is basically watering down the content.

This story is 188 chapters long, okay?!

Imagine my frustration that they get together around 80th, then some action happens around 105, but by that time I'm so tired of this style of writing that I can't muster any excitement.

The story covers the variety show, which is the one that lacked details, even if it was described so extensively. Then filming. And on-going confrontation with Ning Xi and one of the mentrs, director Xu Wenhao who had his eyes on Chu Jiu.

As for the show, it seemingly describes a lot of scenes, but you know what? I still have no idea what type of format they used and what's the logic. At times it feels like it describes a theater type, they have background and wear mikes and also there were scenes where public reacted and distracted actors, not to mention mentors describe it as production that needs to be adapted to the scene. But then it suddenly says that there are pre-recorded parts. Some parts require a lot of extras, space and backgrounds etc. I just got so confused. Also the "adapted works" felt like too much going on and it did not connect the dots. Whatever, what do I know.

It could really win from editing and cutting down at least half of that text, but imagine when it all depends on word count to edit all that. Of course no one would be willing to do it. But it only proves that the work becomes flawed and overblown.

As for the logic flaws. I was sitting and thinking that the situation with the director was blown out of proportions and it was unrealistic.

So we have with director Xu Wenhao who is supposed to be a big director, but I haven't seen him described as a true pillar, because wen he was pushed he fell too quickly. He wanted to get Chu Jiu or otherwise destroy his prospects, and the guy is experienced. But the thing is every mentor is described as if they fear him and the troubles they can get into, so they dance around his ego a lot. Which is unrealistic, no director can hold so much power and not to mention there are so many directors in the industry, even if they're interconnected some may have conflicts, you can always find a way out. he was only described as such, but we don't see anything to prove that fear. But to me the strange part was, one of these mentiors is a wife of entertainment company, she married the boss and is now the boss' wife, they lived together for so long, yet she still acted as if the guy is more important. But director does not live in isolation, without capital he's nothing. The way he was brought down was too easy. And the guy stuck around for so long, I think it was chapter 96 when the things went down for him. But this type of storytelling is unsatisfying.

The best part of it are two main protagonists and their relationship. But I couldn't care less about meandering. Quote from our intelligent MC:

- "It's good for a person to be confident in themselves, but if that confidence goes too far and they fail to see the progress of others or realize the gap between themselves and others, then it becomes arrogance."

[BG] 快穿之男神苏炸天 by 姩潇潇 (*Qidian)

(mtl: Quick transmigration: The male lead is so charming)

Another masterpiece from this site. I ommit many ones that I open and close with the first chapter, this one I read a bit more because I was kinda shocked?

What brought me to mention it are author's words how they see the rating drop and they don't know why. I don't want to disappoint but... author maybe doesn't realize that they wrote an unlikable and gaslighting female lead.

FMC is supposed to be a dragon or smth, so she excuses her behavior with it a lot, like she doesn't understand human feelings. Yes, it may be right, but it feels like a dragon has no feelings of her own. Her description of feelings often comes across as cheap.

Plots are not worth of mentioning they're too over the top, they're just galloping without stopping and many things look as a draft. So it's easy to get tired of it. I got tired pretty quickly.

MC for some reason falls in love with this girl. Although she treats him poorly I'd say, gaslights him all the time (by the way she speaks). The way she treats romance is cringe-worthy with only words like "You like me. I like you. We can date. When do we marry" when they know each other for a short while. MC bends and stretches to follow this. She never lingers, never responds to unspoken words and never appreciates anything. Going on a date? She hates it because she'd rather stay home. Okay. A big bouquet of flower? Cumbersome to hold. She appreciates, she will say so, but also will add it's cumbersome. Too straightforward. And often repeats one and only answer wen asked if she ever loved the man when they're at the end of their lives, she says - what do you think? I am so rich and beautiful and men would line up after me but I was with you. She always answers with a question of this type. She can barely say I like you. I read few arcs, laughed at how silly it is and then decided that it was time to press 'x'.

Mentions:

I did re-read [BL] 我可怜，我装的 by 薄夭 (*JJ), since it's entertaining trashy read. I made a review on it long time ago.

[BG] 快穿：病娇大佬吃起醋来真要命 by 把你饭叼走 (*Qidian). Thought it'd be sweet and maybe trashy entertainment type, but honestly some writers don't realize how their characters look when they write. Thus it ends up looking bad. Plus the FMC is just the silly type, even though when I first read the introduction that she travels to collect soul pieces of her beloved husband I thought it was nice for a start, but then her reactions to some things were weird to me (either I think the timing was wrong or they looked not good), because the guy fell for her, it's all fine and dandy before you realize he is following her every move. The original storyline doesn't matter since it is solved instantly as if the male lead of the story is that insignificant. The tw easily get together and it's a happy life, nothing else matter but romance.

DNF'd [BL] 禁止歧视幼崽！ by 樱满庭 (*JJ) It's a story of MC who lands as a ..cub. And it's significant in every world, but I do not care to continue. It just didn't grab my attention. What weirds me the most is that this lands into BL category, it's put into category by the author. Maybe something will happen in the future how do I know, MC was still a cub at the end of arc 1. 

DNF'd [BL] 向导伴侣印记消失后 by 樱满庭 (*JJ) Thought the premise was interesting, but later realized that characterization is just... Anyway it's not my cup of tea and I wanted to punch author in the face a bit.

US

Lady Ludmilla's Accidental Letter by Sofi Laporte

1st book in Merry Spinsters, Charming Rogues series. The title is self-explanatory, Lady Ludmilla indeed wrote a letter to her friend, but had no idea that tenants changed and she was answered by a man. Instead of severing the exchange then and there she continued this exchange of letter for several years, before fate made her return to London. And she hated London so much.

It's perfect for readers who like the theme of misunderstanding that will be present for entirety of the book. Readers as much as Ludmilla, shortened and lovingly called Lu, are chasing the red herring for most of the story, because author likes to throw dust in your eyes.

When Lu comes to London she is overwhelmed by the idea of meeting her Addy or staying in disguise. But coincidences keep happening that always lead her astray. At first she felt she got it right when thought that St Addington, the person she disliked, is her Addy. But then she finds out that he also has a cousin living in his house who is called Adam Adey. Even the reader may become confused since Adam mentions "writing a letter" or "waiting for a letter" several times, very much when mentoning such activity will lead us to believ he may be our Addy. So the whole thing is more like going back and forth before protags are honest with each other.

Oh, another thing is why Lu despised St Addington at first, although he was nto exactly the person she should loathe. When she oly debuted she was approached by a man, Matthew, but then accidentally she finds out he wants her money as a daughter of a Duke and all that flirting was nothing but a pretence. She disliked St Addington because he enticed Matthew to bet, though she saw that matthew wasn't against betting himself.

Of course as time went by and they came to know each other more such harsh feelings changed. He on the other hand was remorseful, since he liked her a lot for a very long time.

Very easy to read book, you can breeze through it. But again, the problem with modern HR romance is that it reads too modern. The way people speak and act.

Also author's humor, if there was such, passed me by so hard. I really didn't see anything funny with what characters found funny.

The last part where Lu goes back to Bath with her aunt she is rumored to be a fallen woman since she kissed St Addington in public (on his cheek), but then she said some random stuff like what a spinster to do and became a sensation after some passing Duchess told her she is something. I was baffled kinda.

I decided I won't continue with other books from this series.

RATE: 3/5.

I started reading the fourth book from the series and am around 25% in. I really have no idea how it happened, but I won't be dwelling on it. We start from sudden departure of Veronica on a longest vocation. Just after she and Stoker might have broken the barrier of friends to lovers, but they were stopped and Veronica backpedalled. Anyway Stoker's older brother comes to Veronica (since he is one of those gentlemen who is charmed~ by her, though who knows why) with a deal, so she will travel with him for a visit (she sold herself for butterflies but this time she feels more and more inclined to have live butterflies instead of making specimens). I think the name of butterfly was sompletely fabricated. Shocker I know, I'm sarcastic because I remember I googled on of the names and got some really random butterfly that can be found anywhere. Anyway, they travel and this man asks her to pretend to be his fiance, since it will not tarnish her reputation. Stoker actually arrived separately, but with same destination, but honestly girl hurt his feelings so much already by refusing and dancing around the topic.

As for what happens on this island is that it has a castle and it all gives gothic vibes, they even have poison plants garden. Locals believe in mermaids and ghosts. Since one of them is rumored to haunt the halls of the castle. I hope it won't go into supernatural or something odd that will have no good reason but something supernatural.

Also this bad boy here. I found this on IG and thought it's such a cool idea to have a whole book of puzzles like that. It was like a door opened to a new world. So there is a niche with books like that. It's so interesting. I love the interactive idea of it.

After seeing there are also other puzzles like Murdoku I actually ended up staying so late at night on their site enamored in the puzzle-solving.

This one caught my attention because the FMC after the death of her husband finds he might have deceived her and she had no idea about his secrets. This way a person is brought in into investigating in a logical fashion. 

This one chosen because I wanted to try something new and from recommended, will see how it goes.

FUTURE RELEASES

           

Most of these come from the lists of recommended future releases. I'm so obvious that I go for covers and titles. Except Bodies of Magic, that came as rec from YT. I thought that Revenge plot itself sounds amazing, I'd like to see the story which promises mystery thriller and really inteesting premise of author who wants to be published and will not take no for an answer. Kiss, slay, replay is a loop novel and I want to try it, it sounds fun. If it's going to be unhinged I'm wlecoming it. As for I hope this email finds you in hell it reminded me of some fun stories when I was reading about metaphysics and connecting the two sounds fun. I think I remember one especially which was a BL story where a programmer joined the hell company and later they together invented many things, it was light-hearted and humorous.

I haven't watched anything these days except catching up with Running Man show. The only variety I still watch.