I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Initially, I dropped it due to the translation quality, which left much to be desired. However, out of sheer boredom and a dearth of other reading options, I decided to give it another shot, and I'm glad I did. Allow me to share my experience with you. Firstly, the story draws numerous comparisons to "Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka?" for those familiar with it. The premise revolves around a Chinese man who suffers a tragic fate—he is run over by a truck and finds himself isekai'd into a parallel version of Earth. In this alternate reality, events transpired hundreds of years ago, where gates to other dimensions opened, leading to an invasion by monstrous beings. Fast forward to the present, and humanity has adapted to these challenges, deploying various strategies to combat the dangers and safeguard civilization. The setting is uniquely influenced by Western high fantasy tropes, featuring swords, magic, and iconic fantastical creatures like goblins, ogres, and dragons. Yet, intriguingly, it also incorporates elements of Chinese cultivation sects, creating a fascinating blend of both genres. As for the protagonist, she begins her journey as a completely average office worker. Following her accident, she is reincarnated into this parallel world as a female rat—yes, you read that right, a rat, as hinted at in the title and description. I will refer to her as "she" from here on. Fueled by the hope of regaining her human form, her primary objective is to hunt monsters, level up, and ultimately evolve. Despite her previous existence as an unremarkable office employee, she possesses an extraordinary intelligence. This incredible intellect drives her insatiable curiosity, as she diligently researches everything she encounters—be it monster anatomy, evolutionary traits, or the intricacies of magical atoms in this new world. She even embarks on the ambitious goal of writing multiple theses in the process. For me, the biggest draw of this story lies in its power scaling. Unlike many convoluted Chinese cultivation tales, this narrative employs terminology that any gamer would easily grasp, utilizing straightforward ranks like Bronze, Silver, and Gold. This clarity significantly aids in understanding character progression and growth. Additionally, I have found the evolution of the main character to be incredibly captivating. I've read numerous stories where protagonists start off as non-humanoid creatures. Their journey of leveling up, defeating other monsters, and evolving their bloodlines has always entertained me, and this story follows a similar trajectory. Finally, while the worldbuilding is not fully fleshed out yet, I appreciate the early mentions of cultivation sects within the narrative. I can sense that this aspect will be explored further as the story unfolds, and I hold high hopes for its development. In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend diving into this book. If you've made it this far in my review and aren't deterred by any of my comments, I think you'll find it enjoyable, especially if you even slightly appreciated "Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka?" After giving it a second chance, I've discovered a story that promises to be both entertaining and intriguing, and I believe many readers will feel the same.
The moment Su Hong looked at his phone and saw the signal showing a red cross, that small detail made the hopelessness sink in. No news, no help, no way out. He really is alone against monsters who want to play with their food. The isolation is palpable.
At its core, this is a story about family and belonging. Xiao Xi's longing for a family is palpable. Ye Yichen's immediate acceptance and the whole Ye family's search show the power of blood ties. It's heartwarming to see how quickly Xiao Xi goes from destitute orphan to beloved younger sister. The text message to the brother group "Younger sister found!" was a simple but effective beat.
I'm really curious about Qin Hongyu's character. She’s described as beautiful, but she seems pretty passive at the start. She’s passed from her father to Cao Laotou to Zhou Chen, and she’s just "satisfied" with it because he’s young and handsome. I get the historical setting, but I hope the author gives her some agency later. For now, she feels like a prize more than a person.