I, The Dragon Overlord

At the moment, I'm thoroughly enjoying the novel. The world-building is exceptional – it's just right, neither too overwhelming nor lacking. The characters have shown promise so far. Since it's still early on, we'll have to see how they develop. By the way, I appreciate the clever nod to Green Moon with the reference to Donald Trump; it's quite amusing (LOL).

It would indeed be delightful for me since I thoroughly enjoy his moments in the alternate realm. However, upon his return to Earth the second time, much of its appeal seems to fade away.

The narrative takes an unexpected turn and evolves into a harem and nationalist-themed story. Unlike most readers, I discovered that the Earth Arcs became only moderately engaging from a certain point, despite the illogical reasoning. Initially, there are numerous plot shifts, requiring one to read around 20 chapters until the focus on kingdom-building emerges. This shares some similarities with titles like "Release That Witch," but instead of dwelling on the daily lives of the characters, it centers more on the protagonist's growth in strength.

It's alright; things took a downturn after all the divine events occurred. Emotions vanished from the narrative, leaving only a focus on profit and efficiency. The stories lacked depth – no love, no passion, just unrelenting greed and self-interest. Gods here resemble corporations, solely concerned with their own gains and indifferent to others. Perhaps the goddess of darkness is the lone exception, showing some emotional inclination, while everyone else operates like machines. In summary, the lack of emotional depth, including for relationships like parent-child or romantic connections, makes the story feel bland and predictable.

Despite that, I still made it to chapter 399, hoping for a greater sense of risk or emotional investment in the characters.

My assessment of this series is a middle ground between the Earth arcs and the Fantasy World (which I'll refer to as the Main World throughout this review). If you skip the Earth arcs, I would rate it 4 out of 5. However, if you include them, it falls more into the 2-3 star category.

The Earth arcs are utterly disappointing. It's best to avoid them altogether. They contribute very little to the overall narrative and seem to drag on endlessly. The writing quality in these sections is abysmal, and there are heavy undertones of Chinese nationalism present. The humor is so cringe-worthy that it can be painful to read, and the characters in these arcs are unlikable. The Earth arcs simply do not redeem themselves.

On the other hand, the Main World arcs are the saving grace of the series. In my opinion, they are excellent. The writing improves significantly, allowing for a deeper connection with the characters and the events unfolding. The plot on the Main World is engaging and keeps the reader interested.

In summary, if you can overlook the Earth arcs, the Main World offers a solid reading experience, but if you find those chapters intolerable, the series' overall appeal might be diminished.

Firstly, the portrayal of Chinese nationalism in the story comes across as cringeworthy. It significantly detracts from the readability of the scenes when the protagonist is back on Earth, making them seem foolish. I gave the book an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, based on a weighted average between the Earth and San Soleil sections. I awarded the Earth storylines a 2 out of 5 and the San Soleil arcs a more favorable 4 out of 5. Unfortunately, it appears to be a common trend among Chinese authors when writing about contemporary settings, especially when China is involved – which, in this case, is quite disappointing. The Earth arcs feel like unnecessary padding, as there's little tension for the protagonist since Earth isn't a source of danger anymore, while there are still enemies present in San Soleil. The main events in these Earth sequences revolve around glorifying China and vilifying its real-life rivals, like the United States and South Korea. The depiction of Japan as an ally to China, given the authors' timeframe, seems somewhat reasonable given the improving relations between the two countries at that time. Initially, the protagonist stated they wouldn't use their powers to drastically alter geopolitics, but it turns out that statement was insincere, as the character actively seeks to dismantle the US with each plot twist.

The work fails to engage as it fixates on mundane details, losing sight of its primary theme. The arc involving the transformation into a dragon feels misplaced when the central dragon's thoughts are the focus. The protagonist's strength-seeking journey serves no purpose other than personal growth, leaving both the reader and the dragon unfulfilled. In pursuing godhood, the protagonist sacrifices everything, and those seeking romance, a harem, or world domination are left disappointed.