Why does Yu Kai not know his father’s story for 17 years? His mother had to hide it for some reason. The story doesn’t explain. Maybe to protect him from enemies? That’s a logical reason, but it’s not stated. The reveal feels like an info dump rather than an earned secret. Building up to it with hints would have made it more impactful.
The language and sentence structures occasionally feel like machine-translated Chinese, especially in the descriptions of movements: "stuck out his butt, used the little strength left in his body to try to hook it" – that's very literal. It paints a clear picture but sounds slightly unnatural. I think the story might read better in its original Chinese. The English version has a unique flavor that some might find endearing, but others will find amateurish.
I keep wondering about the “blueprint” that the Mobei are after. It’s mentioned in the tomb context but then lost. A’chai’s men search the entire tomb but can’t find it. That’s got to come back later. Maybe the map is hidden somewhere Wen Wan touched? Or maybe the jade pendant has a clue? The mystery keeps me interested beyond just the romance.
The parents drive me nuts. Mr. Gu saying “it's good to be back” but not meaning a word of it, and Mrs. Gu covering her nose when her daughter comes close – those little details scream volumes. They're more worried about their reputation and their precious adopted daughter than the flesh and blood they should be welcoming home. Feels like bad parenting on steroids.
The English translation is pretty smooth overall. Some of the dialogue is very dramatic ("You beast!"), but it fits the historical drama vibe. The core emotion of betrayal and rage translates perfectly. I am not getting lost in fancy words; I am just feeling the story.
I love the contrast between the cruel reality of his cancer and the cozy fantasy of owning a bunch of cultivators. It feels like the universe finally gave him a break right at the very end. “至少这个世界不全然是冷酷无情的” resonates so much more after he finds them.
This novel is truly disappointing on multiple levels. Not only does the protagonist exhibit overtly racist attitudes, but there are also undertones of homophobia that are hard to ignore. The horror aspects of the story fall flat, feeling rather mediocre at best. It seems like every time I pick up a new book, I'm met with the same troubling themes and toxicity that make it difficult to enjoy the story. One particularly disturbing moment in the narrative involves a scene where a character's wife and child are thrust into the adult entertainment industry as a joke. This attempt at humor is not only in poor taste, but it also perpetuates hurtful stereotypes that are all too common. It’s disheartening to see such insensitivity portrayed within the pages of a novel. Moreover, the protagonist's blind obsession with their own country is unsettling, as if it can do no wrong. This notion oversimplifies complex historical realities; every nation has its darker side and troubling actions that should not be overlooked. It’s frustrating when a story doesn’t hold its characters or their beliefs accountable for portraying a sanitized, biased view of the world. Overall, I really cannot recommend this book—it's an absolute mess that offers little in the way of redeeming qualities. Save your time and energy for something far more worthwhile.