A review by stacieladams21
After Being Forced to Marry the Evil Star General by Gu Sanyue, 顾三跃

5.0

If “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion was a novel, this would be it. This is a historical romance novel with the main focus on Zhao Yelan and Yan Mingting’s relationship development. The plot is simple and easy to follow which as a mood reader, was exactly what I wanted. This is a love story and might be one of the most romance heavy danmei I’ve read.

Characters

Zhao Yelan: cold beauty, frail, smart, conniving, angry, cranky, needs to be coaxed, irritable and unlikable initially, troublesome with a temper, eventually turns in to a tease. He is a rose with a lot of thorns 

Yan Mingting: easy going general, well liked by everyone, teases ZY to provoke him, protector, SO MUCH patience, pure, loyal, greenest of green flags

🔵 Historical fiction/court intrigue

🔵Arranged marriage

🔵Strong dislike/annoyance to adoringly sweet relationship

🔵 Scholar/Political Official x Military General

🔵 Multiple strong females- and all fujoshi and so supportive of them as a couple. An even a cute lesbian couple🥰. For once the females aren’t written just to cause trouble for the MC/ML, be saved, and/or just be prostitutes or concubines 🙄

🔵There is some 🌶️ but it’s in the background and IMO well done.

Some of the things I loved about this book:

❤️ZY finally finding love, a home, and friends who care about him

❤️The confidence and comfort ZY starts to feel with YM

❤️ The cute banter and bickering between them

❤️ Watching them care more and more about each other through their actions

❤️YM’s absolute obsession with YM

This book might have been a teeny bit longer than it should have been but that didn’t bother me because enjoying every second of their relationship.