onthesamepage's review

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think it's safe to say that I'm completely hooked.

I had no idea that this second volume would have a trope I love (
deaging
), but I was squealing with excitement when I got to that part. It's a pretty thick book, and yet I found myself flying through it. I love the characters and the development we got in this installment, with both Mo Ran and Chu Wanning coming to realize things about themselves and their past behavior. I also really loved the side characters—Xue Meng continues to grow on me, and the moments where Chu Wanning acts more as a shizun towards his students made me melt. 

There are so many moments that stood out to me, and I made sure to highlight them all so I can revisit them later. The past timeline continues to fascinate me—I'm still so curious about how Mo Ran and Chu Wanning got to the point where cuddling was happening, but I'm guessing it'll be a while still before I get the answer to that question. I'm not complaining, though.

We do get more glimpses into why Mo Ran is the way he is in this volume (I spent a couple of chapters fuming at his shizun for past injustices). They both still suffer from lack of communication, and there are times when I just want to lock them up somewhere and not let them out again, but for some reason it doesn't bother me the way I would expect it to. There's just something about the romance that has me by the throat, and I can't wait to read more.

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indigo_fox's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The second book didn't quite hold my attention like the first one but I still enjoyed it. There were parts where it was hard for me to pay attention to but there were also parts where I couldn't put the book down. It's been fun following the little mystery that is being laid out! And I'm enjoying the interactions between characters, there was some fun banter between Mo Ran and Shizun in this one!

There were some new characters introduced which I found enjoyable. Even the annoying guy dug his way into my heart. There were some fun tropes in this one that I really enjoyed too! I'm excited to see what happens next!

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vael's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5


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mint_frog's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This is the book where we start getting more of Chu Wanning's POV, which is my favourite. It's also the book where we start getting more glimpses into the 0.5 timeline, which are, for the most part, brutal, so beware the trigger warnings.

I had a good time rereading this book, it was fun! The whole Xia Sini plotline has my whole heart. It was so sweet and sad at the same time. The mystery continues building up quite well too. Mo Ran is getting more self-aware and thus less irritating and we get to see more of Chu Wanning, and he's not even suffering all of the time, what a treat!

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moonlitreading_'s review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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iixdarlingroses's review

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

no

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arinnroberson's review

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adventurous dark medium-paced

3.0

Triggers. This one was better. Writting is good and the characters are developing into more interesting people. But I just can’t get over the shit Mo Ran did in his past life to Chu Wanning. 

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_persephone's review

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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cammaleahh's review

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adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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keddy4306's review

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dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The child turned around, "If you laugh, I will kill myself right here," practically written on his face.
(page 74)
Chu Wanning is the drama and I love it. 

Ye Wangxi was a respectable individual; he had no idea that Mo Ran, a rascal, was consuming his recount of righteous indignation like he would some trashy romance.
(page 189)
Mo Ran is such a gossip girl.

Chu Wanning ignored him and asked, "Did that child really exist?"
"Nope." Mo Ran was quiet for a moment, then he suddenly smiled, his dimples deep and charming. He squished the little kid into his arms and said warmly, "I made it up to tease you, obviously. Be good. Go to sleep."
(page 220)
The way this story broke my heart. The first time I read through 2ha I didn't notice the foreshadowing here. 

The rain came down in a deluge, blood pooling and flowing along the ground. The mother devoured her child's entrails.
(page 245)
This scene was beautifully written and will be imprinted on my mind forever. Heart breaking. 

So he simply sat there in the courtyard in a daze, surrounded by peach blossoms in full bloom, holding the clay jar that his little shidi had brought him all the way from the cave. A long while later, he sighed and slapped himself across the face, cursing in a low voice. "You good-for-nothing."
(page 324)
Wwx coded. This also broke my heart. Stupid Shi Mei. 

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Chu Wanning gazed at her, unimpressed. "What ought I be afraid of?" He paused, then pulled Mo Ran closer. "Listen up: This person is mine. I'm taking him."
(page 337)
Chu Wanning being
Xia Sini
for most of this book was critical for his character development. I forgot how fun it was to have them interacting as peers.

I love every time the Zhenlong Chess Formation happens. The white (general) pieces and black (pawn) pieces are exceptional.

Nangong Si and his pupper, Naobaijin made their appearance after Ye Wangxi
purchased/rescued
Song Qiutong, the
butterfly-boned beauty.
We're getting quite a few of the major players introduced, especially with the hints of Mei Hanxue sprinkled throughout the Peach Blossom Springs arc.

We also had our favourite mystery villain show up right at the end with Bugui: no return
(Taxian-Jun's sword)


Cry count: 3 but I cried longer and harder

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