Showing posts with label korean bg novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label korean bg novel. Show all posts

Mar 8, 2026

[SHORT REVIEWS] #27

NOVELS
CHN

(*QIDIAN)
快穿:女配又在疯狂打脸 by 蓁蓁妖妖
(mtl: Quick transmigration: female supporting role slaps faces again)
Very basic, very shallow transmigration story. I think I added this at times when I was in "I want some trash stories" era.
You An travels world to avenge poor souls.
The plots are very common ones with all the tropes you've seen many times. But also poor quality if I'm being honest. SInce a lot of it is just pure revenge with no sense of scale. You've wronged the person, now you will end up being hunted down for the rest of your life.
In later half it becomes repetitive (I skipped only two apocalyptic worlds, don't care for those) with a lot of similar scenarios and You An's actions. Lol, even the character have similar names.
Oh yeah there is one homophobic arc with the rare but still present storyline of a wife being cheated by her gay husband into marrying and giving birth and later making her into a live-in nanny. Also making her spend her entire life for her family but afterwards being thrown away.. The melodrama of such stories is leaking and seeping through.
Not recommended at all of course. I even find my own reaction weird, because I sometimes crave trash, but this is the copy-paste type that came from somewhere and I'd call it kiddy writing which is very shallow, better quit any logic, stale diologues and just have nothing good to say.
暗恋情敌 by 二月竹
(mtl: Unrequited love rival)
(*JJ)
I'm not sure about this title. I'm not really going to read this one though, even if it's the same author as Backtracking and Infernal which I loved, this one is a calmer type of story that describes Chu Ziyu who falls for Shen Huaiyu, but his feelings are not returned, this happens during their school days. But the two meet again 11 years later and now it's Huaiyu's turn to pursue Ziyu who became his only light.
I'm not a fan of such stories, despite loving this author, but if anyone gets attracted to such plots you can give it a try. At the moment of me posting this it is still in publishing stage.
漂亮替身玩转豪门修罗场 by 惗肆
(mtl: Beautiful substitute navigates cutthroat world of the wealthy)
(*JJ)
This comes from the author of many novels I've reviwed, they have a different range and recently they switched to more profound ones in emotional sense. But the preview of this one sounds like some of their previous ones with MC being a literal queen but who plays with people since he is now trapped in a body of a substitute after transmigrating into a melodramatic BL novel.
It's another on-going one, but I'll be waiting for it, because it sounds like fun. Le Yin will be playing those who used him as substitute, the only person who will find his true face is of course ML. You know how it goes~
edit:
I've read the first 20 chapters or so, will wait for full story from now on. It's really the typical story that is just for fun and a bit of melodrama. Nice characters overall.

KOR

That’s How I Became a Villainess / 그렇게 악녀가 되었다
I read spoilers for this one. I somehow found it interesting sounding, but was not in the mood for reading when I found it ahaha lol
But actually it sounded pretty interesting. The only thing that also stopped me from reading is I found this on a TL site that is more like MTL so it's really hard to read.
It tells a story of FMC who is reborn. Her husband cheated on her and after returning brings back his mistress. FMC does not go into hysterics but instead greets her "friend" who betrayed her with open arms and does everything to accomodate her. her husband was not her choice of a partner in the first place, she married only to help her family, which never treated her fairly and she had to syphon them money from time to time. Her husband was ambitious and married her for her title and had mistress for nothing but pleasure and child.
Now FMC navigates this situation to make both of cheaters look bad, but this is only the beginning. Her main target is the current ruler who was her past love, who thinks she betrayed him (which she didn't), but this story has supernatural element and FMC has purifying power which haunts the cursed ruler/king. So this is a bit of melodramatic love where she feels she does not deserve his forgiveness for what she did but still tries to save him despite everything, very dedicated love. While he will of course eventually uncover the truth.
The story also involves some political intrigue since the king is cursed and other waits for his slow demise to take his place etc. So it involves several families.
Having the enemy's baby / 원수의 아기를 가졌다
THIS IS INSANE HOW DIFFERENT MANHWA IS FROM THE BOOK
I started reading the manhwa version and then chapters were over but I was interested - is MMC really so unhinged?
And the answer is, the manhwa portrays him as someone different, when things are not like that in a book and the problem is in small details that happen.
Basically all the events are similar, but what people say and think is different and this is why manhwa makes you think he is some sort of psycho, although the book does him more justice, despite him still being quite cruel.
I think I was mostly so impressed by the change of perception due to details, so this is the one time when I say pick the book, instead of my usual pick any media you want, book or comics.
The story is about FMC who is sent by her biological uncle (who is not her adoptive father officially) to the enemy's family, this family and their had a feud lasting for more than a century, to the point where two territories hate each other, including people.
So her fate was predictably to be tough.
I hated that manhwa opened from an event that will happen much later in the story as if we need this misleading preview. I wished manhwa did a better job at portrayal.
She is also very ill with a sickness called Herzol which have not appeared for over a century and no one knows the cure (of course she will get one).
MMC of course is not happy with this marriage and does not treat her well, and even if he understand some mistakes he may have made, but he is stopped by his pride as a ruler of his territory and also because she is still his ebeny's daughter and he has no idea if she has any agenda or not.
I'd say the book took quite long to get to the point where she tries to open up to him, then he also started to have feelings for her, they try to work it out, but of course author had to do some crazy spin so she will leave him, staging her death and he will search for her anyway.
This was an okay story in general. I can't say for sure how I liked it because the translation was more like MTL and it was hard to judge style and such. But at some parts it was obvious the author had some misses when it came to the creation of this story.
But it has BEST MAID EVER. Who is also FMC's friend, she is truly the best, since FMC herself is quite weak-willed due to many past traumas of losing her parents and later being treated like an empty spot and being compared to her cousin all the time, so she lost any confidence or happiness in her life.

US

Murder by Moonrise by Patrice McDonough
IT'S FINALLY HERE~ I'm so reading this when I finish what I'm reading now. can't believe it's already March..
The third and final book in the story of Dr. Julia Lewis.
edit:
Completed. Ref. to review. It was GOOD.
The Retired Assassin's Guide to Country Gardening by Naomi Kuttner
I want to give a cozy mystery with a more mature main character another chance. This sounded interesting. You know how it goes, a person wants to find a cozy quiet place, but it doesn't end up so quietly after all.
Galvanism and Ghouls by Tilly Wallace
Because I liked the first book, I will happily continue with the series. The second promises the Frankenstein type of creature to appear.
Because I found such interesting type of story, it was also recommended to try Soulless by Gail Carriger, it should have the same vibe as this series.
I decided not to pack what I want to read next, though who am I kidding, it's always packed to the brim whenever I see my bookmarks.

MANHWA

I'm lazy to put out covers.
  • Peony: Dreaming of a dangerous duke. Pretty short and nice. I really liked that it's short and doesn't dwell like many others. Story of a transmigrated girl who tried to fix her own fate, but was killed. She fell in love with her husband in arranged marriage. But after death she travels to the future and becomes a princess who is married to the same duke. She can't tell him that she is his deceased wife, but eventually the restriction is lifted. With time ppl recognize her and her husband falls in love with her for the second time, not because she is who she is.
  • My husband was stolen twice. Pretty unsatisfying melodramatic plot. In modern times the girl is shocked how her friend stole her husband. They travel to a plot where she does the same thing, but what is different is their status. FMC starts a business and also meets a man who helps her several times. But instead of a confident personality we again have this mopey FMC who has no idea if the man likes her or not and she is not confident etc. Such cliche garbage.
  • I became a level 999 Demon Queen. I thought it's going to be fun, but it's such a kiddy writing, honestly, I thought I was reading a story written by a kid. It's shallow, not interesting, FMC is boring, everything bored me to no end.

DONGHUA

Heaven Official's Blessing / Tian Guan Ci Fu / 天官赐福
I'm actually finaly watching it. Took me a while. But honestly I can't blame myself since the same with the Grandmaster I've read the novel and saw the manhua and usually I don't watch the same story so many times even if it's a different media.
Though let's admit, the manhua for TGCF is cunty, it's so gorgeous that it overwhelms you with how good it is.
Donghua is also looking really good and I'm loving it so far. It's interesting to revisit the story when time passes instead of chasing it.
The Lord of Mysteries / Guimi Zhi Zhu / 诡秘之主
OMG THIS IS GORGEOUS
I have no idea what they did for animation to be like that, but it feels like they use a lot of computer graphic, yet it feels more like an in-game feel instead of what we're used to.
The story is intriguing, lots of gore, blood and also steampunk vibe? heck yeah.
Some say the stry is all over the place, others say it's for those who dont like to be led and the plot to be fed to them. We'll see. But the animation is great.

DRAMA

SWEETPEA (2024)
And this is one I completed. 
Could be beter, could be worse. I think it's underwhelming in a way. I hope they don't produce a second season, the girl should be caught. She should not get her happy ending.
It's slow and the theme of overlooked invisible person is so exaggerated.
The FMC was bullied at school to the point where she developed a habit of ripping her hair out because of nerves. This haunted her to her adult life where she still continues to be invisible to others and she is overlooked. The only person she cared for dies and even her dog gets into accident because she was distracted to see her former bully on the billboard, having a great career.
She tries to sloppily navigate her own case to be promoted at her workplace.
Kinda reminded me of that movie with Jake Gyllenhaal where he was a reporter.. I'm getting distracted.
Anyway, she murders the first victim and any feeling of guilt was wiped out when she found out he was a bully. Second person was responsible for taking attention of medical personnel when her dad needed attention. Of course another prick and asshole who acts as if he deserves what is about to get him.
These two were more like a spur of a moment crimes.
While she planned for the third and wanted to off her school bully. But it didn't go as planned.
Eventually we find out that her former bully is now in a very toxic relationship and she was physically hurt many times and can't get away from him.
All med are bad if you didn't get it so far.
To the point where they plan to dump all the guilt on this guy.
I liked only one character, her former bully, not because of her sloppy story that she had a hard time, this is why she did what she did, but because she took off in time after the release. 
While FMC was caught in her own lies more and more and it came crashing down.
Because of her brilliant plan to shift blame she had to give away the knife she used, but forgot others saw her with the same knife as well.
There is another dumb moment when she lies about her time at the club where had her first victim. She could have told the truth, no one saw her anyway. But she chose to lie, which was suspicious af.
Sloppy person, sloppy writing. just nah. Good thing it was short, but it felt long tbh.
Honestly, at the end I felt sorry for wasting my time. I could have watched some dorama instead.
That's it. So far.

Happy Women's Day to everyone.
Read good books, watch good shows and be happy.

Jan 1, 2026

[SHORT REVIEWS] #25 EXPANDED

I was thinking why not add other things I watch or would like to recommend in short reviews outside of books, reviews are for everything after all.
Point is, I was watching more these days than reading... Though reading webtoons is also reading, just a different type? But also the dramas~

NOVELS

KOREAN

Gilded Princess
Excuse me, wy this has low rating on NU?
First of all, the synopsis to this novel is shit, I was confused before I read it. And the story felt good. The prose is more thought through, the character has more depth and different choices to make.
The basic idea is, FMC is saved from kidnapping only to be betrayed by someone close to her, only then she realized that her thoughts of a normal life might be futile and only status and money will allow her to be protected, so she agrees to her families arranged marriage (MMC is not someone she is supposed to marry due this arrangement).
SPOILERS
She later finds out that her future husband has violent tendencies and her own family won't care about her well-being since they desperately wish to connect to nobility.
She grew up to be a perfect lady, not of her own free will, she was trained a bred to be the most graceful and beautiful vase her mother could think off. She always was against it inside before she gave up, but the violent future husband is not something she wanted for herself. In desperation she wants to escape only having nowhere to go and being chased and searched everywhere. The only person who came to mind was MMC, he once saved her, but he is someone who so far was on the opposite side of her because he wants to ruin the family she wanted to marry.
I think the story so far was quite good, it shows changes that take place with our choices and mindset etc.
My Arrogant and Insolent Shadow
Once again I dislike the summaries of Korean novels, they're confusing, can't you make it sound normal like what to expect? Sure, part of the summary is true, but a big chunk of premise is missing. She is a commoner girl, true, she lives in this small town, also true, she is hired (she needs money for her mom's medicine) to take care of some young master of unknown identity but noblest birth, very true, but he is also said to be living his last days in this small town, which made him so insufferable. She is the only one who could handle his temper and he was interested in this girl's attitude. So he asked her to return and serve him.
I though it sounded weird, but when I started reading I was again baffled by the difference of what I see in the summary and the novel itself. I don't know, I don't think my comprehensive skills are bad, it's just confusing information the way they write. So I was intrigued to keep on going, will continue to read. I admit I only started with few chapters and decided to leave it for later, since I was in the "let's clean bookmarks" stage.

WEBTOONS

MANHUA

Love by Mistake
(错撩)
(or manhua that has too many alternate titles, like The Wrong Flirt, Only for love, Accidental love)
Based on a novel from JJ and I never read it, but the premise of it is not new but the execution of manhua is EXCELLENT. The art is overwhelmingly gorgeous and fun.
The plot follows Zheng Shuyi (I like her og name, I know the Eng tl named her completely different) who was broke up with her boyfriend because of his cheating, he wanted to achieve quick success with the "right girl", while Shuyi noticed the presence of a RR Phantom in the scenario she thought of getting to know the infamous "uncle" of this little mistress girl, just to become an aunt and let her ex call her auntie, but who knew that she got the wrong person.
I had the same feelings when I was reading this as the previously reviewed manhua about two actors having a secret marriage. It did not click with me when it came to the book, but the visuals helped it become cuter, especially the FMC. I did not read the novel of this one, but saw some unfavorable reviews, while I think the manhua smoothes out the points brought up in those reviews. 
Edit: I read up to existing chapters and I must say, some of the drawing style choices are choices. Although the story is super cliche. If it was a novel I wouldn't read much of it.

MANHWA

You think it's easy rewriting the story?
(원작은 아무나 비트나)
This is hysterical!! so far. FL is simply a ball of joy, because she is so fun and expressive. Love her antics. She is so suss. Even if she looks like a villainous heroine who is using her beauty for gain.. she actually does use it ahaha What a menace. Reading at least one good among others that are okay is already enough. Also I love the main characters a lot. They are the perfect example of opposite visual and character. The FL looks like an angel, but she is cunning and also likes to tease the ML. One the other hand ML looks a bit intimidating, but he can get shy because of how bold FL is.
I think the story perfectly combines story and art aspect to make the story engaging and entertaining.
The plot of the story is how FL who was in a modern world and also had some not so ordinary life transmigrates into a book and at first wants to escape her fate and does not want marry the duke (ML, who is a villain in the story). Although she knows his backstory and the reason for the revenge, she is still not truly connected to him. While ML's story is fuller than what we see, especially when he explain it himself what pushes him forward. Later on he meets FL, who is definitely not what he expected and his opinion of her starts to change. He is not someone without reason, so we can see why he changes. I think they fit each other pretty well and thus the story might change because of her influence, which she thinks she doesn't have.
I find it very entertaining and would continue. I saw that it only has Season 1 so far (;_; )
ALSO, how many MLs have black hair and red eyes lol!!

I became the Tyrant's Chambermaid
(폭군의 침방 시녀가 되었다)
How very convenient that a hotel employee transmigrates to become a chambermaid of a tyrant, an unloved prince who will become Emperor in the story. Honestly, the tone of it is quite gruesome, but what makes it better is the reaction of FL to things, more like her inner voice. ML has quite a character so as the FL said it's a dark fantasy romance etc. It does not follow the fully angst way, which I'm thankful for. But ML's character is quite heavy.
In a way it's the same as those stories about a secretary to unhinged boss, we saw plenty of those. Thus she has to survive with everyone eyeing her.
Also I chose this cover, because I like it more.

The Crow's Prince
(하필이면 까마귀가 되어버렸다)
I think you can make the crow girl into a meme and an emoji pack, the way she reacts is priceless. I heard it's based on the novel and the novel has more serious tone? But honestly how do we know? Don't authors take at least some part in the process and give an okay? Otherwise who would adapt it this way.
Anyway, a zookeeper, which is rare for stories, travels to the game world and stumbles upon a prince who is destined to become the future Emperor, or so we think. He is her best choice to follow if she wants to find a way to return home. They develop a close relationship during the time they stayed inside the woods while she helped him to recover, so he took her back to the castle.
Here we find that there is another contender for the throne who was always against others. I thought they were half-brothers, but no, they're blood brothers and this guy acted as if it's a sure thing to get the throne. Only because they were the wolves and those who awakened their powers and could transform could become the future ruler. The younger brother was aided by a dark magician and their scheme was eventually revealed. But it's only the beginning.
I think the story might get a turn to be more serious from here, but who knows, the FMC who could later transform into human called Rainelle is the one who makes the day. I have no idea if they ever get any troubles, ther relationship can be called solid and they care for each other so much. I suppose all the trouble will be external, after all we did not really entered the plot at the point where I'm currently reading.
Update: it's fine, good it's short.

Mother's Contract Marriage
(엄마가 계약결혼 했다)
I was wondering what type of story it will be. But I can't say much, by far it's quite sweet and cute.
Saw it in YT shorts. Forgot for what reason I decided to check it out. I'm sure it's something about her mother and the current Emperor.
The basic premise follows a girl Lylica, she and her mother lived in slums, before one day her mother acted differently (her mother obviously regressed), later her mother entered a contract marriage with the Emperor and Lylica came along. Her pure heart truly started changing people around her, because she always thought the best of people, had faith in them (unless they were truly despicable and her instinct told her so) and also was not marred by the palace intrigue.
The background plot reveals the struggle between the Emperor and aristocrats. The Emperors of this country are the saviors in the history, they led the people to survive, descendant are said to have the dragon blood (yeah, even in Western fantasy it's all about dragons~), so this is why they inherit the throne, while aristocrats want to join the Imperial family by marriage to take control of power. Both the current Emperor and his heir (nephew) both have mothers of common origin.
Sometimes reading about someone so innocent and nice is pretty healing and Lylica is that type f character. The story like many others here not only involve European ambience, romance, but also fantasy elements.

Shards of a Broken Glass Slipper
It looks gorgeous and very distinctive. The picture is quite heavy-loaded with bold colours and imagery. Also the style of storytelling feels a bit dramatic and theatrical.
The plotline is based on the Cinderella plot, where the sister is always hated, but the female protag is like the most precious girl in the world, although her actions are always the same, as they say fake white lotus.
The pacing to me feels a bit slow, but that's all because the beginning has a lot of flashbacks to how contrasting FL's reality is to the story.
Must say that I was intrigued by the first scene, since FL offs herself in front of female protag. All because she wants her perfect life to ne marred with the scene of her gruesome death in front of female protag.
Later FL describes how with her lack of knowledge the servants of the household mistreated her and made her look like a fool, always trying to compare the female protag and herself. Which led to FL's twisted personality. Now she tries to get back things to those who wronged her. Her past life is really heavy I'd say. Female protag is always doing things in the same way, if she can't say smth back she cries, thus the crying baby gets the candy. And also makes FL look bad.
The beginning had a great build-up, but tbh the scene where they play cards bored me, since it took so long and overexplained every detail, which I think if we never play this type of game ever again it did not matter. But if we do, I'm pretty sure the rules will be explained again, because ppl can't remember much.
Author of my own Destiny
(내 남자 주인공의 아내가 되었다)
COMPLETED. This is the only one I finished from the list of mentioned. I'm not sure if I need to give it a separate review, I might do that.
The plot follows the author of her own story who enters the plot and become the villainess Fiona Green. She cared a lot for the characters she created and felt immense guilt that few strokes of her writing decided someone fate to be tragic. Burdened by it she treated the ML of her story with care and love, though she still felt a bit detached since she never considered to be the target of his future affection. Later on she befriended female protagonist and another woman who is a villainess of her story (yay girl power). Together they face the advercity that happened because of her own plot choices.
Her story became conscious and the villainess who became the final boss assimilated with what is called Darkness in this world, entity that can bring ruin to this world.
Although she is the author of her story, but it's not under her control. What happens to characters is not up to her. She fights her own guilt and tries to save this world. And save her characters.
It's an interesting take. The FL is actually quite dimensional, since shows so many sides of herself.
I also love the found family trope among the others. Also female friendship, I found it's a pity there wasn't enough of it.
FL is a true protag of this story, it is very FL-oriented. A great point is also there is no-nonsense points in the story, since a lot of "conflicts" were solved through COMMUNICATION and no stone was left unturned. They did not drag it for forever, they solved it right away and thus the relationship had such a great foundation. It's just other stories love to have these miscommunication tropes so much it's infuriating.
All in all it was a nice story.
PS: It has an alter. title, I became the wife of the male lead, which I think is not really fitting, Author of my own destiny was even used in narration. But becoming a wife... can be considered as a final outcome, since it happened in the very end lol.

DRAMA

Moonlit Reunion
(子夜归)
THEY HAVE A CAT. Also chose tis poster since it's less messy, it may not have all the characters, but I love the idea how simple it is.
It is a fine watch, was attracted to FL's character and actress, since she looks like a doll, so pretty. Tian Xi Wei, my new baby to follow❤
In the way I can describe it as short as possible the story follows (so far) the dealings with demons among humans, And all those cases are handled by a human master who hides among people and a demon cat girl, who judges those who did something wrong among humans and is a part of the Demon Market.
I watched a video with her with edits from how FL acted domineeringly and those are some humorous shots that caught my attention. In general she hides the fact that she's a demon, but she gets attracted to the human cultivator/master guy, the same story is from his side. He falls for her as a girl and yet to find out that she's a demon. But when it comes to dealing with raging demons they have no idea that they're basically on the same side.
It can be found on YT, yeah you can watch it officially and with Eng subs.
New Life Begins
(卿卿日常)
I suppose it will be a group portrait type of drama with extensive cast, judging by the poster. Found it randomly on YT, most likely was recommended because of Moonlit Reunion, since it has the same actress for FL. The premise of this story is interesting, since brides from all regions that are very distinct come to the palace to become wives of Princes. FL is from a place that is into farming, so she's all about food. She wanted to get kicked out early, but caught attention of a sickly prince and eventually married him.
To me the actor who plays the male lead doesn't have what I'd call "the face of the male lead", he also looks younger than the girl. My own perception.
But the story is light and should be easy-going. I know I have no idea what I'm talking about I watched like ep 1 and that's it. But I was attracted to the atmosphere and will see where it'll take me.
Melody of the Golden Age
(长乐曲)
Reason - because the male lead is played by the actor who played Mu Sheng in Love in Eastern Fantasy, Ding Yu Xi, this is what I call the face of the male lead, those gorgeous eyebrows, even if they're drawn. But the ancient clothes fit him so well. The story, or his character in particular feel a bit darker~
FL did not leave a good impression on me in the first episode, I have no idea why, I hope it reverses later. She is the daughter of a concubine who was trained and has extensive invastigative skills. She served in the Ministry of Justice. Although it's cool that she achieved that, but of course it's like another mysoginistic environment. 
Then the marriage bestowed on her family falls on her shoulders since her sister wants to escape this amrriage. She has no idea that ML is not so indifferent to her. They have a past~ 

ANIME

Debu to Love to Ayamachi to!
(デブとラブと過ちと!)
This is so good so far, I watched half of it and waited for it to be released in full before finishing. The FMC is such a ball of light and confidence, she honestly gave me such a good feeling.
The story folows our FMC who got into an accident and got amnesia, she forgot all her bad days and her character made a reverse, she became full of life and confidence and she didn't care a bit that she had weight. Honestly, I think this anime has such a great message on things like not fitting the image, being teased and bullied and how to handle it. How to love yourself and be confident. I really liked this type of positive FMC.
Spy x Family (Season 3)
I finished the season...Release me from this. I don't want to continue watching, but what do I do with Anya. The story struggles to progress anywhere before few last episodes. Only half of this season had any meaning, the rest of it is water that keeps on repeating itself.
It's one and the same situation over and over again like there will never be any progress at all. The characters do not change as well. I can handle Anya, since her character is more fun even if she is an empty head. Loid is a good person, but Yor started to get on my nerves. An adult woman who can't change her ways and acts like a dumbass all the time. I should find it funny, I don't.
Anyway what I'd like to say is that the ways this anime is shown starts to get old. It's the same thing over and over again. Whenever the chance to become better is presented any exciting chain of events that might lead anywhere is cut short and we repeat the process.
Do modern people not see or don't care for this type of storytelling which is not great.
Honestly, all my hopes were up for the final episodes, but it was the same old shit. Also it really got on my nerves. First Loid who escaped decided it's a great idea to throw away the pipe which was his only weapon during the chase. Later Fiona again has a lovestruck girl moment, while she chases someone, I mean.. time and place? Author never follows, it should be funny, not to me, she is portrayed as this competent idiot. It's good that men are also idiots, otherwise I'd think this show is sexist.. IT IS towards EVERYONE. It's cool that Fiona's feelings allow her to uncover her potential, but later with legs and arms broken she still thinks how to plot and become Loid's wife... You know what they say about jokes that are repeated for a hundredth time? Yeah, rotten.

Arrow of Fortune by Jacquelyn Benson
Third book in the Raiders of the Arcana series. I really need to get my s* together and read it, since it already came out. Maybe the difference is that I was actually waiting for this one unlike previous two that I found and they were already available. Same with other books, they came out long ago, but I still keep them unread... I would like an answer to this.

Some mentions, since these are future releases:
All Hail Chaos release date was moved to May. Will I see book two?
The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer, never read her but traveling to books is our vibe here, I want a western take on it (unless you know, it's going to be "inspired").
Murder by Moonrise is the final in the trilogy, I hope to see how Patrice McDonough will finish her wonderful story.
A Wretched Folly by Lynn Messina. Beatrice will get 14th bok in the series. I've finished 7. I slowed down to enjoy it. BUT OH GOD IT INCLUDED PINEAPPLE. You really need to know the lore of these book to know why it matters ahahaha This author really uses things that appear prior to use them later, so ingenious.

Oct 17, 2025

[SHOR REVIEWS] #23


离婚错撩后,被京圈太子爷娇宠了 by 星星请点灯
(mtl: After a divorce I was pampered by the Beijing's prince)
[BG] Completed. Summary: After 5 years of loveless marriage Wen Ruan finds that her husband is cheating on her. Being fed up with it she tries to leave him. *Qidian. I pinpoint that it came from Qidian and not JJ.

That's the basic premise that should have been included in official summary that paints them as strong men and women. This is like a false advertisement. I'm sorry, a strong woman you say? I dropped this because Wen Ruan is nothing but a man's appendage and she has no redeeming qualities of a strong woman, she is easily manipulated, has no stance for herself in the family and almost always goes with the flow.
I must say, I'm sick and tired of this damsel in distress type of story when a girl can't even show her spine. She can't leave her husband, because he conspired against her brother - her weak spot. Instead of going ballistic at him she complies with demands (a lot to go through just for getting her attend a few dinners, don't you think), although she could use some press or just go crazy, who cares, no we're meek and follow to show what? that we're a damsel in distress who needs saving. Sometimes there is strength in forebearing, but sometimes it's simply a trashy plot. I like trashy plots, but this is simply cheap melodrama for the sake of making it a soap opera.
ALSO the false ad of "pampering", ironically the ost problems come from this prince of Beijing who actually got into accident (why not) then he thought he's going to be bound to wheelchair and let her leave him, she did, then he was left with a limp, married another woman, who conspired against him and the guy who followed Wen Ruan, then we had many time skips when the kid is already like 6 years old and they again come into contact and get intangled again. While in general I think this ended up being such a fucked up situation overall.
Back to FMC. Her men can be presidents and successful, but she? She once had an education in incense-making, which sounds more like a hobby, but compared to her high-achieving men she is nothing. She also lost her chance because of course we need to add drama and she lost her chance to some easy-to-catch ploy, which only showed how naive she is. I mean I can understand people nowadays may not be super shrewed, but I believe the younger ones are not as dense. 
I read a bit then I just read few selected chapters and it's nothing more but drama for the sake of melodrama. It's full of breaking up and making up, conspiracies, wealthy family fighting, several kidnappings even mixed babies ffs etc. And what is surprising is that their time together can't compare to all the melodrama, they only had a good time when it was all over and it was described in few words in the final chapter (which was all rushed of course). And I must say Wen Ruan was led astray so many times it's baffling. Like her college scandal, sis not proceed to investigate or do something about it. Did not trust or love Pei Yue enough to stay with him, was deceived by the most trusted person.
I mean, any other over the top QINDIAN drama at least has a strong but single mother that doesn't bend, Wen Ruan went along with another man (even though he cospired with another woman to make many things happen and separate the two "fated" lovers). You're not that fated if you don't really fight for it and accept everything at face value. And what type of love if she was truly swayed by other men along the way. I don't mean it can't happen, but she is always like a helpless flower that needs a ground to grow.
I love my trashy novels, but this was kinda meh. Drama for the sake of drama, obviously. Overuse of all the tropes possible. The one who wrote this just stunned you with twists and other overused stuff not to let you a chance to breathe and think how lunatic this is.
Did I mention that this novel starts like any other - a one-night stand. Why they love it so much?

满级快穿,惹得禁欲反派宠妻上瘾 by 阴阳殿
(mtl: The max level boss makes the vilain addicted to pampering his wife) 
[BG] Completed. There is no summary for this one because it baffled me. *Qidian.
I took it upon myself reading this because although I think their previous novels including where FMC transmigrates with her dad was not the perfection, but it was fun and engaging. But this time I was so surprised. This reads more like a sketch but not a fully thought-through thing, the quality drop is so astonishing I did not put two and two together at first and asked myself - why I added this again? Then I was truly surprised.
The basic premise is Yan Can travels these worlds (three in total), why she does that? Unknown. Pitiful hint that she must complete the revenge of OG. The backstories not fully explained, she just arrives an we deal with it. Also she only has some sort of relevance in the first arc, for the next two I felt like her "husband" does the most work instead of her.
What is unsettling all the time is that the guy is always older and she is not of age. Not that they do something, but the way it goes him insta falling in love.. Not explained at all, you won't get an answer, but they fall in love as soon as they meet and then nothing really happens, because the plot is weird. Whenever she ended her mission she was transferred right away, so she never finished a life.
World 1. Obvious masochistic old-school bloody novel where OG is the little sister. ML is a guy who was in the car when someone related to OG was driving it and noticed her on teh road. This is where FMC showcases what is promised in the summary, she is ruthless, but since she had the reputation of beaten up kid no one believed her parents. She basically distanced herself from them. I tell you, no details on how she did things, they basically illogical quite a bit. And it also had a feeling like we're mulling over the same thing.
World 2. Fake/true daughter. FMC's golden finger is to let her chosen family hear her inner voice, thus they find out she is reborn and how she died, they see true face of the fake daughter and basically fall out soon enough. ML is her childhood sweetheart, she acts like she existed in this world all teh time and he never recognized the wrong person, weird. They also offed so many people.
World 3. Being entangled by a weirdo couple. The guy here may have been saved, but the girl is mental. ML again mostly did all the job.
The characters of those who "wronged" FMC are all the same and stereotypical.
This read as garbage, not my usual trashy but entertaining. It was incredibly shallow and I'm surprised.
封神回归!星际大佬马甲又被扒了
(mtl: The God of War returns! The vest of Interstellar Boss has slipped again)
[BG] Completed. Summary: Jiang Zhi died and was reborn in the body of a "waste" girl from a garbage planet. Sister of OG was taken away and she slowly planned how to help her. But a good thing that she was reborn with all of her specks surpassing the S category. And all of her achievements as a potion maker and a hacker are still there among other things. She now can continue what she worked on for years. *Qidian.
    Why I even bothered I have no idea, I think I had a wish to see how a random author will deal with Interstellar era. And I must say - if you have no idea about anything, don't write, like really.
The world-building of this is dull. If you put Interstellar there, it doesn't mean the reader automatically knows what's going on, even if you put Zergs in there too. Because the overall picture is illogical.
So here's the true premise, Jiang Zhi has a sister Jiang Si, they both were abandoned by their father after he re-married their mother's sister. This part of the plot is so floppy I can't even express it well. But iang Si is a natural person, that's how it's MTL'd, basically the person who can give birth naturally, so she was taken away to basically be a irthing machine for some high-class Admiral. Who acted like a character from old-school bloody novels who would say phrases like "You caught my attention woman". But her's my problem, if this is posed as a problem overall, they should have another technology, they're far in the future, but I read like 200 chapters then I skipped to the ending and I surely don't know if they have or no, but I'm sure no one mentioned it. 
So from one side they say their numbers are dwindling, but from other side we have the danger of Zergs (although they have described so many planets under "Federation" where Jiang Zhi landed that it doesn't make sense that they have so little of people).
But from another side, when Jiang Zhi decided to get out of the garbage planet and join a military academy, we find out that newbies are thrown into simulations right away for once. I could have dealt with it if this part of the plot hadn't taken half of the damn thing. And then right away they were sent to compete, but not anywhere else but close to the real defense line.
By that I mean, they sent freshmen who just arrived and who have no experience at all right into hell mode. Future mecha pilots, who should be a precious resource are treated as if they should all do it already. Em..what? 
What baffled me the most is the point-based system. So when they arrive they were told something about earning points. And because it is MTL it honestly sounded as if they should earn them, but spend it on stuff like a training room too. No shit. Even if they had to pay, I think that's fucked up. It's as if all these people have to beg to be pilots and not be provided resources to become the best pilots. Like where is the logic in this?
Back to Jiang Zhi, she was taken away by her biological father because her sister is now with a high-profile person. But Jiang Zhi has a recommendation letter to enter academy, so she has few months before she is of age and can do whatever she wants. The one who wrote the letter is herself - her other allias as a potion maker. I have no idea why she entered as a mecha driver, because eventually her goal changed. But it didn't really change half-way through, she was a potion-maker in previous life and spent an extensive amount of time on researching something that will help women restore their ability to give birth and will lessen the burden from her sister who is treated as commodity. This is my problem here, she was noticed because of her skills as a mecha pilot and so much of attention was on that. But then she says - I will be making potions, why not start making them from the get-go if that was your goal?
The ending is also baffling. They say that the S physique and mental strength are the pinnacle, but we know Jiang Zhi is stronger than that. But they are rare ppl who reach this, but she is sent to some place where all the SSS-type of people are gathered. Basically to promote. Me at that moment: So you mean to say you have such a danger like Zergs (they did appear in the plot, the real ones) and so many people are fighting who are quite below in skills, but those with higher skills are in that one place and do nothing? Ok. I didn't really get it. Was this place mentioned, but it felt like Jiang Zhi and the (supposed) ML talked about it only at the very end...
Logic just left the building to never return. And yeah I got bored and skipped the last 100ch because it wasn't getting anywhere. So who knows if she achieved her goal with potions. I don't really care. It felt like she didn't to me, her goal shifted to help her sister. Oh forgot to say, her sister had brain-eating worm, got it on that station where her nominal husband took her to as who knows what plan of honeymoon, and she got infected and it's fatal, I know she lived but it's because of medicine, for sure due to her genius sister. And while her sister is not completely cure she leaves to that place. Who knows maybe the motive was that she will evolve with those ppl and return even more awesome and finish it all, but honestly, where logic in that? Why all those ppl are in that place and left everyone to fend for themselves basically.
快穿之宿主她专业拆cp by 秦小酌
(mtl: Traverser who breaks up CPs)
[BG] Completed. Synopsys: Jiang Wei is the elite executioner in Transmigration Bureau, but she found herself being sent to the bodes of cannon fodder when she started dismantling official couples.
She also had to collect some of the fragments of that unreliable guy Qin. *Qidian
    I have a strong feeling that I've read it, but when and how is a mystery.
It's another cheap one which I wouldn't give more than 1 star, it's another Qidian "masterpiece", I wonder if the authors there are in some kind of circle that loves to write only old-school and bloody, very melodramatic, soap opera style type of stories that defy any logic and it's the first draft of a 15 yo.
Tbh Qidian most of the time reads as JJ fanfiction. I also ask myself why I'm wasting my time, but sometimes you need garbage, at least I do. Also when I reach out to stories I have no idea they'll end up so trash. I can switch on green tea girl and say that I have faith in those authors and there should be something that prevents them from delivering.
Anyway, this story is very inconsistent except the fact that Jiang Wei should complete her mission, but the entire plot and romance are so in the background. The guy named Qin may follow her in those worlds or no, we know they've been together for quite some time (made me think is there a 1st volume of this? maybe it's the second installment), we don't care about their romance, it's shallow. I have no desire to root for them.
The plots of these arcs are nothing new, but they again are more like a sketch than well-thought through plot. Like final "arc" is only few chapters long and it described in general how Jiang Wei comes to a girl in a soul state and in three sentences teaches her what to do in her true/adopted daughter situation. And then she wakes up, we have no idea why the guy in her Bureau sent her to some missions as a punishment, but she only sees the Qin guy says I love you and the end..lol wut.
The onlyreason I thought this felt familiar is due to 2 episodes. In one arc Jiang Wei is a clueless wife dying instead of the mistress, because the mistress got a monster after exploring a tomb, so she transferred the mosnter to her, but Jiang Wei later made an offer, so the two husband and mistress will share the burden and this is what exposed their feelings.
Another one was about a twin brother who made his sister marry to his lover just to give birth but in the OG plot pushed her down the cliff when OG Jiang Wei found out the truth and tried to escape.
Tbh I actually thought this might be plagiarism, but I have no proof, this might be the story I read or maybe not, I can't tell since I don't remember. But I'm biased since I saw plagiarism on Qidian.
    What is annoying with these stories is that the characters all talk the same, dialogues are convoluted same copy-paste version of itself, the character of "protags" are all the same, male protags who would say - you caught my attention woman and green tea bitches who pretend to be pitiful and talk the same. And everyone is brain-dead since they follow it. And there is no difference. 
oh yeah it must be MTL but OCTOPUS in a LAKE. It's from some apocalypse world, but they fought octopus who appeared in a lake okay? lol, how did it got there ffs?
被前男友骗婚以后 by 听原 
(After Being Tricked into Marriage by My Ex)
[BL] Completed. This can be found on NU where I left my review as well, but I wanted to mention it in passing because this comes from the author of "He's from 1945", which I reviewed in the past. It's one of their first works and it shows, but it's interesting to see that their style of doing things can be felt in this novel already. Taking most basic tropes and doing something special to them, giving author's voice to it. I liked that this story, which also begins from tropes actually has a bit of complexity to it and I was happy for it. *JJ
The basic premise of it is Cen Jing transmigrating into the body of infamous illegitimate son of the Cen family, who fell in love with He Cidong and pestered him, eventually because of schemes and turns (not fully explained imo) the two end up married, but Cidong according to others has a "white moonlight" and CJ like everyone else misinterprets this relationship, it's hard not to. Cidong is not a moralist or a good person, never presented himself as such, even if he was married he held no desire to stick to a fake facade, so he continued to help the person he considered himself responsible for - Yao Wenyu.
It's not hard to guess at how hard the novel hints then shows that Cidong and Wenyu are not in a romantic relationship, but the situation is more complex. Cidong thought Wenyu was the one who helped him in his childhood, this is why when they met again he felt responsible, especially seeing Wenyu changing (pure speculation, but to me he wanted to raise his status so he would return to the past self), but instead Wenyu was infatuated with him to the point of obsession and was mentally unwell. This is why he could even cause himself harm so Cidong will return to him and continue to care for him. Unless he does something extreme Wenyu knew this would work. So again the situation is not black and white and all responsibility lies in Cidong.
But because of their initial situation thanks to both parties the consequent troubles became their regrets.
Cidong could not help this magnetic pull, so he cared for CJ more and more, but all these feelings were too subtle at first. 
It's not a perfect work and I'm not a fan of how it was wrapped up. To me the novel lacked in depth that consequently created imbalance in the story, but if you sit with it a bit you will realize author's intention on some details. At least to me they make sense. This is why this book does not follow the copy-paste path that is abundant in such stories and most often sounds illogical and lacking.
替身男配只想赚钱 by 时今
(mtl: The supporting role stand-in just wants to make money)
[BL] Completed. Summary: Chen Bai transmigrates from a person who was deep in depth to someone who drowns in debt. Just add few more zeroes. But what can he do? He has to work hard. He can spend a dinner, but no overtime, he has to dash to another job. *JJ
I though initially that I will like it, but what a Waterloo, the first thing that put me off outside of the entire pacing is that gaming is included. And I find it the most boring, water-spilling type of story. It can be funny, because of the dialogues, but in essence it's boring (especially for non-gamers of those games mentioned). The pacing is basically like a galloping horse that feels like events develop so quickly. I didn't feel for the main character or the story. The good thing about him is his motivation. Maybe this is why ML is attracyed and also that he's not being treated as too special.
Didn't read too much to give anyone advice of reading it or not, maybe someone will find it madly entertaining who knows.
权力是女人最好的医美 by 大白牙牙牙
(mtl: Power is the best beauty treatment for women)
[BG] Completed. Summary: Everyone around Huo Ling promised her that when they reach the pinnacle of life she will be the most favored. Relatives, lover, children. Everyone may one day turn around and betray you for power though, this is why you don't support anyone, but yourself. *JJ
    The summary on JJ is more playful I'd say, although the tone of the novel itself is more serious. This is the author of Heng Yu series (the several quick transmigration novels that I reviewed before and I mentioned how I liked their non-mainstream approach). This story tells the alternative history inspired by the female Emperor. Huo Ling is not an awakened person or a transmigrator, but a genuine ancient person whose family fell from grace at one point and now for several generations it became an obsession and it became hers too.
You can expect that this story will be full of step by step journey of a woman who wants to save power for herself. She is the eldest daughter, born into a family that once held a military power. She is the oldest child, her mother died in birth, she has a stepmother and a brother, but it doesn't really feel like the usual way how women described in these novels.
Huo Ling proves to be intelligent from the first chapter, we start from their small family of four where she gives advice through her own observations. She has business left from her mother, her family treats her right, she could have chosen someone and live a life of leisure, but she doesn't want it to be her only choice. Girl has ambitions okay.
I'd recommend others to pick it up if they feel like reading this type of story. Currently and for some time I was simply not feeling it, I don't even like to read ancient plane normally. Oh, a funny thing I saw, it's a comment that did not directly influence my decision but it said something like - you said power is the best beauty nourishment for women, but where? she lived through so much betrayal and pain because of power. I'd say I expected something of this sort from this author. Fun fact, this should have been a world in her new QT series (she has one planned with similar title), but because the story was developed so much it became a separate story alltogether.
快穿之教你做人 by 南岛樱桃
(mtl: Teaching you how to be a human being)
[BG] Complete. Summary: Yu Xia transmigrates into different worlds, there is nothing critical going on actually, her character is not even secondary and she has no real threat to her well-being, but there may be some regret left from previous life and some disturbance in this one.
    I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THAT I WAS BORED OUT OF MY MIND. This was SO BORING.
Basically I haven't even finished the first arc how bored I was by the plotline which had NOTHING. And the official synopsis promises a "refreshing" story, my understanding of boredom has been refreshed tyvm.
I am looking through bookmarks (since there are several hundreds of them) and just elliminate everything I now think I won't read, while most online novels were added throughout years and they are still hanging there waiting for their moment to be read or deleted. This novel met the same fate. After all I love QT as a genre and always give those a chance, at least reading first few chapter to get to know what it has to offer. This novel has nothing to offer, it's just a basic sotry and nothing more.
The first arc covers a story about a country girl from 80's. She didn't have a bad life previously, but sh ehad to step down when her older sister refused to budge when their family was in trouble when both of them passed the exam, she decided to be filial and sacrificed her chance not knowing she could still go, schools provided subsidies. Her older sister is now reborn and eyes husband from previous life who turned to business just to prove he is worth of his beautiful wife. Yu Xia basically continues to study and gets admitted to med college. The chapter I was reading described how she arrived. 
No intrigue, no ups and downs, just the basic story that you heard 100 times before. And I'm not even sure I want to finish even the first arc to see what was the point. To me there was none. Empty story with no substance.
当霸总穿成万人嫌 by 混元三喜
(mtl: A big boss who traveled through a book became disliked by everyone)
[BL] Completed. Summary: Shi Hong started from nothing and eventually became a big boss in business, but instead of celebrating his success further he is suddenly transmigrated into a novel with character who is a cannon fodder with the same name as him. A story about a fake and true young master he is found when he was a teen, but his parents still treat him poorly and any attempt to get closer was seen as trying to curry favor and copying the fake young master. He is at the point where he created a scandal justo to divert attention from fake young master since the entire family asked for it and even the person whom he liked, was actually involved in the scandal too. *JJ
Well....speechless. The taste of this novel is so cheap.
The first chapter or so I thought the main character will be sassy and I'm all for it, but the next chapter he acts greasy and oily towards the ML. ML is named Shen Yan, person he involved in a scandal to divert attention, the dude obviously was pissed off. Shi Hong saw him without knowing his name and was attracted to Shen Yan and started a passionate pursuit, tbh he talked and acted like a licking dog but also he knows no boundries. The comments under first chapters are precious they all say MC is oily, few chapters later (I wonder if author was pissed off) MC asks why a pursuit nowadays is oily and why someone who is older is seen as greasy when they try to woo a person. But dude.. you kinda acting like you're harassing the other person, there is nothing good about it.
I was surprised their relationship developed so fast and Shen Yan actually took a note of this dude. Kinda was baffled how he is described as super successful when he can't talk normal days, but when describing him at events we don't hear how he talks only common phrases like - he amazed everyone by his blah-blah-blah.
Shen Yan almost agreed, but then visited the tree planted for his deceased mother and asked her if she agrees to this relationship and I think a persimmon fell from a tree and something else happened and the guy refused to relationship the next second (it was a sign to him).
And I decided that was it. And actually figured out I read something from this author previously and reviewed the novel here and gave it like 2 stars, so I see no point in continuing, I managed to hold on till ch22.
绿茶她真的不想洗白 by 竹外疏狂
(mtl: Green tea doesn't want to be whitewashed of her persona)
[BG] Completed. Summary: Lin Shao travels to a book and becomes a vicious female supporting role and must change her fate, but is also bound to a system. But there was a mistake at the Traversing Bureau, she got the "MANLY" system instead of a green tea. Lin Shao meets all the other important characters and under her prowess the script starts to change, no, it's just the butterfly effect of her changing. *JJ
Author of All Villains Show. Their other work I reviewed was Going with the three brothers on a variety show. This is their earlier work from 2021
Well, this is indeed immature but the style is there already. Not a perfect work. I am cleaning bookmarks and finding things that will stay or will be deleted. When I saw this and read few chapters I instanty knew - I read it before! But when it was I have no idea, I never left a review. Because I didn't want to re-read I basically skimmed through a bit. But as I said it's fun but not perfect.
I felt it was surprisingly long despite many places being treated perfunctory. The stoyr has a sort of open ending (considering MMC).
FMC Lin Shao travels to this world and has a goal set by the system, but because her is a manly and powerful she is kinda forced to be competitive even with most ridiculous smallest things.
She also has a situation of uncertain MMC, like there are several candidates, but no certain one.
The one who got the green tea system is Shi Qi, or secret true MMC of the story. Because he is like her a traverser who needs to win to get back and save someone (very thick hint it might be Lin Shao).
But to be honest to me this was more of an aimless story, thus I say it's still immature. Considering the number of chapters too. In short terms Lin Shao served as a fake gf to Fu Chaoyi, her boss. Now he wants to break up and she arrives at this very moment. Unlike OG Lin Shao she has no feelings for this man and she agrees. Bound system gives her super power and super appetite. She goes to different shows which slowly improves her reputation and even becomes friends with many of them. Especially Song Ranran the official heroine, whom she considers super cute. The story is more of a career line and interactions with other main cast, but I think comparing to consequent works this is more humor and nonsense. Even Lin Shao herself, her main goal is to return and it is inevitable, so all of this to me seemed pointless. In a sense such ending is kind and cruel. SPoileRs but everyone is bound to forget about her. So they don't remember who she was and what she meant in their lives. Lin Shao will remember them for sure but it's kinda bittersweet. To them it's the best choice too in a way, not to be sad about her. But again, what is the point of such travel then? Saying stuff but she grew up professionally sounds too soulless. But outside of everything it's really like an open ending. If we talk about the main text. I admit I like their development of consequent works that even if they are quite cliche when it comes to tropes, but they still manage to explore really great themes and create more profound stories. While this type of story is for having a good laugh and good time.

病弱女配和偏执反派he了 by 挠时光
(mtl: HE of a sickly supporting female character and the main villain)
[BG] Completed.
I won't even bother to put on pretence that I want to write my own summary, not for this one, because it managed to bore me out so much.
Someone in the reviews under said that it's a perfect choice when you don't want to make a wrong choice. I guess my standards are astronomical then. Because this is perfect if you want to snooze.
Song Tan was informed that she is a supporting female character, whose role was a stumbling block betweem main protags. She brought in so much benefits actually, bit no one appreciated it and thought she was in the way, to fix it she was bound by the system and sent to rehab and grow up into an apocalypse world (like why the fuck there? extreme max), three years later she returns before she makes her choice of husbands, and instead of Huo Yanlin the most favored grandson and maybe future head of the Huo family she chose the most inconscpicious Shen Yin, who is only half the Huo family and lived a marginal transparent life.
In this arranged marriage the leftovers of the Song family want to jump and join the Huo family for growth while Hup family eye magical prescriptions in the hands of Song Tan.
I shouldn't have even started when I read these, this sounds stupid. Only in novels people would care about a prescription as if it's a miracle. No details on what type of prescription and what it does.
The main one is the goal of old Mr Huo who has some "sickness" and needs this prescription that somehow saved him from almost dying. Love it how in these novels no one rushes to the hospital as if they have a portable hospital at home.
After striking a deal and marrying Song Tan indeed gave the prescription but there were more and this is why she and Shen Yin were still kept on the Huo family territory.
Okay, here are my several pet peeves. we know that Huo family probably has something to do with meds, but lazy writing does not go into details, so I have no idea about the scope of this family, so what happens to many members authors said a lot of people, but how many? No info, no details. Plus even a relatively wealthy family can act like they're some local tyrants.
This is why I had a problem with the next part - why they continued living with the Huo family? They could have moved early. It is such a dumb reason as if the Huo family will persecute them (again hard to tell without any scale) and chase after them or they will do something to Shen Yin's professor's job. The reason is the most basic - reputation and prescriptions. But reputation? Are you serious? No one cares about that. Look at all the companies and big names (especially those covered by the media), do you really think they care? Okay for the sake of reputation just say some nonsense and it will pass, no one cares. We can blackmail each other that the two will make too much noise, so they could have been left alone. So many options.
But the biggest problem to me was still one - boredom. Original male protag Huo Yanli at least five times said something about Song Tan in first like 15 chapters, maybe not the same words, but the same meaning for sure. I read just 20 chapters as if they were 40, they dragged and nothing happened, many unnecessary details or same stuff mentioned several times. Not to mention that the story simply drags its' feet. Instead of an upbeat short story with like 55ch in total I was surprised how dragged out it was and I decided to skip half of it, read the ending and be done with it. Boy, nothing was missed.

폭군의 보좌관은 퇴사가 하고 싶다 by 김미카
The Tyrant’s Aide Wants To Resign
[BG] Completed. Summary: An ex-office worker now works as an aide for the most powerful mage in a world she transmigrated to.
Tbh, I was kinda not impressed by it from first few chapters. Maybe because Bianca acted like a silly goose in front of her patron and the guy obviously has feelings for her, but she was not only oblivious but very wary of it all. And otherwise I was not intrigued at all.
You know how the story gets you into a tight grip from the first chapter? The aftereffect of the online novels is that they don't really follow this line of writing, but mainly try to lure with popular tropes etc. Although trad published books also do the same nowadays, but tropes are not everything you know.
Also with tropification of novels (or how would you call it) the individuality started to disappear. For example, how many ex-office workers who has relationship with her boss stories have we seen so far? Countless. Even the transmigration type of stories had seen this development even more. Meaning the one thing you can grasp me as a reader is give me something unique, make me engaged from the first page / chapter. But I often read these novels as either "whatever" or "I'm going to irritate you". These stories are also unfortunately forgettable.

버린 쓰레기는 다시 줍지 않는다 by 배고픈
I Won’t Pick Up The Trash I Threw Away Again
[BG] Completed. Summary: After waiting for years her fiance returned with a woman in a tow who claimed to be pregnant with his child. So many years wasted on not letting the estate to fall apart she still feels like it's not truly her home, no matter how much time she spent on it.
FMC was basically sold by her family since she is a disgrace for them, she spent a decade with the ducal family, at first was brought up as a future wife-to-be, but after the tragic passing of fiance's parents she took on the role of the hostess, even if nothing truly belonged to her, this is why when the dude came back she had no place to go to. He promised her that she still will be the wife, but the girl, who is of enemy nation btw will stay since she bears his child (which spoilers happened to be fake).
Did not like it at all. I first read a bit and then simply went to spoilers and was not mad that I dnf'd this.
Although FMC has her own circumstances of why she can't leave at first (which is also kinda not smart, considering how he always treated her as nothing I wish she'd swindle this guy), but she makes some not really smart moves when the novel claims her to be intellignet. But overall FMC gave me wishy-washy feeling and I kinda wanted to skip on it. Like official ML gave her the chance to be a lady in the office, this is where she had to prove herself.
I don't know, when a novel tries to be serious etc. but it gives you a stupd feeling, this is how I felt.
These damn pretty covers! Misleading!