Lie Huo Jiao Chou Chapter Completed Discussion

4 stars!

I read the updated version mostly in raws without MTL (RIP brain) so I'm pretty sure some stuff was lost in translation and I should wait for the translated version later. Nonetheless, I felt that the story had a strong start. It has all the elements I like, with urban fantasy, an almost episodic case book like series of events with one big case tying it together. And the main characters mysterious past linking them together.

The side characters, once again, are alive here and add more to the story than just plot devices. I really liked some details to them that were later revealed towards the end of the book and special shoutout to Wang ze who's hilarious.

Minus 1 star is perhaps in the romance part. I didn't expect it to be overtly romantic but something just felt lacking. Warning for rant: Spoiler

Partially because most of the story occurs in XJ POV, the reader really resonates with his feelings and confusion. And his feelings are very deep. Whereas when it comes to that gradual slow boil to the revelation of his true identity, I don't feel the same gradual realisation on SLY side who seemed more nonchalent about it. So there's an imbalance in emotion that kind of left me unsatisfied. And for most of the story, XJ seems desperate to find a way forward together but SLY is stuck in the past (or that's how I feel). I kind of get that it's part of his character and how the years have worn him down but it's just kind of sad. Lucky there's a HEA. The extras gave a tiny bit of fluff to put them on a somewhat more equal footing but looking back I suddenly realise I don't even know when did SLY even fall for XJ? I might have missed the moment in my reading but it was so much more clearer from XJ's side.

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But ignoring the lack of romance, I enjoyed the setting and the mystery and I really liked XJ (best birb boi) !