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A review by anastasia_sherman
黄金台 (Golden Stage) by 苍梧宾白 (Cang Wu Bin Bai)
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Golden Stage with the Golden Duo: Yan Xiaohan and Fu Shen.
I LOVE THE YANFU PAIR SO MUCH I CANNOT ARTICULATE IT IN WORDS, but I will try my best.
Both of them are everything!
The relationship between the two main characters was incredibly healthy, they communicate, they bicker, (their banter! Oh it's all so swoon worthy I can't help but kicking my feet giggling), they tease, and most importantly they stand by each other when the world is against them and the going gets toughest.
This book was market as "enemies to lovers" with a forced marriage trope, but I don't think that's accurate to describe them.
They have a much more complex relationship than this, even as "enemies" they are the softest pair to each other, that makes you question: are they even enemies in the first place?
"Call me that again, and I may just give up the darkness and turn towards the light for you."
Are you saying you'll say those things to your enemies? I think not!
In the beginning, the YanFu pair had different views of loyalty to the emperor and the nation, and of the world, but they managed to overcome the challenges, that ended with them standing together, and being vulnerable with each other.
Fu Shen: "To have been able to meet you is three lifetimes worth of blessings"
Yan Xiaohan: "There's no need to speak of living apart from the world; even if he ascends to the Heavens or descends to the Yellow Springs, I would go with him."
Now tell me, HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE BOTH OF THEM?
The power couple that they are.
The YanFu pair might be viewed as cold, unlikeable and intimidating bastards of the highest degree by everyone, but never to each other.
"...it could be said that Yan Xiaohan and Fu Shen were a true match made in the Heavens; Fu Shen was a talented military commander, Yan Xiaohan a crafty schemer. The abilities they had for seeking survival in spots of danger, or making a comeback in desperate straits, were simply one and the same."
In terms of plot wise: this is a typical political plot of deception involving court politics, emperor, crown princes, court officials, plotting eunuchs and consorts, hence many names are involved, but it was easy enough to follow through, as long as you pay attention and not skim through when the novel gets political in certain chapters.
The ending was a little confusing for me at first, but after reading the extras, everything was tied up nicely.
To sum up: this is a cozy and comforting read, more to romance than political battle, thanks to the YanFu pair. There's no angst, no miscommunication, I ASSURE YOU, mostly fluffy, although the irony is that they are almost always on the battlefield, they are green flags to one another, and most importantly: CONSENT!!!!! It was stated clearly, so this is a big YES for me.
(There's no explicit smut scenes, everything is implied or fade-to-black, which makes it even more delightful for me personally)
Thus, this is a perfect 5 stars for me, it's definitely going to be one of my favourite reads for this year.
"May we stay together for a long time, and both turn into white-haired gentlemen".
P/S: Oh, the last extra between Fu Tingxin and Sun Luo, thank you so much to the author for giving them a second chance. I don't see it as an Alternate Universe, but more like reincarnation.
"This time their severed red thread had been re-twined into a knot at last, binding them to the affinity they had missed. To the end of this lifetime, they would never let go, and never separate."
I LOVE THE YANFU PAIR SO MUCH I CANNOT ARTICULATE IT IN WORDS, but I will try my best.
Both of them are everything!
The relationship between the two main characters was incredibly healthy, they communicate, they bicker, (their banter! Oh it's all so swoon worthy I can't help but kicking my feet giggling), they tease, and most importantly they stand by each other when the world is against them and the going gets toughest.
This book was market as "enemies to lovers" with a forced marriage trope, but I don't think that's accurate to describe them.
They have a much more complex relationship than this, even as "enemies" they are the softest pair to each other, that makes you question: are they even enemies in the first place?
"Call me that again, and I may just give up the darkness and turn towards the light for you."
Are you saying you'll say those things to your enemies? I think not!
In the beginning, the YanFu pair had different views of loyalty to the emperor and the nation, and of the world, but they managed to overcome the challenges, that ended with them standing together, and being vulnerable with each other.
Fu Shen: "To have been able to meet you is three lifetimes worth of blessings"
Yan Xiaohan: "There's no need to speak of living apart from the world; even if he ascends to the Heavens or descends to the Yellow Springs, I would go with him."
Now tell me, HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE BOTH OF THEM?
The power couple that they are.
The YanFu pair might be viewed as cold, unlikeable and intimidating bastards of the highest degree by everyone, but never to each other.
"...it could be said that Yan Xiaohan and Fu Shen were a true match made in the Heavens; Fu Shen was a talented military commander, Yan Xiaohan a crafty schemer. The abilities they had for seeking survival in spots of danger, or making a comeback in desperate straits, were simply one and the same."
In terms of plot wise: this is a typical political plot of deception involving court politics, emperor, crown princes, court officials, plotting eunuchs and consorts, hence many names are involved, but it was easy enough to follow through, as long as you pay attention and not skim through when the novel gets political in certain chapters.
The ending was a little confusing for me at first, but after reading the extras, everything was tied up nicely.
To sum up: this is a cozy and comforting read, more to romance than political battle, thanks to the YanFu pair. There's no angst, no miscommunication, I ASSURE YOU, mostly fluffy, although the irony is that they are almost always on the battlefield, they are green flags to one another, and most importantly: CONSENT!!!!! It was stated clearly, so this is a big YES for me.
(There's no explicit smut scenes, everything is implied or fade-to-black, which makes it even more delightful for me personally)
Thus, this is a perfect 5 stars for me, it's definitely going to be one of my favourite reads for this year.
"May we stay together for a long time, and both turn into white-haired gentlemen".
P/S: Oh, the last extra between Fu Tingxin and Sun Luo, thank you so much to the author for giving them a second chance. I don't see it as an Alternate Universe, but more like reincarnation.
"This time their severed red thread had been re-twined into a knot at last, binding them to the affinity they had missed. To the end of this lifetime, they would never let go, and never separate."