[NOVEL] Managing the Vampire's Mansion by K.M. Shea

As it turns out this is a part of author's Magiford universe, but does not require the knowledge or reading of previous books, since it's a stand-alone.

Starting over as a house manager in a charming small town sounded perfect. Until my new boss turned out to be a vampire.

After burning myself out at my corporate career, I take a job managing a mansion in a picturesque tourist town to reset my life.

The house is historic. The town is charming. The locals are welcoming. And, as I accidentally discover, my unfairly handsome employer, Beckett Kinge, is a vampire in hiding.

Beckett prefers order, privacy, and absolutely no supernatural mishaps.

Unfortunately for both of us, a rogue vampire is attacking the locals. The same people who have been nothing but nice to me. As attacks escalate and secrets unravel, staying uninvolved is no longer an option.

And somehow the only person who steps up to find the vampire is me—the mansion manager with poor people skills who knows absolutely nothing about supernaturals.

At least… I think I’m the only one working this case. But somewhere between tracking a killer and trying not to die, I realize Beckett isn’t just protecting his secret. He’s protecting me. And that might be far more dangerous for my emotional well-being.

Regardless, the rampaging vamp has to be found, or no one in town will be safe. Not even me.

#cozy, paranormal, urban, fantasy, romance

Very short and easy read, I think such story is perfect for someone who wants paranormal, but cozy story and don't want to stress. I realized I might want a bit more stress and a plot that is not so obvious.

Though partially I found it kinda silly. Especially the gnomes part.

But I'll be honest, when there is "managing the house" in the title I'd expect more about the house, which isn't completely true (well, to be hoenst, except the fact that Abi is managing the house indeed, the house itself or the topic of managing it are not relevant to the story, you can disagree). If someone remembers books by Douglas Adams and his "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", which I think should be called like self-explanatory title? Yeah, the one that made so many similar titles when someone guides to something. But at least it gives you an idea of what's going on, partially. Here it is used in the same fashion.

Some of the titles I noticed lately start to sound like what Chinese and Japanese markets prefer, they love titles that explain what is going on, instead of using short or concise title that is abstract. E.g. using "I am attracted to my arch-nemesis" instead of something vague like "Shards of ice" (which can be story about anything, except ice ahaha).

I got used to this trend so much that started expecting what title promises to be the central theme. And it's on me. If you read the blurb you will know that main thing happening isthis rogue vampire causing troubles and it threatens both sides. But cozy stories always give you a feeling like it's no big deal, at least I read them as such (maybe because I know it's a cozy story and nothing will happen so I don't really expect anything too intense happening and if something happens I'm not worried at all).

I still don't know much about the house tbh, only that it's old and big and has a library you'd marry a beast for (which I think was a witty reference to beauty and the beast in the book and I couldn't help quotting it). But in general it's the story of Abi, who moved cities to get here and change pace, and Beckett who lives in pretty much seclusion and doesn't want to get involved in paranormal activities.

Thanks to author at least through actions and dialogues it was partially shown why the two got hots for each other. instead of one of the characters simply saying - oh, she's so smart, so intelligent, so witty, so this, so that. There were parts like this of course, but they were supported by something more than empty words. They both acted as they deserve those compliments ahaha.

The story is pretty cozy and not demanding at all. Easy to guess plot, so if you expect some twist I am sad to say it won't happen. They start as employee and employer, slowly become friends and then fall in love, while things happen in their small town that threaten the locals. Rogue vampire is never good news. There is a dilemma about Beckett not wanting to get involved, but he still does, because he cares about Abi's well-being. But overall some may find such books not "deep" enough in terms of relationships and such.

Not much to add.

RATE: 4/5.

[NOVEL] A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn

This is the third book in Veronica Speedwell Mystery series. If we talk about unexpected I really didn't plan to continue with the series. I was not impressed by the mystery and also the main protagonist Veronica in book one. Giving second book a chance was just to solidify my opinion of her an dthe mystery aspect. But then I was seeing it from now and then and eventually opened the third book and I don't know what happened, but as if something clicked in my brain, I was not as mad at Veronica as I did previously and the girl didn't do anything to salvage my opinion of her (I also stand by everything I've said about her) and I just didn't mind at all. So what if the motivation for these two to investigate is flimsy at best. So what if the main character sound too modern thinking and acts as such. So what if there are too many illogical or convenient parts. Most of my attraction was because of her partner in investigation - Stoker, which is the sound mind between the two. Despite the self-praise that Veronica loves to output so much, to me Stoker is the person of reason, also managed to be correct.

Then I just let it go that Veronica is not perfect. I did not expect her to be. But she was too self-absorbed and a bit of a hypocrite when it came to women. Yet either things start to change in the third book or Veronica just stopped criticizing other women aloud. I'll be honest she does have good moments in this one. 

London, 1888. As colorful and unfettered as the butterflies she collects, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell can’t resist the allure of an exotic mystery—particularly one involving her enigmatic colleague, Stoker.

His former expedition partner has vanished from an archaeological dig with a priceless diadem unearthed from the newly discovered tomb of an Egyptian princess. This disappearance is just the latest in a string of unfortunate events that have plagued the controversial expedition, and rumors abound that the curse of the vengeful princess has been unleashed as the shadowy figure of Anubis himself stalks the streets of London.

But the perils of an ancient curse are not the only challenges Veronica must face as sordid details and malevolent enemies emerge from Stoker’s past.

Caught in a tangle of conspiracies and threats—and thrust into the public eye by an enterprising new foe—Veronica must separate facts from fantasy to unravel a web of duplicity that threatens to cost Stoker everything.

Veronica Speedwell. Book 3

I'll start from what I consider the main issue - 1st person point of view.

First of all we are always in Veronica's head, but to be precise we are in her descriptions of the events. We do not even hear her thoughts, thus the intrigue is saved for the last minute. The second downside of this is that we do not leave her side at all times and see everything through her own lense. And it feels like author did give us something, but at the same time gave us too little to justify things.

For example, it was easy to point at who possibly was responsible for the disappearance of Mr. de Moragn, the photograppher, but it was harder to deduct the motivation. The story behind the mystery is not bad, it's just not the reader's turn to guess those things until the very end. More about it in spoilers.

But overall the mystery feels like a by-product in the books. They investigate not because they feel the passion for the craft, they have heir own things to do, it just happened. And we spend a lot of time around these two. This is why I think it requires some new blend of genre, a new naming. Like in recent years the genre romantasy appeared, so I think there should be something similar in other genres, why not? Mystery and romance, but here a lot of time is spent actually on Veronica and Stoker. I appreciate it actually, since I liked him as a character from the beginning. We finally know what happened back in Amazonia and how his wife left him.

Wife, yeah same wife that married Mr. de Morgan, the missing photographer. I was so hooked on this part. Maybe I become more nosy and gossipy.

Before diving into spoilers I want to give my overall impression. I was in a better mood and enjoyed it more. The mystery part did better, the characters did well, especially Veronica showed more better sides of herself. Leaving several obvious plot mishaps that are too convenient the rest was quite okay. Don't expect it to become something it isn't is the main principle.

SPOILERS

Part 1. Introduction / setting

A big case is discussed in newspapers - Tiverton expedicion was a great success, they acquired some good load of goods, but also got a curse that propelled the popularity among the masses.

Then big news break - Mr. de Morgan, the photographer, left the expedition early, along with the diadem missing at the same time. But when it comes to his wherabout no one knows since de Morgan disappeared from the hotel.

note: becomes obvious that the hotel is connected somehow, since you can't have a paranormal change of the wallpapers in a basic hotel without a human hand, we're reading a mystery here, not a paranormal novel, thus we judge it by its' own standards.

His wife insists the room changed, but others of course either do not believe it or attribute it to the curse.

Veronica and Stoker would have continued to read about the story from the newspaper if it wasn't for Stoker's connection to de Morgan. He had all the reasons to at least hurt the man. But the motivation is flimpsy since both de Morgan and diadem disappeared at the same time. Yet it is enough for our kids to get involved.

Part 2. Mystery (not yet murder)

Sometimes I need to pull at myself that mystery can happen without a human body. Here, spoilers of course, a body will appear but almost at the end of the book.

At the very beginning it is established and repeated many times that photographer disappeared and absconded with the diadem (maybe to get a new life), but what became of him is unknown. The insistence of it makes you think that something must have happened, but what and why will stay as a mystery till the very end before it is explained.

I'm laying it all out.

De Morgan was just murdered, which should not come as a surprise, the body was spirited away in a sarcophagus, which was real btw, but the whole expedition was faked. No, the excavation and the travel it all happened, but the finds were faked.

Meet the Trivertons, especially Leicaster Triverton who is at the helm of this expedition, he is supported by his wife (who is his second wife) and a young daughter. And let's not forget the main mastermind, Patrick Fairbrother, who talked Triverton into this affair and was reportedly responsible for many wrongs, including the death of two people.

So their plan was simple, they come to Egypt, get the rights to dig, pretend they find some princess and transport the goods back, have an exhibition and sell the stuff to unknowing folk who will never know if it's authentic or not.

For the hype they created the "curse" of the princess. Patrick dressed as Anubis and paraded at the dig at night with a mask. It spread the word, but it wasn't enough. One member of the dig named Fowler is believed to have died of heart failure, but was poisoned by arsenic. Mr de Morgan have noticed the foul play and wanted to report it with the fake diadem he took away from the dig. The motivation for his murder.

note: which begs the question, this is the part that was completely ommitted and we never knew what happened, except the fact that the guy returned and wanted to report it, but with how he was described to have issues they could have bribed him or smth, it just never describes how and what happened so he decided to put himself at risk, like did he realize the Mr Fowler at the dig died not because fo weak heart or smth. Never explained.

The plan was fine, until you ask yourself, well, what will happen if true Egyptologists will dig into those finds. They're partially true artifacts and they wanted to sell it to fools who will buy the story. Of course they were afraid of being discovered, but at the same time Patrick Fairbrother was definitely planning to escape before it got too hot. Since we're always with Veronica we have little scene of final confrontation between two men and where Triverton shoots the guy and himself for the sins. Good for them the public was not keen on what really happened and they all thought it's a curse at work.

Again it was not hard to connect the Triverton group for something foul, but you don't know that the dig was completely faked before they explain it among themselves at the end.

Veronica and Stoker have no idea about fake or authentic goods, thus they were completely blind to the fact that the diadem was fake, only when Triverton's former partner said those things we arrive at the ralization that the dig was faked to get money.

Maybe other bright minds had considered this option, but I can't say the same for myself. 

Part 3. Investigation

So our two dolls decide that to clear the name of Stoker which was dragged by hateful gossip rag they need to take action.

they visisted the main participants - Trivertons, and heard their side of the story.

Then we meet the Mrs de Morgan (or Stoker's ex-wife) and we don't get any decent information, it was more about Stoker himself.

But by the laws of this genre the guy is long gone, but his wife still believes he willr eturn.

Then we also pay a visit to former partner of Triverton. Also a peculiar fight right at the time the princess was found.

And here is the point when I was wondering why it took them so long to travel to Dover and see the hotel with changing walls. They find the room, find it was indeed plastered with new wallpaper (I know that changing wallpaper so quickly is a miracle). But they also meet a man-made accident. The proprietess obviously almost murdered them two, but they did nothing to her. I wish they just vocaled why they did it, otherwise I'm just sitting here guessing that too much noise will attract unwanted attention to the fact they were together and unmarried.

note: Veronica lives with him in the same place without maid or companion to protect her reputation, I find it strange how she remembers such things.

But I also think she might have playd dumb, this hostess, and denied anything or even more - frightened the main bird.

The above-mentioned diadem appears on its' own, broght in by the Mrs de Morgan, she found it after so many days in the fake bottom of her bag. I don't really like such turns, but whatever, it fits what they said. But because they know nothing about Egyptology they didn't click it's a fake. before they got to exhibition, the diadem was stolen (like why dude) and they turned to the one who grabbed it - mr former partner. He knew the real deal and told them it's fake and this is where we get the whole fake dig info.

What I find baffling is that mostly these two feel like they just happened to be in a right place at the right time, that's all.

The final stretch is the chase after two men who were in a conflict, because Triverton got proof Fairbrother will leave with everything. And of course Fairbrother will leave, Veronica and Stoker found the body of de Morgan in a sarcophagus after they realized the full dig was faked.

Part 4. Characters

Most we get is the info about Stoker, his past and how he was betrayed by his wife who married him for status and money, but was after his best friend she madly fell inlove with. She cheated on him during their first travel and when Stoker was deadly wounded both left him to die. They returned to England and spitted nonsense to discredit him so she could divorce him on charges of cruelty. Stoker was not there to defend himself, thus his reputation was in tatters when he finally returned. I actually liked this part of the story and how fierce Veronica protected Stoker. Even if she might have something romantic towards him, you can still feel her appreciation not only for his physique (which I think was mentioned far too often previously, as if Veronica was teh thirstiest).

Veronica herself also does not show much of her insufferable side which was there before. I din't mind, she toned it down and I felt it was far better.

As for the rest of those characters that appeared. Well, those temporary ones do not matter if we're being honest. As for the rest they're kinda like mascots. I still feel like the two exist in their own world for the ntirety of the book. Not mad at it.

So despite the conveniences and lack of details I pretty much felt it was good. Compared to previous ones it is much better.

RATE: 4/5.

[Chinese BL novel] 权臣穿进豪门养子文学 by 二月竹 / A Powerful Minister Transmigrates Into the Adopted Son of a Wealthy Family

Xiao Lanchui was the youngest Grand Secretary of the Great Li Dynasty. After helping the newly enthroned emperor pacify the realm, he was poisoned to death.

After his death, Xiao Lanchui transmigrated into the world of a wealthy-family novel, becoming its frail, sickly adopted son, someone everyone could bully without consequence.

The doctors had already given up on him. They declared he would not survive the coming winter.

Beneath the glamorous facade of the powerful family lurked danger at every turn.

The loving adoptive father, the indifferent adoptive mother, the dignified and taciturn eldest young master, the refined and courteous second young master, and the cheerful, seemingly innocent fourth young master…

Every one of them wanted him dead.

Because he was never the “adopted son” described in the novel.

He was the family’s biological son.(NU)

TW: Mr Xiao is a disgusting piece of p* garbage, self-harm, violence, relationship between non blood-related siblings, attempted r*, abuse.

It's a thrilling ride with violence and melodramatic plots, pretty upbeat story with a lot going on, intelligent MC (morally gray) and obsessed ML (pitch black) among other character that were not spared. The only innocent person might be OG Lanchui (I am used to call him Lanyue due to MTL)

I'll warn you at once, the relationship between MC and ML is not the healthiest one. It is more of obsessive love where they can do a lot of shit for each other and can't see a single person except for each other as a partner.

IT HAPPENED! I FINISHED. And I am very glad I waited for so long, mentioned it so many times, basically hyped myself up, which isn't good, especially if the story will fail. But author did it again. Trashy entertainment at its' finest.

Author did not spare anyone, even protags. It's a wild ride of a slow build-up with a great pay off.

This is a story of Revenge, capital letter, where MC who traveled from the past is now in the body of a poor young man whose fate can't be more pitiful, a victim of a grand scheme of his own father.

And the situation is... complicated.

MC navigates the situation with his own knowledge and what he knows from the "plot" to weave a big trap for the two biggest perpetrators of his case, while also having a dilemma of what to do with a person who looks exactly like the Emperor he brought from nothing to the highest position in his previous life.

The story held me in its' grip from start to finish. I know this author, Backtracking and Infernal belong to them and actually I noticed I might have read some other stories from them, but because it was a long time ago I hardly remember. 

But these three, they've become my big three. I may like Infernal less, since it involves school violence and not only, it's the darkest of them all and just makes you depressed. This one does not shy away from dubious content and is full of blood and visits to the hospital. But it was not as hard to digest.

(click to enlarge. if I butchered someone's name, I'm sorry)

So let's start from the beginning. MC wakes up in a body that barely survived drowning. The one who pushed him was his own father, only because OG witnessed him doing naughty stuff, but the object of it all was his second brother Xiao Anfeng. Two members of the Xiao family for the longest time kept a secret that Xiao Anfeng is not Xiao's biological child, he belonged to Mr Xiao's ex-lover who made Mr Xiao swear that he will take care of him. Mr Xiao's most "brilliant" idea was to swap the babies first, then take OG back home as "adopted child", but then reveal that he was probably illegitimate. His psychological manipulation included making the entire family hate OG instead of Anfeng and not pay attention that little Anfeng does not look like his parents. But the older Anfeng got the more he resembled his dead father and Mr Xiao had other thoughts about this child.

And he got the scheme working. The family fel they were torn apart because of a child. Since Mr Xiao always showed his love and bias. At the same time it drove others crazy, especially Anfeng who thought the love of his father was stolen and he always wanted to win it back. 

The one who also helped to cover it up was the eldest son - Xiao Linqi. At very young age he figured both are not biological brother and as time passed by he aslo developed feelings for Anfeng. But to get the precious person away from harm he constantly brainwashed his younger brother to make him violent towards OG, while his mother came down with hysterics at the mere sight of OG.

This is the situation Lanyue found himself in. His health was also fucked like in previous life, thanks to chronic poisoning by Xie JingFang, the mother who has no idea that she poisoned her own child. What a cruel fate.

In the past Lanyue rose from ashes. His mother was an unknown person, but he was talented and became prominent for a short while, the Xiao family did not want to see him suceed, this is how they devised a simple plan, ruin Lanyue's life but eventually the man-made accident ruined his legs. With disability his path came crashing down. Xiao family even had the excuse to get rid of him and sent him to some small temple for "recuperation". This is where his path started, from him and unloved prince Lu Ao rising to power. 

Their relationship covers a lot of this story, it's actually intense how much they went through together, from the moment Lu Ao was just a bean sprout with unkept hair filled with lice to an Emperor. Lanyue was Lu Ao's advisor and biggest support, they went through many calamities before they succeeded, they thought they'll be ruling together (Lanyue even exterminated entire Xiao clan), but one day Lanyue was poisoned and the fruit he ate was said to be sent from the Emperor.

By that time Lanyue had many concerns and misunderstandings. He thought the Emperor had a lover, he even believed that Emperor got rid of him because every Emperor does that or that he never relayed the last words of his "lover" or any other reason. He has not realized that he actually loved Lu Ao and that development bothered him a lot.

This is why he was very wary of Lu Ao in this life, not only because he tried to kill him when he first saw him (actually confirmed his thoughts that Lu Ao hated him), but also because.. the hostory was almost entirely erased during the reign of Lu Ao who is mentioned as a tyrant and that he erased history because of his dead lover. Lanyue almost guessed it right, just got the person wrong.

I loved the slow manipulation and plucking strings that let the story slowly unfold. I loved that once again the MC does it all himself, he is intelligent and is completely capable of doing things on his own. Because of his origins I believed in his character and this story (although some of it may sound like a convenience).

But one must remember that in many cases Lanyue did it all with detached attitude, he is doing it all for someone else, not for himself. So even if it feels like he has attitude, but then you realize no he's not. The one thing that ever got him somewhere was always the thought of Lu Ao.

I liked the conclusion of it. Where the characters ended in the end. And how the story had a simple plan that worked.

Although the story has a lot of secondary characters that do not really matter, thus I won't go into detail about them.

SPOILERS:

Where we started and where we ended...

The Xiao family (excluding Lanyue since he succeeded in his scheme):

• Xie Jingfang, at first of course she hated Lanyue, but new Lanyue planted the seed of doubt into her and let it sprout with time. The first culmination came when the scene of revealing Xiao Anfeng's status rolled in. She realized with horror that she cared for someone's child while she poisoned her own. She cared for Lanyue and was very protective after the reveal, but in the end she realized he won't really forgive her. Lanyue couldn't actually forgive her since he wasn't her child, the OG died in that sea. She and the youngest left for his study, she decided to give Lanyue space and time in hopes that one day some things may change. Although the things she did were outrageous, she also has the image of a fierce mother. It doesn't mean she has a redeeming arc. It was kinda looking like one, but not entirely.
• Xiao Miao. The youngest son. Was too brainwashed and physically harmed OG Lanyue. With time after MC arrived he started to change his attitude, especially after knowing the truth. But his sins are still there, so he had to take responsibility for his actions, he and Xie JingFang are only two characters who are "spared". After all their fate is emotionally tormenting, but at least they were not retaliated against.
• Xiao Linqi. The eldest tried to cover for Anfeng, but during the reveal he got caught in the act and thus cam the dilemma of choosing between his birth mother and person he loves, the choice is always easy for him he chose Anfeng, always him. At first he wanted to use something similar to his father's tactic, isolate Anfeng from others, make him believe he's the only one he can have (it worked) and reveal that they're not biological. Later when Lanyue saved and made Anfeng disappear from the country he lost his mind, this is why he was easily caught in Lanyue's plan, to invite him to cruise, and make father and son confront each other, during which Linqi pushed his father overboard and was later arrested for it. Because he disappointed his mother so much, she stopped caring about him. The last thing he asked about was Anfeng.
• Xiao Jing Li, the biggest scumbags of all scumbags, the disgusting piece of shit, the dirt that crawled, no one can reach the same level as low as this guy. Father of the year. Who married to have a wife to shield him. Never cared for a single child of his. His thoughts were obsessively on Anfeng. When the truth about Anfeng was revealed he at first wanted to take him away, but got caught up in Linqi's scheme (his own son knew him well, he prepared a special person who learnt to be Anfeng's stand-in), while the lover and Anfeng lived just few apartments away the lover befriended Anfeng and his goal was to let Anfeng witness what his father is like during s**. Traumatising. Later Linqi took him away, told him the truth truth. That they're not biological. Eventually he made a move, so when the entire family appeared they were doing it. JingLi went berserk. Truth came out for the rest of the family. Afterwards Mr Xiao moved Anfeng and imprisoned him in a villa. Lanyue and Lu Ao saved him from it and let him move abroad. To let the two worst humans possible go against each other Lanyue devised a plan, He got back a person who was a stand-in in the OG story, Sun Xiao, he was an auction house worker, he hired him for few days, because he was with Lanyue he was noticed by Mr Xiao's men. When Sun Xiao revealed his face they believed it's Anfeng (they were so alike). The final grandfinale scene is on the cruise. Five board: Lanyue, Lu Ao, Sun Xiao, Mr Xiao and Xiao Linqi. After short while Sun Xiao is sent via boat back. Lanyue changes into Sun Xiao's clothes (he and Anfeng have similar build), he left Linqi waiting since he promised to take Anfeng to meet him. He came to his room, of course with no Anfeng. With few words Mr Xiao barged in. He was told "Anfeng" is here, he sees Anfeng's coat. He thinks Linqi made a move, the two get into fist fight, conflict escalates. To his question where is Anfeng Lanyue looks at the open balcony. The two move there and during the conflict Mr Xiao is pushed overboard. Mr Xiao was found by rescuers but he was already dead. Linqi was taken for his murder. Although Linqi planned to harm Lanyue as a witness, but Lu Ao appeared in time to prevent it. The plan against the two worked. Lanyue didn't even need to move a finger.
• Xiao Anfeng, the one tormented young master. Actually did a lot of underhanded things to OG Lanyue. But later was tormented by father and son. I don't mention his first involvement with a man (brother of Lu Ao's body) Lu Siye, because that part is not important. But when he was with Linqi he had a morbid idea that at least with him he can win against Lanyue. He always competed and felt like he lost. Knowing he has biological mother alive he left the country with her to never come back.

Relationship between Lu Ao and Lanyue takes a big chunk of this story, from their past to the present life.

Lu Ao's family is nothing to mention, we concentrate more on his life with Lanyue after he recognized that his lover is alive. But this guy is insane.

So Lu Ao woke up, in the story OG Lu Ao dies in fire, he doesn't. He sees Lanyue and thinks this person does not deserve the face of his beloved and tries to kill him, he is tranquillized and sent away to mental hospital.

Lanyue also thinks this is the true reaction of Lu Ao and that he hates him for never bringing last word of his supposed love (eunuch Qi Ying). This misconception existed for a long time.

But since two looked so much alike Lanyue had to make sure he is not the Emperor.

Lu Ao gets out of the hospital with time with two main goals: kill the fake, kill himself. He didn't want to live in this world. he found the real tomb of him and Lanyue. Here we find the truth that he erased teh history so that no information of his real tomb will be leaked. This is how extreme he is to protect their peace.

he followed Lanyue and wanted to kill him, but saw a scene of kidnapping and thought how great, he won't need to touch the fake. But imagine his anguish when he saw Lanyue not only saving himself from the situation but also checking his own pulse with all too familiar gesture.

Lu Ao was happy, but next second felt devastated. Wtf did he just do.

Later Lu Ao is said to have a broken arm, but we know Lu Ao has almost unreal physical strength, no one can hurt him.. except himself. He broke his own arm, he punishes himself.

Lu Ao as obsessive ML is on a different level. He was so afraid that Lanyue will dislike him, that he played the silly guy. And continued being jealous of himself. That some idiot had all the attention from Lanyue he didn't have. On the contrary Lanyue wanted someone simple who would never betray him.

The two slowly developed feelings for each other. Mainly Lu Ao was crazy and Lanyue finally was enlightened that he loved Lu Ao even in previous life.

The whole act continued till the very end. It actually made sense. With final misunderstanding resolved they continued to be happy.

This is the frame of it all. Many of the fill-gap characters I skipped them over. The full galore should be experienced by yourself.

I'll be honest I liked how Lanyue made the two father and son slowly go crazy and run around like headless flies. They thought they were smart. In the end Lanyue simply pitted them against each other and it felt simple and effective. When it happened I was almost cheering because these two deserved it.

I may say I know this author so I know what they were going for and what to expect I guess. I enjoyed my fun time.

RATE: 5/5.

[NOVEL] All Hail Chaos by Sarah Rees Brennan

The reading of this book took me much longer in the first half. And the second half became more upbeat.

Time of Iron. Book 2

Rae is a fantasy reader who's been transported to her favourite fictional world of swords and sorcery, castles and monsters. Playing the villainess, she thought she could change the narrative, but this version of the plot is far much more deadly than the one she knew.

I really need to shout it into the VOID before reviewing it because THERE ARE TOO MANY DESCRIPTIONS!!! SIMILES, THEY'RE DISTRACTING!! (I'll explain later what descriptions I mean, of course I don't mean all lol)

So it's my time to pour out my thoughts on this novels. I felt like I was reading through a veil. As if I was standing at a distance and someone tried to shout the contents to me and I asked back "What?". Like Alice who got lost in the Wonderland and had a lengthy conversation with a Temu version of cartepillar who was trying to be witty and say things, but they came out a bit crumbled, sometimes good, sometimes cringe. Like a dig I just had at author for including too many similes, I am so sorry, but it is true.

So where do I even begin?

I suppose there is a need to say something positive about the things I liked.

The Rae's memories were the most impactful to me, even if I knew the circumstances of the author including her own experience in there. maybe this is why it was really hitting hard. She is no heroine so far, but no villainess either. In the end I had a feeling that Rae, despite her convictions, still felt like a small person played by fate.

I didn't get enough of Key, since he became the Emperor, but I still like his character, he is the bringer of chaos, the one unhinged and who actually follows the path of evil, instead of claiming to be a villainess, but doing nothing truly deserving a name... shit, I tried to start with positive, but I started to compare.

I also found myself liking Cobra more (not for his ability to name his horse Google Maps.. like really, that part is cringe af), because he is the one who knows at least something and tries to apply it in their shitty situation. With some degree of success or failure.

And I liked the ending (editing me, who is finished). I hoped I will like it and I did. It made many things reconstructed, it also poured some light along the feeling of me looking back at the content and appreciating it more. Sudden twists is what we love at the very end and some really unexpected thing to happen as the very last line.

The biggest problem of how fun the last 20% were is that, for many this part decides if the book is good or not. But if the ending is really exciting they overlook everything that was not really good before that. And I admit the last 20% were fun to me, but I also couldn't overlook how hard for me the beginning felt. maybe it's a me problem, who knows.

But when it comes to things I want to discuss.

Firs of all, the execution.

A lot of crucial information to me got lost in flowery similes and this is why I wanted to shout and let it all out.

For example, the book too many times describes Key from head to toe almost. Not really, but it actually excruciatingly repeats the same things about his pale skin, his scar on his neck, his black hair, his red glimmer in the eyes and his knife-sharp gauntlets. And this information reiterates at an interval, sometimes from a different angle but the meaning is similar. Why do we need this? I may have not the best memory, but I know all these things.

Do you know what is the most important part of this description to me. Scar, but only when Rae see it or thinks of it as part of her guilt trip. And the fact that she betrayed him. Gauntlets, because they're the deadlist part of him. And the fact that she is not aware she knows the person anymore.

Other parts of his wardrobe like coat and coloring along with the name of his sword and the full name of the jewel on the handle is repeated over and over again. And of course all the associations with darkness, abyss, smoke etc. take a lot of space. I don't mention here all the cringe phrases thrown in. Like that's another story I don't understand. It's inevitable the person who comes from a different world would like to use words from their original world, but deliver them in a forced way is a whole different story.

But when I was reading it I thought to myself - why add so much stuff when the main points are only few. And they don't need such a hardcore reintroduction.

We need to know the gauntlets are enchanted and sharp, but Key doesn't really use them, but this is all Rae feared a lot. So many reiterations how he touched her with them, but no pain comes, of course it's dangerous, but there is a pattern Rae does not wish to see. As in first book she is too stuck in her own vision of things. It also had a negative impacet on me, because this reiteration became somewhat of a 'boy cried wolf' story, repeated too many times before the story showed - this guy himself is unpredictable and dangerous. I don't mention how many characters called him that and did not trust him. Maybe I should have listened to them and they had a point, this becomes clear in the later part. But in Rae's case he almost lulled me to believe he won't do anything and he actually didn't do much. Only became someone she barely recognized.

This is why I say I felt like reading through a veil. It felt as if author went on a tangent before conveying the most important part.

Do I think those parts should have been left out? For part of it I would say yes. 

The most parts I'm talking about were mostly about Rae and the palace. When it came to other characters like Cobra / Marius or Emer / Lia, then things were a bit clearer. Although Marius had a lot going on, while Lia and the maid Emer had too little about them, as they rarely even appeared (though they still managed to instill that you can't really trust Lia at all).

Another part for me was the problem of plot not really moving anywhere for a good chunk of the story, while the main points at the beginning were

• King died, but Emperor returned with his undead. Rae becomes his bride.
• "Goddess" tells Rae she is not the final bae. This is why Rae remembers to re-introduce Queen's Trials where Key can choose some heroine-type girl as his future queen, so the story would follow the story.
• A lot of ministers died that night. Ice raiders are at their walls (that's another problem of mine). They mulled over the question of trials too, as if it's not the right time. No one talked anything particularly meaningful. I'll be honest, I have no idea how this world lives, how the people live, what they believe or want or don't want. In the end their ideas were expressed much later, but still I have no idea how this world functions (though does it matter))).
• Marius and Cobra escaped and travelled towards Valerius family home. Gay vibes.
• Emer and Lia escaped through the secret passage and lived in Lia's acquanitance's house. They had little screen time.

Because of never-ending similes (the word 'like' was used several hundred times and the number of similes is.. a lot) I really got distructed when I need to concentrate on important things. And they were something like plot self-fixing, but is not without changes (not a new idea, but a good one to play around with). This meant for Rae that some events are inevitable, but the cast can be changed. Or someone can play someone's role instead. And she may become part of the casted away. As she believed. 

The first half of the story really dragged to me, especially those Queen's Trials. Imagine my face when I saw them saying thare are only TWO trials. Yes! I was going crazy at that point. They had been mentioning those trials for so long, but we see only few girls in total (of course described as there was more, they have no presence at all) and the first round passed soon, Rae did nothng but release a beast to become Emperor's steed (trial was not about it) and became a winner. Then they had to drink a potion of truth I'd call it, and it was second and FINAL trial. You got to be kidding me. At least first had some bite to it, after all girls risked their lives above the abyss, but the second did not mention anyone telling Key anything so we could listen except first girl which served solely to demonstrate to readers ho the potion works. And they dragged their feet when all they had to do was just waste two days on them. The discussion went on because Tagar is at their doorstep. But do you think those ice raiders were ever shown? I'll disappoint you. We never see them except some representative characters who appeared once and briefly. And we don't see them again before the end. Otherwiese they always said ice-raiders are behind walls.. so what? We don't see them or their plans or anything. I think they tried to do something once and it all happened in the background.

Only from the 50% of the book things started to move at least somewhere.

I looked back and realized that not much happened in the first half actually and I don't know if it's a good sign.

It would have been such a disappointment if the plot didn't start to get better.

I liked the revelations, because I was muddle-headed at the beginning many came as a surprise to me, because I didn't even think about many things (well, many things weren't discussed as well.. I'm not sure anymore I'll be honest).

Good thing very ast part is pretty exciting, it overshadowed the rest of it for me too. Even a lot of previous parts made more sense.

And you know what happened? Less similes, yeah. Mosre concise description too. How happy I was.

So yeah, waiting for the next book to come. With very telling title "Kill Your Darlings".

RATE: 3,5/5.