- #1
I stumbled across this gem by chance and ended up bingeing the whole thing in just a few days. The premise of a modern office worker getting reincarnated into a romance fantasy world as a civil servant immediately caught my interest.The story follows Liu Zhiqing, an overworked and underappreciated bureaucrat who gets hit by a truck and finds himself reborn as the only male civil servant working at the royal palace. What ensues is a hilarious yet heartwarming tale as Liu navigates the complicated dynamics between the beautiful noble ladies vying for the prince's affection.The romcom elements are on point, delivering plenty of laughs with outrageous misunderstandings and comedic timing. Yet the story also has surprising depth, tackling themes of gender discrimination, overcoming prejudices, and finding one's self-worth. Liu's steady character growth from a passive nice guy to a confident man comfortable in his own skin is immensely satisfying.The translation is excellent, with only a few very minor typos that did not detract from the overall reading experience. My one gripe is that the ending felt slightly rushed, leaving some plot threads dangling. But it wraps up the core story arcs quite nicely.All in all, Civil Servant in Romance Fantasy is a delightfully fun and surprisingly thoughtful read that I'd highly recommend to fans of romcom novels set in fantasy worlds. It's the perfect palate cleanser for when you need a break from grimdark and angst-fests. Give it a try if you're looking for an entertaining escape!