#4stars — Public Fediverse posts

Endless Protection (2025) review

A special team, including prosecutors Lin Zhi Tao and Bai En Yu, works to protect children through the legal system. They come across crimes that test their emotional strength, but despite the horrifying cases, they have to fight for justice for one of society’s most vulnerable: the children.

Characters

Lin Zhi Tao (played by TBD): A no-nonsense prosecutor who becomes part of the special Juvenile Crime Division.

Bai En Yu (played by Vengo Gao): A corrections officer at a juvenile corrections facility who later joins the prosecution team.

What I liked

• I really love our main sleuthing duo, and I especially like the gregarious Bai, who adores his wife. What a refreshing character to take on, and I’m glad Vengo Gao got a chance to play him. He’s so far from the usual suave characters I keep seeing him play that I’m delighting in the chance to see him do something else.
  
• I like how multi-faceted the drama is. They don’t portray the juvenile delinquents as irredeemable but show that they’re likely the result of their environment. I find myself unexpectedly rooting for some of them.
  
• I like how each case isn’t predictable. I always think that I’ve pinned down the culprit, only to be surprised each time.
  
• I really appreciate the plain ol’, logical, and good scriptwriting. You do wonder why idol dramas just can’t do this while dramas like these can.
  
• This storytelling is what I love about Endless Protection – it’s never straightforward. There are red herrings, surprises, and layers to every mystery.
  
• All the young actors in this show were absolutely brilliant. If there’s one reason to watch Endless Protection (among many), it’ll be this.
  

What I didn’t like

• The crimes are so… difficult to watch (sobs). But anyway, I really, really hurt when I see young people suffer in any way, even on TV.
  
• Some episodes were slow, and it took me a while to get through them, but the rest of the drama is fine.
  

Thoughts about the ending

It’s pretty fulfilling and satisfying, but it doesn’t exactly give you emotional highs.

The case that made the mark for me is that of the master teen schemer that we are teased about throughout the show.

As our budding villainess stood in the dock, hearing her sentence, she broke down, understanding that everything she did was for the wrong reasons.

The fact that the show enabled me to sympathise with such an infuriating character is a testament.

Kaitong’s arc wasn’t violent, fortunately, nor was it action-packed, but the final scene in the courtroom delivered such a punch: Don’t waste your life. Don’t waste your intelligence on revenge and evil.

Conclusion

Story: This storytelling is never straightforward. There are red herrings, surprises, and layers to every mystery.

Acting: It’s such a delight to watch Vengo Gao in such a good role. I’ve only seen him as an aloof heavenly emperor, an aloof kinda-vampire, and an aloof swordsman—you get the idea. So, to see him just let loose as the brash, hot-tempered but good-hearted corrections officer is such a delight. All the young actors in this show were absolutely brilliant.

Costumes and sets: Viewers of Western crime dramas won’t find anything new in this one, but it will give great insight into how Chinese society works and also the mechanics of law and order in the country.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Generally a positive drama that will uplift you, even if the crimes can be depressing.

https://www.europesays.com/dk/68837/ Review: LEGO Mario Kart 72050 Luigi & Mach 8 #4Stars #4/5 #72050Luigi&Mach8 #April2026 #lego #LEGOGroup #LegoMarioKart #LegoReview #LegoReviews #LegoSuperMario #LegoSuperMario2026 #luigi #MarioKart

https://www.europesays.com/dk/49916/ Review: LEGO 11373 Sauron’s Helmet #11373Sauron'sHelmet #4Stars #4/5 #JaeWonLee #lego #Lego2026 #LEGOGroup #LegoIcons #LegoIcons2026 #LegoLordOfTheRings #LegoLordOfTheRings2026 #LegoReview #LegoReviews #LordOfTheRings #March2026 #review #reviews #rlfm #sauron

https://www.europesays.com/dk/49294/ Review: LEGO 43025 Nike Air Max 95 “Neon” #4Stars #4/5 #43025NikeAirMax95 #AirMax #AirMaxDay #AirMaxDay2026 #lego #LEGOGroup #LegoNike #LegoNike2026 #LegoReview #LegoReviews #March202 #March2026 #nike #review

Loving Strangers (2026) review

I had always wanted to watch My Mister, but I never seemed to find the time to do it. Then, Lee Sun-kyun sadly passed away. The drama is already heavy to begin with, and the tragic way the actor passed away … seeing him play a depressed character just felt like I’m watching Lee Sun-kyun suffering for real. So, that’s why I kept putting it off again and again.

When I heard that Loving Strangers was being made, I thought it was really daring that they were even trying to adapt it. Because, how do you top Lee Sun-kyun’s award-winning performance? But I thought if anyone can at least match Lee Sun-kyun, it’ll be Mark Chao.

The Story

This is a tale of two people so worn down by life, they just exist. The first few episodes won’t appeal immediately to people — everything is grey. Our characters wear black and grey clothes, no colour in their wardrobe or surroundings. They don’t smile. Basically, they’re very gloomy and depressed.

The drama could have been incredibly depressing, if not for the fact that they added some thriller elements to it. I find that rather refreshing.

Yu’an is a fascinating character. She may be down and out, but she’s incredibly, incredibly smart — like, so smart she should be working for the intelligence agency of China or something, because she knows how to spy on and manipulate people! She would be quite a villainess if she plied her skills towards evil, but like Jiaqi says to her at one point, “You’re a good person.”

The cold exterior is just years of calluses grown over years of abuse — both from a loan shark, from society’s shunning of her, and also from self-flagellation for something that happened when she was a child.

And then we have the dour and gloomy Jiaqi. His work life sucks; he’s actively being undermined by his corrupt boss, Gu Chen. His family life sucks just as badly — the fire has not only gone out of his marriage, it’s ice-cold. By all measures, Jiaqi is the husband any woman would love: responsible, level-headed, calm, cool-headed. He is stability and comfort. Yet, that is not enough for his wife.

Somehow, these two people at the very bottom of their lives find each other.

What begins as mutual suspicion evolves into something more complex and unexpected.

The Characters

Zhou Yu’an: She juggles multiple gigs to care for her ailing grandmother.

Jiang Jiaqi (Mark Chao): A principled but exhausted mid-level pharma manager exhausted by life.

Gu Chen: Jiaqi’s corrupt boss and the central villain.

Yi Jun is Jiaqi’s wife. Yi Jun is an alpha woman feeling confined in an “average” marriage. She has an affair with Gu Chen.

Pang Jian is Jiaqi’s only champion at the company.

What I Liked

The most satisfying thing about this show is seeing Jiaqi grow from a quiet, doormat-ish man in his marriage and workplace, to someone assertive. Like, super assertive. This probably happened because he finally realised that being withdrawn and agreeable isn’t the answer to his problems.

I also love that we’re seeing Yu’an’s more human side.

I like that they didn’t force a romantic story between Jiaqi and Yu’an. That would’ve ruined the story, massively.

What I Didn’t Like

The only thing I don’t like about this drama is the fact that sometimes it segues to the story of Jiaqi’s uncle and his brother. Both are also down and out, but unlike Jiaqi, they are far more cheerful and more hopeful. Even though they bring necessary comic relief and lightness to the drama — or else it would be incredibly heavy and too depressing — I get impatient when the drama switches to their story. I wouldn’t mind them cutting them out completely.

The drama isn’t perfect, of course. It was excruciatingly draggy at some parts and I honestly wished they had trimmed down the show further.

Was Jialu and Uncle’s story necessary? I don’t know. Sure, they exist to show the kind of family Jiaqi wanted and couldn’t achieve with Yi Jun. But beyond that — too much air time was given to them, and I never understood how their storylines benefited the main one.

Thoughts about the ending

What a lovely ending. Jiaqi and Yu’an’s friendship and unique connection is beyond romance, in my opinion.

It’s the understanding of two mutual souls who had been in very desperate situations.

They saved each other — Jiaqi, with his empathy and kindness; Yu’an with her sleuthing, intelligence, and yes, kindness. Two souls that had started out suspicious and wary of each other formed a connection that transcends romantic love — that’s how I see it.

On the whole, I really loved Loving Strangers. A quiet, moving drama with solid performances from our leads.

Final Thoughts

If you’re hesitating to watch this drama because it won’t top My Mister — it probably won’t — I encourage you to still watch it. I can understand why you hesitate, because it’s a very tall order for Loving Strangers to even match it.

Watching this Chinese adaptation is actually a good idea, especially if you have not watched the K-Drama. Treat it like its own show, and you may enjoy it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Loving Strangers (2026) review

I had always wanted to watch My Mister, but I never seemed to find the time to do it. Then, Lee Sun-kyun sadly passed away. The drama is already heavy to begin with, and the tragic way the actor passed away … seeing him play a depressed character just felt like I’m watching Lee Sun-kyun suffering for real. So, that’s why I kept putting it off again and again.

When I heard that Loving Strangers was being made, I thought it was really daring that they were even trying to adapt it. Because, how do you top Lee Sun-kyun’s award-winning performance? But I thought if anyone can at least match Lee Sun-kyun, it’ll be Mark Chao.

The Story

This is a tale of two people so worn down by life, they just exist. The first few episodes won’t appeal immediately to people — everything is grey. Our characters wear black and grey clothes, no colour in their wardrobe or surroundings. They don’t smile. Basically, they’re very gloomy and depressed.

The drama could have been incredibly depressing, if not for the fact that they added some thriller elements to it. I find that rather refreshing.

Yu’an is a fascinating character. She may be down and out, but she’s incredibly, incredibly smart — like, so smart she should be working for the intelligence agency of China or something, because she knows how to spy on and manipulate people! She would be quite a villainess if she plied her skills towards evil, but like Jiaqi says to her at one point, “You’re a good person.”

The cold exterior is just years of calluses grown over years of abuse — both from a loan shark, from society’s shunning of her, and also from self-flagellation for something that happened when she was a child.

And then we have the dour and gloomy Jiaqi. His work life sucks; he’s actively being undermined by his corrupt boss, Gu Chen. His family life sucks just as badly — the fire has not only gone out of his marriage, it’s ice-cold. By all measures, Jiaqi is the husband any woman would love: responsible, level-headed, calm, cool-headed. He is stability and comfort. Yet, that is not enough for his wife.

Somehow, these two people at the very bottom of their lives find each other.

What begins as mutual suspicion evolves into something more complex and unexpected.

The Characters

Zhou Yu’an: She juggles multiple gigs to care for her ailing grandmother.

Jiang Jiaqi (Mark Chao): A principled but exhausted mid-level pharma manager exhausted by life.

Gu Chen: Jiaqi’s corrupt boss and the central villain.

Yi Jun is Jiaqi’s wife. Yi Jun is an alpha woman feeling confined in an “average” marriage. She has an affair with Gu Chen.

Pang Jian is Jiaqi’s only champion at the company.

What I Liked

The most satisfying thing about this show is seeing Jiaqi grow from a quiet, doormat-ish man in his marriage and workplace, to someone assertive. Like, super assertive. This probably happened because he finally realised that being withdrawn and agreeable isn’t the answer to his problems.

I also love that we’re seeing Yu’an’s more human side.

I like that they didn’t force a romantic story between Jiaqi and Yu’an. That would’ve ruined the story, massively.

What I Didn’t Like

The only thing I don’t like about this drama is the fact that sometimes it segues to the story of Jiaqi’s uncle and his brother. Both are also down and out, but unlike Jiaqi, they are far more cheerful and more hopeful. Even though they bring necessary comic relief and lightness to the drama — or else it would be incredibly heavy and too depressing — I get impatient when the drama switches to their story. I wouldn’t mind them cutting them out completely.

The drama isn’t perfect, of course. It was excruciatingly draggy at some parts and I honestly wished they had trimmed down the show further.

Was Jialu and Uncle’s story necessary? I don’t know. Sure, they exist to show the kind of family Jiaqi wanted and couldn’t achieve with Yi Jun. But beyond that — too much air time was given to them, and I never understood how their storylines benefited the main one.

Thoughts about the ending

What a lovely ending. Jiaqi and Yu’an’s friendship and unique connection is beyond romance, in my opinion.

It’s the understanding of two mutual souls who had been in very desperate situations.

They saved each other — Jiaqi, with his empathy and kindness; Yu’an with her sleuthing, intelligence, and yes, kindness. Two souls that had started out suspicious and wary of each other formed a connection that transcends romantic love — that’s how I see it.

On the whole, I really loved Loving Strangers. A quiet, moving drama with solid performances from our leads.

Final Thoughts

If you’re hesitating to watch this drama because it won’t top My Mister — it probably won’t — I encourage you to still watch it. I can understand why you hesitate, because it’s a very tall order for Loving Strangers to even match it.

Watching this Chinese adaptation is actually a good idea, especially if you have not watched the K-Drama. Treat it like its own show, and you may enjoy it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Loving Strangers (2026) review

I had always wanted to watch My Mister, but I never seemed to find the time to do it. Then, Lee Sun-kyun sadly passed away. The drama is already heavy to begin with, and the tragic way the actor passed away … seeing him play a depressed character just felt like I’m watching Lee Sun-kyun suffering for real. So, that’s why I kept putting it off again and again.

When I heard that Loving Strangers was being made, I thought it was really daring that they were even trying to adapt it. Because, how do you top Lee Sun-kyun’s award-winning performance? But I thought if anyone can at least match Lee Sun-kyun, it’ll be Mark Chao.

The Story

This is a tale of two people so worn down by life, they just exist. The first few episodes won’t appeal immediately to people — everything is grey. Our characters wear black and grey clothes, no colour in their wardrobe or surroundings. They don’t smile. Basically, they’re very gloomy and depressed.

The drama could have been incredibly depressing, if not for the fact that they added some thriller elements to it. I find that rather refreshing.

Yu’an is a fascinating character. She may be down and out, but she’s incredibly, incredibly smart — like, so smart she should be working for the intelligence agency of China or something, because she knows how to spy on and manipulate people! She would be quite a villainess if she plied her skills towards evil, but like Jiaqi says to her at one point, “You’re a good person.”

The cold exterior is just years of calluses grown over years of abuse — both from a loan shark, from society’s shunning of her, and also from self-flagellation for something that happened when she was a child.

And then we have the dour and gloomy Jiaqi. His work life sucks; he’s actively being undermined by his corrupt boss, Gu Chen. His family life sucks just as badly — the fire has not only gone out of his marriage, it’s ice-cold. By all measures, Jiaqi is the husband any woman would love: responsible, level-headed, calm, cool-headed. He is stability and comfort. Yet, that is not enough for his wife.

Somehow, these two people at the very bottom of their lives find each other.

What begins as mutual suspicion evolves into something more complex and unexpected.

The Characters

Zhou Yu’an: She juggles multiple gigs to care for her ailing grandmother.

Jiang Jiaqi (Mark Chao): A principled but exhausted mid-level pharma manager exhausted by life.

Gu Chen: Jiaqi’s corrupt boss and the central villain.

Yi Jun is Jiaqi’s wife. Yi Jun is an alpha woman feeling confined in an “average” marriage. She has an affair with Gu Chen.

Pang Jian is Jiaqi’s only champion at the company.

What I Liked

The most satisfying thing about this show is seeing Jiaqi grow from a quiet, doormat-ish man in his marriage and workplace, to someone assertive. Like, super assertive. This probably happened because he finally realised that being withdrawn and agreeable isn’t the answer to his problems.

I also love that we’re seeing Yu’an’s more human side.

I like that they didn’t force a romantic story between Jiaqi and Yu’an. That would’ve ruined the story, massively.

What I Didn’t Like

The only thing I don’t like about this drama is the fact that sometimes it segues to the story of Jiaqi’s uncle and his brother. Both are also down and out, but unlike Jiaqi, they are far more cheerful and more hopeful. Even though they bring necessary comic relief and lightness to the drama — or else it would be incredibly heavy and too depressing — I get impatient when the drama switches to their story. I wouldn’t mind them cutting them out completely.

The drama isn’t perfect, of course. It was excruciatingly draggy at some parts and I honestly wished they had trimmed down the show further.

Was Jialu and Uncle’s story necessary? I don’t know. Sure, they exist to show the kind of family Jiaqi wanted and couldn’t achieve with Yi Jun. But beyond that — too much air time was given to them, and I never understood how their storylines benefited the main one.

Thoughts about the ending

What a lovely ending. Jiaqi and Yu’an’s friendship and unique connection is beyond romance, in my opinion.

It’s the understanding of two mutual souls who had been in very desperate situations.

They saved each other — Jiaqi, with his empathy and kindness; Yu’an with her sleuthing, intelligence, and yes, kindness. Two souls that had started out suspicious and wary of each other formed a connection that transcends romantic love — that’s how I see it.

On the whole, I really loved Loving Strangers. A quiet, moving drama with solid performances from our leads.

Final Thoughts

If you’re hesitating to watch this drama because it won’t top My Mister — it probably won’t — I encourage you to still watch it. I can understand why you hesitate, because it’s a very tall order for Loving Strangers to even match it.

Watching this Chinese adaptation is actually a good idea, especially if you have not watched the K-Drama. Treat it like its own show, and you may enjoy it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Loving Strangers (2026) review

I had always wanted to watch My Mister, but I never seemed to find the time to do it. Then, Lee Sun-kyun sadly passed away. The drama is already heavy to begin with, and the tragic way the actor passed away … seeing him play a depressed character just felt like I’m watching Lee Sun-kyun suffering for real. So, that’s why I kept putting it off again and again.

When I heard that Loving Strangers was being made, I thought it was really daring that they were even trying to adapt it. Because, how do you top Lee Sun-kyun’s award-winning performance? But I thought if anyone can at least match Lee Sun-kyun, it’ll be Mark Chao.

The Story

This is a tale of two people so worn down by life, they just exist. The first few episodes won’t appeal immediately to people — everything is grey. Our characters wear black and grey clothes, no colour in their wardrobe or surroundings. They don’t smile. Basically, they’re very gloomy and depressed.

The drama could have been incredibly depressing, if not for the fact that they added some thriller elements to it. I find that rather refreshing.

Yu’an is a fascinating character. She may be down and out, but she’s incredibly, incredibly smart — like, so smart she should be working for the intelligence agency of China or something, because she knows how to spy on and manipulate people! She would be quite a villainess if she plied her skills towards evil, but like Jiaqi says to her at one point, “You’re a good person.”

The cold exterior is just years of calluses grown over years of abuse — both from a loan shark, from society’s shunning of her, and also from self-flagellation for something that happened when she was a child.

And then we have the dour and gloomy Jiaqi. His work life sucks; he’s actively being undermined by his corrupt boss, Gu Chen. His family life sucks just as badly — the fire has not only gone out of his marriage, it’s ice-cold. By all measures, Jiaqi is the husband any woman would love: responsible, level-headed, calm, cool-headed. He is stability and comfort. Yet, that is not enough for his wife.

Somehow, these two people at the very bottom of their lives find each other.

What begins as mutual suspicion evolves into something more complex and unexpected.

The Characters

Zhou Yu’an: She juggles multiple gigs to care for her ailing grandmother.

Jiang Jiaqi (Mark Chao): A principled but exhausted mid-level pharma manager exhausted by life.

Gu Chen: Jiaqi’s corrupt boss and the central villain.

Yi Jun is Jiaqi’s wife. Yi Jun is an alpha woman feeling confined in an “average” marriage. She has an affair with Gu Chen.

Pang Jian is Jiaqi’s only champion at the company.

What I Liked

The most satisfying thing about this show is seeing Jiaqi grow from a quiet, doormat-ish man in his marriage and workplace, to someone assertive. Like, super assertive. This probably happened because he finally realised that being withdrawn and agreeable isn’t the answer to his problems.

I also love that we’re seeing Yu’an’s more human side.

I like that they didn’t force a romantic story between Jiaqi and Yu’an. That would’ve ruined the story, massively.

What I Didn’t Like

The only thing I don’t like about this drama is the fact that sometimes it segues to the story of Jiaqi’s uncle and his brother. Both are also down and out, but unlike Jiaqi, they are far more cheerful and more hopeful. Even though they bring necessary comic relief and lightness to the drama — or else it would be incredibly heavy and too depressing — I get impatient when the drama switches to their story. I wouldn’t mind them cutting them out completely.

The drama isn’t perfect, of course. It was excruciatingly draggy at some parts and I honestly wished they had trimmed down the show further.

Was Jialu and Uncle’s story necessary? I don’t know. Sure, they exist to show the kind of family Jiaqi wanted and couldn’t achieve with Yi Jun. But beyond that — too much air time was given to them, and I never understood how their storylines benefited the main one.

Thoughts about the ending

What a lovely ending. Jiaqi and Yu’an’s friendship and unique connection is beyond romance, in my opinion.

It’s the understanding of two mutual souls who had been in very desperate situations.

They saved each other — Jiaqi, with his empathy and kindness; Yu’an with her sleuthing, intelligence, and yes, kindness. Two souls that had started out suspicious and wary of each other formed a connection that transcends romantic love — that’s how I see it.

On the whole, I really loved Loving Strangers. A quiet, moving drama with solid performances from our leads.

Final Thoughts

If you’re hesitating to watch this drama because it won’t top My Mister — it probably won’t — I encourage you to still watch it. I can understand why you hesitate, because it’s a very tall order for Loving Strangers to even match it.

Watching this Chinese adaptation is actually a good idea, especially if you have not watched the K-Drama. Treat it like its own show, and you may enjoy it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Loving Strangers (2026) review

I had always wanted to watch My Mister, but I never seemed to find the time to do it. Then, Lee Sun-kyun sadly passed away. The drama is already heavy to begin with, and the tragic way the actor passed away … seeing him play a depressed character just felt like I’m watching Lee Sun-kyun suffering for real. So, that’s why I kept putting it off again and again.

When I heard that Loving Strangers was being made, I thought it was really daring that they were even trying to adapt it. Because, how do you top Lee Sun-kyun’s award-winning performance? But I thought if anyone can at least match Lee Sun-kyun, it’ll be Mark Chao.

The Story

This is a tale of two people so worn down by life, they just exist. The first few episodes won’t appeal immediately to people — everything is grey. Our characters wear black and grey clothes, no colour in their wardrobe or surroundings. They don’t smile. Basically, they’re very gloomy and depressed.

The drama could have been incredibly depressing, if not for the fact that they added some thriller elements to it. I find that rather refreshing.

Yu’an is a fascinating character. She may be down and out, but she’s incredibly, incredibly smart — like, so smart she should be working for the intelligence agency of China or something, because she knows how to spy on and manipulate people! She would be quite a villainess if she plied her skills towards evil, but like Jiaqi says to her at one point, “You’re a good person.”

The cold exterior is just years of calluses grown over years of abuse — both from a loan shark, from society’s shunning of her, and also from self-flagellation for something that happened when she was a child.

And then we have the dour and gloomy Jiaqi. His work life sucks; he’s actively being undermined by his corrupt boss, Gu Chen. His family life sucks just as badly — the fire has not only gone out of his marriage, it’s ice-cold. By all measures, Jiaqi is the husband any woman would love: responsible, level-headed, calm, cool-headed. He is stability and comfort. Yet, that is not enough for his wife.

Somehow, these two people at the very bottom of their lives find each other.

What begins as mutual suspicion evolves into something more complex and unexpected.

The Characters

Zhou Yu’an: She juggles multiple gigs to care for her ailing grandmother.

Jiang Jiaqi (Mark Chao): A principled but exhausted mid-level pharma manager exhausted by life.

Gu Chen: Jiaqi’s corrupt boss and the central villain.

Yi Jun is Jiaqi’s wife. Yi Jun is an alpha woman feeling confined in an “average” marriage. She has an affair with Gu Chen.

Pang Jian is Jiaqi’s only champion at the company.

What I Liked

The most satisfying thing about this show is seeing Jiaqi grow from a quiet, doormat-ish man in his marriage and workplace, to someone assertive. Like, super assertive. This probably happened because he finally realised that being withdrawn and agreeable isn’t the answer to his problems.

I also love that we’re seeing Yu’an’s more human side.

I like that they didn’t force a romantic story between Jiaqi and Yu’an. That would’ve ruined the story, massively.

What I Didn’t Like

The only thing I don’t like about this drama is the fact that sometimes it segues to the story of Jiaqi’s uncle and his brother. Both are also down and out, but unlike Jiaqi, they are far more cheerful and more hopeful. Even though they bring necessary comic relief and lightness to the drama — or else it would be incredibly heavy and too depressing — I get impatient when the drama switches to their story. I wouldn’t mind them cutting them out completely.

The drama isn’t perfect, of course. It was excruciatingly draggy at some parts and I honestly wished they had trimmed down the show further.

Was Jialu and Uncle’s story necessary? I don’t know. Sure, they exist to show the kind of family Jiaqi wanted and couldn’t achieve with Yi Jun. But beyond that — too much air time was given to them, and I never understood how their storylines benefited the main one.

Thoughts about the ending

What a lovely ending. Jiaqi and Yu’an’s friendship and unique connection is beyond romance, in my opinion.

It’s the understanding of two mutual souls who had been in very desperate situations.

They saved each other — Jiaqi, with his empathy and kindness; Yu’an with her sleuthing, intelligence, and yes, kindness. Two souls that had started out suspicious and wary of each other formed a connection that transcends romantic love — that’s how I see it.

On the whole, I really loved Loving Strangers. A quiet, moving drama with solid performances from our leads.

Final Thoughts

If you’re hesitating to watch this drama because it won’t top My Mister — it probably won’t — I encourage you to still watch it. I can understand why you hesitate, because it’s a very tall order for Loving Strangers to even match it.

Watching this Chinese adaptation is actually a good idea, especially if you have not watched the K-Drama. Treat it like its own show, and you may enjoy it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

The House of Malachite by Rachel Blaufeld https://thebookdisciple.com/the-house-of-malachite-by-rachel-blaufeld/ #4Stars, #DysfunctionalFamily, #ForcedProximity, #OppositesAttract

The House of Malachite by Rachel Blaufeld https://thebookdisciple.com/the-house-of-malachite-by-rachel-blaufeld/ #4Stars, #DysfunctionalFamily, #ForcedProximity, #OppositesAttract

The House of Malachite by Rachel Blaufeld https://thebookdisciple.com/the-house-of-malachite-by-rachel-blaufeld/ #4Stars, #DysfunctionalFamily, #ForcedProximity, #OppositesAttract

Review: LEGO 11372 Autumn Cottage Garden https://www.allforgardening.com/1524521/review-lego-11372-autumn-cottage-garden/ #11372 #11372AutumnCottageGarden #4Stars #4/5 #AutumnCottageGarden #botanicals #garden #GardensOfTheWorld #icons #January2026 #lego #LegoGardensOfTheWorld #LegoIcons #LegoReview #Review

Other Woman Drama by Lani Lynn Vale https://thebookdisciple.com/other-woman-drama-by-lani-lynn-vale/ #4Stars, #AgeDifference, #DysfunctionalFamily, #MCClub

Other Woman Drama by Lani Lynn Vale https://thebookdisciple.com/other-woman-drama-by-lani-lynn-vale/ #4Stars, #AgeDifference, #DysfunctionalFamily, #MCClub

Other Woman Drama by Lani Lynn Vale https://thebookdisciple.com/other-woman-drama-by-lani-lynn-vale/ #4Stars, #AgeDifference, #DysfunctionalFamily, #MCClub

I am Nobody 2 (人之下之决战! 碧游村) Chinese drama review

In the second season of I Am Nobody, our heroes Zhang Chulan and Feng Bao Bao are tasked with capturing a rogue “temporary worker”: Chen Duo, who killed her handler.

However, she is being protected by the head of a mysterious village, which appears to be a haven for people with manufactured superpowers.

Characters

Zhang Chulan (played by Peng Yuchang): Zhang Chulan tries to pretend he’s just a “nobody” but he has actually inherited a much-coveted cultivation technique.

Feng Baobao (played by Wang Yinglu): A skilled Outsider with a deep connection to Zhang Chulan whose entire existence is a dangerous secret.

Wang Ye (played by Hou Minghao): A calm and powerful Outsider. He becomes entangled in the conflicts of Biyou Village while grappling with his own moral dilemmas.

Chen Duo (played by Wen Qi): A former task force employee who turns rogue, Chen Duo’s actions spark a chain of events that reveal dark secrets within the Outsider’s world.

Ma Xianhong (played by Yin Fang): The enigmatic leader of Biyou Village, Ma Xianhong harbours grand ambitions and a dangerous plan to alter the balance of power among the Outsiders.

Xiao Zizai (played by Yan Yikuan): The calm, bespectacled Outsider is both powerful and extremely efficient at hunting down enemies.

Lao Meng (played by Pan Binlong): A mild-mannered but seasoned Outsider with a complicated past tied to Chen Duo.

Liao Zhong (played by Zhao Da): The late head of the Southwest Region, Liao Zhong’s murder sets the story in motion, revealing deeper conflicts within the Inhuman community.

Zhuge Qing (played by Luo Zheng): The heir of Wuhou Qimen, Zhuge Qing faces personal and external trials in Biyou Village, ultimately confronting his inner demons.

What I liked

The drama is hilarious, yet it also delivers a profound, moving message about trust, camaraderie and agency.

The temporary workers were initially suspicious of each other, trained to distrust and kept isolated by their company. I expected a major showdown between them, but the story surprised me by delivering a heartwarming message.

The humor is another thing I loved about I Am Nobody. Its over-the-top brand of comedy could easily fall flat if mishandled, but the cast just does it so well. The special effects are also impressive, and Chen Duo’s actor, Wen Qi, delivers a wonderfully nuanced performance.

What I didn’t like

Near the end, there’s an abrupt info dump from Chulan, where he rattles off his actions in a way that feels disconnected from the show’s usual “show, don’t tell” storytelling. It’s a small misstep in an otherwise stellar drama. I honestly wondered why it even happened. Did the scriptwriters suddenly feel lazy?

Thoughts about the ending

It was an ending I really didn’t expect. I honestly thought our team would end up tearing each other apart because, after all, each had their own agenda.

However, they surprisingly united in a show of compassion as they watch Chen Duo choose death after years of terrible pain and suffering.

Despite the manipulation of their superiors, and their dangerous abilities and distrustful natures, they still formed genuine bonds, and that defied all my expectations.

Conclusion

I Am Nobody is a rare, well-executed urban fantasy from China, packed with hyperkinetic energy and emotional depth. It’s a bright spark of innovation in a CDrama landscape dominated by costumed dramas and modern romances.

Despite its short runtime, it delivers a powerful punch, proving that strong storytelling doesn’t need endless episodes. A beautiful, unusual drama that stands out in every way.

Story: Fast-paced, innovative and hilarious, it packs a lot of punch in a short number of episodes.
Acting: Pretty good overall!
Costumes and sets: Average.
Camerawork: Above average.
Rewatchability: High

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

#4Stars #CDrama #China #ChineseDrama #Fantasy #IAmNobody2 #TV #xuanhuan

I am Nobody 2 (人之下之决战! 碧游村) Chinese drama review

In the second season of I Am Nobody, our heroes Zhang Chulan and Feng Bao Bao are tasked with capturing a rogue “temporary worker”: Chen Duo, who killed her handler.

However, she is being protected by the head of a mysterious village, which appears to be a haven for people with manufactured superpowers.

Characters

Zhang Chulan (played by Peng Yuchang): Zhang Chulan tries to pretend he’s just a “nobody” but he has actually inherited a much-coveted cultivation technique.

Feng Baobao (played by Wang Yinglu): A skilled Outsider with a deep connection to Zhang Chulan whose entire existence is a dangerous secret.

Wang Ye (played by Hou Minghao): A calm and powerful Outsider. He becomes entangled in the conflicts of Biyou Village while grappling with his own moral dilemmas.

Chen Duo (played by Wen Qi): A former task force employee who turns rogue, Chen Duo’s actions spark a chain of events that reveal dark secrets within the Outsider’s world.

Ma Xianhong (played by Yin Fang): The enigmatic leader of Biyou Village, Ma Xianhong harbours grand ambitions and a dangerous plan to alter the balance of power among the Outsiders.

Xiao Zizai (played by Yan Yikuan): The calm, bespectacled Outsider is both powerful and extremely efficient at hunting down enemies.

Lao Meng (played by Pan Binlong): A mild-mannered but seasoned Outsider with a complicated past tied to Chen Duo.

Liao Zhong (played by Zhao Da): The late head of the Southwest Region, Liao Zhong’s murder sets the story in motion, revealing deeper conflicts within the Inhuman community.

Zhuge Qing (played by Luo Zheng): The heir of Wuhou Qimen, Zhuge Qing faces personal and external trials in Biyou Village, ultimately confronting his inner demons.

What I liked

The drama is hilarious, yet it also delivers a profound, moving message about trust, camaraderie and agency.

The temporary workers were initially suspicious of each other, trained to distrust and kept isolated by their company. I expected a major showdown between them, but the story surprised me by delivering a heartwarming message.

The humor is another thing I loved about I Am Nobody. Its over-the-top brand of comedy could easily fall flat if mishandled, but the cast just does it so well. The special effects are also impressive, and Chen Duo’s actor, Wen Qi, delivers a wonderfully nuanced performance.

What I didn’t like

Near the end, there’s an abrupt info dump from Chulan, where he rattles off his actions in a way that feels disconnected from the show’s usual “show, don’t tell” storytelling. It’s a small misstep in an otherwise stellar drama. I honestly wondered why it even happened. Did the scriptwriters suddenly feel lazy?

Thoughts about the ending

It was an ending I really didn’t expect. I honestly thought our team would end up tearing each other apart because, after all, each had their own agenda.

However, they surprisingly united in a show of compassion as they watch Chen Duo choose death after years of terrible pain and suffering.

Despite the manipulation of their superiors, and their dangerous abilities and distrustful natures, they still formed genuine bonds, and that defied all my expectations.

Conclusion

I Am Nobody is a rare, well-executed urban fantasy from China, packed with hyperkinetic energy and emotional depth. It’s a bright spark of innovation in a CDrama landscape dominated by costumed dramas and modern romances.

Despite its short runtime, it delivers a powerful punch, proving that strong storytelling doesn’t need endless episodes. A beautiful, unusual drama that stands out in every way.

Story: Fast-paced, innovative and hilarious, it packs a lot of punch in a short number of episodes.
Acting: Pretty good overall!
Costumes and sets: Average.
Camerawork: Above average.
Rewatchability: High

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

#4Stars #CDrama #China #ChineseDrama #Fantasy #IAmNobody2 #TV #xuanhuan

I am Nobody 2 (人之下之决战! 碧游村) Chinese drama review

In the second season of I Am Nobody, our heroes Zhang Chulan and Feng Bao Bao are tasked with capturing a rogue “temporary worker”: Chen Duo, who killed her handler.

However, she is being protected by the head of a mysterious village, which appears to be a haven for people with manufactured superpowers.

Characters

Zhang Chulan (played by Peng Yuchang): Zhang Chulan tries to pretend he’s just a “nobody” but he has actually inherited a much-coveted cultivation technique.

Feng Baobao (played by Wang Yinglu): A skilled Outsider with a deep connection to Zhang Chulan whose entire existence is a dangerous secret.

Wang Ye (played by Hou Minghao): A calm and powerful Outsider. He becomes entangled in the conflicts of Biyou Village while grappling with his own moral dilemmas.

Chen Duo (played by Wen Qi): A former task force employee who turns rogue, Chen Duo’s actions spark a chain of events that reveal dark secrets within the Outsider’s world.

Ma Xianhong (played by Yin Fang): The enigmatic leader of Biyou Village, Ma Xianhong harbours grand ambitions and a dangerous plan to alter the balance of power among the Outsiders.

Xiao Zizai (played by Yan Yikuan): The calm, bespectacled Outsider is both powerful and extremely efficient at hunting down enemies.

Lao Meng (played by Pan Binlong): A mild-mannered but seasoned Outsider with a complicated past tied to Chen Duo.

Liao Zhong (played by Zhao Da): The late head of the Southwest Region, Liao Zhong’s murder sets the story in motion, revealing deeper conflicts within the Inhuman community.

Zhuge Qing (played by Luo Zheng): The heir of Wuhou Qimen, Zhuge Qing faces personal and external trials in Biyou Village, ultimately confronting his inner demons.

What I liked

The drama is hilarious, yet it also delivers a profound, moving message about trust, camaraderie and agency.

The temporary workers were initially suspicious of each other, trained to distrust and kept isolated by their company. I expected a major showdown between them, but the story surprised me by delivering a heartwarming message.

The humor is another thing I loved about I Am Nobody. Its over-the-top brand of comedy could easily fall flat if mishandled, but the cast just does it so well. The special effects are also impressive, and Chen Duo’s actor, Wen Qi, delivers a wonderfully nuanced performance.

What I didn’t like

Near the end, there’s an abrupt info dump from Chulan, where he rattles off his actions in a way that feels disconnected from the show’s usual “show, don’t tell” storytelling. It’s a small misstep in an otherwise stellar drama. I honestly wondered why it even happened. Did the scriptwriters suddenly feel lazy?

Thoughts about the ending

It was an ending I really didn’t expect. I honestly thought our team would end up tearing each other apart because, after all, each had their own agenda.

However, they surprisingly united in a show of compassion as they watch Chen Duo choose death after years of terrible pain and suffering.

Despite the manipulation of their superiors, and their dangerous abilities and distrustful natures, they still formed genuine bonds, and that defied all my expectations.

Conclusion

I Am Nobody is a rare, well-executed urban fantasy from China, packed with hyperkinetic energy and emotional depth. It’s a bright spark of innovation in a CDrama landscape dominated by costumed dramas and modern romances.

Despite its short runtime, it delivers a powerful punch, proving that strong storytelling doesn’t need endless episodes. A beautiful, unusual drama that stands out in every way.

Story: Fast-paced, innovative and hilarious, it packs a lot of punch in a short number of episodes.
Acting: Pretty good overall!
Costumes and sets: Average.
Camerawork: Above average.
Rewatchability: High

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

#4Stars #CDrama #China #ChineseDrama #Fantasy #IAmNobody2 #TV #xuanhuan

I am Nobody 2 (人之下之决战! 碧游村) Chinese drama review

In the second season of I Am Nobody, our heroes Zhang Chulan and Feng Bao Bao are tasked with capturing a rogue “temporary worker”: Chen Duo, who killed her handler.

However, she is being protected by the head of a mysterious village, which appears to be a haven for people with manufactured superpowers.

Characters

Zhang Chulan (played by Peng Yuchang): Zhang Chulan tries to pretend he’s just a “nobody” but he has actually inherited a much-coveted cultivation technique.

Feng Baobao (played by Wang Yinglu): A skilled Outsider with a deep connection to Zhang Chulan whose entire existence is a dangerous secret.

Wang Ye (played by Hou Minghao): A calm and powerful Outsider. He becomes entangled in the conflicts of Biyou Village while grappling with his own moral dilemmas.

Chen Duo (played by Wen Qi): A former task force employee who turns rogue, Chen Duo’s actions spark a chain of events that reveal dark secrets within the Outsider’s world.

Ma Xianhong (played by Yin Fang): The enigmatic leader of Biyou Village, Ma Xianhong harbours grand ambitions and a dangerous plan to alter the balance of power among the Outsiders.

Xiao Zizai (played by Yan Yikuan): The calm, bespectacled Outsider is both powerful and extremely efficient at hunting down enemies.

Lao Meng (played by Pan Binlong): A mild-mannered but seasoned Outsider with a complicated past tied to Chen Duo.

Liao Zhong (played by Zhao Da): The late head of the Southwest Region, Liao Zhong’s murder sets the story in motion, revealing deeper conflicts within the Inhuman community.

Zhuge Qing (played by Luo Zheng): The heir of Wuhou Qimen, Zhuge Qing faces personal and external trials in Biyou Village, ultimately confronting his inner demons.

What I liked

The drama is hilarious, yet it also delivers a profound, moving message about trust, camaraderie and agency.

The temporary workers were initially suspicious of each other, trained to distrust and kept isolated by their company. I expected a major showdown between them, but the story surprised me by delivering a heartwarming message.

The humor is another thing I loved about I Am Nobody. Its over-the-top brand of comedy could easily fall flat if mishandled, but the cast just does it so well. The special effects are also impressive, and Chen Duo’s actor, Wen Qi, delivers a wonderfully nuanced performance.

What I didn’t like

Near the end, there’s an abrupt info dump from Chulan, where he rattles off his actions in a way that feels disconnected from the show’s usual “show, don’t tell” storytelling. It’s a small misstep in an otherwise stellar drama. I honestly wondered why it even happened. Did the scriptwriters suddenly feel lazy?

Thoughts about the ending

It was an ending I really didn’t expect. I honestly thought our team would end up tearing each other apart because, after all, each had their own agenda.

However, they surprisingly united in a show of compassion as they watch Chen Duo choose death after years of terrible pain and suffering.

Despite the manipulation of their superiors, and their dangerous abilities and distrustful natures, they still formed genuine bonds, and that defied all my expectations.

Conclusion

I Am Nobody is a rare, well-executed urban fantasy from China, packed with hyperkinetic energy and emotional depth. It’s a bright spark of innovation in a CDrama landscape dominated by costumed dramas and modern romances.

Despite its short runtime, it delivers a powerful punch, proving that strong storytelling doesn’t need endless episodes. A beautiful, unusual drama that stands out in every way.

Story: Fast-paced, innovative and hilarious, it packs a lot of punch in a short number of episodes.
Acting: Pretty good overall!
Costumes and sets: Average.
Camerawork: Above average.
Rewatchability: High

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

#4Stars #CDrama #China #ChineseDrama #Fantasy #IAmNobody2 #TV #xuanhuan

I am Nobody 2 (人之下之决战! 碧游村) Chinese drama review

In the second season of I Am Nobody, our heroes Zhang Chulan and Feng Bao Bao are tasked with capturing a rogue “temporary worker”: Chen Duo, who killed her handler.

However, she is being protected by the head of a mysterious village, which appears to be a haven for people with manufactured superpowers.

Characters

Zhang Chulan (played by Peng Yuchang): Zhang Chulan tries to pretend he’s just a “nobody” but he has actually inherited a much-coveted cultivation technique.

Feng Baobao (played by Wang Yinglu): A skilled Outsider with a deep connection to Zhang Chulan whose entire existence is a dangerous secret.

Wang Ye (played by Hou Minghao): A calm and powerful Outsider. He becomes entangled in the conflicts of Biyou Village while grappling with his own moral dilemmas.

Chen Duo (played by Wen Qi): A former task force employee who turns rogue, Chen Duo’s actions spark a chain of events that reveal dark secrets within the Outsider’s world.

Ma Xianhong (played by Yin Fang): The enigmatic leader of Biyou Village, Ma Xianhong harbours grand ambitions and a dangerous plan to alter the balance of power among the Outsiders.

Xiao Zizai (played by Yan Yikuan): The calm, bespectacled Outsider is both powerful and extremely efficient at hunting down enemies.

Lao Meng (played by Pan Binlong): A mild-mannered but seasoned Outsider with a complicated past tied to Chen Duo.

Liao Zhong (played by Zhao Da): The late head of the Southwest Region, Liao Zhong’s murder sets the story in motion, revealing deeper conflicts within the Inhuman community.

Zhuge Qing (played by Luo Zheng): The heir of Wuhou Qimen, Zhuge Qing faces personal and external trials in Biyou Village, ultimately confronting his inner demons.

What I liked

The drama is hilarious, yet it also delivers a profound, moving message about trust, camaraderie and agency.

The temporary workers were initially suspicious of each other, trained to distrust and kept isolated by their company. I expected a major showdown between them, but the story surprised me by delivering a heartwarming message.

The humor is another thing I loved about I Am Nobody. Its over-the-top brand of comedy could easily fall flat if mishandled, but the cast just does it so well. The special effects are also impressive, and Chen Duo’s actor, Wen Qi, delivers a wonderfully nuanced performance.

What I didn’t like

Near the end, there’s an abrupt info dump from Chulan, where he rattles off his actions in a way that feels disconnected from the show’s usual “show, don’t tell” storytelling. It’s a small misstep in an otherwise stellar drama. I honestly wondered why it even happened. Did the scriptwriters suddenly feel lazy?

Thoughts about the ending

It was an ending I really didn’t expect. I honestly thought our team would end up tearing each other apart because, after all, each had their own agenda.

However, they surprisingly united in a show of compassion as they watch Chen Duo choose death after years of terrible pain and suffering.

Despite the manipulation of their superiors, and their dangerous abilities and distrustful natures, they still formed genuine bonds, and that defied all my expectations.

Conclusion

I Am Nobody is a rare, well-executed urban fantasy from China, packed with hyperkinetic energy and emotional depth. It’s a bright spark of innovation in a CDrama landscape dominated by costumed dramas and modern romances.

Despite its short runtime, it delivers a powerful punch, proving that strong storytelling doesn’t need endless episodes. A beautiful, unusual drama that stands out in every way.

Story: Fast-paced, innovative and hilarious, it packs a lot of punch in a short number of episodes.
Acting: Pretty good overall!
Costumes and sets: Average.
Camerawork: Above average.
Rewatchability: High

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

#4Stars #CDrama #China #ChineseDrama #Fantasy #IAmNobody2 #TV #xuanhuan

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh https://thebookdisciple.com/atonement-sky-by-nalini-singh/ #4Stars, #OppositesAttract, #Shifters

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh https://thebookdisciple.com/atonement-sky-by-nalini-singh/ #4Stars, #OppositesAttract, #Shifters

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh https://thebookdisciple.com/atonement-sky-by-nalini-singh/ #4Stars, #OppositesAttract, #Shifters

Feud ( 临江仙) review

Li Qingyue, an insignificant disciple of the Jingyun sect, finds herself in a unique position when she gains the attention of the mighty immortal deity Bai Jiusi who “agrees” to marry her.

However, Bai Jiusi hasn’t fallen head over heels for her. Instead, he believes that she’s playing a game with him. This belief lies in a centuries-old feud he has with Hua Ruyue, a powerful goddess and someone he loved and hated.

Characters

Bai Jiusi (Joseph Zeng Shunxi): A deith whose element is ice. Hua Ruyue’s husband. As they were birthed from Hongmeng and made from the same source, they’ve been entangled in each other’s existence since the dawn of time.

Li Qingyue (Bai Lu): An unremarkable junior disciple of the Jingyun sect.

Hua Ruyue (Bai Lu): The fiery goddess and Bai Jiusi’s former flame. She has a deep grudge against Bai Jiusi.

Fan Ling’er (He Ruixian): A 200-year-old immortal with great craftsman skills.

Zhang Suan (Chen Xinhai): Li Qingyue’s senior at the sect. He secretly likes her.

Xiao Jingsan (Hong Yao): An immortal with shady motives.

What I liked

• Well-developed characters with solid arcs of their own. Excellent character writing!
• It’s beautiful. I like that it broke the trend that divine realms and everyone in it had to be in white, pastels or gold. Instead, the sets and costumes are colourful and seem to get a lot of inspiration from Dunhuang art.
• The complex exploration and depiction of love, especially between a married couple. It dared to go to plot places that more generic xianxias would not dare explore.
• The acting of the main leads is great! They sold me with their performances.
• It’s an original script! We need to celebrate these.

What I didn’t like

• The show took way too long to get to the meat of the story. It painted itself too hard as a tropey, cookie-cutter xianxia (presumably to get a bigger ‘gotcha’ reaction when the real plot is finally revealed). Impatient viewers would have abandoned the drama before it got to the good parts. In fact, I nearly did! Out of curiosity, I decided to spoil myself and discovered that the drama was more than it seems.
• The writing quality is uneven and felt as if it was a case of “too many cooks spoil the broth”. The writer, Zhao Na, who also wrote the mostly-wonderfully-written A Moment But Forever is credited as the first draft screenwriter, but Ren Yanan is credited as the final screenwriter, so we can imagine what changes happened to the script on the way to the screen.
• Some plots were left unexplained.
• Some plots didn’t make sense. (For this, look at the spoilery section below)

Spoilery thoughts about the drama

They tried a little too hard to be mysterious in this drama. Some dramas explain too much. This drama, explained a little too sparsely. This made for entertaining discussions online. People’s speculations about the plots were more entertaining than the actual plot!

Most of my problems with the script were in episodes 1-10, or Ruyue pretending to be the naive, innocent human Li Qingyue. It didn’t make sense that Qingyue would behave the way she did in private if she was Ruyue in disguise. For example, at one point Ling’er spoke threateningly to Qingyue in private, and I wondered if they were putting on a show for the secret cameras in the room or something.

Then there was the main villain’s plot. Just … what was it for? If Jingsan wanted to bring his family back, and he realised the only way was to use the Time Dial that he invented, and it required his sacrifice, why go through all that trouble manipulating Bai Jiusi and Hua Ruyue? Why divide them like this and ruin their lives? If it was to erase a name on the Infinite Steele, the monument that holds back the demon realms, wasn’t there a simpler way to do this?

Far too many questions, and they could do a little bit more explaining with this one!

Thoughts about the ending

It was a most philosophical ending, leaving viewers with a lot to chew on: The role of the divine, forgiveness after unforgivable acts, and rising above hatred and regaining love that was lost.

In the end, Hua Ruyue discovers that while she cannot change her present, she could gift the people in the past a different future, creating a parallel timeline in the present.

I respect the writers for not using that convenient time device to change the future and wiping out our couple’s tribulation in the process. As the deity of time said, you can’t change the past, but I guess you can spin off another existence.

I really did want Bai Jiusi and Hua Ruyue to get their son, Shi An, back. Badly. And I was disappointed that it didn’t happen. But I acknowledge that a “reset button” would’ve cheapened their suffering and would’ve rendered one of the drama’s biggest themes meaningless: Actions have consequences.

Also, I’m also moved that the writers chose to honour such a realistic path for a married couple. Because in real life, so many couples never survived the death of their child. If a convenient reset button had been pressed, it would send the message that a couple’s love can only survive if the child is alive. But by retaining Shi An’s death for our main timeline couple, it sends a hopeful message that love can survive even such disasters, and that even gods cannot conveniently reset the consequences of their actions.

In the end they finally passed their love tribulation, but oh wow, this has to be the most traumatic and difficult love tribulation I’ve ever seen!

Still, even though I am satisfied with our couple’s ending, the last four episodes left me oddly hollow.

For one, there are unexplained plot holes. For example, they never explained that resurrection formation Xiao Jingsan made Ruyue cast. Why would Jingsan help her to resurrect her child if it didn’t help his cause? How would it help him in his quest to blot out the name? Was that even his true motivation?

I think if anything, the plot holes made the discussions about the drama more intense, and for once, for the right reasons. Often, writers and producers of a show would shoot a frustratingly open-ended ending, inciting viewers to generate lots of social media chatter, only the chatter is mostly viewers screaming at the producers for producing such a vile ending.

This time, it isn’t so. Viewers are genuinely debating the villain’s motivations, our couple’s decisions and the parallel worlds. Now, that’s how you generate after-drama chatter on social media! And you don’t need a vague, open ending for this!

I’m glad at least that Bai Jiusi didn’t end up with the dreaded reborn without memories thing, but retained all his memories. That somehow, despite the bitterness of their love tribulation they were still able to ascend beyond that. And that’s, well, godlike!

In the current timeline and the new ones that Ruyue created, Bai Jiusi and Ruyue will be happy, and no longer will they be parted by the schemes of others. Their love has literally survived the cruellest of love tribulations.

And at the risk of sounding blaise and crass, our version will have another child one day, and that’s a kind of hope.

Conclusion

Story: The writing is choppy, with a 10-episode delay into getting into the real meat of the plot. This could drive less patient viewers away. Some plots seem to end nowhere and some themes don’t seem consistently executed. But the character writing is stellar, even for side characters.

Acting: Bai Lu has been accused of “phoning it in” by playing the same characters over and over again. I don’t watch enough Bai Lu dramas to be a good judge of this. To me, the most important question is this: Does the actor fit the role?

Here, Bai Lu fits it and then some, and so does Joseph Zeng.

Admittedly, I was a little sceptical about Joseph Zeng. I first saw him in Mysterious Lotus Casebook and later Snowy Night, TImeless Love. Thanks to his big eyes, people think he can only play playful and idealistic heroes. But a cold, divine lord? Even I had my doubts. But Zeng delivered and then some. He sold me the role, and that’s all that I care about.

In one pivotal scene, I actually found myself tearing up. In general, it’s very difficult for CDramas to make me cry, so this means that their performance has moved me emotionally.

Costumes and sets: I am absolutely enthralled that the divine realm is for once, looking close to how Chinese heaven looks like, full of colour and uniqueness. Gone are the white, pastels and muted golds at last!

Camerawork: Above average, but not what I call amazing.

Rewatchability: Some heart-wrenching moments may be difficult to watch, but there are bright spots of fun that I’ll probably watch again and again.

This drama is for those who love more philosophical xianxias in the same vein as A Moment But Forever. However, if you’re looking for a xianxia with strong “CP vibes”, or one that will have romantic sweet moments, this may not be for you, as romance is just a veneer in this drama. In Feud, the philosophical exploration of love, marriage, fate and divinity takes centre stage.

Final rating: 4 out of 5

#4Stars #baiLu #CDrama #CDramas #China #ChineseDrama #CostumedDrama #Fantasy #josephZeng #Xianxia #zengShunxi

A Captive Situation by Tijan https://thebookdisciple.com/a-captive-situation-by-tijan/ #4Stars, #DysfunctionalFamily, #Mafia/mob, #OnTheRun

A Captive Situation by Tijan https://thebookdisciple.com/a-captive-situation-by-tijan/ #4Stars, #DysfunctionalFamily, #Mafia/mob, #OnTheRun

A Captive Situation by Tijan https://thebookdisciple.com/a-captive-situation-by-tijan/ #4Stars, #DysfunctionalFamily, #Mafia/mob, #OnTheRun

A Captive Situation by Tijan https://thebookdisciple.com/a-captive-situation-by-tijan/ #4Stars, #DysfunctionalFamily, #Mafia/mob, #OnTheRun

A Captive Situation by Tijan https://thebookdisciple.com/a-captive-situation-by-tijan/ #4Stars, #DysfunctionalFamily, #Mafia/mob, #OnTheRun

A Captive Situation by Tijan https://thebookdisciple.com/a-captive-situation-by-tijan/ #4Stars, #DysfunctionalFamily, #Mafia/mob, #OnTheRun

A Moment But Forever (念无双) review

I’ve never seen a platform (or industry) more determined to set up its own drama to fail.

Like many Chinese drama viewers already tired from years of blah xianxia dramas, I went: “Meh, another xianxia.”

First, A Moment but Forever’s first trailer 100% did it dirty. If the goal of the producers was to create the blandest, most generic xianxia trailer, they’ve succeeded handsomely.

I barely even registered that Liu Xueyi, one of my favourite actors, was in it. And when it finally did, I went: “Tis a pity, I don’t think I can endure this factory-line xianxia for him.”

Fortunately, I came across a random post ranting about how the promo didn’t do the script justice; I found out more about the story and was intrigued. I read some of the novel, and got really invested in following the drama if it airs.

Then, the drama’s airing got delayed and delayed … and delayed some more, until most fans despaired at ever seeing it. So, when it finally aired I breathed a sigh of relief that I was finally going to see it.

The drama was heavily mocked by China’s very terrifying fan circles; many mocked it for being a “middle-aged fairy drama”, as if people older than thirty don’t deserve to star in this genre for some reason.

Anyway, long story short: The expectations for this drama was so abysmal that most people said it would be a failure. So, I was bracing myself for a tepid xianxia. But I ended up being surprised by it!

Hilariously, on xiaohongshu, most of the comments I saw were: “I didn’t intend to watch the drama, but I ended up binging all six episodes and now I’m going to office with panda eyes”.

Now let’s get to the meat of the review, and why I say it’s worth your while despite its less-than-stellar marketing and appearance.

The story

In the war between gods and demons, the artifact, “God’s Left Hand” used by the Heavenly God Taihe to seal demons, is cut off and falls to Mortal Realm.

Taihe and the other gods fall into an eternal slumber.

The Youhu fox clan, having discovered the artifact, has used it to get rid of their enemies, the War Demons, and establish their dominion over the world. In a realm cut off from the divine, they are now the gods of the world.

The goddess Wu Shuang (Tang Yan) is sent to the mortal realm to take back the Hand, which will kill Yuan Zhong (played by Liu Xueyi), the high priest of Youhu Clan, who is now host to God’s Left Hand.

She enters the Youhu Clan as Ji Tanyin, to become Yuan Zhong’s personal maid. But during her time with Yuan Zhong she discovers that he is not as evil as people say, and that there’s more to the story of the High Priest of the Youhu clan.

What I like about it

Here are big reasons why you should give the drama a try:

The acting is great!

Now, I wasn’t surprised by Liu Xueyi’s performance having followed him from his days of playing second leads (and almost always outshining everyone else). I expected him to put in a great performance, and he seems to have one scene that wows people in almost every drama he’s in. The scene in the prison is really amazing.

Since I have only watched Tang Yan in Blossoms Shanghai I didn’t know what to expect from her, especially in a genre so different from Blossoms Shanghai.

I’m glad to report that Tang Yan is fantastic. Her voice may make some people brace themselves for the dreaded bubbly xianxia girl (TM), but I reassure you that her character, Tanyin, is nothing like that.

She is straight-forward, sharp-tongued, unimpressed by authority and has this “stop wasting my time with nonsense” air about her that I adore. What’s more, she is a very smart, likeable and honourable character. I’ve not seen a character like hers in a xianxia for a long, long time.

The writing is solid

The scriptwriter is the writer of Love and Destiny, a xianxia praised for its plot. She knows the importance of laying the foundation of making us care for the characters.

Sometimes, it does feel as if some things were left out, but it’s by design.

For example, we, the audience knew (or guessed) at the beggining that the little cute fox that woke Tanyin from her slumber was Yuanzhong. We find out that Tanyin has been searching that fox for a long time.

We are left scratching our heads, wondering why she’d care so much for that fox. Only in a later episode do we find out that Yuanzhong had been talking to her through the jade for years, and she grew fond of him. When he abruptly stopped, she couldn’t let him go and wanted to find out what happened to the little fox.

We, the audience are screaming at the screen. “It’s Yuanzhong! The guy you’re trying to take that arm from!”

Only to find out later that she already knew, and we see a scene where she discovered the half of the jade the little fox had spirited away.

Was this because the writer forgot about it and inserted it later?

No, it’s mostly to create a sense of anticipation in the viewers, the “I really need to watch the next episode” feeling that not many writers can pull off convincingly.

There’s no love at first sight either. Both Yuan Zhong and Tanyin started out suspicious of each other. However, you can clearly see their relationship getting warmer and warmer in a logical manner as the series progresses.

I really loved how she wove Tanyin and Yuan Zhong’s stories together, and I can’t wait for them to finally fall in love.

They do not insult the viewers’ intelligence

There’s no Dude Who Tells You What’s Up, something that I really hated in another xianxia that I mildly enjoyed: Love of the Divine Tree.

Writers of factory-assembly-line xianxias are just too lazy these days, turning characters into Exposition Machines that tell us what’s happening instead of showing what’s happening.

For example, I love how they dramatized the strained relationship between Yuan Zhong and Tang Hua. The longing odd looks they send each other, the reactions both have when other people mention their names. You know they have a history, and then we see by episode 6 that they were besties and Yuan Zhong’s imprisonment changed Tang Hua.

I love this careful storytelling, no right-hand man or woman just being Exposition Machine asking: “Hey, you guys used to be best friends, what happened?”

The message and heartbreak of their lost friendship was communicated merely by the actors’ expressions.

I love that they don’t treat us viewers as simpletons who needs everything to be explained to.

Interesting and well-written side characters

This is a rare drama that gives its side characters proper arcs and growth. Except for most of the War Demons, which felt like paper mache villains, most are memorable and fascinating.

It’s a return to xianxia’s roots; it’s deeply philosophical

Many Western viewers have only come to watch xianxia in the last few years. While it’s great that more foreign viewers are now watching Chinese dramas, this is a personal heartache of mine, because what they think of as xianxia isn’t really the “classic” or “true” xianxia of old.

There are many ways modern xianxia like Love Between Fairy and Devil, and Till the End of the Moon have diverged from its xianxia roots.

However, one primary way is that modern xianxia has abandoned the idea that one can become gods through meritocracy and by cultivating the right virtues. In the old tales, anyone can become gods. Even rocks! One attains immortality by cultivating the right mindset, their abilities, and doing good deeds.

Instead, in modern xianxias you see that one becomes gods or immortals because of their race or through mastering some kind of magical spell.

This “you are an immortal because you’re born into a race” is a modern injection from webnovel writers who are possibly influenced by Western fantasy*. And since most modern xianxia these days are adapted from webnovels, we get this transference.

Many long-time viewers like me have longed for a return to xianxia’s more meritocratic, Taoist and Buddhist roots.

What’s more, the purpose of immortals have been lost, with many xianxia dramas focused on the love affairs between immortals, when the many xianxia of old focuses on immortals caring for human beings and rescuing them from peril.

*Many Chinese dramas are adapted from webnovels. I’d say a majority of them. This can be problematic, but that’s a very long story for another day.

What I didn’t like about it

• The drama’s last arc was really rushed, and our villains were dispatched too quickly and unconvincingly.
• That ending. Not a bad and terrible ending by any means. (I’ve seen so much worse. Look at the ending section for more information.)
• Admittedly, the set design and costumes were rough in the first few episodes. There were some costumes and hair pieces that made me go: What in the world was the stylist thinking? But I have to say, unlike most folks in China, it didn’t bother me so much that it turned me off watching the drama completely. That honour belonged to Burning Flames.

At the end, the flaws of the drama is mild to me, and despite my complaints about the ending, it did not spoil the drama or my appreciation of the drama.

About the ending

I’m not going to go into much detail about the ending. For that, do read my episode recap and analysis of A Moment But Forever, where I go into detail about my theories about what happened and why I firmly believe it’s a happy ending.

But I’ll be honest with you, when I heard that it was an open ending, I wanted to scream.

However, I was quite relieved after watching the ending that it was not one of those frustrating open endings, but one that firmly leaned towards a happy ending.

In a way, it is thematically fitting for the drama. (After all, the Chinese title, 念无双 basically means “Missing Wu Shuang”, but what can I say?

The ending was unnecessary and for once I want the director to stop trying to be ‘arty’ with endings like these.

Viewers want closure, (and if possible, kisses and babies) and in this day and age dominated by fast food dramas, they do not have patience for philosophical endings. Give them some closure, give them some sugar after so many episodes of bitterness.

I was mostly upset that this open ending would affect its Douban scores. And I was right, It opened at 6.7, gradually rose to 6.8, though in my mind, it deserves at least better than Love Under the Divine Tree’s 7 above rating. (To me, a 7.2 Douban score would’ve been fair.)

I liked Divine Tree well enough, but that xianxia had vastly inferior writing and acting, and it just rubs me the wrong way that it got better marks just because it had a crowd-pleasing ending.

Final verdict: 4 stars

Like so many Chinese dramas these days, it is highly flawed, but it came very close to perfection and is probably one of the best written and performed xianxia in years.

#4Stars #AMomentButForever #CDrama #CDramas #China #ChineseDrama #CostumedDrama #Fantasy #LiuXueYi #LiuXueyi #TangYan #TV #念无双

Walking Red Flag by Lani Lynn Vale https://thebookdisciple.com/walking-red-flag-by-lani-lynn-vale/ #4Stars, #FakeRelationship, #Mafia/mob, #MCClub

Walking Red Flag by Lani Lynn Vale https://thebookdisciple.com/walking-red-flag-by-lani-lynn-vale/ #4Stars, #FakeRelationship, #Mafia/mob, #MCClub

Walking Red Flag by Lani Lynn Vale https://thebookdisciple.com/walking-red-flag-by-lani-lynn-vale/ #4Stars, #FakeRelationship, #Mafia/mob, #MCClub

Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force (slightly spoilery review)

I have a very soft spot for the good old-fashioned shenmo genre because I grew up watching dramas about gods like Nezha, Sun Wukong and Erlang Shen. These are stories adapted from ancient Chinese folk tales and mythology, and classics novels that are centuries old.

Creation of the Gods I came at a time when the Chinese entertainment scene was dominated by dramas and movies about gods falling in love (generally referred to as xianxia). As a result, any drama with supernatural elements have come to be known as xianxia.

Creation of the Gods would probably be labelled a xianxia by some, but it’s more of a shenmo because the gods and demons are on more serious missions than romance. The return of this classic genre was a breath of fresh air in a market full of xianxia romances.

In case you’re not aware, Creation is based on the 16th-century, Ming Dynasty novel, Fengshen Bang (封神榜) or “Investiture of the Gods”. It has about 100 chapters and was first published between 1567 and 1619. (According to Wikipedia.)

Creation of the Gods I was a tour deforce of Chinese cinema, and it predictably and most deservedly won several prestigious awards in China. But will Part 2 live up to the first part’s fame?

The story

In Creation of the Gods I, we see the rise of Yin Shou (Kris Phillips), a revered general-prince who seizes the power of the throne by murdering his father and brother, and then his once-loyal vassals one by one. Eventually, even his wife and son falls to his ambition. At the end of movie, his son Yin Jiao (Chen Muchi) and Ji Fa (Yu Shi), a once loyal soldier and heir to the Xiqi fiefdom, rebels.

In Creation of the Gods II, Yin Shou is now losing his strength and power despite the help of the fox spirit, Su Da Ji (Naran), and the dark sorcery of the three-eyed Wen Zhong (Wu Hsing-kuo).

Female general Deng Chanyu (Nashi) promises to kill the traitor, Ji Fa, and bring back the powerful Fengshen Bang for the ailing emperor.

The immortals Ne Zha (Wu Ya Fan), Erlang Shen (Ci Sha)and Jiang Ziya (Huang Bo) ends up in Xiqi city to help defend it against Yin Shou’s forces, which includes giants, monsters and a three-eyed general with fearsome magical powers.

What I liked

• The special effects have improved over Part I
• The stakes are higher and the battle scenes very cool
• More cool powers and cool gods!
• The plot is tight, fast-paced and exciting.
• General Deng Chan Yu (played by Nashi) is going to set the bar for all female generals in Cdramaland from now on.
• Yin Jiao makes one heck of a grand re-entrance!

What I didn’t like

• Ji Fa makes a number of frustrating decisions, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment that much as I see him as an inexperienced leader more used to following than leading. He is not as cunning as Yin Shou and that’s his Achilles’ heel. We see him being bitten by this over and over again in the movie. I really hope he has learned his lesson by the end of this movie, because he faces a foe even more formidable in the third movie!
• Er Langshen and Nezha remains bland, personality-wise and mere sidekicks. Oh well, can’t demand for the sky, I guess!

Final thoughts

I’m not the sort to overanalyse popcorn movies. Because this is what Creation of the Gods I and II is, an enjoyable holiday movie to enjoy with friends and family. This isn’t a Rooster-award winner that makes you think about the meaning of life. This is supposed to be fun, so don’t expect it to do more than entertain the heck out of you. And I think in that respect, it sure fulfilled its mission very well.

I think that if you want to find something wrong with Creation of the Gods 2, you will find it. As there are a number of major movies jostling for No.1 in China right now, understandably everyone is comparing the movies with each other. Weibo being Weibo, the criticisms of Creation of the Gods II can be harsh.

But I tell you right now, that reading those before watching the drama is not a good idea because it will colour your perception more negatively than necessary. As usual Weibo is all about the horse race, which movie got a better rating, which movie got better viewship or box office earnings, blah blah. People seem more interested about which movie is no.1 instead of discussing a movie’s merits without comparison.

I was aware of the criticisms, which mostly is about Ji Fa’s bad decisions, but didn’t read them in depth. Now that I’ve seen it, I think a lot of it was nickpicky and probably with an agenda to push certain movies to be no.1 in the public’s eye. (I mean, this is Weibo, after all. Hah!)

Personally, Creations II reminds me of the second part of the Lord of the Rings, where our heroes face an impossible siege and a terrible army. I tend to love these “it gets dark before the dawn” moments in a trilogy, so Creation II was no different.

As a result, Part 2 of any saga tends to suffer the most because the story feels incomplete because there’s satisfying resolution because the major big bad has not been beaten.

So do I like Part I or Part 2 better? I do think Part 1 is a better story as it built up the world, everything is new and fascinating, and the tight suspense that led towards the end result was nail-biting. Seeing Ji Fa and Yin Jiao face reality, escape their brainwashed upbringing and finally seeing what Yin Shou’s true nature … that character journey and development can’t be beat.

However, personally, as I said before, I often prefer Part II because it is the classic “things get worse before it turns the corner” part of the overarching story.

I felt that Creation II ended at a very good place, not cliffhang-y, but yet leaving you with a thirst for more.

The action and plot never faltered even one second. And there were many cool battle moments. And the female general Deng Chan Yu? Now that’s a right proper female general!

If it’s playing in a theatre near you, do make the effort to see it in the cinema. It’s that kind of movie that you need to experience on the big screen.

PS: There are three end credits scenes so don’t leave the theatre when the movie ends.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

#4Stars #ChineseMovies #CreationOfTheGods #Fantasy #InvestitureOfTheGods #Shenmo

Bank on Me review

After the fabulous Are You the One, I was struggling to find a drama just as good to fill in the gap. Never thought that a drama about shenanigans at a bank would win me over The Double, but it is what it is!

But there’s a good reason why: The drama is helmed by big weights in the Chinese drama industry, and the quality shines.

It’s directed by Shen Yan, Magnolia Award best director winner at the 23rd Shanghai TV Festival, and written by veteran playwright Zhang Ting, an award-winning scriptwriter who has written award winners Wild Bloom and The Long River.

In the article, A TV series viewers can bank on Zhang Ting shared that he became fascinated by the online novel Qian Tu (meaning “a career in money”), which the drama is loosely based on. He found the novel’s insider perspective fascinating, as it offers a fresh look at the banking world, far beyond typical interactions like withdrawing cash.

To prepare, Zhang and his team visited multiple banks, interviewing presidents and staff while learning about industry regulations and terms, especially in light of China’s recent financial reforms. This research has paid off because having worked in a bank in my past, I can nod and think to myself, yup, been there done that!

I shared my first impressions of Bank On Me a few weeks ago. Do read it, if you haven’t.

The story

Lin Qiang was the deputy director at United Bank, but after refusing to sign off on a shady loan, he’s demoted to a struggling branch called Longyuan. His buddy Zheng Shuai also gets demoted and follows him to the branch.

Lin Qiang has to figure out how to turn the place around while clashing with the branch president, Hao Wei. As the story unfolds, Lin Qiang not only helps the branch recover but also uncovers a bigger conspiracy behind the loan mess.

Lin Qiang, is too upright to be a “team player”. So, HQ tries to make him quit by demoting him. Didn’t work. So, they promoted him. Lin is worried about the sudden good favour from the bosses. And he was right…it was the start of an even bigger plot against him.

I don’t think I would have survived office politics at a bank ☠️

Characters

• Lin Qiang (Bai Yu) – the principled banker
• Zheng Shuai (Wang You Jun) – his loyal friend
• Hao Wei (Li Hong Tao) – the Longyuan branch president
• Cheng Xing Yuan (Wang Zhi Fei) – a power banker and mysterious moover and shaker in the boardrooms
• Luo Sha (Esther Wang) – A key female character, known for her sharp personality.
• Xing Li (Dong Yong) – One of Lin Qiang’s superiors.

What I liked

The plot and characters kept me guessing
Throughout the series, you are kept guessing about the real masterminds. The people whom you think are the masterminds turn out not to be, and then you question the “noble intentions” of the supposed heroes.

Surprising character moments
You think you understand how this world and the characters operate. Then, there are moments where everything is upended. The most moving moment for me was when a brown noser confides in our hero, saying: “You are a talented man who can get a job anywhere. People like you can afford to be idealistic, for the rest of us, we have to be dogs.”

Oof, that hits hard if you’ve spent any time at all in corporate environments.

An equally devious protagonist
What’s amazing about Lin Qiang is that he uses the people who use him just as deftly. He may hate the game that he’s in, but he knows how the game is played.

A fascinating look into the Chinese finance industry
Banking is an industry where, if you f*** up, there will be dire consequences. This is true around the world, but God help you if you are a lawbreaking banker in China. Let’s just say that they don’t play around when it comes to consequences over there.

Realistic depiction of vicious corporate politics
The moves are made in boardrooms and meeting rooms. I’ve worked in corporate, and let me tell you, it gets scary up there! I’m actually appreciative that it did not resort to the murder/violence plot to heighten the suspense or tension.

Amazing actors
The actors are absolutely masterful. I am actually in awe of how they even make me care about villains.

What I didn’t like

To be honest, there’s very little I disliked! The pace could’ve improved, but it’s a very minor niggle.

Conclusion

This drama is more complex than it looks. It’s not just the story of an underdog corporate idealist fighting against his sycophantic and psychopathic corporate colleagues.

It’s the complicated dance of Machiavellian men, and in this world, our hero understands that he has to be as manipulative and cunning as they are to beat them.

Additional reading:

Final rating 4 out of 5 stars

#4Stars #CDrama #CDramas #China #ChineseDrama #ModernCdrama #reviews #TV

Bombshell by Sarah Maclean https://thebookdisciple.com/bombshell-by-sarah-maclean/ #4Stars, #HateToLove

Bombshell by Sarah Maclean https://thebookdisciple.com/bombshell-by-sarah-maclean/ #4Stars, #HateToLove

Bombshell by Sarah Maclean https://thebookdisciple.com/bombshell-by-sarah-maclean/ #4Stars, #HateToLove

Mini Review | The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Inspired by a little known piece of history this brilliant novel explores the intersection of family, identity and internalised racism. Recommended! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 Stars

https://thewallflowerdigest.co.uk/books/book-reviews/4-star-books/mini-review-the-vanishing-half-by-brit-bennett/

#4Stars #MiniReviews #BookReview #Books #Family #Fiction #Identity #MiniReview #Racism #ReadIn2023

Godkiller

Following a bloody war, the worship of gods has been forbidden in the Kingdom of Middren. Kissen is a veiga, a killer of the gods appointed by the king, and she has a score to settle. She may be god-touched, but she will never forgive them for the death of her family. But when a young noble asks her for help, she finds herself faced with a god she cannot kill, not […]

#4Stars #godkiller #hannahKaner #lgbt #Review

https://www.curiositykilledthebookworm.net/2023/03/godkiller/