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Great read!!!
Loving this story! Great characters, romance, adventure, and magic. It’s all here!
Enjoyed this so much
Let me just say this: the dialogue in these chapters is genuinely excellent, and the standout is Yin You's voice. This child sounds like an actual three-year-old who happens to be a prince, not a miniature adult delivering exposition. Take this exchange: 'A Baturu of the Great Qing has great strength.' And then later: 'Hit him back!' The way he declares this with his 'little fist' raised and an 'extra fierce expression' — it's perfect. He's trying so hard to be brave and tough, but it's adorable because he's literally a toddler. And the fact that he immediately follows up with 'Xiao Qi knows he was wrong. E'nang said we shouldn't hit other children' shows he's internalizing lessons but also asserting his own agency. That's how a smart kid actually talks. The Crown Prince's dialogue is equally well-crafted, though in a completely different register. He's formal, restrained, always maintaining his image — 'It doesn't hurt' when Yin You asks about his wound. But then the narration tells us his heart 'instantly melted into a puddle, warm and soft, carrying a faint scent of milk and sweetness.' The contrast between his stoic dialogue and his internal reaction is delicious. Even the minor characters have distinct voices. Li Xi teasing Yin You: 'This servant only said it's closer, not that the Grand Empress Dowager would agree to let the Prince run to Qianqing Palace every day.' You can hear her warm, amused tone. The Grand Empress Dowager's milky, affectionate speech patterns. Each character sounds like themselves. And the humor! 'Lying is wrong.' Said by a toddler who just manipulated his way into getting what he wanted. The author clearly enjoys writing dialogue and it shows.
The main character interactions are insufficient and their personalities lack consistency. There is no engaging inner dialogue. The story’s beginning or plot is not compelling enough and feels too bland. Additionally, there isn’t enough romantic depth. While there are plenty of sweet moments, they aren’t profound enough. The pacing is too quick, and some arcs are not interesting. The story is often predictable, following similar plots from other novels. Most of the narrative revolves around an evil person causing problems in past lives, which is rather dull. The conflicts, while not necessarily tragic or dramatic, are not very engaging to read.
Disclaimer
1. This is not a bad story! The plot is interesting, the writing is expressive, and the main characters have depth.
2. I only fully read up to about chapter 50 and then kept skipping chapters until the end. So I might have missed important developments that could definitely affect my review.
3. PMS hitting hard right now, so take this with a grain of salt.
The reason I rated this three stars is mostly due to personal taste. For me, I was just too frustrated to keep going, like the frustration when you miss the goal needed to clear a game level by just one point, every single time you play.
**Spoiler**
This novel annoyed me more than anything has in a long time. Annoyed me so much I had to write this review at 3 AM. Why?
1. The main character (MC) irritates me. The author is too talented; they write his insecurity and anxiety so well that it gives me stress. I’m so, so, so annoyed by his inability to communicate properly. It’s not that I don’t like shy or tsundere characters; it’s just how he’s always led around by the male lead (ML). Sure, he does acknowledge this and sets boundaries with others (e.g., Senior) in his own way, but I just hate how his life revolves around the ML and what the ML thinks, especially considering he just LOST THREE YEARS OF HIS LIFE AND IS BASICALLY A CONFUSED, VULNERABLE PATIENT. I know it’s focused on their romance, but it’s just hard to watch a very anxious, introverted person only be reliant on some dickhead (see 2.) when he speaks about how he really wanted to make friends. They couldn’t have fleshed out the friendship between him and Yang Yue (the one friend that’s relevant) just a little bit more?
2. If my annoyance at the MC is like seeing your friend get back together with the worst guy ever because "he's changed" for the 100th time, then my hatred for the ML knows no bounds. If the ML was someone who was also in love with the MC and didn’t know how to express it openly but tried to learn to communicate and care about each other while helping the MC break past his self-doubts, then I would love this couple. I would say, "Wow, what a wholesome, cute romance!" Instead, here I am, praying I never fall for a guy like the ML.
At first, I gave him the benefit of the doubt because we were seeing him from the MC's POV, but the more I read, the more I realized the guy really is just a manipulative, emotionless SOB. I just don’t believe he really loved the MC when he knew the MC loved him, but basically pushed and pulled him constantly. Even while amnesiac, the MC couldn’t help feeling “deep sadness” because of him. Despite knowing he’s insecure, the ML does nothing to dispel his doubts when he lost his memory. A lot of the time, it feels like he treats the MC like an experiment. He knows ignoring his questions or answering vaguely will mess with his head, but he does it anyway. You can argue that the ML is not good with social cues, but HE IS! He admits he knew the MC annoyed him to catch his attention, knew that he liked him all along.
Honestly, my breaking point was when they went on the aquarium date, and the ML ruined the MC's mood by talking about how the dolphins at the show were probably depressed and harmed themselves. And why did he say this? TO GET THE MC'S REACTION!!! Argh, I hate this guy so much. It’s the fact that he’s so subtly toxic, as in he does nice things for the MC but isn’t that invested during most of their relationship.
I think this novel would be good for those who like a romance almost entirely focused on the couple, and written with very poignant emotions. The emotional connection is slow and agonizing for impatient people like me but should be quite fulfilling to others. I do have some issues with some characters, but honestly, that’s very subjective. I’m sure some may have no idea where I’m coming from. I suggest reading and forming your own opinion.
this one very good 4/5
Is this any good? It seems interesting but I feel like a lot of the time the authors of work's like these past a certain point don't really know where to take the story and it becomes just another "So i'm a spider, so what" knockoff. So I come with the question of: Does it fall to these pit falls too and does it go in any interesting direction? Thank you in advance if you decide to answer my questions
Ps: please no spoilers but if you must then keep them to a minimum please, thank you.
I can´t please everyone, I guess.
I, for one, dislike third-person POV.
If you relish stories where male protagonists lavish female leads with extravagant affection, this might be your cup of tea. Novels that revolve around empowering women, showcasing their enviable lives and deep connections with their male counterparts would resonate with you. However, this particular book leans heavily towards catering to female readers.
While I appreciate this genre, I find the repetitive nature, lack of variety, and somewhat平淡 plotline irksome. Every mission centers around the protagonist protecting, doting on, and loving a female character. Supporting characters, even those linked to the leads, are predominantly female – daughter, niece, or grandmother. There are no male sidekicks who embody traits like filial piety, loyalty, or compassion towards the main character; no rescuing brothers, mentoring students, or redeeming ungrateful fathers.
It seems to suggest that only mistreating women earns redemption, while harming men isn't considered worthy. A more diverse narrative arc would have been refreshing, as each storyline tends to follow a similar pattern, with minor variations in setting but identical outcomes. For instance, the subplot about being a second-generation heir could have explored themes of familial duty and overcoming past family issues, but instead, it just becomes another instance of rescuing a girl.
Typically, I enjoy this type of tale, but constant repetition can make it monotonous, like eating the same dish daily, eventually losing its appeal and leaving one feeling nauseated.
The first 90 chapters were quite enjoyable, with intense character development and satisfying comeuppance. Their early reunion is well-deserved considering the hardships they experienced in their previous lives. It's a delightful, light-hearted read that's perfect for a quick escape.
While it's evident that many people have enjoyed the book and given it high ratings, personally, I find the narrative somewhat average. The characters' actions and reasoning lack coherence, with illogical leaps that seem unrealistic. They make sudden decisions without a clear motivation or explanation, and plot twists appear out of the blue without any genuine buildup or logical connection.
