Laeana

So I dropped this and I came back for it now. I had a hard time with it last time and I can’t say it was super easy this time either. There are a few things that makes that I don’t stick to that story, I don’t really know why. I think the pace may be a bit too slow for me, so from time to time I skimmed through pages of chapters instead of focusing totally on it. On the other hand, it is a good plot. I like the direction it takes and I like how it’s handled, even if some mysteries took extra long to be revealed (like Pahn’s upbringing really took soooooo long.) also I think I would have preferred for the plot to be more foreshadowed (like who is the culprit etc) it feels like Sungah gets a bit of Clea’s memories back very late. It was sometimes frustrating to see how helpless she could be in some situation, even if it also helped to grasp her character. Overall the plot reminded of another (being back in a “villainess” body and having a limited time, being weak etc) but it was handled quite differently. I like how there were several layers to it.

I’m not the most fond of the relationship between Sungah and her husband. Tbh, it wasn’t really healthy, and maybe it’s supposed to appeal to me as it is (omg he was dark and he’s on his best behavior for her but he can also be very dark about her) but I don’t like his hyper possessiveness. There’s a thin line between loving someone and treating them like an object, wanting to control their every moves. It landed too many times on that side for me, even at the end when he was happy he had her “trapped in a cage.” Even if Sungah stood against it several times, it still felt like he was getting what he wanted. And I get that he likes her, it’s the first time he feels like this, she’s special etc, but you can love someone and also trust them. So yeah it did irk me a little, maybe I’m the only one. They lacked communication. And also sacrificing 100 people… mmh…

That ending was so not necessary tho it was painful to see after their deaths. Why would you do this to us author?
I think the story is a 4/5 stars.

Last note : I know magic is made as something that exists in that universe but I was still surprised at how Marquess Salami (seriously that name I had a hard time visualizing it seriously) / Salme could literally see people’s life expectancy? And it wasn’t really explained? It sounded like something quite special though.

It’s only hypothesis but at the moment we haven’t seen any trace of moon owl, and it seems like Sapphire still could be him. I feel like it’s a bit early to decide it is effectively not him. Because MC is surprised he doesn’t know about the mermaid story but then she smiles, thinking that he did it on purpose so she could gather everyone’s attention on her. And it makes sense, that he would play along, because his goal is to make her attractive to everyone’s eyes and charming enough they could think she’s a replacement of Marianne. He also still has some similar characteristics to moon owl, so as for me I do think it still could be him.

I’m surprised by the sudden dislike about him actually. Maybe he’s the show coordinator, which implies he has to do some actions, but he still pulled the MC out of her misery, with the promise to free her from her husband. He also asked her to play a role, but he helped her and I did find his interactions with her to be pretty good. From the way he tried to make her gain confidence, to their “role play”, I also think he is the person from her childhood.

But that’s a lot of thoughts that I guess can be proved wrong later who knows haha.