[Chinese BG novel] 女战神的黑包群 by 二谦 / Goddess of war and her black envelope group (PART 1)

*Qidian, so be prepared.

This is a 3k beast and I'm not even 1/6 through it. I'm on chapter 565. I decided to make a pause because I found myself a bit tired of this story. I'm sure there will be part 2 eventually when I will come around continuing, but at this point, well, I just wanted to explore this story a bit.

Goddess of War is a story about the main character Dong Shu, she is an interstellar legend with her incredible abilities and achievements that can take a day and a night to recount. But in her life a tragedy happened, her brother, who was also a renown legend in their world met an accident and fell into coma since then, but no matter what ways Dong Shu tried she couldn't make her brother Dong Li wake up. She truly loves her brother who always took care of her, so when a black envelope group appeared in her smart brain she saw a chance in it.

How Black Envelope Group operates: someone released a black envelope in a group chat, you click on it and then you're transported into a new world. Black envelope group gives you a basic information, name and age and asks you to fulfill the OG wish. The problem is sometimes she has memories and can assume what the wish might be, at other times there are no memories and she is blind guessing.

If you succeed you are given black envelope points as a reward, if you get enough then you can start sending black envelopes yourself. What are the perks - rewards. She sends envelopes and asks for a reward and she can asks for precious medicines that do not exist in their world all for the sake of creating a miracle medicine that will wake her brother. That is her goal of completing these worlds.

For a reader what are the perks. Dong Shu is pretty strong and intelligent character. Downside is that it's often said rather than done. Like author says she has brainwashing skills, but rarely shows it. She has her smart brain and her mental power with herself, this is why she can be physically strong in any world, the main point is to have enough to eat.

Black envelope group provides almost no info, the only thing is how they give rewards that might be helpful, though Dong Shu does not use them unless necessary.

FMC is smart and ambitious in these worlds and tries to fulfill the wishes as soon as possible, but here's a catch.

A downside is that FMC does not stay in these worlds, this happens rarely and most of the time her time in this world for some reason depends on main couples of these worlds. As long as the couple is happy and together she is safe, but when they break up she is ejected from the world. To me it repeats the same process, although at the same time she does not waste time, but sometimes her circumstances make this sudden leave sad (for example she has kids to take care of or parents that love her dearly, stuff like that). But because the process is repeated most of the time it a) feels like copy and paste and b) gets a bit boring. Not to mention how the fulfilling someone wish correlates to main protagonists. I can understand the world should collapse but it doesn't, only FMC is ejected. Another downside is that sometimes these worlds feel empty. Although something happens but it feels like it doesn't really matter and eventually the ending might be flushed. So you sit and think - so, what was the point?

ARC 1

Foodie in the 70's. Girl who just wanted to have her fill. The world was a success.

Tbh it was a ncie beginning. Mostly because FMC managed to convert the thinking of her parents, I like when characters have a change of heart and follow a one-sided path. Also she got together with potential female protag and they helped each other, eventually FMC lived the longest in this world. But the way that both women helped each other was heart-warming. Female protag despite her gold finger realized that FMC has so many ways about life and so many ideas, she did not envy it, on the contrary she thought of her own limitations with a clear head. So both were content with what they eventually got.

ARC 2

Innocent heiress. First failed world.

Mostly not because FMC is bad, but because OG's morals were questionable, she wanted to get together with her non-related stepbrother. But FMC who may do a lot of shit is uncapable of such stuff or guess such things, she later on was keen on the possibility of marriage being OGs wish, but usually it ended with nothing.

Otherwise she became successful in this world, yet because of a villainous supporting character she had to sacrifice herself for the good. A bit silly how they allowed her to do what she did at the very end. Also her stepbro actually fell for her and he was not the only one. 

ARC 3

One General's success is built on ten thousand bones.

A pretty good arc, I really liked it. Especially the theme of transmigrating girl who caused so much devastation to the world with her "innovations".

FMC lands as a peasant girl who wants to make sure a general protecting their land is safe. She travels to the borders to slowly build up momentum for the possible revolting against current imprial power that only knows how to indulge.

On the opposite side are the transmigrating girl who plays the innocent type who fishes for men to support her, she is currently the main wife of one of the princes, but her innovation actually left another country in devastation, although it brought quick success an dthey acquired a lot of new land, they destroyed people along the way. It just showed that not all transmigrators selflessly do something good or the devastating effect weapons can have.

Pretty good arc to me. Was a great success.

One fun part is how FMC asked the general to marry her because she was afraid she'll fail because of failure in marriage to a designated person. Because FMC perished with one of the protags she still made such wish, good thig the world was a success.

ARC 4

Little wolf dog brother in apocalypse.

FMC got a nice gold finger here, a delivery app where she can get food out of thin air. It mostly told how she traveled with her neighbor, a young man who was also left alone. So they stuck together and she took care of him, trying to make him the strongest because she knew she might leave any moment. She also had some research done on the virus which she left to a trusted person.

But this is also the first world where author gets a bit repetitive, as if they try to reiterate too much or even use the same diologues or rhetoric of characters. Which was going in circles sometimes.

ARC 5

Specialst on trending

Outdated actress who spent most of her resources on her husband, but forgot about herself. Eventually her husband forgot all the good parts and asked for divorce.

In this arc we have a traversing girl with a lot of ambitions but who does not care about people surrounding her, thinking she is hot commodity. And also the husband is reborn but it was too late.

I can say I liked this as well, because this female protagonist who has no real talent of her own, tried to promote herself as most outstanding and because she believed it's just a story and others are just NPCs, not realizing that world does not revolve around her and others are living and breathing people. Eventually she built her own downfall. Not to mention others who initially supported her turned against her.

I think it's a nice touch of - don't be too full of yourself.

FMC because she couldn't act spent most time singing, since she had healing magic she also used it in her voice, then took part in variety show. She eventually starred in movies and learnt some craft but not on the high level. She was always more physical type, just strong girl.

ARC 6

Let's eat chicken (*gaming term)

FMC suddenly becomes a boy.

In this one she plays as a kind-hearted boy. She eventually got her shit together and started studying extensively. She is successful in it because of her mental strength. But she also appreciates knowledge she can absorb in any world.

The OG died when saving someone. And eventually the main couple separated also because they didn't have this emotional push at first when both people felt there is no need for much, life is precious and let's be together.

By this time she eiether broke up couple intentionally or was the catalyst for relationships, but overall unlike first couple no one stays together for long.

FMC eventually got a lot of things done before leaving and this is the part where she got really good parents and she did everything so they'll be taken care of if she's not there. I really felt sorry for the parents.

But also because it had a lot of gaming content which I simply started skipping eventually.

ARC 7

Cultivation world.

FMC lands as OG who is actually riddled with a lot fo rumors and for a good reason. She is renowned for bringing young men and changing them like gloves. FMC's idea and wish are conencted to finding how such a powerful figure perished, since she had no solid memories of those moments.

She actually cultivated well in this world. Became close to both protags, male protag respected her view on cultivation.

She also found the truth behind her weakness. It was a devised plan by demonic cult, they used a man who was close to OG to poison her with a special herb and using incence they'd weaken her cultivation so when the Demon King came she was easily defeated. This time FMC was prepared. Eventually she played a huge role in defeating Demon King and the demon cult alltogether. But eventually failed to pass the tribulation when ascending to immortality because a female protag sais something to her.

But it was a success.

ARC 8

Campus.

I always find campus stories a bit boring. So FMC was a chubby young girl who was bullied. Although she did not strive to lose weight she eventually started to lose weight bit by bit and started studying. Which impressed teachers and others, even her bullying ended with her getting more popular. The protags here are two character from her class, one is a campus nerdy girl who is cute, deemed as a goddess and is good at studying, another is a rebellious boy, but who eventually got better because of her.

FMC actually had nothing to do with these two, even og died from a car accident which was random. But when she reached some success she once again was ejected leaving her parents behind.

At this point I was really getting irritated that she can't stay just because protags were breaking up an dmaking up because of one female character who was always sticking to them and coming in-between.

ARC 9

Raising children in 60's

First time FMC had children, of course kids were there when she arrived. Another failed world.

Thing is OG wanted her to marry some random man OG had a relationship with. But FMC would never even consider it.

OG is a widow living in a small village in the 60s, life is hard and her husband left early, although she liked him but his family did not support her since she gave birth to a girl. Now she is notorious because she had relationships with several men, but she did it for survival. Yet it was obvious she was more selfish about herself than her kids. This is why the world failed, she thought of herself and not her kids, even if she already preferred boys over girls like anybody else. Her boy was born from one of her lovers btw.

This is second time FMC got a golden finger that helped her through hardest times.

The protags were two people from her village, there is also another protag / traverser who landed in this place. Both couple were unhappy. But the main protag was this traversing girl who had her eyes on an educated youth and wanted to leave to city with him eventually. All the young love that was present at first was worn away with years of hardships and lack of supportive husband.

So when these families failed FMC also was ejected, but at least she made the kids grow up and be successful, for this she was different from OG.

ARC 10

Because FMC was devastated by the morals of previous world she was apprehensive of wishes in this one. This is called Phoenix Journey, a woman who rose from ashes and avenged her parents. 

OG is a girl who came from a PM household, she fell for not favorite prince and with her family she managed to support him to the throne, but the new emperor turned around and betrayed her, killing her entire family and his "true love" destroyed FMC, don't want to put here gruesome details.

FMC traveled to a bordering country and y coicidence met a girl who looked like her, from her she realized this girl is a daughter of her mother long-lost sister, this is why they look alike, she took her place and returned to a family who wanted to use her instead of her sister for a "good luck" marriage. FMC did not mind it, because she wanted to find a person to cooperate with, she will give them strength to rise to power and they will help her to size the neighboring country she's from. 

It's not a bad arc, has a lot of relationships and action / consequences sequences. Eventually FMC found a best person for the future Emperor for this land and the one who is capable of being the best partner (not as a marriage union of course). They managed to outperform others and she laid out plans how to defeat the others. She indeed managed o fulfill OG's wish, avenging her entire family. Others by the end also found out her true identity since they started doubting who she is. She killed the Emperor who betrayed her and his wife, who went through everything OG went through.

One of few where FMC stayed in this world for years. Reason is FMC is a reborn person and she had similar situation as FMC, eventually she got together with a prince who loved her and they lived in contentment.

ARC 11

Well,t his one was actually boring.

Republic of China era. FMC plays a concubine who was given away several times. While FMC lived her life freely and unrestrained she met three warlords of this region. Most of the time it was abuot them and her family and also a girl who became her friend. But the ending to me was really flushed when it was quickly described how she and her friend decided to go to frontline since they wanted to help and she perished protecting her friend. She also never met the protag group in this one. I really had the feeling of asking - what was the point?

ARC 12

Weird arc ended in FAILURE.

First of all it's a world of not so distant future, all men have to go through preparatory school, mainly very military style. But OG is a girl.

Also FMC had no memories. While FMC excelled at her task she also found out that she was sent to replace her unhealthy brother, but who actually just wanted to skip hardships. And her parents were truly biased son-raising monsters.

FMC eventually confessed to instructor and was redirected to military since she was a talent, before her roommates could use it against her, since all three started doubting her.

This arc also ended pretty quickly after she was transferred, she died on a mission.

Her roommates found another substitute, OG's half-siser who was sent instead of their good-for-nothing brother.

Why the world failed, because OG was discovered and had indecent relationship with her roommates and she wanted to be with them, of course FMC never even considered something like this.

FMC managed to get her brother be taken into this preparatory school, but because he didn't want to go they eventually found the half-sister, it's an older girl their father had after an affair with a starlet, before he found a good marriage with a richer girl. He had no idea he had this child but when she appeared due to circumstances they managed to send her in instead their son where she was soon discovered an ddied. But for this the aprents surely didn't care, when it came to OG they also didn't care if their girl would be discovered and exploited.

But by this time I thought that FMC's spending timein worlds is really short, it all depends on something else like main couples, she can leave at any moment, stories are also lacking substance. Some are at least more or less interesting, give a different take on different situations. But several last ones are rushed and not inetersting or this arc simply has some twisty OG with her weird wish.

[ANIME] Roujin Z (1991)

I mention Katsuhiro Ootomo because it's his work, not created with him as a director though. Some find the need to compare it to Akira, but I find it really weird. First of all, it's two completely different stories, second of all, Katsuhiro did not direct this and lastly same people who expect Akira would say stuff like - this looks too much like Akira, if th story really resembled it and they would never feel satisfied that way or another.

Roujin Z mainly tells a story of a young woman Haruko who takes care of an elderly man as a caregiver. When suddenly this elderly man, Mr Takazawa, is selected as a subject to take part in testing Project Z. This project was initially directed at making the process of taking care of elderly people who are not capable to physically take care of themselves easier, but it also raises the question of robotics and also the moral question of is it really correct to leave elderly to cold machines.

Young Haruko whose grandma died in a lonely way cannot shake the conviction that this is wrong and elderly people need the human care and support. This is why she tries to help Takazawa-san who sent a SOS message through the computer.

The story takes a humorous and almost absurd path when failing to do so Haruko finds several elderly me i her hospital capable of hacking the main computer of Project Z, this bio-computer actually is partially AI and capable of self-development, but being awakened in such a way the computer, which used the voice of deceased wife of Mr Takazawa decides to take him on a journey to the beach because this is everything Mr Takazawa had been dreaming about these days.

But one thing is to wish for it, another is how public witnessed a huge bed-robot-machine drives through streets of Japan, wreaking havoc and demolishing things because it's that huge, while police and participants of this project try to stop it and return it to its place.

This anime does not discuss but still raises the question of elderly care. Is it really alright to leave them in the care of machines, even if machines are capable of providing all the care needed and even offer some form of entertainment. Although Takazawa is the central figure of this anime, but mainly he doesn't even speak well and only repeats the same thing over and over again. So is it really correct to deprive him from fulfilling some lasting wish to visit the beach where he remembers the happiness he felt together with his wife.

It's the type of story that is ridiculous, but also sad.

Well, and they really crashed that city.

RATE: 8/10.

[ANIME] AKIRA (1988)

AKIRA is larger than anything. A true classic of anime in every sense. I re-watch it from time to time just to re-visit it and marvel at everything, at wonderful and gripping story, amazing animation and overall superior work of art.

When it comes to AKIRA it's the story you can explore and discuss, it revolves around many themes that feel modern even if it was released so many years ago. It also offers great visuals that you can marvel at decades later. This what makes anime a great one and a legend. If I had descendant I'd say - watch this :)

I'm on Katsuhiro Ootomo roll right now, we start with Steamboy, now Akira and later Roujon Z, finishing with several selected shorter animations. I think it's a pity Katsuhiro did not release more, but I also understand that after Akira it was pretty hard to impress the public and meet exectations (although I think it's unfair towards any creator), even though I find his other works great too, especially those which are more humorous. He has so much to say when it comes to incorporations of technologies and innovations, the social impact, which can be found in many of his stories.

[ANIME] Koori no Jouheki / 氷の城壁 (2026) (Season 1)

The Ramparts of Ice

Koyuki Hikawa has trouble interacting with others, instead preferring to keep her distance and spend her time alone. However, when she meets Minato Amamiya, he suddenly starts trying to close the distance between them.

I may have liked the beginning, but in later parts it became more about emotional struggles in terms of love and I don't really care about it. And this is me not saying that the anime is bad, it's just a bit cliche what they did by the end of episode 14.

Let me start from good parts and what I liked:

• I didn't mind the darker approach, not for everyone school was all sunshine and flowers, for many it was a dark time of bullying and fights. In a microcosm it was a society, but also a limited one where people didn't bother thinking tey might hurt others or on the contrary were doing it on purpose. The high stress level does not excuse anyone from being a horrible human being and scarring someone for life. This made Koyun quite a layered character with her initial guarded self to opening up with someone and realizing that some of the things she did to another boy Minato (MMC) is something that was done to her. So it was a nice portrayal.
• I really liked the part where we get perspective from different point of views on the same situation. My biggest example is the bench talk between Miki and Koyun after which Koyun started dating boy named Igarashi. Miki at the time thought it was partially her fault that she pushed Koyun towards Igarashi, but through their talk we realize Koyun herself does not remember things as such and she started dating not for this reason.
• The main female character does ambiguous things instead of being one-dimensional.
• The story explains really well the circumstances of several characters and how they came to be as they are now, what they went through, at which stage they are now.
• Not to make matters too depressing anime includes many cute moments (mainly the chibi version or when a character suddenly does something more unexpected).

What made me a bit sad is the turn toward romance and the approach.

So we have four friends that formed their own circle: Girls Koyun, Miki and boys Minato, Yota. Then we have the following situation →

Koyun realizes Minato might like her, but she doesn't know how to approach this situation. At first Koyun misunderstood that Miki might like Minato and it will become a struggle for Yota and his feelings she is aware of.

Minato likes Koyun, but misunderstands for a long time that she might like Yota, since she makes the happiest and most comfortable face around Yota (the only logical misunderstanding that has some valid proof, instead of just being a speculation)

Yota has like Miki since middle school and was not ready to confess, but it just happened like that. He is the only one who has no misunderstandings about others.

Miki who was once ennamord in the fantasy that her best friend might be in love with the guy she appreciates as a friend too is now facing a confession and although she likes Yota, but does not see him as love interest (yet). So they left with this amniguous open ending for development for both parties.

The most cliche part is actually including a first year girl who has eyes for Minato and she does a lot of undermining like a hardworking villainous supporting role. She plants a seed of doubt when she sees Minato liking Koyun, but also wants Koyun to give way. Manipulative and selfish, does what she wants.

So from some emotional drama and how teenagers cope with life we switch to love~

Anyway, it was okay.

RATE: 8/10.

[MOVIE] How to murder your wife (1965)

A black comedy about a successful cartoonist, who has been living a perfect life of a single man, but got married while drunk and everything begins to change.

Actually a pretty harmless movie if you think about it. A cartoonist Stanley Ford who built his successful career is now facing a sudden marriage that happened during bachelor party when he was completely drunk, but the eyes of a woman who suddenly appeared out of a fake cake caught his attention and passion was burning. With realization that he is now married to a woman who can't even speak English the entire world felt like it came crashing down. But despite the idea of sending his wife away or separate did not happen when he was caught in a whirlwind of action and in just a short period of time he found himself bound to this woman. Many might think the movie places women in a vurnelable position and there is a segment like that, especially at the very end, but on the other hand it fully describes the power women hold over their husbands too. In their daily life or when it comes to emotions too. After all even the main character despite his irritability over the changes that happened at 37 cannot shake off the loneliness when his wife leaves him. But I do think the movie also shows how remarkable the female character is. To me she is passionate (although some might say it's an Italian cliche) and also she tries to surround Stanley with love. She learns the language, although not in a conventional way. Cooks for him, thus he gains weight that he cared about all these years. It might seem that her world revolves around him, I won't deny that. But she's not entirely bound to the kitchen, if you know what I mean. They have a social life, they party. Pretty much everyday life of a couple.

SPOILERS

The plot is pretty simple if you explain it, because Stanley always does the things himself, so on top of that he can re-create his cartoons, when he think of murdering his wife he also draws it as a cartoon. He plans and visits people, but everything is reflected on pages. And even proceeds to truly put drugs in his wife's glass during a party. But when it comes to disposure of the body, he does it with a mannequin. Of course everything is reflected on the comic pages. So when his wife wakes up and realizes what happened she leaves him. But with Mrs Ford gone now Stanley faces real charges of her murder.

I don't know about others but I found the scene at the end particularly funny, when Stanley defended himself and all the men celebrated but then they showed the unimpressed women and I laughed because I thought - oh boy, you touched this hornets nest, be prepared to get your heads chewed off when you get home. laugh while it lasts.

Also they invited Virna Lisi to play Mrs Ford and what a gorgeous woman she is. 

Fun watch, what can I say, a fun watch.

RATE: 7,5/10.

[SHORT REVIEWS] #32 (TALKATIVE / RANTING)

WE START FROM 

ANIMATION

DNF (Dungeon & Fighter)

BIIIITCCHHHH LOOK AT THIS, JUST LOOK AT THIS

YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME. THIS LOOKS AMAZING. Surely can as well be a complete flop, but visually i wanna see it. This is a Chinese animation based on a game.

Koori no Jouheki / 氷の城壁 (2026)

Stylistically it looks exactly like Seihantai na kimi to boku. I can only bet on same author but I can't look up the info because mangaupdates has been down for forever now. I don't have any other reliable site for manga database type.

I saw the first episode and it tell a story of high school girl who was bullied before, especially because she is so petite compared to others. Although it looks like Seihantai the vibes are so different. Hurts to see a young girl being harassed by men around her and even if she says 'no' no one listens or jokes that she takes it too seriously.

Also, Seihantai has started airing and it's just as cute as ever~

UPDATE: I finished this anime. It was darker and gloomier in its' overall tone, even if it tried to use many cute moments to balance. But in general eventually it went in a direction  I didn't want to see, although it's pretty common and cliche. While we started from exploring the lives of the FMC and how she lived, it also gave a nice overview of others, even their own interpretation on certain events which was a nice move. But when it came to relationships it's where things got downhill for me. Because I don't give a damn about teenage relationship angst in school romance genre. Why I watch Seihantai is because they do not do it. Here I absolutely disliked the "misunderstanding" which exists solely to stumble people on their way to happiness and be exploited by newly appeared character a 1st year who had her eyes on Minato (MMC) and who basically undermines their relationship, while also maliciously approached Koyun (FMC). Then half-way through we know that Yota is in love with Miki, friends of main characters. But the problem is Miki likes Yota but so far not as a romantic interest. Kinda okay development, although again want to ephasize that it's angsty. On the other hand 1st year appears as a villanous female supporting character who makes the main couple stumble but progress at the same time. Because of her FMC is now hyperaware of Minato, while Minato is in a dilemma about Koyun looking as if she's in love with Yota. Btw his misunderstanding is the most valid out of all.

And the season ends with that. We moved away from emotional inner world of main characters and moved towards love~ But honestly I can't care less. I don't really plan to watch the second season in case theyr elease a new one.

Release that start in July.

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL (2026)

It's the closest in design of characters to original manga by Shirow Masamune. It's fantastic what this franchise became. Like any other it did not escape reboots etc. I tried to watch the Alternative Architecture one and I must say... it felt like they tried to tell a different story completely, while I was watching and getting bored I had a deep feeling that all the Sector 9 people did not meet like this at all.

I wish they would leave it alone one day, but I can't escape the appeal of trying the new releases, even if I know the chances of liking it will be small.

Just watch the original movie and also the first two seasons of anime and it'll be everything you need. With good story and good music. And major Kusanagi who looks like a woman and not a midget.

UPDATE: IT LOOKS AWESOME. It has absolutely different feel, even if the story and characters follow some of the storylines previously used, but the animation / character design make it look different, it's looks like classic 80's anime with animation being very high quality and the tone of the story also is goofier because of it, but it doesn't seem weird. The overall look is more colorful and fun so the goofiness doesn't seem weird.

UPDATE 2: They really went all out. Characers and the mood overall feel very different. We'll see how it goes.

Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Adolescence Mokushiroku / 少女革命ウテナ アドゥレセンス黙示録

Something in me asked me to rewatch the Utena movie. I don't remember what triggered the idea.

This is the anime when anime is so anime.

When 'anime' becomes a verb.

This movie is totaly bizarre in what visuals it uses to convey the story. Some things are hard to accept, because it's the type of - are you trying to convey something through symbolism or are ou goofing around? It was always crazy to me how different the movie and series are. Because despite some silly parts of anime, it is mostly a normal anime and lacks the same crazy visuals (as far as I remember).

I will make a separate post about it because I want to include some juicy screenshots. After all despite the crazy story and what you see the quality of it is still amazing.

Also the passionate sapphic on-screen kiss.

Tenshi no Tamago / 天使のたまご

I think this is another example of anime that animes hard. Not going to create a separate post, though again visuals are amazing. But in a different way.

Who would have thought that this is directed by Mamoru Oshii. Yes, the one and only director of Ghost in the Shell.

Actually Angel's Egg may be a bit hypnotic, with the use of many silent long shots and almost silent movie when dialogue comes later in the movie.

Although if you want to joke about it when you start watching the first thought I had - girl, you dehydrated.

But again, this is what you want to show people when you mean when sometimes anime goes into philosophy and symbolism.

I also re-watched

Steamboy / スチームボーイ

Katsuhiro Ootomo is amazing to me. I can see how much work was put into this as it looks amazing, at least visually it makes me drool.

Story-wise it's a simple story of inventions, the different path the invention takes depending on scientist's goal. Scientific ambitions and their application in the world.

Many might not find the main charactr Ray appealing, though to me he is just a kid who is almost led by the nose by adults. Which is mortifying to think about. He believes what his grandfather says before he meets the father who obviously suffered from injuries, but he still complies with what his father says not really understanding the scope of invention or the direction of application before realizing that both sides want to achieve dominance and not for any good reason.

There is also Scarlett, a spoilt rich lady who absolutely has no preservation skills, too snob about her own position and also, I bet everyone hated her when she hit her own dog. She is honestly not likable, but also in a way the result of such upbringing and a kid who has no real grasp on things.

Otherwise I will try few from the summer season, but will see which one sticks and which not.

BOOKS

CHN

I still wait for three BL novels to be completed, that I mentioned previously in short reviews, those are my most anticipated.

These are trash finds, with.. mostly trashy stories. Most of them are garbage though. And mind you, I repeat this time and time again. Some trashy stories are entertaining, they may be poorly written and the plots are cliche, but there is something about them, some silliness and absolute madness that is entertaining, but others are simply bad. So these are mostly simply bad.

BUT WE WILL STRART FROM A GOOD FIND :D Which came as a big surprise. Considering this came from Qidian. I'm prejudiced, I know.

[BG] 女战神的黑包群 by 二谦 *Qidian

(mtl: Goddess of War's black envelope group)

Have you heard of red envelopes? Never heard of it outside of China where they give it as a form of good luck, especially on holidays like New Year. And red always bore auspicious meaning for them. I remember playing Time Princess where they also had a red envelope event and you grab envelopes which basically copies what they also used to do. So why back envelope. This is totally not auspicious to me, because of the content of those worlds. It's kinda risky too. But the idea of what is described is you are included in this group and from time to time black envelopes are distributed (by other users too), when you grab it you see a prompt with world title, like Innocent heiress, for example, then you're transported to this world and have minimum information and have to navigate on your own, meeting people with prompt on top of their heads meaning they are key figures in this script, from main characters to side characters. When FMC guesses correctly the prompt changes from something to 'reborn', for example. Like for example in the first arc she saw a girl with 'chaotic data' which later changed to 'reborn'. If you achieve success in doing your task the rewards will follow, some of them are pretty neet, although mainly FMC relies on her super mental strength, physical strength, her intellect and AI smart brain. As far as I could understand, when reaching certain level of task success she can distribute black envelopes herself, while doing so she prompted what she wanted to guess, I suppose. Because her brother is in a coma and she is doing this mostly for him, she heard of some miracle medicine and wanted to try it, but they don't have it, so she thought she might get it through this black envelop group.

This transmigration novel came as a surprise. It's not bad actually. Also / although it is fucking long (3k chapters), which I don't mind because I found the stories interesting so far. Also because of FMC's character it creates a lot of humorous moments.

Dong Shu, FMC is an Interstellar goddes of war, she is 3S type that suddenly had a balck envelope group added to her smart brain, she can travel to worlds and even get rewards, her main idea is that she might get something useful out of it to help her brother who is still in a coma.

Outwardly she is pretty intense, powerful and aloof. Quite cold-hearted too, since she's been through it all. But she also can have a moment of soft-heartedness (I assume some of it will be the result of different environment of worlds, periods she travels to). Her character portrayal is pretty direct, since she is a hardened individual she may not posses so many emotions towards others. But it doesn't mean she is like an ice queen, she has a touch of dark humor to her, likes to tease people sometimes.

When she travels she has her mental power with her as well as smart brain. First helps her a lot, while second may not be as helpful but still follows along.

The idea is also about her not having a clue about these worlds and trying to figure out what was the original wish of those people whose bodies she uses.

She may sound pretty overpowered, but the stories are still interesting. For example, I liked the approach in a story about the general. She landed as an orphan and knew that the main wish was to not let a general protecting the border perish in a court intrigue. Her idea is simple. She travels to border and startes meeting some key figures. One of them is supposedly a protagonist of this story a traversing girl who used the knowledge of future to conquer land. But because her tactics were too plundering it basically enriched only her, but left people devastated. I liked the approach of showing that not all traversers are acting for the good and that their actions may result in tragedy.

Although the story isn't without a flaw it's still interesting to follow. I'm already 170 chapters in and I think do far it is good enough.

What I liked that it retains individuality. I'm also surprised because I found it on Qidian, which is notorious to me for bad writing.

The only thing that sticks out to me is of course lack of editing, when the same thought or notion is reiterated several times, which may get you tired a bit.

Note: Although the author claims it's NoCP story and only first arc had a couple that lived their entire life. Later indeed FMC does not live in these worlds for long, which is explained. But it doesn't mean that others don't fall for her. She lives a glorious short life and she leaves mostly at a crucial time when she is the most needed. But otherwise the bodies she occupies would be dead anyway.

Note 2: I plan to have a separate post whenever I finish this or stop reading for some reason.

[BG] 恣爷的心尖宠又飒又野 by 林木十一 *Qidian

(mtl: Prince's beloved is both charming and wild)

I basically stopped around chapter 471. Chapters are short, but I still think the story drags quite a bit.

The story itself is about reborn FMC Lu Qingqiao, she fell a victim to her own relatives in her previous life, even if she treated them with utmost care it seems it wasn't enough to feed the greed. 

Lu Qingqiao is a famous throughout her city female CEO that inherited the mantle from her brother who is now in a coma, her parents unfortunately perished in a car accident. She became successful and took care of the second family, especially her cousin, but it's this cousin who schemed against her the most. FMC felt she was stupid to believe her and taking care of her in entertainment industry.

The first half is mainly about FMC who takes control of the situation even before she was schemed against. Using her knowledge she fights both sides. Her family actually takes a lot of time and it doesn't look like a good story because the narrative always changes as if FMC's cousin gained another wave of support, even if she was exposed doing some really nasty shit, but it always felt like their network is too short-lived. So the situation with FMC dealing with these scoundrels escalated and dragged for quite a bit.

Overall portrayal of FMC was quite good, she is a cool type of older sister, accomplished and unrestrained.

On the other hand is MMC Qin Zi, he is a heir to the infamous Qin family which has a lot of going on. He was living almost incognito when he was taken by FMC, because she remembered him from previous life and wanted to repay him, she believed he was a poor student and others also felt like that for the longest time. Even the several encounters when they almost came face to face, which got tired quite soon, made you think they're going to find things soon, but no, it took a while.

Another point is the basic over the top habit when authors write some out of ordinary stuff that should sound.. I don't know cool? Like, for example, when FMC connects to a famous genius doctor she allows him to take her brother away in hope of recovering from a coma. I have no idea why she said she was sent some gruesome photos of her brother, like what that doctor did to him, but tbh it wasn't that long before this bro not only woke up but also stood up. Rehab is a long and tedious process, everyone knows that. There's a lot of stuff like that, which is basically a big delusion.

[BG] 快穿之绿茶靠边站 by 洛轻辰 *Qidian

(mtl: The green tea should step aside)

TRASH. I just dropped this one pretty quickly.

FMC transimgrates into some secondary characters and her goal is basically exposing the green tea female protags that are described as nothing special, but they're acting both pitiful and try to be strong and basically they're "not like everybody else". Like for example the first arc describes some palace maid figure that attracted FMC's brother, the Emperor, but later she jumped into a river and disappeared, since FMC knew where to search for her she arrived. The woman is not a imple one, she used what she learned in the palace to earn money, basically selling recipes of palace Imperisal Kitchen to a restaurant. later she is all "oh, I'm such a pitiful little creature" while she sedued men left and right, even sleeping with them. So she is tossed around like that.

The way FMC exposed it I don't remember but I do remember I thought it made no sense and was rudimentary.

A complete waste fo time. Good thing I didn't spend much time reading.

[BG] 快穿好孕：绝嗣反派掐腰吻娇娇 by 叶若轩 *Qidian

(mtl: Pregnancy system - the villain who had no heirs now spoils his darling)

I am so free-wheeling with that mtl and title all-together, because this is the essence of the story in a sense.

Basically, I wanted some sweet novel and I don't discriminate against such novels, although most of the time where there is a task it always feels like fake love, because it's all a task and does not involve feelings that can be called truly pure.

Same here. Also such a mediocre story and plots. It feels like FMC is taking out a conflict out of her ass every few minutes so the reader will feel it's not an empty story, but it is.

I find plots like from the first arc truly ridiculous, worthy of a vertical drama. In first arc she plays a supporting role, her fiance is called again by a green tea girl when he leaves the wedding with no regard for his fiancee. Later on even thinks she should wait for him, forgive him and accept how things are. That it's already such a big consession that he makes her his legal wife, while his mistress can only be his mistress.

FMC instead hooks up with the villain of course, but honestly the way villains in these stories feel for FMC is so cheap, like that type of instant love and "she's not like other girls" rhetoric repeated so many times.

Also this has too few arcs and the last one dragged for so long for no apparent reason. I just feel sorry for my time, but I had such a cheap mood and something of this level was quite fitting, now I can rant about it. It just proves my initial impression of Qidian that I got years prior, out of many stories most of them will be like a cheap script for a vertical drama.

Second to last from the trash pile, this is not the worst of it all, just wait, the last one is a true gem of 'I'd break author's hands'.

[BG] 好孕快穿：娇软狐狸在位面被团宠 by 福禄果 *Qidian

(mtl: QT: The soft and delicate pampered fox)

Another waste of time. 

FMC is a fox from a transmigration bureau. You know what I hate about this one? Everything.

FMC does nothing and is said to have completed many worlds, it's just because of her nature that she couldn't have accepted the failure, now she is transferred to childbearing system. I can't help it, what Qidian recommends is what I see, usually it's always like that, based on what you read.

So FMC can't do shit. She even cooks thanks to the system by spending points (did not get how the system works, since she is asked to spend affection points?), she has no other talent except she thinks highly of herself and can seduce any man because she's a vixen. The girl is pretty proud about herself.

The arcs / worlds / plots are a shame to ever exist. I'm sure if the text had the self-delete option it'd opt for that. It's hard to watch how nonsense it is. Her male protagonists fall for her instantly almost. At least she attarcts her targets a lot. Then comes some nonsense script that is absolutely chopped as if they're basic notes left by author. Even if a cat was randomly smashing on a keyboard I'm sure it'd do a better job. 

I haven't seen such a self-absorbed FMC in a while. She really thinks she is a present to wish for. She can't do shit herself. Spends most of her points on pointless stuff, mainly beauty, otherwise how can you conquer a man without a face?

Another worst part is that after each task she returns and we hear about some dude that is like a head manager of her division. But at the end when she meets him he actually confesses to her and says some bizarre stull like he sent her to this branch so she can live several lives where she is pampered and loved. I honestly was skipping like crazy by that point not even paying attention if he was with her in those worlds or otherwise it's going to be fucked up anyway.

Fuck this author they can go to hell for their sins in writing.

[BG] 老婆是隐形大佬 by 苏家紫七 *Qidian

(mtl: My wife is a hidden boss)

I haven't met a pile of text, I can't call it a story, that would make me this mad, it's been a while.

This is so bad.

Why am I even mad though?

The thing is about the FMC. Author claims that FMC will et beter at communicating and she is having issues at first, but honestly FMC makes you think like she is soulless robot and a progrm that should be super smart, but she only does the commands others ask her to do.

And the most infuriating to me is how everyone praises her for being a sensible girl and a good child and may feel sorry for her, then pat her on her head. She is aloof but is kind inside and they find it endearing and cute. BUT TO ME THEY TREAT HER LIKE A DOG. Here, let me pat you on the head, because you're sensible. While FMC is non-existent at the beginning of the story. No worries, I saw the ending, which did not impress me and it was horrible, but also because FMC felt like a different person, opened and romantic.

I can understand the fact author wants her to change, but at the begining she feels like a girl who is so naive in her head, has no personal thoughts of her own, acts according to commands, is happy with bare minimum, does know nothing about life, should be super intelligent and dense at the same time.

Honestly, what the fuck is wrong with this author.

The story also makes you cringe and feel like all the moisture will be squeezed out of your face because how scrunched up you want to be.

This world should have more martial arts, above normal human level. And of course FMC is super-duper above anyone else. Of course she is too naive about the outside world to know these things and has no idea how strong she is.

It's not the end, she is also profecient in calligraphy, because of course in the small village she resides several prominent figures live a quiet life, one of whom is a character who is close to a shrew but is actually a famous painter. She taught FMC everything. But FMC never used this skill for gain because of course she is a sensible girl and listens to her master who says - we do not gain from things that did not come out of our sect, so instead of earning a good buck and never know hardships of course she never uses the chance.

But wait, it's not the end, she also was taught by some master a way of woodworking that is so rare and it's also worth a lot, but she usually just gives things she did herself away, while others marvel that these things may be left as inheritance for future generations.

So you never know if the girl is aware or not, but she lives by the rules.

So much so that when she first arrived her master told her - it's good to get even 60 points on your test and you can guess what this genius girl did - she went on and left part of the test blank just because she was told to.

This put her in a predicament that everyone thought she was a country bumpkin and stupid.

Author wanted to show growth without ever showing the inner world of FMC herself, we only hear any other character babbling, by the end we should conclde how cool the FMC is and she's a secret boss with many talents.

Bt FMC problem stemms from the story of her family, her parents died and she was sent to a village many kilometers away, also there is a rumor about her being a jinx that was never dispelled. So when she returns most of her family treats her as unwelcome... I mean.. duh. Her grandpa is the one responsible for the situation and it may be connected to the awesomeness of FMC, being a Guardian, the top position of a martial artist. But otherwise she grew up away with no strings attached and she was basically swindled of her inheritance left by her parents she probably doesn't really remember or cares about, just because others said sign the papers and she signed and relegated her rights. I don't know it just felt like such a heartless move, author at first never mentioned anything from her family and parents. Even taking her back because of a college exam fel like such a big hassle, making the girl go through so much. The idea that is told but not expressed is that she should be blaming herself as if she believes that she is indeed a jinx who caused her parents to die, this is why she stays away from others most of the time.

And I can't blame such a character, I can only blame the author for creating her like that. 

UPDATE:

I thought we're over with three books, but imagine my surprise when I saw this! Exected date of publication Feb '27. I am so hyped. I'm so happy for Patrice for securing another book deal.

MOVIES

When it comes to movies I was re-watching after several disappointments. And also there is so much going on around new releases but it's all controversy instead of praise and admiration from viewers, which is not a good sign. So I have no big expectations for movies that are released during this period or will be released later this year.

CUBE (1997)

Cube is not a movie I'd re-watch, I just stumbled upon it and thought okay I'll rewatch it. But honestly it's a good one. For such a minimal set and cast this movie has such a great concept and also execution.

Most of all I love that ball-crushing ending, which is on another level of ironic.

And most importantly this movie is unique, so any attempt at replicating it would be just a copy. I never saw the continuation to the series, which is unfortunate attempt at milking this movie, I also never paid attention to a release in 2021, I had no idea it existed before I searched for the poster.

Final Destination 2

Don't you think this movie is goofy? I find it goofy. I know it's quite gruesome and gory at times, but also it is goofy af. The way things stop working or something happens stopped being subtle. Although the first movie lacked in being subtle, but this time everything is too obvious. All the short-circuited outlets or locked doors, spilt liquids. Nothing is safe in this universe. It's interesting how in one scene they are in a flat that has ceiling installation ffs.

Also this movie doesn't shut up for a single second, it doesn't take a break, no-no-no, there is something going on almost all the time.

I find the scene in the elevator the funniest, I'm so sorry for saying this, but the way they tried to untie.. hair? It feels like it wasn't that tangled, but everyone was in a max panic mode making it feel like such unsolvable situation. The whole movie was done withthe same amount of panic.

Back to the Future 1, 2

Do you love these movies? I do. Good, old-school and fun. There is something about movies of those times that were experimenting on new concepts, were bold in their ideas, did not cower from being a bit silly-looking. But most importantly, they were good-natured. Right now things are often too serious. And I'm not saying it's bad, some movies would not fit for being a silly-type film. It's just the majority of movies right now are like that. Even if you see a man in a tracksuit and red hotpants everything should be serious (I'm talking about stuff like Superman, yeah, I can't help it, I'm not against humans with abilities, it's just the costuming that gets to me every time). Even the live adaptations throughout the years that no one needed still have to drag down the wonders of animation to realism no one asked for. And if anything flops it's always blamed on public nowadays too...

A lot of cinema feels stale unfortunately, from casting to acting to scripts and dialogues. Whenever something appears that stands out feels like a breath of fresh air. This is why I can't help but re-watch old stuff and be unapologetic about it. 

I know I'm lamenting too much. I just feel sorry. 

For 1985 these movies look amazing actually. Although the locations and sets look pretty simple, but the way they overlap in all three movies, especially with ever-changing timelines and several main participants, I think it is fantastic. I'm sorry but the way movie 2 re-creates the scene from 50's timeline but from a different angle is such a move. To me it looked amazing. 

I especially always appreciated how it played on how the fate of people will change depending on their decisions and intervention.