3.5 Stars. The story started off strong and ended strong. It didn't meander into an unnecessary plot points and it didn't give you any fake-outs: what happened happened. I appreciate that aspect. While I feel certain situations needed more detail, I understood why the author didn't explore them fully as it would have taken away from the main plot of the story.
As for the ML and FL they were honestly great together. The ML wasn't too overbearing or a complete simp for the FL. And the FL didn't make stupid cringeworthy decisions. She was always honest with the ML and communicated with him to discuss her reasons behind her actions. *chef's kiss*
Now all I need from the author is for them to give me a nice side story with my best girl Bibi!! (I seriously considered dropping this story if Bibi was killed.)
I can't praise this story as those commenters below me; however, I will not completely give it a negative review. The story started out very strong. I was excited at the prospect of having a Saint of Darkness instead of the usual holy saint of light/healing. But the author abandoned the idea soon in favor of family moments with cocoa and then a time skip. We, as readers, learn almost nothing about the abilities of Darkness. We don't even learn why MCs ancestors realized that sacrificing those children was a huge mistake. Your interpretation may swing between low fertility or low ability usage. But the author never explains it. We get a couple of training chapters using Darkness, but it's barely used again until the end.
Next is the ML -- his family issues aren't fully explained. He has a usual trope of: high expectations father, sick mother, younger brother, but suddenly his father is siding with the enemy. We don't see the father as anything: not a knight, a nobel cleric working in the palace, or a loving husband. As for the ML's position in the family an earlier plot tone in the story made it seem like he was plotting to overthrow his father with help from the Salvatore family. But that idea went mostly discarded and only the shell remained in use at the end. Thereby, making his interest in FL very odd.
FL/ML -- Y'all might dispute me, but they have absolutely NO chemistry. Hear me out: FL has issues with trust outside her adopted family, so her first friend is a friend of her brother who happens to also be the tutor approved by her mother. We never see during the time skip FL meeting with her peers or getting to know others outside the ducal estate. So of course, FL latched onto the familiar (ML) as she never officially spread her wings to meet other people. FLs second friend only was able to break through the barrier by being a huge fan of her mother. FL gave no one else a chance to be within her social circle (males or females) as we saw her rejecting all invitations. As for the ML, he gains interest into FLs small circle by being a family approved visitor. He brings her sweets, which he despises; he manipulates his way into being her guard or partner whenever FL is away from her family's home. This may all seem sweet until you realize ML initially started bringing her sweets, so she would be less wary of him during their tutoring and so he could maintain his connection to the Salvatore family. Where's the love?? FL is suffering from slight Stockholm syndrome and ML had an agenda that the author discarded but still alluded to in their interactions.
Other minor issues: The Duchess -- she needed a girl child to be Arabella and was excited to have and train a Dark Saint, but that went nowhere. Several mentions of her betrayal, but it's never really revealed (maybe??) if the Dowager Empress was behind it or caused it. The weak Emperor...the second prince (who became CP) that came out of nowhere beside mentions; the first prince was he fully plotting/evil or not (being manipulated by the flowers the DE gave him)?? His emperor father still did him dirty with the CP announcement and the avoidance. The Dowager Empress was a good primary villain with excellent helpers, but the author muddied the reasoning behind for her villainess behavior with too many dead plotlines. Revenge?? Seeking power??
I honestly started skimming chapters as this story moved on without anything really interesting happening. I gave it a full star for its strong beginning; it gets a half star as I did enjoy the family and another half star for chapter 121 with the sacrificed children -- it made me tear up. All in all, not that great of a read.
I'm unsure if I want to continue or not. I'm only a few chapters in and I really don't like the MC. The MC is angry and rude for no reason -- the things that happened to him before aren't happening to him now. I don't mind him being realistic or harden, but his nasty attitude isn't endearing. He's trying to save the girl, but he's so plain nasty going about it. Yes, the girl is way too optimistic for this zombie apocalypse, but she saved the MC's life first. Instead of calling her names, yelling at her, pushing her, and just being an all-around douche, he could have had sensible conversation with her about their new reality. And definitely used the thug incident to make the conversation stick -- but, nope, not our MC!! More yelling and douchebaggery. I think the only time I was on the MCs side was when he told the girl to put on clothes and she came back wearing a dress like there wasn't a bunch of zombies loitering around outside.
I can usually abide by most manipulative and borderline abusive MLs. But this ML I can't stand to read anymore and watch him get his HEA ending. This ML is an abusive cheater and forces the FL to enter into a extremely toxic relationship. I had hopes for the FL as she was spunky in the beginning, but soon fell victim to idot-damsel trope where she tries to justify the abuse around her as protecting her loved ones. FL even has a great relationship with ML2 who could have helped her thwart being involved with ML -- but that relationship was stumped upon hard. And despite the author's attempts the FL & ML have absolutely almost zero chemistry between them. Yes, they are intrigued by each other, but at the same time they despise each other and due to the MLs rank and power he is abusive in his interactions with the FL. There is NONE, ZERO, NADA, ZILCH, NO love between the two!! FL should have known he was a red flag when he kept killing her birds!!
(The art is pretty.)
I think Raven prefers abusive interactions and doesn't want anyone to care for him due to losses in his life. He believes he's cursed and it extends to those who get too close to him. Speculation: I think his bird half is extremely protective of Raven and probably only rouses when Raven is knocking at Death's door or in real mortal danger. Kinda like a split personality.
It finally updated!! How fortuitous!! I grabbed this to reread it early this morning only to later see an update notification. Hopefully, the updates will keep coming since this is an interesting story.
ML is the prime description of a manipulative, destructive, and crazy. I can't believe he thinks it's all right to flat out torment the woman he "loves" in order to reach his end goals. The majority of his deceptive practices against the FL would have been moot had he gone to her and said their first meeting, while argumentative, made him drawn to her and wanted to marry her. Instead this Crazy ML went about his proposal in the most threatening and manipulative way. ML thinks his cousin, the Crown Prince, is crazy he should definitely take a long look in the mirror. A very long look.
I applaud FL for her elaborate plan for running away. And being able to stay hidden for as long as she did against her battle with her crazy husband. I do wish that her miscarriage hadn't been real and she escaped not only for her peace of mind but to remove her child from their father's manipulative influence.
That poor happy family got all messed up once the ML set eyes upon them. He is scum!! SCUM!! SCUMMM!!
I got that off my chest!! Can't wait for season 3! (ง ° ل °)ง
Kaelus -- it's always the quiet beautiful ones that become the beast of the sheets. But I don't hear Hestia complaining too much.
Diana -- I think she has lost her divine healing powers because she no longer was using them as they were intended when she was gifted them. Her abilities were to help the poor and unfortunate people, but, it appears, leading up to her marriage and afterwards she only used them on the nobility. Hence why her powers diminished and then disappeared; she stopped helping those she prayed for the ability to help.
I'm only sticking around because I wanna see the eggs hatch -- she's been "pregnant" for a super long time.
I know this is the author's story, but, to me, the revenge plot would have been a lot better if FL was set to return to her home country as a business rival and not just under the guise of a fake noble who happens to be the prince's lover. I think it would have slapped harder towards her ex and in-laws to see her returning super wealthy AND as the prince's lover.
The MC isn't a true necromancer; he's a swordsman with ability steals. I've read up to chapter 80 and he's used his "necromancer" abilities one time for a short weak moment. In the beginning, I didn't mind him learning some sword arts to protect himself as his necromancer abilities grew, but that's all he's done is sword arts. I don't mind authors giving a new spin to old ideas, but the fundamental skill of the Necromancer class is summoning. A necromancer is a dark mage of the summoner class!! A necromancer summons others [the dead] to protect, defend, and fight on their behalf!! Yes, the MC absorbs souls, but it's supposed to increase and develop their horde not sword!! The author should have just left the necromancy out if they were only going to focus on swordsmanship. I feel cheated by this fake necromancer story!! ☹☹
If only Dawoon had spoken to someone he trusted when he first started having symptoms of auditory hallucinations. And if only his parents had been more concerned instead of apathetic towards his sudden change in grades and personality that could have gotten their son help before he fell further into psychotic outbursts. They were so worried about the stigma of having a mental illness and the effects on their son's future and their family that brought about his destruction (and the family) by not getting him treated sooner. I felt bad for everyone in this story, but especially me, because I kept waiting for the boyfriend to turn into a red flag and do something crazy, but he was a green flag all along.
The story starts off really strong, but it starts to fizzle and get convoluted as Ze gets closer to the village in his dreams. Honestly, I think this story needed about 30 more chapters to fully flesh it out. I needed more information about the deaths and why the astronomers died in succession and its importance. How the shadow moved? Why his parents hid everything. I just wanted more...more fleshed out motives instead of weird ending. Also did MC maintain his powers?? So much left to explain and explore.
Ummmm, no, sir, you will not be doing what I think you're about to try on the side of the road. Do not attempt to place that 3rd leg in your mouth. You can't dislocate your jaw to make this work!! You are not a snake!!
I am liking how this story is progressing. Sure, I would have liked the FL to put more effort in knowing what happened to the ML to make him suddenly change his tone and yell at her, but after her initial run-in with his mother, she wasn't feeling too secure in his love and acceptance any longer. What I really can't forgive is the ML. He lost 3 years and, so far, didn't make any efforts to find out about his life beforehand? College life? Friends? Clubs? Job? Social media?? Did his parents pay off all the people in his life to hide the fact that he was dating FL?? He knows he can't trust his mother, so why hasn't he hired a PI to find out about his missing years?? So illogical!! Nonetheless, I'm gonna ride this drama train and watch as it all unfolds and connects. (▰_▰)
Catch y'all in season 3!! I honestly wanted some backstory to Soliette and Brian, so I didn't mind the first few chapters in season 2. Just something to show their relationship and commitment. Just some!! I know this is the author's story to tell, but they have dragged the flashback on way too long. They could have emphasized the importance of some plot points and grazed over the rest and the audience would have still gotten the gist of what happened. Like many other readers, I came into this story for Ian and Soliette (Jack) and not Brian and his dragons. This 2nd season I keep skipping chapters looking for the return of Ian's story. Sad, I really liked this story too.
One great cheating circle. Honesty is nowhere to be found in this story. The weak-ass Alpha should have been honest with the Beta after the first incident. Sure they would have fought, cried, but I think they would have gotten past it, since, at the time, it was an anonymous encounter. But then it got bad...and even worse. Cheating nonstop!! The Alpha had plenty of times to end his relationship, but nope, he's too weak. Played the distant card and now the Beta is cheating too. Cheating for everyone!! I don't feel bad for anyone.