[SHORT REVIEWS] #21

I always lose count on which part is this.

被弃养后，我靠玄学直播爆红了 by 以介景福

(mtl: After being abandoned, I gained popularity through metaphysics live broadcasting)

Warning: Qidian book. If I say Qidian it becomes self-explanatory.

[BG] Completed. Summary: From what I understand at one point Ming Zhuo became Cheng Zhuo a poor little girl adopted by a family of teachers, but who now framed her on a program just to get rid of her. But Ming Zhuo is a big boss who can't be defeated by anyone when it comes to metaphysics. And from that point on she stood on the path of finding the truth of this "plot".

She starts small as a live broadcaster, but later saves people left and right and gets involved with Xuanmen. There are several main and secondary characters that take part in this one. The "logic" of how people start believing ghosts and such is actually beyond me (also how broadcasts were not for viewers but it still went on without being blocked). But Ming ZHou's "live broadcasting" as in the title didn't last long actually. First she rarely appears, next thing is that real life was more important than that.

Tbh if you read it together it's too much. Not because many times it is repetitive and at some point gets boring (kid you not, it's 500 chapters long), but because the settings jump from here to there.

Spoilers: Ming Zhou can be so OP because she is not from this world, you can consider her a goddess, but she was reborn again and again at some point and now the seal on Ming Zhou was broken. But at the same time this life of hers should be described as a book, with a traverser Chu Yuqi who appears early on and plays the most annoying self-righteous role, we know that Ming Zhou's former "sister" is the female protagonist Cheng Jingru's. In the eyes of others she suddenly opened her talent and climbed the ranks of Xuanmen, but others also see her as a person with great luck, not some protag. Like it's a world of its' own according to Ming Zhou but a book according to Chu Yuqi. Author plz choose one.

But what irked me the most for entire thing (I admit I stopped at around ch 340 and read the final chapters, didn't miss anything) is that MING ZHOU WAS 17!!! The ML is called Gu Xu, they have nothing going on, but she basically "flirted" with him since the introduction, she starts at 16. Then she turns 17 and later she disappears for half a year and returns and soon turns 18. But she's still young from the outsider's pov, even if she is reincarnation of someone. We find it out by the end of it all. Gu Xu did not do anything inappropriate, but he had feeling growing for her.

Anyway, the second thing that was annoying is author trying to make the characters twisty. Like there is a character we think is innocent and then suddenly they are the biggest boss at the scene. This was done several times, even with the final "boss".

Also I read for some time to find out why the fate of Ruan's family mother and her three daughters was so twisted. And I got tired of it and mostly skipped the part, but from what I found is that Ruan Mulan, the mother is a descendant of Xuanmen Bai family (appears in the story early on as one of the four elders of Xuanmen), but another person from the same family changed her fate. It's pretty gruesome. So her entire family should have died, but someone changed their fate when Zhouzhou was born (maybe Zhouzhou herself, since who she is). So their family struggled with luck and failures. And now they spend money on donations to offset the consequences.

The fate of Gu Xu is twisty. His family had twins, but he knows his twin is gone. We later find out that his missing mother is part of the cult which is responsible for many disturbances in the book. They want to repeat the ritual of an ancient kingdom she is the descendant of which involves twins, but it fails (final chapters). But what annoyed me the most is that when the ritual failed the big boss disappeared and later they found him in another place and he restarted new ritual wanting to occupy Ming Zhou's body, but we find Ming Zhou's origins and she defeats him.. Honestly, it gets annoying when MC just doesn't deal with everyone at once, but it is divided into almost two part finale. Anyway, whatever.

Note: I know this "review" looks like chaos, but more recollection of things that annoyed me. Another one I remembered is that Ming Zhuo is very profound in physiognomy, but she lets people who later reveal themselves go basically, not always in a logical way. I mean she is so good at it that n one can compare, but she lets them go before they return to be defeated by her...

Recollection of the storyline: Ming Zhou wakes up, she is framed, in grand manner taken back by a bunch of bodyguards (her family, who is talked as having heavy karma actually married well, eldest sister married Xu heir). Her second sister is a researcher and her mom has a company, but they ar elow-key. Ming Zhou and her two best friends come back to school. She saves someone close to their villa and is a friend of Gu Xu, this is how we all meet. This set of characters follows her till the end. She starts broadcasting without face (she is infamous still because of the show), but her fame grows. Her family from time to time gets involved with villains of different size. But with MingZhou's talismans they will do fine. Through several cases she connects with Xuanmen who are amazed by her skills. Meanwhile she is low-key the traverser Chu Yuqi is high-profile. She thinks of herself as protag since she knows the book, but book is actually unreliable. MZ and the co come across several cases that involve some "Lord God" and a strange cult that wants to revive it. Although it's not really clear how some of it is connected... like no logic tbh. Anyway, there is a village where the competition takes place, this is an S-rank mission, MZ leads her students out without a single person missing. Later they hear more and more about the god that grants wishes, one of locations is a wishing train. They board it, MZ defeats it, but goes missing because time and space are involved. She returns, her broadcasting of course is not as popular. But Cheng Jingru, ex-sister is now popular junior sister, very high profile. Chu Yuqi was involved in the case of several traitor who lurked in Xuanmen, but she was okay, yet her luck is always not as great as heroine. Jingru is a "famous" figure, but time and time she is set against MZ. Mainly because her parents spread rumors a lot and were held accountable. Btw I don't think they mentioned her brother.. forgot what happened to him (might have skipped it). Since he was cursed but Chu Yuqi did not deal with it and he later was not mentioned at all lol. We uproot several traitors of Xuanmen who are involved with that sect and revival of the Lord God. Then we find out the originas of Ruan mother and who changed her fate. And later the part I completely decided to skip is the live broadcasting program, supported by an "ordinary" person who in the end is the big boss.

Again, it's annoying that MZ can read faces, but sometimes feels like she skips important figures.

This short review is not short at all.

天生甜宠命2[快穿] by 露深

(mtl: Born to be a sweet lover 2)

[BG] Completed. Summary: Continuation to the story about Qi Luo, a demon that lost her love thread and now travels worlds, becomes the best lover to her partners to support her own life. I reviewed the first part before. It was cute and sweet, so I wanted to continue and read the second installment. It's not as extensive as previous one, with only 3 worlds. And I admit I haven't even started yet, I reserve this when I need a simple sweet cookie type of story. And author writes a 3rd book right now.

深渊蝴蝶 by 小涵仙

(Deep Butterfly)

[BG] Completed. Summary: The official synopsis is vague, but the main point is that they have a huge difference in statuses and no one suspects that they have something going on. There is also a plot of her leaving. But I kinda was attracted to it, we'll see if it's a good story or another pretty cover but no substance.

Note: Honestly, the MTL of this title - Butterfly of the Abyss - sounds so much better. Deep butterfly is what is written on the cover, but it feels like the author also MTL'd their title into English and got what they got.

Edit: 31/7/25 I read few chapters.. I don't get this type of FML, she is an adult already, but she still lives with this suffocating family, she is supposed to be illegitimate child, since at 8 her mom was gone she had nowhere to go and at 8 she had a people pleaser personality..but so far it's a secret to me why she stays in this family that humiliates her at every turn. And it's not like she is unaware and has a soft core for these relatives who are vile. Honestly, she's a very typical soft girl FMC that needs saving.

I'm so not into it. She legit acts like a soft rag... Maybe there's a story behind it, but I'm not feeling like exploring.

我妻筝筝 by 观山雪

(My wife Zheng Zheng)

[BL] On-going. Summary: Qin Zheng met Wen Jingque at the most miserable point in life after betrayal of lover, friends and family. Jingque was the one who made fun of Qin Zheng for trusting the wrong people and bringing all kinds of news each time they met, but it was also Jingque who helped him avenge himself and took him out of his mysery. Although he was disabled he lived the rest of his life with love. But then he was reborn before any life-changing events of the past life happened yet the only thing he could think of is to find that one person in the crowd.

I've read a bit of it and it promises MELODRAMA~ this is why I picked it up, for the case I want melodramatic plots ahaha 

Windburg 윈드버그

[BG] Completed. Summary: Being broken in love Jared L.Windburg faces the new reality. His first love failed, he inherited the title of the Duke of Windburg for several years now and with the baggage of responsibilities and one of them is inevitable - to produce a heir. Since his choice of the future wife is now not based on emotions he directs his gaze towards many noble ladies who were raised for the purpose, the same women he is so cynical. The one eventually chosen is Roselyn Fairfield, after the death of her mother Roselyn became a help of her household at a young age, she had to be a support to her father and her younger siblings, she grew up to be a perfect lady with convictions of what a lady should be. But saw no ill about it, it was the fate that many of them faced. Although it's fate, but she still bore some hope that her future spouse will respect her and they can love each other and had no idea what type of loveless marriage she was entering.

As per usual I give my own type of summary. But hello, this is the first time me mentioning a Korean novel at all lol. It's not like it's my first book, but several previous ones were mainly DNF'd by me, because I read their manhwa adaptations and it just solidified my belief in how Korean authors simply love drama and toxicity. 

This promises to be angsty as well, but in comparison I'm at the stage it's still more tame. And I didn't read a lot, but this is the first time I'm eager to read more.

Only after starting and being invested I realized that this book is a sequel and the prequel explains his first love story with FMC of that book. But I'll be honest, this is the type of development when you sit and think - Jared, you're such a bitch, I hope you chase your wife later and grovel, because this is what she deserves.

Roselyn is actually an angelic soul, she is not snobbish, she has a great deal of kindness, but Jared misinterpreted her intentions and ambitions. Basically because he doesn't hold any respect for any woman of the ton. Because he was born a third son he saw the hypocricy of nobles where the heir gets everything best and all other sons are treated as spares. He saw his life in a different light and this is why he saw his future with another woman, but fate for him was different, he had to inherit the Dukedom after the tragedy that happened to his two brothers, but the chosen woman could not follow through and compromise, this is why they had to part ways. Now he needs to find a perfect wife that would befit the Duchess, but what to do, the cynicism that is deeply rooted in his heart does nto allow him to see the life of Roselyn, that she is also right and does not deserve his attitude.

Note: It's funny how Korean novels have such beautiful covers, but when it comes to ratings on NU they're simply abismal ahaha 

Edit: While this post was pending I almost finished reading it.

Edit 2: Finished it, see review.

나늘 잊은 당신에게

(To you who forgot me)

[BG] Completed. Summary: The main gist f it is MMC makes a promise to return and marry FMC, but then he suffered from amnesia and forgot everything about her. And of course he's a Duke. God Koreans love Dukes ahahah. Anyway I did not read this one, I just saw it along with Windburg and since I'm a bit more interested, I decided to include this one too. The ratings on this one weren't as bad. And the cover, again, is damn gorgeous. These covers work, let's admit it.

Edit: 2/8/25 Should I be surprised? I read several chapters, then skipped through and read some spoilers, because I thought I'm seeing same old plot again and again. 

The storyline is similar to R&J situation, she is from the enemy country and he is a prince. He is her only light in this darkness and she tries to work through his amnesia. But he is far from remembering her but close to destroying her love.

Basically this is gut-wrenching angst which exists only for angst.

Caius (MMC, no changes) uses his fiancee Leah (FMC) as a shield at first, because the current Empress is his step-mother and is always against him. Later he breaks off an engagement and offers it to another woman (who later is found to have an affair with his half-brother, Emress' son). Leah moves from fiancee to a mistress basically, because all in all Caius kinda forces her into it. At the beginning she does drop a phrase "If he is going to use me, I'm ready to be used" along those lines, but it doesn't change the situation that we don't like this. These are spoilers btw. Leah wants to get out of this, but Caius is against it. He's obsessive. She lost feelings for him. At the critical time when she was plotted against Caius makes his move, but at this time Leah who got her hands on poison (given by the Empress, lol did she expect Leah to really poison Caius? I mean Leah now hates him, but being an obvious chesspiece...) Anyway, she commits s* by poison, but she is saved by Caius and we find out that she is preggo. How the child survived poisoning I have no idea.

In spoiler thread I heard that he will let her go as means to make it better, time will pass, many events will happen, especially him taking the throne and he will save her several times(?) Eventually, she will forgive him.

What can I say, Korean authors love toxic relationship, they feed on those and the ML will be the worst of them. basically they love relationships that no matter how badly both parties are they can't be with anyone else. So this novel is for people who like this type of thing. Such relationships are everywhere. Out of seven novels that I tried out, I completed only Windburg, because it was midlly angsty, while the rest are just the same old melodrama that was popular 10 years ago or more where you see the creator has no idea of stopping. It must be all types of hurtful events before the come together.

So bloody.

I decided that I will continue with the Short Reviews in the manner of just dividing it into sections and not getting it a new exclusive post. That's just too much. 

A Skeleton in Every House by Isabella Duke

Catriona Winters. Book 1

Should I be honest and say I was attracted to the cover? Because I did. Catriona Winters has her father who owns a publishing house, with what I got from the first chapters is that she does not start as a journalist, it did not cross her mind, only by circumstances she has this idea after there is a new case on body salvaged from the river, but she can't let her father who had a decline in his health follow the lead.

It's my assumption that this story will bring her changes, since you know she is new to the ideas proposed by suffragists, but was not repulsed by them. I know too little about it but I'm intrigued.

A Slash of Emerald by Patrice McDonough

Dr. Julia Lewis. Book 2

Now that I think about it after reading the summary I really like how author planned for this story to develop. It doesn't involve only a mystery part, but the development of their relationship and the woman with whom Tennant had a relationship with has an appearance. The brewing of emotions in the first book are quite subtle I'd say, but there is something about them that I liked and made me anticipate more. 

Edit: Completed, see review.

Bad Luck Bride by Laura Lee Guhrke

Scandal at the Savoy. Book 3

This book is released on 29th of July. I've been waiting for the third book. I liked the first, but actually loved the second one. The FMC and MMC of the third book were aready mentioned. They had a relationship which broke up and they definitely misundertood each other deeply. Others thought that he's after her money, she allowed herself to be talked into giving this relationship up, the elopement failed, but now he is a successful and wealthy person and is about to marry. She almost eloped with him, but then it fell through, her second engagement was ruined by the rumors of the elopement and now she finally faces prospects of marriage number three (thus the title of bad luck). Now both plan to marry around the same time. This was brought in the second book when both parties wanted the same premises booked for the wedding reception. So past lovers get a second chance. Fingers crossed.

Edit: 15/8/25 31% in and I decided to make a pause. Was not feeling well. I was impressed by the drama ngl and I want to find out who is responsible for their initial misunderstanding, since it's huge. Although I don't like this trope. But they were also prevented from communicating as I assume by the person who is responsible (he wrote her letter from Africa, she never responded, believing he never wrote her). Yet I must say, I really don't see how Kay (FMC) ended up thinking he spread the rumors, when her own mother is so obvious about her attitude (and they tried to simply deny the rumors, so they had to act as if they don't care, unlike how their melodrama mom acted).

I try not to include too much in the books that I'm reading, it usually doesn't end well. Keeping it shorter makes it less overwhelming. But who am I kidding? I picked up Welcome to the Nightmare Live again, I also continue with Raven and Wren Book 1 (this one goes slow, because the book itself is slow). But I got distracted by the fast-pace of Windburg and before I knew it I'm almost done with it.