Tier: A+ / Would I read it again: Pssh, if I had this in physical copy, pages would be well worn by now.  / Do I recommend it: It's a Priest book, need I say more?... more>>

First, yes I'm highly biased when it's a Priest novel, because I'm in love with her and all; so this review is highly biased :D Now lets continue... Ahem, I have 2 words: Wen—motherf.in.—Kexing. When I said this and Lord seventh being a twin with different personalities, that difference is made by, yes you've guessed right, Wen Kexing. I don't know why but, almost everytime he opened his mouth in the novel I was either laughing or trying to supress my laughter. Kexing is my favorite danmei character of all times and I would read this again and again just for him.

On the "shrine assessment" scale: ≤20 begs. (Check Jin Se review for details.) <<less

Tier: A+ / Would I read it again: Yes.  / Do I recommend it: By now, I’m pretty sure most danmei readers have already read it, but I definitely recommend revisiting it :D... more>>

There is a good reason, this novel is famous. It is good. Really good. I can easily say this is Mxtx 's best work so far. Like an addict of course I also consumed the manhua and donghua. Donghua for some reason had a bit more solemn undertone in my opinion and the reason I say this is because; you know how, when reading something you have a music playing in your mind in the background, almost like a theme song? Yeah, for this novel it was circus music :D I had so much fun reading it, the level of angst was just perfect, and oh my, don't even get me started with delicious foreshadowing scenes..and..their love story?? I once saw a comment saying these two invented the romance, 100 % agree with that statement. <<less

Tier: A+ / Would I read it again: I read "incense burner" as a nightly prayer.  / Do I recommend it: Do you even danmei if you haven't read this?!... more>>

Again, there is a reason when people talk about danmei, this novel will ALWAYS come up. This sh*t is addicting. This novel here, or more specifically, ''Untamed'' started my danmei novel journey. And after reading countless books, I can honestly say that this story definitely deserves its fame.

And also..THANK YOU to whichever unholy deity took over Mxtx while she was writing the incense burner. That was...just ... *chefs kiss* <<less

Tier: A+ / Would I read it again: Yes.  / Do I recommend it: As a fanatical Priest believer, yes. As a general danmei reader, also yes :D... more>>

I'm a simple woman; when I see Priest, I kneel, thank her for yet another masterpiece and read it without a question. This novel was slow at first for me but after few chapsters, I find myself unable to put it down. If you like Priest's ''bickering style'' romance, you are in for a treat.

On the "shrine assessment" scale: 12 begs. (Check Jin Se review for details.) <<less

Tier: A / Would I read it again: Yeah.  / Do I recommend it: Yup, it’s pretty good. And welcome to the Yan Wushi fan club in advance, trust me, you’ll definitely join by the end.... more>>

The BEST morally gray and neutral evil character representation in any danmei I've ever read. We believe in Yan Wushi supremacy in this house! Honestly, if Yan Wushi was standing right in front of me, I’d fold and beg for a chance. <<less

Tier: A / Would I read it again: Yes.  / Do I recommend it: Drop everything you do/read right now, do yourself a favor, and read this!... more>>

I came for copper, and I f*cking found a diamond mine... My. f*cking. God. Scratch breath of fresh air, this felt like sitting on a mountain top where the crispiest breeze hits your face like a slap! The BEST side characters ever created, fully fledged, none of the "they are there for the sake of the story" stuff. This is the only danmei I have read, where the characters doesn't act women are the bane of the existence to life on earth.  All of the characters actually have braincells (except a certain protector) . The philosophy behind the story *mwah* chef's kiss. The amount of seretonin I got from this is unmeasurable. This is a MUST read.  <<less

Tier: A / Would I read it again: Yeah.  / Do I recommend it: YES! Especially if you like bickering style low-key romance.... more>>

The BEST intelligent character writing ever; all of their actions showcase their cleverness and their pitting against each other is one of the most delightful thing I've ever read. So, we also strongly believe in Cui Buqu supremacy in this house! <<less

Tier: A / Would I read it again: YES, this is officialy my comfort story now. / Do I recommend it: If danmei is a religion, Priest is the goddess—so you should just read everything she has bestowed, amen! And welcome to the Nan Shan fan club in advance, trust me, you’ll definitely join by the end.... more>>

I’ve already put up my "decent" review on the novel’s page, so I’ve decided to let my inner fujoshi run wild here instead.

Up until this point, there has never been a danmei character who made me go, “Damn, I need this man to be real so bad.” until this novel... We all enjoy reading about gongs burning the world for their beloved shou, acting possessive, being ornery, or showing a bit of unhealthy obsession here and there; but let’s be honest, that’s only fun in fiction. Nan Shan, though? Nan Shan is another story. He’s considerate, loving, caring, kind and protective—he has every single good trait a human can possess!

Look, I love me some good smut as much as the next fujoshi, so believe me when I say that even though this is a shounen-ai—an extremely tame one at that—it was something else entirely. Every single time Nan Shan showed his affection, I was basically screaming at the screen and gnawing on the bars of my enclosure. And don’t even get me started on that tiny scene in the extras where he muttered “mine”... I’m pretty sure I lost a piece of my soul right there and then.

On the "shrine assessment" scale: 8 begs. (Check Jin Se review for details.) <<less

Tier: A / Would I read it again: I'm checking daily to see if it's available as an ebook, because I can't get enough of it. This may have crossed into borderline obsession territory. / Do I recommend it: YESYESYES..million times yes!... more>>

First, the cons (because the pros will take longer to cover, so let's get this out of the way):

The first half and second half of the book definitely differ in writing quality. The latter part feels more disconnected and has an overall disorganized feel. This is likely because it's actually the author's earlier work, so yes, the amateurish elements are evident. The second con is the fan translation. Unfortunately, the physical copy isn't available for shipping to my country, so many of us will have to make do with the fan translation until the ebook is released. While the translation isn't terrible, it could really benefit from thorough editing.

Now, let's move on to the pros...*Cough* Ahem.

I want to slap myself for waiting so long to read this! QJJ is one of my all-time favorite novels, and after finishing this one, I crowned Tang Jiuqing as my "Immersion Queen" of danmei. When I was reading it, I had a poor pillow by my side... and let me tell you, I bit it, punched it, cried into it, and struggled to contain myself. Basically, I was completely and hopelessly immersed in the story. This novel makes YOU endure all eight sufferings along with the characters, and then... the ending?! That last extra story?! I don't think there's ever been a couple in danmei that made me cry happy tears—yes, even the holy trio didn’t stir me like this. Cang Ji's shameless, untamed nature was such a delight to read, and Jing Lin... my poor Jing Lin... I could honestly spend at least an hour fawning over his character and crying for him. Once again, my applause to Tang Jiuqing—what an amazing choice to show Jing Lin’s innocence through his little stone figure. Despite it's short comings, despite some bad trope choices, Nan Chan managed to etch itself in my heart. Here just let me leave some quotes from the novel so after you finish it we can sob happily while remembering them together.

"From now on, if you are the lotus pond's lotus, I can be the lotus pond's fish.... When we get out, go home with me, alright? Not as brothers. Anything else is fine.....  You are just like my reverse scale. You live, I live. You are my life.... There is a man I love. I expected him to be my tribulation, but then I fell under his spell..."

"I have a beloved, over the mountains and across the seas... There is a man I love. In the clouds. In the sea. In my heart. Gege..take me home." <<less

Tier: A / Would I read it again: Wouldn't be my first choice. But, would probably revisit it some day just cause it's Priest.  / Do I recommend it: Thou shall read every single Priest novel.... more>>

I don't usually enjoy modern genre, but since it was a Priest novel, I decided to give it a chance. *insert obligatory Priest worship here: I'm in love with that woman, like seriously, 100 pages in, and I had already experienced both ends of the emotion spectrum, and everything in between.* I wouldn't say it was perfect, especially during the third book, when the pacing and story felt stagnant, but it was still really good. Out of all the Priest novels I've read so far, this one comes in second in terms of being focused on romance . Oh, last but not least, I'm f*cking in love with Zhao Yunlan; he is Wen Kexing but in different font.

On the "shrine assessment" scale: 6 begs. (Check Jin Se review for details.) <<less

Tier: A / Would I read it again: Yes.  / Do I recommend it: I recommend at least one Priest book a day.... more>>

This was so unexpected for me. The style felt really different than Priest's other novels but nevertheless it's really good. Faraway Wanderers and this novel are like two twins with different characters, while the other one is more easy-going this novel is a bit more on the melancholic side.

On the "shrine assessment" scale: 5 begs. (Check Jin Se notes for details.) <<less

Tier: A- / Would I read it again: Yes.  / Do I recommend it: Yes, it is an amazing romance story.... more>>

Now I know what finding a hidden gem feels like. First of all, this should taught all around to show everyone you can write a romance story without a single miscommunication, with both consenting and intelligent adults talking about their feelings without being a creep in a wuxia setting! I want to thank this author hundred times, just for that alone! Second; I like reading smut, I love spice level as high as it can be, for me it's an inseperable part of romance; and because of that shounen-ai always feels lacking for me. However, this novel has zero spice—not even a hint of it—and yet I found myself constantly clutching my chest, gasping at how beautifully their love was portrayed. This is, without a doubt, one of the BEST romance book I’ve ever read—perfectly balanced without being overly sweet or filled with angst. Just flawless! <<less

Tier: A- / Would I read it again: Hell yeah.  / Do I recommend it: I do, but only after reading a few other danmeis first. This one requires some prior knowledge about tropes to fully enjoy the sarcasm.... more>>

Live, Laugh, SHIZUUUN... Compared to other Mxtx's works, it falls short (it's understandable this being her first novel) but, by no means it falls short in other areas...*cough* Is it the best plot? No. But did I laugh until my sides hurt more than I can remember? Yes. I mean, come one you can't find stuff like: ''Hello heavenly pillar, goodbye heavenly pillar.'' anywhere else :'D <<less

Tier: A- / Would I read it again: Don't think so.  / Do I recommend it: Yeah, it is really an unique story besides you can't go wrong with MuSuLi.... more>>

Came for the ''We have Weiying at home-ass'' novel cover. And left with the ''Sassy powerbottom dragon & his personal monk-toy.'' 10/10 <<less

Tier: A- / Would I read it again: Yes.  / Do I recommend it: Yes. The episode-like structure and the progression of the story is done extremely well, this is THE poster-child for that kind of narrative and storytelling.... more>>

How I wish the last parts wasn't rushed. It had the potential of being the most important arc, with endless possibilities to expand it upon their old memories together, alas... I think this novel did two things perfectly : first is the subtle details and second is the side-character stories. For the details, a lot of the emotions were conveyed via those, like a flower suddenly getting cut at the beginning of the novel, reading and finding those were simply delightful! And for the side stories, honestly they were just perfect, neither strong enough to distract you from the main duo nor too weak to make you think they are only added for the word count, just perfect. Overall, I'm both pleased and and angry at the same time with this story because, my god, it was good yet I know it could be even better!  <<less

Tier: A- / Would I read it again: Yeah.  / Do I recommend it: YES—This novel should be part of depression prescriptions.... more>>

Yet another novel I regret not reading sooner! First, I think it’s only fair to break this story into two distinct parts: pre-Chapter 37 and post-Chapter 37.

Pre-Chapter 37: This story has cleared my acne, cured my depression, and stopped the daily torture of existential dread. AGHH, reading it feels like watching a sunset with a hot cup of coffee, surrounded by nothing but pure, contented peace—the kind of stillness you feel after crying all your sadness out. That fluff… that bittersweet healing… that naturally evolving romance... AAAGGHHH!!! I just want to inject this book into my veins.

Post-Chapter 37: I don’t even know what to call it; it's not so much a plot twist as a plot-change whiplash. I was NOT expecting the mystery to unfold like this! The story has shifted from a gentle convalescence to a soft-core Attack on Titan—and I am not complaining one bit! Reading it felt like stepping into a snowglobe, completely surrounded by gently falling snow, cocooned in a peaceful bubble, far removed from the rest of the world and all the despair it carries with it.

And ohh, I wouldn't call it shounen-ai, there is one intimate scene at the very end of it. As someone who has read quite a bit of smut, I can honestly say that, that one scene left an incredible taste in my mouth*winkwink* hehe—no, but seriously... the tone of that whole scene was phenomenal. The MC's mix of anxiety and surrender, the ML's controlled madness... The entire scene had such a perfectly intimate and tender atmosphere, one that would put many "smut" tagged books to shame. <<less

Tier: A- / Would I read it again: Yes.  / Do I recommend it: A Priest novel a day, keeps the bad webnovels away.... more>>

"The vast sky, the luminous Milky Way; the stars are incomparable to morning dew, yet they too appear and disappear, as if the only thing that's everlasting is parting and separation. Like Alnitak and Antares, their paths forever running counter to each other's; knowing one another, yet never being able to meet. Is there anything in the world more heartrending than that?"

"A fairytale for kidults", as my goddess Priest once called Sha Po Lang—that's what Jin Se is to me. The more I read Priest, the more I realize why I fell for her, and deeper I keep falling. Whether it's the stubborn temperament of Wuduan's rebellion or Li's unyielding, adoring obsession, I knew them both too well. This story was me years ago, daydreaming in a lazy noon with no care...and it was also me, sighing and worrying about an uncertain future, alone in my moonlit room.

Seeing the early signs of some of her other novels in this story was an absolute delight for me (yes, Liu Yao, I’m mainly talking about you). Her brilliant use of language is there, as bright as ever; yet the distinct dynamism that makes her novels truly unrivaled doesn’t shine through as much here. 

By no means is it a perfect story. The pace is too fast, things build and collapse too easily, and elements you think would leave a lasting mark either vanish too soon or never appear enough. But... I just can't help but love it and accept it as it is—like I would accept the naivety of youth.

If you are not convinced, how about I also add my "super logical top quality real-ass extra shrine assessment" as well? You might say, wtf is shrine assesment; so let me explain it you fellow reader. There’s something that happens to me every time I read a Priest novel: I beg my husband to let me build a shrine for her—because her talent is godly, and she deserves to be revered and worshipped as such; and no, I haven't succeeded yet. For reference, I begged him about 30 times after reading Sha Po Lang, and for Jin Se, it was a modest 3 times. So, yes, it’s not the best Priest novel, but it’s perfect enough to make me want to ere*t a statue of her smack dab in the middle of my living room and bow before it. <<less

Tier: A- / Would I read it again: Mayhaps.  / Do I recommend it: Yes! It won't be for everyone, but it's a solid historical story that deserves a chance.... more>>

Ah, what a journey it has been. Honestly, just as I’m biased when it comes to Priest, I’m equally biased when it comes to half-eaten-mantou’s translations. Half of the reason I enjoyed this novel is entirely due to their translation notes :) Jun You Ji Fou is one of the most beautiful historical danmei novels I’ve read. The author’s attention to detail in the story’s foundation is clearly evident, and after countless palace clichés, it felt refreshing to read an original and clever story. The only thing that didn’t satisfy me about the story was its short length, which caused the ending to unfold too quickly. While the first 80 chapters progressed at a perfect pace, in the last 10 chapters, I honestly felt like I was being forced to race to keep up. However, aside from this, whether it’s the quotes from poems or the symbolism within the story, every moment where the author’s subtle intelligence and taste shone through was incredibly enjoyable. <<less

Tier: A- / Would I read it again: *Sob* Yes... *Sad h**ny noises*.  / Do I recommend it: I highly recommend it if you don't mind smut and tears :')... more>>

In my most humble opinion, this has one of the best—if not the best— smut I have ever read in any genre/novel. This is a tragedy, don't be fooled, but compared to it's sequal (which is a masterpiece, can be found in my s-tier list) it feels like a walk in the park. <<less

Tier: A-- / Would I read it again: Yes.  / Do I recommend it: Definitely. This is the most melancholic and lyrical danmei I’ve ever read, and it left a lasting impression—an impression of a highly depressed person’s Pinterest board aesthetic, to be exact :')... more>>

TL;DR ver: The poetic tone and the achingly beautiful melancholy of the novel allowed me to overlook its many shortcomings. It was a bittersweet and beautiful journey that will undoubtedly stay with me for a long time.

Longass ver: If "Killing me softly" song was a novel, it would be this one. There’s such an elusive, forlorn atmosphere on every page, evoking a deep sense of melancholy that makes me sigh as I read. "…Like a white blossom growing in the ice and snow, lonely and silent, looking fragile and breakable, but some things were indestructible. " this quote from the novel beautifully sums up my positive experience. 

Now for the negative parts: The story generally revolves around emotions and psychology, especially the first half, which feels like looking at an impressionist painting—full of silhouettes rather than detailed shapes. Later on, as the story progresses, the xianxia element comes to the forefront, and I think that's where the problem begins. The dreamlike, melancholic writing style in the first part is more suitable for depicting the character's inner world than for cultivation, which causes the story's fluidity to diminish and take on a stagnant atmosphere. Also, I feel like a lot has been lost in translation. Even I, someone with near zero knowledge of Mandarin and limited historical/mythological understanding, could tell that some things were mistranslated or misinterpreted from time to time. And, like many others, this novel also suffers from the rushed ending.

I pondered for quite some time, debating whether to place this in A or B tier, and in the end, I’ve chosen A. It is a weak novel compared to others in my A-tier list from an objective standpoint, and I’m sure many people would agree with that. However, subjectively, I fell in love with the intoxicating, hazy, and despairing atmosphere the author managed to evoke throughout the journey; which is why it has become one of my favorite danmei novels. <<less

Tier: A-- / Would I read it again: Yeeees!  / Do I recommend it: Go my fellow danmei reader, go and enjoy this "dog-food server extraordinaire" while giggling and kicking your feet.... more>>

Alright, folks, let’s start with the negatives first because I’m about to gush a metric ton of praise afterward.

First: The description and title of the novel have almost no relation to the actual story. While the general premise about a prince and his secret servant is true, that’s pretty much where the connection ends. Don’t let it mislead you—this story goes way beyond that!

Second: This novel needed to be longer. The potential here is IMMENSE. If the author had spent more time delving into and expanding upon the story, this could have been up there with the holy grails of danmei. The pacing felt a bit rushed, leaving some things unresolved and a few plot holes here and there.

Third: Yet another case of a somewhat abrupt and rushed ending.

Okay, now that the negatives are out of the way... Time to praise it to the high heavens!!!

*Deep pre-ramble inhale* See this novel? This is the dog-food server extraordinaire of the danmei world. I’m a married woman—like literally, my husband is sitting right next to me—and even I got served a bowl. I mean, just look at this quote: “Waiting for you wasn’t suffering. Being unable to wait for you is what real suffering is.” LOOK AT IT! What am I supposed to do with my life now??? How can reality ever top this kind of literary heaven, this pure romance, love, and sweetness?! It has everything you could ask for in a romance novel:

Healthy relationship: Checked. Endless pining: Checked. Waiting centuries for their happy ending: Checked. Both of them liking each other but trying hard not to show it: Checked. Shameless ML tirelessly teasing the MC: TRIPLE CHECKED.

I was giggling and kicking my feet for 2/3 of the story because of their interactions.

*Exhale* Phew, now that that’s out of my system, let’s move on to the more "technical" details. I found the story incredibly intriguing. The ancient Chinese mythological beast touch was fantastic, but what I enjoyed most was the author’s writing style. The novel features mythical beasts, minor palace intrigues, and demons, but they’re never the main focus. This story is about the main duo’s hardships and feelings, so even the action scenes have a light, almost effortless feel to them. The poetic touch and the sheer number of quotes that left me staring at the screen were innumerable—and it wasn’t just the main couple. Even the side CP and some side characters as well, their thoughts and feelings were conveyed immaculately.

So, what I’m saying is: Go read it. You won’t be disappointed! <<less

Tier: A-- / Would I read it again: Mayhaps.  / Do I recommend it: Yes, it's a refreshing novel, just as you'd expect from Cyan Wing.... more>>

“Life is such a rare, bewildering thing. We shouldn’t be so wide awake.” – Dr. Emperor

Reading Cyan Wing is like drinking a glass of cold water in the middle of summer heat: REFRESHING! How I miss the days when someone said A.i. and the first thing that came to mind was sci-fi stories with sentient robots and programs, and not countless images of Disney princesses in various poses proving Rule 34... Thanks, Cyan Wing, for reminding me of those good ol’ days :’)

I absolutely enjoyed how the novel tackled rather heavy-ish topics like “hyperrealistic games affecting human morals” and the question of what defines reality and differentiates humans from virtual characters; all in a lighthearted way. While reading, I never felt like ethics or philosophies were being force-fed; instead, everything was simply laid out for me to ponder. Again, I applaud Cyan Wings for maintaining that delicate balance.

One negative I’d say is that, because of how short the story is, I barely had time to connect with the main duo, no matter how well written and cleverly crafted they were. Nevertheless, it was indeed an amazing and fun little story.

Also, Dr. Shen is such a legend. My man not only decided to spend his honeymoon in holoreality but also made sure to live out his maid costume kink to its fullest extent. Mad respect. 10/10. <<less

Tier: A-- / Would I read it again: Not the entire series but certain chapters.  / Do I recommend it: Yeah, only if you are okay with the tags.... more>>

First: I’ve only read the first eight books published by Seven Seas, and I still don’t understand which part made people cry. There were some sad chapters, yes, but none of them felt that tragic. So, I’m still eagerly waiting for that infamous chapter that left everyone weeping. I mean, yes, Meatbun definitely goes all in with the angst, and the whole novel feels like a giant crime scene drenched in dog blood, but... I don’t know... I just can’t bring myself to feel that sad because the tragedy feels so over the top.

So, the reason I enjoy this novel lies in something different than most. I don’t think this is peak plot, nor do I romanticize their dynamic (even at its best, I still find it unhealthy). So, why oh why do I still put it in my A-tier list? The best way I can describe it is that you constantly feel "heat" while reading this. Like there’s an actual fire burning under you. Sometimes it’s subtle, like the warmth of a touch; other times, it’s intense enough to make you sweat. And when it’s time for the actual s*x scenes, it’s a f*cking inferno. Meatbun knows and does one thing the best (besides dog bloodletting), and that’s s*xual tension. This novel has the BEST goddamn edging quality that makes you want to keep reading. And that’s the part I enjoy about it. In that sense, Erha is like one of those "fae fantasy" novels—you know it’s bad, nonsensical, and riddled with red flags, but the smut and petty scenes are still fun enough to make you keep coming back. <<less

Tier: A-- / Would I read it again: Don't think so. Maybe..certain chapters.  / Do I recommend it: If you love soap operas you are going to love this :D... more>>

Again, another Meatbun masterpiece of melodrama. I find it a bit inferior to Erha in terms of plot and characters, but funny enough, I think this one has somewhat healthier relationship dynamics; at least compared to Erha. While reading the sixth book, I had an epiphany and realized this story is essentially an extremely well-done soap opera. I’m not going to specify which scenario it was, but almost every telenovela I watched as a kid had that exact trope:'D So, why do I keep coming back to this book? The same reason I used to watch those cheap soap operas—there was nothing else to watch until my favorite cartoons came on, and despite being super melodramatic, it’s oddly addicting.

And now, after finally finishing it (and reading Meatbun’s little note), I completely understand why I liked certain aspects more than Erha. The reason is simple: Meatbun didn’t know what to do with the characters except Meng-gege! That’s why this story feels more plot-driven than Erha’s lust-filled-angst-bomb style. You can tell her heart wasn’t fully in it (especially after reading her note), but I still like Gu Meng enough to recommend this book, even just for him. <<less

Tier: A-- / Would I read it again: Maybe not the whole thing, but certain chapters—YES.  / Do I recommend it: If you love brutal history with kingdom-building flavor, oh, you are IN for a treat!... more>>

Finally—f*cking finally—an MC with working brain cells! And on top of that, their dynamic is... For the first time, I actually felt my head buzz with anticipation to the point of my ears ringing while reading something. The tension is just... *SWOON*. I don’t know if it’s the writing, the narration, or how the events build to those moments, but I’ve never felt tension in my bones like I did here. The General sitting in darkness, letting his mind roam (Ch. 65), his hoarse "Do you want me dead?" (Ch. 68), and the glorious surrender of "Just this once, Yuan Li, let me indulge myself this once" (Ch. 71)—perfection, absolute and utter perfection!

I adore how unflinchingly it portrays historical perspectives. They’re infuriating, bothersome and irritating; they make me want to strangle the characters (MC included), and I LOVE that. I seriously enjoy when the author isn't afraid to show the ugly bits and controversial things that most of the comment section is cursing at and threatening to "cancel" them for. For me, this is how a good story should be—showing its unique sides be it wrong or right, going against your own morality, clashing with you, making you question things in a different light... Not a cookie-cutter comfort read but a constant itch in your brain that will haunt you and make you yearn for more!

That said... I still want to punch the MC.

History is written by victors; it is especially the case for this novel. And that's the only thing I dislike about it. It's not a fault by any means, just a warning for fellow readers. What you'll get is a "realism" from the eyes of a modern man... to the point of sometimes feeling like a privileged male history-fan's wet dream come true. Transmigrating into a world that is his oyster, he is self-centered and self-important. My logic and brain completely agree that he is the ruler—in the context of this novel's ancient setting—the common people need, and you can't change years upon years of tradition in mere 10 years... but still my heart dislikes him, because I know he could do BETTER than to be a sole monarch continuing the imperialism. <<less