That's just how some people are, they don't actually want to see characters work through trauma. I experienced this with The Broken Ring story. So many readers were irritated that the FL wasn't being more receptive to the ML romantically and intimately. And I argued that her trauma from her past lives made it hard for her to believe in love, to trust those around her, or even want to be vulnerable with other people. Her husband in her first life was so heinous as an individual, I cannot fathom how she isn't losing her mind over being intimate with another man. And then her second life, she thought she escaped only to be dragged back into h*ll.
And do you know what those losers said? The author said what happened in the past lives has no impact on the decisions she's making now!
I was confounded and befuddled. Because that is the ENTIRE premise of rebirth stories! Your previous life was so bad that you get a chance to avoid that fate. And we're supposed to believe that her abusive, violent, and evil husband in the life before isn't a h*ll of a motivator to escape that furure? So yeah, not everyone likes to give characters the room to express their traumas. （￣へ￣）
You're right, I remember those comments too. It's crazy that people get into these heavy stories only looking for fluff and girlboss moments, rather than character progression. Don't get me wrong, there are times I want a light read and seek out rofan stories like that, but to expect every story to be like such and complain when it's not is crazy.
Can't believe so many people in the comments are either hating on the FL, ML, or the story itself, when this has been a great read for me personally.
I'm actually happy that this story is taking trauma more seriously than others of its kind cause usually the FL gets over all of the suffering and torture she had to endure her entire first life way too quickly. FL was literally abused by everyone in her life for over 20 years and she's only been in her second life for a few months so OF COURSE she's not going to trust a soul because all that got her was more pain before. But, even with all that, she still is willing to take calculated risks with the ML rather than completely shutting him out and the story has shown that when she receives genuine kindness it causes her to waver, so she is developing, just slowly as a person with trauma would.
Would I like for her to be a bit more independent when it comes to dealing with her enemies? Sure, but I understand that she literally had nothing and no one on her side, so it's not realistic for her to go from the girl who even servants can beat to a literal queen without some steps in between. As the story progresses and she finds her footing, I'm sure she will be able to handle more situations herself, but I think she's doing the best she can with what little she has had.
As for the ML, I like how the author has chosen to write his feelings for the FL. He's not in love with her, from his POV, he just sees himself in her which is why he cares so much about what happens to her. In a way saving and protecting her is like doing it for himself, which makes sense because he too has been traumatized in his life. He doesn't think he loves her, nor is he confessing, he just wants to protect her for now, but hopefully as she grows to no longer need that protection, he can grow to see that his feelings are not as platonic as he thinks.
I also appreciate how the villains are actually competent and not just idiotic obstacles that anyone with half a brain could deal with. It makes the FL and ML's struggle feel more real and shows how amazing they are to be able to get out of sticky situations. Hope the writing stays consistent because this could turn into one of my favorites