I started reading this and immediately got hooked by the transmigration angle. The whole “waking up in a novel you barely remember” thing is such a fun trope, and I love how Lin Yi doesn’t waste any time. He knows exactly what’s coming from the original story – being made into a human pig? That’s brutal. So when he flips the script on Luo Qingyu and Nangong Jin from the very first night, it felt so satisfying. The way he just takes control, not even letting the original plan happen, sets a really aggressive, no-holds-barred tone. I was cheering him on, honestly.
The dragging scene is iconic. Luo Zhao literally drags her through the courtyard like a sack of potatoes, and she just lets it happen because she's given up. It's a perfect visual for their relationship: he's the frustrated older brother, and she's the lazy deadweight. It's hilarious.
The overall experience of reading this novel was, well, somewhat lackluster. While the first half piqued my interest and seemed to promise an engaging narrative, the latter half unfortunately fell flat. During this second half, the story noticeably loses any semblance of tension and momentum as it shifts its focus towards attempting to unravel the myriad of peculiar occurrences that had unfolded earlier. Several plot elements are introduced with the fanfare of major twists, yet without any genuine struggle or character development to back them up, these moments end up feeling rather empty and unimpactful. To describe the plot as cohesive would be somewhat generous; it seems as though the author merely wanted to spin a whimsical tale about an unlikely romance between a hamster-person and a human male. If that was indeed the intended goal, then I must admit that the author has succeeded spectacularly in delivering a charmingly absurd love story. However, the conclusion left much to be desired. There's a climactic moment that is presumably meant to serve as the high point of the story, yet it manages to lack the necessary build-up or emotional weight typically associated with such an event. Following this, the narrative wraps up almost abruptly, leaving numerous questions hanging in the air, unresolved and unattended to. For readers who appreciate a well-developed plot alongside their light-hearted fluff, this may not be the best choice. However, if you’re someone who finds joy in whimsical escapades and light romance—like myself—then you might consider giving this book a whirl, especially if you’ve already plowed through most of the completed novels in this quirky niche. Personally, I have relatively modest expectations when it comes to reading; as an avid reader, I tend to be accommodating with my choices. Yet, I cannot deny that my experience with this book was ultimately disappointing. Had I been fully aware of the frailty of the plot from the outset, I likely would have chosen to pass on this one altogether.
That opening betrayal scene hits hard, man. Ye Yan gets killed by his own "mother" after doing all her dirty work, and the way she says "you did too well" with that creepy smile—chills. You can feel his confusion and desperation even in those few lines. It sets up this tragic backstory that makes you understand why he’s so messed up later. The emotional whiplash from that cold assassin life to being reborn as a goblin is wild. I was instantly hooked.
|I'm a little confused about the logistics of the ghost wedding. Are they ghosts, or spirits, or projections of the female corpse's resentment? They seem to be both physical (they have a palanquin and move) and not physical (their feet are off the ground). The incense ash barrier is supposed to stop them, but do they need to pass through a doorway to get to the corpse? Are they limited by physical space? I'm curious how the rules work. Also, what happens if the clock strikes dawn? Does the wedding end? Or does it last until the soul is taken? The protagonist's instructions to Su Mingyang to cover the corpse's ears imply the music is the mechanism for control. So if you block the sound, does the corpse stop breathing? That's a clever weakness. I'm hoping the author explains more of the mechanics of this ritual as the story goes on. The world building is deep enough that I want to know exactly how this "ghost marriage" operates.