Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil Chapter Completed Discussion

The start of the novel was pretty interesting however it gets boring later on. I don't know if it's the writing or the translation but the characters feel very 2D and lackluster. I recommend reading the MTL provided on the spoiler page for a smoother reading experience.

You have your "I don't want to ab*se my child like the og host" MC, the doting ML, and a cute child. Their relationship is solved early on where ML decides not to hate the child because of MC's persuasion and how cute the child is. Six years of hate towards the child gone just like that I guess. (Not saying it's bad but that it could have used more development, especially since it was such a large part of the plot set up.) The latter half of the novel focuses more on politics and schemes with cute family moments sprinkled in.

My two biggest gripes are the main characters were not very proactive after a while and sometimes the MC believes she can handle herself in situations she can't.

Spoiler

1. ML tells MC to stay home a few days and wait for him to come back because there might be danger outside. She needs to buy thread to finish ML's present so instead of waiting for ML to come back, or asking a servant to go instead, MC decides to go out shopping. Then in the same day, she sneaks into the academy ALONE to find clues about missing children just to almost get kidnapped.
2. The emperor gets manipulated by the empress and villain to believe the ML is trying to rebel. While the ML gets sent to the warfront to fight monsters, the side characters try to persuade the emperor, rallies together, and organizes their private armies in case they need to overthrow the emperor. All the ML did was go back and pressure the emperor with the already gathered side characters.
3. When ML is at war, someone tells MC that he's in danger and needs her. She follows him with her son and NO escorts, bodyguards, or maids. Turns out, it was a trap and they get kidnapped.
4. When the villain tries to use witchcraft to take over MC's body, MC and ML are in a hostage situation and can't do anything. But then her unborn kid stops the villain from taking over her body (due to ML's bloodline) and her SEVEN YEAR OLD SON kills the villain.

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