As a devoted reader of novels late into the night, I often find myself drawn to stories featuring overpowered, listless, and somewhat flat characters. There's something inherently appealing about such narratives, especially when they revolve around impending apocalyptic scenarios with strong female protagonists. Unfortunately, these types of stories are surprisingly scarce, so I often push myself to endure those that fall flat or miss the mark. However, what I encountered in this particular novel was an entirely different experience—one that left me rather bewildered. The inclusion of magic felt like an excessive embellishment, and the notion of characters switching races just pushed the boundaries of believability to a level that I found hard to reconcile. Adding to my discomfort, the drastic transformation of the protagonist's appearance as she walked away was particularly cringeworthy. While I acknowledge that this style may resonate with some readers, it ultimately wasn’t what I was looking for. The elements that I typically enjoy in apocalyptic narratives seem to have been lost in this story's execution, and, regrettably, I could not connect with it as I had hoped.
1 The chemistry between Qin Bai and Shen Muyu is… nonexistent so far, which I think is intentional. She's cold, he's distant, and they're both in this arrangement for their families. But there's potential if the author gives them a slow burn. Right now, Feng Yaoyao is way more interesting as a love interest because she's actively pursuing him.
2 I have to admit, I kind of feel bad for the original owner. She was clearly spoiled and naive, but also a victim of the system. Women in that era had no autonomy, and her "love" for Jiang Tingfeng was probably more about societal expectation than genuine feeling. Lin Lang's modern perspective highlights how tragic that really is.