- #1
I finished it and there is no romance. This ain't rofan, people. The guy on the cover is the archduke who has a wife and a son older than MC. Simone stays single till the end of the novel. There are 2 characters who may or may not feel something for her but it is never clarified and Simone shows no intention of dating either of them. Basically this is pretty much a shounen/seinen novel.I liked Simone very much. She says that she was 25 before possession and she does act like an adult. I can't express the relief I felt when she looked at a handsome 19yo trying to seduce her and felt like she was watching an younger idol. She acknowledged that he's handsome but that's it. No heart fluttering cuz honestly, he's still a teenager.And I liked that while Simone does get some character development, her goals stay consistent. She wants financial independence, stable income and a secure environment to live in. And by the end of the novel, she earns them. There are actually a few cliche development in the novel but Simone dealt with them realistically with no drama.A handsome prince in disguise following her cuz he's curious about her powers - check! But Simone just treats him as her friend and employee. No crossing the line.Main character's party getting involved with her despite Simone wanting to avoid joining their party - check! But Simone refuses the party invitation while still staying in contact and collaborating when needed. They gradually becomes friends but she doesn't join their adventure.The archduke and duchess starts seeing her as their daughter - check! But as a 25yo mentally, though Simone appreciates their affection and respects them, she doesn't wanna become their daughter and live with them. As an adult, she feels awkward about it and wants to live on her own.The people in the duchy starts loving her - check! But it happens gradually and out of respect because she saved them, not cuz she's cute or pitiful.The protagonist's character and goal stays consistent throughout the novel. She's selfish, not kind, cares little about other people, has a strong heart and is realistic. She doesn't sacrifice herself for others. She doesn't want to take on dangerous jobs if she can avoid them. But when she has to face danger, she's very decisive about it. She wants to save herself and knows that only by taking actions herself can she do that. She works hard, asks for help when she knows that she can't handle it alone and takes whatever advantage she can of bad situations. I loved that she didn't procastinate or hesitate about things.The side characters had decent screentime. They played important roles in fighting alongside Simone but she didn't show much interest in their private life. Whatever she needed to know, she knew about it from the novel beforehand. So we don't get to know much about them except for their combat ability and what kind of role they play in the party. We do get to see a bit more of Louise's perspective cuz he stayed by Simone's side a bit longer than the others and is her first employee/partner. But as Simone doesn't join their adventure, what they do when they're no with her is not shown to us. Also, as there's no male lead, they all get about the same attention a "mc's friend/teammate character" gets in novels.Plot is interesting. World building is good enough. The horror elements are decent too. Some parts actually felt scary and kept me on toes (the fact that I read it at midnight with lights off may also play a part). Final boss was strong and while MC is OP, she still needs to work hard to defeat stronger enemies cuz she lacks combat experience. MC doesn't automatically learn how to fight when she transmigrate and gradually learns with help and experience.Overall, it's a good read. The fights and curse solving were interesting to read. Author's writing quality stays pretty consistent throughout the novel. Arcs don't drag on for longer than necessary. The ending was good but I wish it was a bit longer and more detailed with some extras. It can be said to be kinda a open ending cuz Simone is still young and has her whole life ahead of her. I recommend it.
