Starting with Three Wives, First as a Local Tyrant, Then as an Emperor - Reviews

The beginning of the story had a promising hook that drew me in, but, unfortunately, it started to lose its charm as the plot unfolded. The protagonist often comes across as inconsistent, making it difficult for readers to fully invest in his character. At first, he portrays a desire to fly under the radar and shun the limelight, claiming he does not want any attention. However, his actions contradict this claim, as he frequently engages in behaviors that seem to scream, “Please pay attention to me!” This disconnect between his words and actions creates a frustrating experience for those following his journey. Additionally, I found his gentlemanly demeanor early on to be somewhat misleading. Initially, it seemed genuine, a characteristic that piqued my interest; however, as the story progressed, it became apparent that it was merely a facade. He ultimately reveals himself to be quite opportunistic, demonstrating a rather thick-skinned approach when it comes to taking advantage of situations, particularly in his interactions with the women around him. Taking all of this into account, I would rate this novel a modest three stars. While I acknowledge that the narrative has its challenges, it remains fairly readable up until Chapter 68. The potential for growth is evident, and I hope the author can resolve these inconsistencies as the story continues to develop.

Overall, this is a solid start for a harem cultivation story with a twist. The system mechanic, the forced marriage vulnerability, and the quick revenge setup hook me. I'd definitely read the next chapter to see Sun Jian beat up Sun Hao.

I want to see more of Gu Zijian's personality. She threw away a stick, said little, but her internal thoughts ("you'll avenge her, will you avenge me?") show she has pain too. That line stuck with me.

The writing has a lot of exclamation marks and hyperbole ("disaster!" "damn!"). It matches the emotional tone but feels a bit like a YouTube drama script. Could use more subtlety in narration.

One flaw: the transition from "I have no food" to "I'll cook instant noodles" depends on the system reward, which came from Chu Qingcheng's favorability reaching That happened quickly – just one conversation gave + Seems too easy.

The humor works in small doses. Like Sun Jian internally complaining "look but can't eat" with three wives. Or the villagers laughing at him for choosing beauties over workers. Relatable and light fun between the drama.

I appreciate that Sun Jian doesn't become OP immediately after getting the system. He still has to worry about food and payment. The 150 catties of grain deadline gives a clear short-term goal. Keeps the plot grounded.

Old Jiang the neighbor is a nice touch – an honest man who feels guilty and warns Sun Jian. Not every villager is a bully. That adds a bit of moral variety to the setting.

The 11-12 year old girl among the distributed women is disturbing. The author included that to show the grim times, I think, but it's uncomfortable. At least Sun Jian picked adults. Hopefully that won't be glossed over.

Sun Jian's old memories affect him – he feels genuine anger about the ox because of emotional attachment. That transfer of the original body's feelings makes his actions more justified, not just insert-mentality.

The name "Favorability System" sounds too game-like, but the risk of negative favorability leading to murder is a good edge. It creates genuine stakes for romantic interactions, unlike most harem stories where girls just pile on.

The love interest pool is varied: a fallen noble lady, a princess, a rebel general. All three have potential for different conflicts and skills (politics, martial arts, strategic). But so far only Chu Qingcheng has had focus. Hope the others get development.