[SHORT REVIEWS] #29 (with a bit of ranting)

Well, I feel a bit off and must emphasize that my opinions this time around, if identified as such, should not be taken too seriously. After all the characters I discuss did not do anything substantial, but this won't stop me.

Also, random, I have no idea what exactly creates the noise upstares, it feels like a high-pitched screech (I hope it's a door), I can't help myself I am gossipy, I am nosy and I don't like my neighbors for dropping a lot of heavy shit on the floor, that's in case if they're not falling themselves (I guess they have a kid and like to do martial arts.. or in other words wiping the floor with their bodies), since I hear everything. I want to give them a carpet tbh.

BOOKS

CHN

[BL] 绿茶男配只想咸鱼[穿书] by 第五熙 *JJ

(mtl: Scheming supporting male character just wants to be lazy)

Status: Completed

#ch: 90+4

Year: 2024

Progress: 1-25 (DNF)

Summary: Gu Zhen transmigrates into a world of a novel where everything is revolving around a young man Ye Cheng, the shou of this story, he is handsome, has good grades and a great personality, his smile attracts the people surrounding him (protagonist halo buff). But Gu Zhen is not in the picture, since he will be ruined by another protagonist gong, for some underhanded moves he did. So Gu Zhen tried really hard to stay away from both protagonists, which proved to be really impossible and tried to not spread any negativity or make any moves, he really wanted to survive.

WHY I DON'T LIKE SUCH CHARACTERS OR DEVELOPMENTS all caps yeah

My new pet peeve is how MCs in such stories overdramatize their own situation. Gu Zhen should be young, but not dumb not to even consider a possibility that his fears are baseless. It's teh OG Gu Zhen who will be retaliated against, not him. He didn't do anything remotely deserving such harsh retaliation, not to mention he should know better than anyone that the future is dynamic and not static, he is not forced by the plot or some outside forces. Ye Cheng is a really good guy, he doesn't have a system or anything, he's just a protag with halo buff. Gu Zhen did not continue pester him or anyone else and started to change. But weeks and weeks later he is still afraid of ML because he figured he is original gong of this story. This wuss annoyed the hell out of me. He has no qualities to him to be honest, some may find his actions funny, but I don't. Another side of him that annoyed me is how devotedly he believes that both gong and shou are meant together and they are "taken" because story told him so, he sometimes thinks so patronizing, sounding like a jerk really. Don't these characters proved they have their own free will? 

The ML of this story is Ji Tingyu, the OG gong of the supposed perfect match, handsome and super accomplished senior that lives next to Gu Zhen and his roommate Chen Qi. This circumstance allowed Gu Zhen plotwise get closer to Tingyu without knowing his real identity at first. OG Gu Zhen is described as a bit of a sleazy person, which I instantly don't like because it puts down the OG character so much and elevates Gu Zhen who arrived without him doing much.

Gu Zhen realized he knows nothing about his major and decided to concentrate on his studies, very motiovated young man, thus he meets with Tingyu who helps him, thus the connection. We feel the attraction that Tingyu feels, though he doesn't say anything, but tbh.. what did Gu Zhen actually do? Was hardworking? Who is not? He is handsome? Others are too. It felt like Gu Zhen got the attention out of nowhere and for no particular reason.

I bet this feeds into the idea of - you know, you don't have to do anything, your other perfect half will feel for you even if you do nothing.

The plot, which actually doesn't exist (since it's all daily life and interactions) moves at a slug pace. I just looked back and thought to myself - wow, I read 20 chapters and nothing substantially happened, wow. Why am I here?

Anyway I will read a bit more and then I'll decide. I know such romance books should not be anything more, but I want them at least do something for me than be average. And this feels okay at all times (can't judge the overall story), but it also feels like many other stories too.

[BG] 这个男人能谈吗 by 东风吹来 *JJ

(mtl: Can I really date this man?)

Status: Completed

#ch: 81 + extras

Year: 2025

Progress: DNF

Summary: Tang Zhaojing received a message from her mother with a profie of a man who is too good to be true. As an "expert" in this (after watching someone's else analytical video of blind date market) she deducted that this man probably lied at least about something or everything.

This was before Tang Zhaojing met with Xie Yanzhou, all those specs of of age, height and muscles seem to be true, graduate who returned home from abroad and started a business.

There definitely must be something wrong.

I'll be honest, this Tang Zhaojing can go fuck herself. 

I am aware that the fraud marriage that involves gay marrying heterosexual women because of many issues like parental and social pressure, the need to produce a heir etc. But this is the first thing she thought when meeting this man and knowing he has no dating history is that he's actually gay and she repeats it several times as if she is so sure about it. And it's the first date. The number of women who were swindled into this type of marriage is approximately in millions (compared to billion population indeed feels like not much, but it is a lot), but I think the modern problem of loneliness and no dating history is pretty spread phenomena too. 

Yanzhou did nothing for me to criticize him, from the summary he had a crush on Zhaojing since school (me wants to ask - why?)

Zhaojing is also described as a humorous girl, but the only humorous part before she turned nymphomanic in front of a handsome guy but still thought he was a fraud is how she was lying on a couch and scrolling videos and laughing. had no idea such a criteria existed of judging humorousness..

Yeah I know I'm nitpicking, but I opened it and closed it. I don't care since nothing hooked me up.

Honestly, I feel like these authors could do better than writing an average, forgettable story, at least make the old story interesting.

[BG] 大佬拒绝恋爱脑[快穿] by 蓝海i *JJ

(mtl: The boss rejects romance)

Status: Ongoing

#ch: 

Year: 2025

Progress: arc 1-5 (DNF)

Summary: Well, aren't we surprised? I am not. Also, false advertisement for romance, because girl, what romance? This is like no CP

I honestly wonder why authors tag it in romance category whenever it has such anti-romance sentiment. I understand that romance is more popular than no-CP tag, but this honestly feels like fraud. FMC doesn't understand love and helps those whose life were destroyed by love to salvage their fates, but despite her saying love is possible, you should not lose yourself in it, we never see her in a relationship, she will be girlbossing.

This story has nothing bad for me to say about it. I just have nothing to say at all. It's unfortunately plain with too many things that were done before and a lot of nonsense that is not even funny.

This is a basic transmigration novel, but there is a part that left me question the intention.. Luo Yi (FMC) is a transmigrator with excellent score, she also doesn't understand love, at least losing yourself in loving someone, before she receives a task of saving someone who regretted being too in love and losing the best opportunities their life gave them. So in her hightened state she accepted the task instead of having a leisurely retirement.

One good point is how some OGs tried to salvage the situation, but unfortunately it was futile.

The bad part to me is how to elevate the main character of Luo Yi there is always subtle comparison in the text, it's not that vivid, but it's everywhere. I love when women are women, but this comes at the expense of someone else.

Luo Yi starts to work out, having a regular schedule and sleep, routines and healthy lifestyle and in between it's a dig at the OG of this body to me for dieting, staying up late etc. Even visually. You know the gist, like she's so OP, even if OG is pretty with her aura she is a fairy that makes even women bend into mosquito coils.

Author, I get it, she's so good. Please stop.

But also your story is THIS boring, author. I just couldn't get hooked on it and I opened it for the sake of reading some senseless stuff, since I have such a lousy mood these days. But no. The writing style lacks soul, it's more like an explanatory rampage and has this reiteration of the same information over and over which drives you nuts. There is nothing to lament about, everything is pretty basic. Even beyond basic, if it's even possible.

One good thing is this novel is free. 

At least at the moment of me typing this it has free access. I know some may post free novels, but others post free for a while and then lock under vip access.

[BG] 我没想捧红他们[娱乐圈] by 柯四六 *JJ

(mtl: It wasn't my intention to make them popular)

Status: Ongoing

#ch: 

Year: 2025

Progress: 19

Summary: Jian Yao is a Transmigration Bureau worker, she has only one world left before her retirement and only one point away from her goal, The next world is D-level entertainment / showbiz, she is a CEO of a company on the verge of bankruptcy, while her bdy was in a coma, the vice president took away the core staff and jumped the ship. With only few employees left for one or another reason.

Achieve the goal and become the legend in the entretainment world - reward 100 points.

Failing mission - Bankruptcy within a certain period - rewarded 1 point.

Seeing this Jian Yao of course decided to... bankrupt the company, it's the retirement on the line.

But who knew that all her plans to sabotage the projects will turn into great successes.

 Well, I noticed the plot and decided to try and so far it's good and deservedly fun, though a bit silly. The plot reminds me of that novel where a wife wanted to bankrupt her husband and spent so much money on everything, but she achieved unprecedented success. This is why I thought I might like it, the idea is similar (of course it's not a copy-paste story).

我都要死了，打你怎么了！ by 千萌

(mtl: I'm about to die, so what if I hit you?!)

Status: Ongoing (should be, this novel is free btw)

#ch: ~39

Year: 2026

Progress: 39

Summary: Qi Qingzhu walked out of the hospital with a diagnosis of liver cancer, she doesn't have much to live, so she looks back at her life and it's not like she is oblivious to why it got to this point, because for the sake of future she always was forebearing. In her weird family where her father is a complete selfish scumbag, submissive mother who for some reason favors adopted daughter over her biological, a brother who protects the adoptive daughter and all four are oblivious to white lotus / green tea adoptive daughter whom she really wanted to beat up for a long time, who always stole her things, not to mention the affection of her entire family. Even thinking of this made her blood boil and her liver ache.

Not to mention her always problematic best friend who became a love-struck fool for abusive man and her philandering fiance with whom she thought she had a deal and used him as a shield, but still it came with a price.

All of it can go to hell, she doesn't care anymore.

  I actually liked this one a lot. It is melodramatic in a sense, but it also is more layered than average tropey book.

SPOILERS: 

The ML of this book is Tang Jingyun, step-brother of her best friend Tang Ya, he comes into the picture early on and we see his love and care for her, even if no one knows her diagnosis, but with him she feels at home, loved and needed. Even if she says she doesn't care, she strives for a good environment for herself because she doesn't really want to spend all of her time on the hypocritical family at home.

Her best friend Tang Ya gave her a lot of headache but despite not much description you can feel the relationship and the feeling of helplessness when Qingzhu finally realizes that despite the help and trying to free Tang Ya from her toxic relationship Tang Ya chooses her abusive boyfriend because she is so starved for love, that she almost has a perverted feeling of satisfaction when this man cries and calls for her to come back.

As for her family it is even more melodramatic. The adoptive daughter Qi Shilin is actually an illegitimate daughter of her father and his first love, but she has no idea about her origins, so she misinterprets the actions of both parents and thinks she is not worthy to marry into wealth in their eyes. Her half-brother is actually in love with her (yes orthopedics) and has no idea she is his half-sister. He only knows that both parents treat him as scrudge when it comes to Shilin. What no one knows is that all kids have to step back when it comes to Shilin, their father will choose to side with her above anyone else. While their mother is a submissive wife who listens to her husbands, since she has nothing to herself apparently. She treat his illegitimate daughter better than her own, knowingly forgives everything including obvious cheating etc. All beacuse her lifeblood is her husband.

These details is what Qingzhu figured out but stayed silent about it. But now she doesn't care to reveal it, she wants Shilin who obviously aims for a place as a young mistress of some wealthy family to seduce her own half-brother unknowingly and let the situation become messier.

This is, you may expect that she wil go crazy, but I don't think it's the right course of action. It's not like she continues to endure, but she chooses her steps. Let's not forget she is sick (as she thinks and as we assume), I honestly think author might pull 180 on us with this one.

At first you might think that he situation with her fiance is also on the list of things, but actually it's an open agreement between the two to play the role of meeting up, faking some sort of connection to appease both parents and wait for a better moment to annul the engagement, since both see nothing in this business marriage.

So there are a lot of characters, a lot to unravel. This is why I think it's such a pity that author did not update for some time.

And the last webnovel will get a separate post, it was a nice and weird find, because it is kinda likable from one side, but still has a lot of parts waiting for improvement.

MANHWA

빙의했더니 괴담이 돼 버렸다 / My possession became a ghost story

OMG Have I never mentioned this one? It's insane.

You may find the FMC annoyingly oblivious at times, but the overall story is just crazy.

Basic idea is that FMC wakes up after a funeral, she possessed a body of a young noble woman, sh ehas no idea if it's one of those novels or not and who are protagonists, so she makes up her own mind, especially when staff around her shiver when they see her, so she assumes she was really bad, having absolutely no idea in what everyone around her actually sees.

Fantastic idea, really wins from being a manhwa and has a striking artsy execution, really stands out as a story and visually.

SPOILERS:

But this is actually revealed only with time that how FMC sees the world and how others see FMC is two different points of view and they are very different. This is how we get the idea that FMC is actually not simple, but who is she and what is she doing here is a whole different story we yet to find out (I knwo there is a novel this is based on, not reading, because I loved the visual representation).

(I added both manhwa and novel covers, because look at that cover, damn~)

To the perfeck Duke / 완전무결한 공작님께 

I feel like I mentioned this one, but I will repeat, this is good. I consider it's good so far, it's on-going and relatively new.

I like the idea that FMC is not a transmigrator or a reborn person, she grew up and felt with her body what it feels like to live under a roof with abusive family, where your mother was schemed against and died with bad reputation and now FMC also lives with bad reputation, not a single soul knows what she went through or what her suffering is really like. All they see is her beauty that can't be described.

Until one day she strikes a deal with a Duke, he needs a partner, he is pragmatic, she needs a cover and a person who can protect her from this hell. 

Before she can stand so high and finally unleash her vengeance.

Although some see FMC as "weak", but I don't think so. She is pretty strong to play this game and not turn completely submissive, although she has some inevitable consequences that generated from her trauma, but I'm sure future years with her duke will help her deal with it.

ML (the Duke) is actually such a sassy character at times. He is the epitome of perfection, but he is not dull at all. It's the type of man when you feel like you're about to swoon when he shows his other side under all that prim and proper image. Woohoo. But he is actually reliable and is quite protective and active with FMC, so you can feel his good heart.

TV

KDRAMAS

My Royal Nemesis

I saw this randomly and was attracted to the premise of a famous figure traveling to modern times. The premise is not new overall, but I want to know the KDrama take on it. Good old stuff never gets old to me, it can still be good if it's a good story.

Though I'll be honest I have low expectations. I keep them low so not to be disppointed. I think it will premier in a few days of me typing this.

Had never seen anything with these actors (I think). So I'm intrigued by this aspect too.

Update: Well, watched the first episode and it seems interesting so far. Not something that held me in a grip completely, but interesting. I like their approach of an ancient person being disoriented when seeing the modern world (after all she has nothing to rely on like inherited memories etc), she got completely lucky I think going around the whole day and not getting into trouble (not really))). It just felt short and long at the same time. Short because the way she resolved to live a new life came in the first episode. I have no idea who she is and what she's done, my knowledge is the surface-level fragmented memories of her past where she was obviously discredited for the sake of putting the blame at someone, otherwise why her things were presented as if they belonged to the queen in the present time. Maybe they will have a deeper dive into the past later on to explain, although it feels kind of obvious. And it felt long because it is indeed an hour long episode and it felt like so many things happened and not much happened at the same time.

Sidenote: Why is it always kinda cringe when they show business people having meetings with foreigners and they speak English with a heavy accent. Nothing wrong with an accent, but just became such a cliche scene. Says person who rarely watches KDramas.

Also who did the make-up for the actress, it always felt like her eyes were different, this is why I don't like when they do the eyeliner. She is pretty and it kinda ruined the experience.

The main actor looks quite devilish, very fitting for the role he plays. But I'll be honest I kinda don't feel the chemistry, it's all the director's fault to me, because of those obvious longshots when two main character fatefully meet and stare at each other for who knows how long. Always found those shots weird if they take too long and they act as if they're stuck in place.

Operator's work actually was weird at times, like some shots felt like the shaky camera fits the story, but at other times.. why does it shake so much?

I am surprised I had a lot to say about it, but nothing substantial came out ahaha

But yeah now I know she traveled through time, she has no memories to rely on, genuine antique person. And he is a rich boy. And they clash by accident. And we proceed from then on from episode two.

Typhoon Family

Just from the main actor Lee Jun Ho, just look at him, this is what I call when the charm is on, it's the moment when I feel the connection. 

(just look at him~)

I had no idea what this was about and still mainly don't, it's my plan before watching it, I took a peek at the first episode and I liked it. Surprised it was set in the 90's but the vibes were great.

edit: he was actually a nominee for Baeksang this year for this role, I just saw the results on MDL

Gyeongseong Creature

Well, I really should watch it, for Park Seo Joon. And the premise sounded interesting. The drama with him (abuot Secretary Kim) revived my interest in KDrama, so props to him. 

US

Severance (Season 2)

I really need to get my shit together. I was so impressed by the first season, liked it so much, that I am actually kinda afriad of touching the second season.

I always wanted to write a separate review for season 1, but what's the point except gushing out and repeating what was said so many times - I love the concept, I loved the story, I loved the twists, I loved the visuals.

It's such a good show, that I honestly felt like I am watching the perfect version of backrooms (even before the movie came out, I am pretty sure the movie itself won't beat the feeling I got from this show when I watched all those endless corridors that feel like a maze that will never end and with unknown corners).

Such a fantastic and almost dystopian concept of separating your life into two lives that have no idea about what you do outside and what you do inside. How each part develops a sense of self. What will happen if one side rebels?

There are so many things about this show that make it great.

ANIMATION

The Summit of the Gods

I just saw a post on YT shorts and it looked great and the story felt intriguing.

I think I never watched something about mountains. Except for that manga from Sakamoto Shinichi I guess. But I always had small interest in the topic. Doesn't mean I'm not open to it if the story will happen to be good.

Update: Watched it. Visually, it's a very pretty animation. Story-wise, it's a human story and human path. I think I'll write more in a separate review post.

[SHORT REVIEWS] #28

Let's roll with a new one, what I found, what I read, what I watched during this period and what I'd like to read/watch in the future. As per usual let's start from books.

BOOKS

CHN

[BG] 重生后被五个大佬团宠 by 七夕是大头喵 *JJ

(mtl: Reborn and pampered by five powerful figures)

Status: Completed

#ch: 90+1

Year: 2020

Progress: DNF

Summary: Qiu Man loved Jiang Jun her whole life and only after death she realized that she was just a supporting role in his life, she wasted her love, almost being subservient to him, but the male lead is destined for the male lead. She was reborn and now didn't want to follow the same path. She is the daughter of her family, why she should act like that because of a man?

I dnf'd it basically because I kinda got bored of it. It's the same old story, though this one has a bit more melodrama involved. Instead of being clean and sharp Qiu Man still shows a bit of melancholy towards the wasted years and feelings, like she hasn't lost them comepletely. Her family also is in some strange melodramatic situation, but I'm not mad at some parts. For example, she lived with her grandparents since her mother's death, there is no big secret, but she forgot everything of that day, including that her mother protected her. But because she lived away a lot of rumors were floating around and they said she caused the accident and this is why her entire family doesn't love her. Her father worked a lot but it's the obvious pattern of a man forgetting to take care of his children and especially his daughter, since she believed those rumors as well. Her reputation was worst for some reason, FMC had no idea it's all caused by her new stepmother. I don't know it's the type of FMC who realized something is not right too late in her previous life and this stepmother (who was originally helped by her biol. mom) caused their family a lot of financial distress. When they dealt with her I thought that the way they didn't make it plain was actually interesting, since this woman could not be brought down just for the sake of it, she could have gone mad and do something extreme, so instead they parted ways in a more decent way instead of usual - let's bankrupt or arrest someone right now. Although it wasn't bad, but I didn't feel for it eventually and kinda felt it was slow and had no good story. The male lead of FMC is connected to her ex, the usual plot where a guy is in love with a girl, but she has no idea.

But feel free to read it.

[BG] 系统迟到三年，阴湿反派是你老公 by 啃一块酱大骨 *Qidian

(mtl: The system is three years late and I'm already married to the villain)

Status: Ongoing

#ch: -

Year: 2026

Progress: 1-22

Summary: Light-hearted story of Yu Qingqing who transmigrated into the story, but the system disappeared for three years and she had no idea who is the main female characters who are main male leads, everything was confusing, so she associated with several figures that might be male leads, but their relationships were a bit extreme, so she switched to other guy next.

Eventually she got married thanks to arranged marriage and her husband became Pei Wenshen. Mr Pei is also a peculiar person, he doesn't show his sharp edge, he likes Qingqing so he doesn't want to scare her with his behavior, this is why he acts very gentlemanly and has a taste of a green tea. A pitiful little flowe Wenshen and Qingqing with her kind heart actually believed that how can her good husband be the villain of the story? The system is insane.

The system indeed returns only three years later and starts releasing tasks like "be in approximate closeness to the villain, at least 10 meters, mode: hell mode", while Qingqing waits for a car which will take her home to Wenshen.

What I liked is that it has that trashy feel that I like. Also a notable part that surprised me is how no one tells Qingqing that she cheated or called her named for previous relationships. Because one of her exes is named Pei Yu, related to Wenshen, although he says some dumb stuff, but when he finds she really married his uncle he didn't jump around calling her names that she belongs only to him yada-yada.

If I'm not wrong I've read one book from this author, something about good pregnancy, a pretty sweet novel that has having kids as main goal, but actually isn't bad and was pretty sweet. This is why when I first read few chapters of this one I thought - well, I can read smth like this. 

[BG] 满级大佬拿了祸水剧本 by 琪琪家的鹿 *Qidian

(mtl: Max-level boss got a "femme fatale" script)

Status: Completed

#ch: 

Year: 2020 

Progress: 1-95

Summary: Well, this was garbage. Sorry.

Jiang Si binds the system to travel the world, she activated the story mode, thus she basically needs to say certain things or do certain things to get a pass.

For some reason even ML and FL of the stories start falling for her. This story also has a male lead, but FMC simply ruins the experience for us. It's cool that she is so motivated, but she doesn't allow anything to hinder her progress, love included. You may love her to death, but she won't ever appreciate it. SO for few arcs it was like this, the male lead loved her, but she only thought about her mission and I completely forgot why it mattered to her.

Oh wait, I remembered, she is a phoenix and in her own world she became a demon when her body and blood were used by people who knew it's like a tonic for cultivation, later she blackened. She had only one person to care for and probably he's the one who followed, but honestly.. It's so-so. FMC is groundlessly attracting everyone around her, plots are plain, nothing new or interesting, plus the FMC is unlikable.

[BG] 和塑料竹马闪婚了 by 北途川*JJ

(mtl: I had a whirlwind marriage with my plastic childhood sweetheart)

Status: Completed

#ch: 62+18

Year: 2023

Progress: not much~

Summary: Liang Simin was always against Ji Yang, from the very first meeting till these days they always argue, fight or give each other snarky comments when they meet. But lately there were rumors that both Liang and Ji family might unite through a marriage, but most of the people do not consider that they union will be between Simin or Yang.

But when these two tried to make each other miserable they found that their situation became more complicated and it bcame even harder to explain why they do things as they do when their own families start to believe there is something going on between them.

"Alright! Who doesnt marry is a dog!"

I can say that the writing style and overall impression I get are refreshing. I get the feeling like - oh, this author with their own writing style that doesn't resemble copy-pasted stories all over the place.

The characters are lively, the relationship is fiery, so I will happily continue reading this one, I liked the beginning.

Update: I've read like a third of the main story, it's actually quite nice. Maybe because I had opened some other works that had "weak, wimid, frail" type of FMC that I was happy Liang Simin in this story is quite fiery. The bickering is there. But at some point I thought it gets a bit repetitive. Anyway they progress. I also managed to spoil myself the ending and I must say I was a bit surprised, though I shouldn't have been. It has a bit of a TV drama edge to it.

[BL] 豪门前妻（重生） by 橘子舟*JJ

(mtl: Ex-wife of a wealthy family)

Status: Ongoing

#ch: -

Year: 2026

Progress: 1-20

Summary: You will not believe who returned :'D I bet you have no idea who Tangerine Boat is. I reviewed her works several times on this blog dating few years ago. She had a series of novels that had a childbirth in BL works, she kinda likes it I believe. But she had not posted any new work for a very long time and started thinking they retired from writing, but who knew they will be back with another one.

And it's again trashy, ridiculous and melodramatic, so old-fashioned it should reek like an old closet, but here we are.

So the plot follows rebirth of Xu Yin, he lived his past life pretty miserably because he was entangled with his fiance, who claimed to have had amnesia and because during the amnesia period he fell in love with another man he also brought the man home. So Xu Yin had no truly solid place in this family. Not to mention that his own family is no less ridiculous, he was sent away because his family adopted some random kid from mother's friend who dies, but because master said that Xu Yin will suppress him they sent their own kid away. No matter how Xu Yin tried to fit in later on was inevitable. Before rebirth he came to terms of losing love in life and became indifferent to it all. But then he was reborn. He had no feelings for his so-called fiance, or his own biological parents or brothers. They can all go to hell.

The only thing that connects him to the Xiao family (family of his fiance) is his relationship to Xiao Sheng, the current acting head of the Xiao family and the protection of the Grandpa Xiao he needs so much while he is surrpounded by vile people.

Update: this feels like such an old-school drama ahaha

Update 2: author.. how can you write this type of ML in this day and age? what does the "forcing" mean? You can't be serious. Although the plot is so melodrama, but honestly the ML with his advances towards MC will give you the ick. Nobody knows that these two were married for a short period of time, later they divorced (still no info and I'm 30 chapters in) and the ML still crawls into the bed of his ex-partner from now and then. MC partially resist but gives in, this sounds so bad. NOOOOO~

Update 3: I can't, this is so bad. The MC is a whiney person who can't communicate shit, he has so many questions, but acts as if he asks them the ML will jump on him or his ego will suffer. Honestly, he's such a delicate flower, isn't he supposed to be better with the fact that he's a reborn person! I even forgot about this fact, since it doesn't matter really.

Then we have ML, the oblivious to rumors living in a vacuum ML who allwos others to think he's in love with a totally random dude. Okay, they're connected, since he helped this person out, but he stays oblivious as if he doesn't see the new advances or allows others to talk, while he himself cares for MC. This creates the misunderstanding I hate in books. It's so dumb. And this situation drags on and on, it's been 50 chapters and they don't change. So annoying.

US

(published)

(future releases)

 

I always add a little, since I haven't finished many books I put on my personal tbr; But when it comes to "wants" I really want to get to the new Rachel Gillig book, The Book Witch intrigued me as a concept, after all travelling to books is mainly what I read so much about anyway, I want a western take, will it bring something new.

All Hail Chaos is a book I've been waiting since last year when I first came across Long Live Evil, book not for everyone, but honestly I loved it how chaotic it was.

Harvest Season will continue on Tourist Season and it's a dark romance I enjoyed, again not for everyone.

Heir of Prophecy was a random find tbh, but it intrigued me as well. I actually have a huge list of bookmarks from Goodreads and the number already reached 200, it's the pending list of things that I edit from time to time, some things stay as I still want to read them, some go. I don't really like that it's so long.

MANHWA

For Your Murder

Ongoing manhwa about an elementary school teacher who tries to navigate her life when the parents of a school bully promise to ruin her life, she meets a lawyer who accepts to solve her case, but things go weird from then on. 

I liked the dark tone of it. Will see where it goes.

Update: This is.. actually amazing, it's a drama and I think a thriller type of story, absolutely crazy when it comes to story so far, but this is what makes it interesting to follow even if the man on the cover, Inseop, is a perpetrator and a crazy dude, but being just a viewer of a manhwa the story keeps you on your toes.

The Male Leads were stolen by the Extra

Korean take of how the extra replaces the female lead. Some don't like FMC here, I didn't really care, it's an okay read, though on-going too.

In spirit it's close to many other stories where someone has the power to influence important characters of the story for their own goal or vanity or any other reason you may think or find. But set in a romantasy world where FMC does not dwell why the main characters turned away from her when she woke up after three months of coma.

Update: This is quite interesting, but again close to the stories of this type.

TV

HOW DARE YOU!? / 成何体统

SIMPLY THE BEST 10/10

I watched only 9 episodes, but I'm in!! I'm so invested in this story. the chemistry between the two main leads is off the charts. The visual part looks gorgeous, the scenery, the atmosphere, the looks. It's just top. And the story, oof, love it. Especially the humorous parts. But the serious parts are touching too.

One of few times I'm thankful for YT recommendations, because otherwise I'd have no idea this show existed.

Update: I'm on episode 20 and I must say it does not disappoint, I was honestly afraid either my enthusiasm will fade or something in the drama will happen that will put me off, but actually I'm continuing with great interest. I honestly love the character of Xiahou Dan the most, he's the most interesting (though also most flashed out too).

Update: I finished watching it and it was amazing, I feel sad that the experience is over, I liked it more than I anticipated. The review is up.

ANIME

Tongari Boushi no Atelier / Witch Hat Atelier

The only anime I'm watching this season, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL!! It's on a movie level of detail. And the story is truly amazing. I'm happy they invested so much hard work in it, it's truly worth it. It bceame my weekly safe haven and I enjoy it so-so much.

Actually I progressed a bit with Jujutsu Kaisen S3 and also suddenly watched almost an entire season of Fugou Keiji Balance: Unlimited, which is a pretty ridiculous story when it comes to beginning, but it soon takes a sharp dramatic turn. It's very easy to watch type of show.

[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.

[MANHWA] The Divorcée's Dessert Cafe / 이혼한 악녀는 케이크를 굽는다

Well, this was a journey.

After nine miserable years of marriage, Erin de Brissia is thrilled when her husband, Duke Raymond Von Lebensberg, accuses her of infidelity as an excuse to be with his own lover. After signing the divorce papers, she uses the recipes from her late mother to open a dessert cafe and receives rave reviews. But when her ex-husband and his lover get wind of this, they’re set on sabotage. Will Erin ever be able to taste the sweetness of success, or is this divorcée doomed to disaster?

This was a basic story for one sitting.

Very cliche plotline, very cliche developing of some parts. Have some thoughts on the whole thing, especially the ending. Saw some comments I don't agree with (if you see the special chapters).

The very cliche part is that this is an arranged marriage to future heir of the throne, but who already has a mistress by his side. The Emperor did not allow this woman to be a future Empress, so this is the compromise. But who knew her husband Raymond would gallivate his mistress everywhere for nine years. After being framed by Serena (mistress) for another time Erin is forced to divorce her husband with nothing but leftovers of her dowry.

With the help of those money she opens a cafe in a more remote area, since she always liked baking and it was her dream. But more to me she liked the feeling of independence.

She thought she left it all behind but the vile mistress couldn't leave her alone and kept getting in her way.

Another cliche part is how Erin has a childhood friend, who was caught with her and what actually caused the scandal, but he was friendzoned quite early and disappeared. I think we don't see him as ML because when he had the chance to clear her name he didn't and we don't forgive mistakes (according to author), but honestly if you think about it, she was dirvorced on charges of infidelity and carried that infamy with her.

Another cliche part is how the ML is someone she knows, he belongs to Imperial family as adopted grandson, but his family is the branch of Imperial family so yeah.

He is an interesting fellow, he liked Erin for a long time and actually was sent away not to get too caught up in his feelings, so dude also paid his price for his feelings. Now hearing that she was forced to divorce he is back in the capital and is ready to get the girl. Not truly. He is very respectful of her wishes, even if he might seem a bit pushy at times.

Manhwa does not dwell or spend times on details, I forgot several times it had some fantasy element. Like Erin had the power to heal, even through her desserts.

Tbh this was a sudden turn, I wouldn't mind if she was just baking and it was a little cute story where she travels with a newfound love to his realm, but no, we have to add the basic stuff where the mistress Serena has to try and frame Erin more and more times before she finally gets caught up in her own shit.

Same for her former husband, so greedy for power that he was ready to do anything. Blind to the decisions of others, that he could have just laid back and waited for his throne to arrive, especially if he listened to what was said to him by the Emperor.

Serena and Raymond have such a cliche ending tbh, like she betrays him, because she didn't get what she wanted from him - throne. And he also got caught up in his struggles and is exiled.

Back to FMC. She spent 9 years of loveless marriage and opened a cafe. She has her strong opinions and can take care of herself. Calix happened to be there to uplift her in what she's been doing. He has his own conflicting stance where he wants her for himself, but also can't confine her.

Like some say her baking is her dream and she literally dropped it for a guy, but I do not agree. Baking is more like manifestation of doing what you want and Calix unlike previous Raymond is capable of giving her all the freedom and trust in their relationship, something she never received previously, even if her status changes from baking to the Empress. Also her cafe was still going on through other people, so the legacy was kept afloat. Not to mention their extra chapters show that it was quite significant they had a daughter with both powers from their parents and she is the sole heir, despite being a girl.

But in general because the story was so galloping it felt quite shallow. I even type here right now so I won't forget it in five minutes. And I am capable of that. It's quite sweet for a quick read, but honestly... I don't know what I should be waiting of it. From one side it's sweet and cute, but from another it felt like some parts were just glossed over. Like very background conflict, or poisonous demon venom etc. But we can't have that in a cooking manhwa. 

Also, I still don't like gourmet, I skipped all those parts about cooking and desserts. And ten times when someone says it brings you joy. For a change I wanted someone to cry.

Anyway, that's how this story went. I even included most of the spoilers here. But who cares.

But she always cooked with her hair down, it bothered me a lot!