I Rely On Poverty To Sweep Through Survival Games - Reviews

My Impression (which is just fangirling, so feel free to skip)

Solid 4.5. A great first novel with excellent world-building, minor plot holes, and superb characters and character development. It’s the perfect blend of a shounen/BL novel, incorporating a wonderful amount of humor to lighten the severity of the situation at times. It can really detoxify your stress in an instant. Do keep in mind this is a feel-good novel, so don’t expect the characters to walk a thorn-filled, anguished, and deeply realistic path, though they will have their fair share of struggles. Anyways, back to the objective rating of this novel (I’m going to add no spoilers, so pardon me if my review is vague)....

Characters

The main character (MC) Xie Lan and the male lead (ML) Luo are both strong in their own right. Xie Lan has a straight-man persona that can get you laughing, and his way of handling high-stress situations showcases his capability and level-headedness. His poverty is also quite humorous, and I love how what was once considered a flaw in his reality becomes his strength in the Advent World (in multiple, sometimes questionable ways). He doesn’t run away from anything, nor does his personality change drastically when he gets together with Luo (like becoming overly shy or blushing all the time), which only boosts his character points to a 100/10.

On the other hand, our dear Luo is not an omnipotent ML, as you often see in escape game novels, and is ironically human in many aspects related to strengths and weaknesses. I can’t really give away much about him because he has a pretty mysterious persona in the summary, but just know he is one of the healthiest MLs I have ever seen, and you are guaranteed to love him.

Another bonus point to the character section: the author develops the side characters wonderfully, each with their own growth and personalities (instead of mindless MC followers) without taking away focus from the main plotline—quite commendable, considering I get very annoyed when authors try to develop side characters because they often do it poorly and detract from the original story. So, you’ll get a dash of side characters (that can actually get you attached to them) but not to the point where you will be impatiently scrolling, trying to get back to the scenes with the ML and MC.

Haha, also, the number of times I got close to tearing up and then one of the characters ruined the mood with their endearing straight-man personas really did something to my heart.

Romance

In terms of their relationship, what I love the most about them is that it barely follows any of the clichés. The author injects originality into her characters that allows you to stop predicting their actions—which is the ultimate refresher in my opinion.

Their relationship is built on trust, and there is no useless drama to prove how strong that relationship is. There is endless respect between them when faced with each other's actions, and both are capable of standing their own ground. There’s no dynamic such as "one strong, one weak, and the strong constantly saves the weak." If that isn’t a sign to pick up this novel, I’m not sure what is.

Plot

This is going to be very short because I want you all to go into the novel with surprises, not spoilers. However, the author develops the plot well, with minimal plot holes and a story that engages you and makes you question what happens next. While I believe the author had the potential to further enrich the plot, she did well for her first novel.

The author is also very talented in setting the scene but leaving just enough to your imagination while not transcending common sense (at least not obviously in her novel—common sense is one of the main strong points of this novel). I also appreciate that she didn’t make the monsters omnipotent, emotionless beings; instead, they are an existence with their own character and flaws. Additionally, the ending wasn’t anticlimactic and rather built up the suspense to the point where my eyes were glued to the screen. Not a spoiler at all, but if you like music, Lacrimosa and Clouds (Huma-Huma) really fit the near-ending of this novel. Hey, I like listening to classic, creepy music while reading escape game novels—don’t judge.

Conclusion (TLDR)

Read it.

This was the first infinite flow novel I read. As someone who usually avoids the horror genre because it repels me, I found this novel surprisingly unscary. I even read it between 10 PM and 4 AM without feeling afraid. While the deaths are quite graphic, that’s the extent of the horror.

In terms of romance, it feels like a slow burn from the main character’s (MC) perspective. The MC is very likable, but the main love interest (ML) is almost too perfect for my taste. The MC’s skills can sometimes feel overpowered, and even when he’s at a disadvantage, the ML is always there to help.

, it’s a good read if you’re new to infinite flow, especially if you don’t mind or even prefer stories that aren’t overly scary. However, I would advise against reading it if you’re sensitive to graphic violence.

The story is highly engaging. Both main and side characters have their own arcs, making you feel connected to them. In my opinion, each character has a well-developed background that makes their personalities believable.

It shares a similar main plot with other reality game novels, but this one has a unique twist.

**Spoiler**
The game has less actual gameplay compared to others. Even for a beginner player, they only need to play once a week. For more experienced players, playing once every six months is sufficient. This means the protagonist's timeline moves quickly. In just a few chapters, two years can pass because the protagonist rarely enters a game instance voluntarily.
**[End Spoiler]**

Give it a try! I loved the story!

The premise of this novel is genuinely fascinating. Firstly, the Male Lead (ML) makes his debut inside an envelope. Secondly, the Main Character’s (MC) strength increases with his poverty, and he has a streak of incredibly bad luck. The horror elements in each arc are crafted quite effectively. While they may not be outright terrifying, the settings are always intriguing, and there's a mysterious element to some of the arcs as well. For me, the story began to drag a bit towards the end when they were strategizing against the main antagonist. There are also quite a few clichéd elements mixed into the final resolution. The romance between the MC and ML is really sweet, though. It’s not overly dramatic, but rather a gradual process of the ML pampering the MC and the MC slowly realizing he’s not as straight-laced as he thought. The romantic subplot definitely takes a back seat to the main plot of clearing instances and fighting the big bad, but it’s definitely present and charming.

It features an entertaining and engaging protagonist, along with a strong cast of side characters, and a solid plot as well.

I binged it right away and have to say, it’s another fantastic addition to the multi-world survival genre.

When the "past plays a big role" tag was introduced, I wasn’t sure if it would resonate with me, but it was executed beautifully.

**Spoiler**
Yes, absolutely to the complex emotions XL has for his father. I really appreciate how, despite understanding his reasons, XL recognizes that while XC can be a good person, he isn’t a good father or husband.
[collapse]

**Spoiler**
The side characters are A++++.
The Wang Brothers!!!
And many, many more.
[collapse]

This story is truly excellent.

- **The premise** is humorous and well-developed, and while there are some aspects of the game mechanics that I found less satisfying compared to others, overall it’s well-written and not monotonous. I particularly enjoyed the last part of the story and all the new developments there.
- **The focus** is primarily on the main character (MC) and the love interest (ML), but some side characters are also well-fleshed out and given interesting depth.
- **The MC and ML** are both very well-developed. Their personalities are engaging, and their interactions are charming. This is one of the few stories I’ve read where, despite some differences in strength at the end, they are both treated as equals. The MC is even the melee fighter between the two. Although there isn’t much traditional romance, their bond is strongly felt throughout the story.
- **The powers** are varied and intriguing, with a nice touch of personification. I enjoyed the game mechanics.
- **The only thing** that left me a bit unsatisfied is that the ending felt somewhat inconclusive. I had hoped the extras would provide more insight into the story’s aftermath, but instead, most of them were about different topics. Still, they were cute, and I particularly liked the last one.

, I feel confident giving this story a 5-star rating and recommending it to anyone who enjoys this genre.

Great storyline, intriguing plots, powerful and awesome protagonists, and impressive dialogues with razor-sharp punchlines!

This novel has it all!

I loved the chemistry between the main characters. The plot twists and punchline delivery were outstanding. I lost count of how many times I had to think, "Wow, that’s savage, emotional damage!" ??

Rating: 5 Stars! ✨ Definitely recommended!

Good, even though there's no "ehem" scene. It's a comedy, so it's overall pretty funny, lol. I also wonder how Lou (ML) got rich—maybe through magic? Hahaha.

I'm at the extra; I don't really like reading extras, but the main story is good (´▽`ʃƪ).

By the way, I give this 5 stars, though I'm not sure why it didn't show.

So far so good.

I really like this novel; initially, I was a bit skeptical about reading it, but I ended up enjoying it. The story is engaging, and I can't wait for new chapters.

The main character (MC), XL, is intelligent, and the male lead (ML), L, is incredibly supportive. The side characters are also very endearing.

(Spoiler)
The MC has never been in love before, likely due to his impoverished background, which keeps him constantly occupied with work and studies. This has led to him acquiring various unusual skills from his odd jobs, making him somewhat oblivious to his emotions.

On the other hand, the ML might not be human and has lost certain "body" parts, which he needs to retrieve. Each time he recovers a part, he becomes more powerful and may regain some of his memories.
(Spoiler End)

The MC and ML complement each other well, and I especially enjoy one of the side characters, WT, who is both funny and charming.

The story is fantastic, filled with humorous misunderstandings, and the horror and mystery elements are well-executed. Kudos to the author!

P.S.: Apologies for any typos or grammar errors; English is not my first language.

It’s an unlimited flow novel with a slow-burn MLM subplot. The unlimited flow is specifically horror-based, which will instantly bring comparisons to supernatural movie apps. While it isn’t quite as good, I have to say that this novel was quite unique in its plots and monsters. Typically, horror-themed unlimited flows focus solely on ghosts, but this novel took the time to create all kinds of unique monsters, including demons, body horror freaks of nature, Lovecraftian nightmares, and more. For that, I have to give the author major props for creativity. Each story followed a different formula, which kept the arcs fresh.

The protagonist and his love interest are both overpowered (OP), but there are proper restrictions on his power, preventing him from becoming a Mary Sue (applause). However, there’s still enough gratuitous OP fighting to provide a weeb like me with much-needed excitement. OP characters can be fun, especially when there’s still some suspense left due to the limitations on their power.

I do wish the male lead (ML) was more present in the fights. When they collaborate, it results in some of the coolest battles, showcasing their tacit understanding of each other. Unfortunately, the author often chose to have the main character (MC) fight alone, even when the ML was right there. I read a comment where someone described the ML as a salted fish, which, at times, is a fair assessment. This is truly unfortunate, as his power has all the makings of an edgy middle schooler's dream character. Nonetheless, I did like the ML; he had a couple of yandere moments, but for the most part, he’s not one of those domineering MLs I’m so tired of seeing. He genuinely has a mutual respect for the MC, and I always appreciate a couple that communicates well.

All in all, it was a good read that I would recommend.

The first chapter is fantastic! The plot is hilarious, and I can't wait to follow the adventures of our tall, broke, handsome Shou!

I'm giving it a 5-star rating because I'm biased, as usual. I've found the novel very enjoyable so far. Although I admit to speed-reading through some of the arcs involving horror games, most of them manage to grab my attention again. The different characters they interact with add to the entertainment.

The main character (MC) is very admirable and lovable. I appreciate his straightforward personality and various life skills. While he's not omnipotent—he often relies on Luo or game items to get out of trouble—he is resourceful and has a good sense of danger, making him a sensible protagonist, especially in a horror setting.

Luo, the male lead (ML), is a butler-type character. His backstory hasn't been fully revealed yet, but there are hints scattered throughout. He's not omnipotent either and has his own weaknesses, but he remains helpful to the best of his abilities. The fact that he can transform into a cat is a significant plus in my (and the MC's) eyes.

The relationship between the MC and ML is slow but progresses gently and smoothly. Honestly, this is the aspect I enjoy the most in the novel. It seems that Luo is patiently waiting for Xiao Lan to depend on him, without being pushy or aggressive at all.