- #1
Excellent start but the story dragged on as it progressed. The chapters are dense with descriptions and fillers that could be cut down to move the story along. And while Qi Yan was well written, I was annoyed by Jingnu's wavering and conflicting decisions. She always refuses to think about things on a deeper level. This part of her character never really changed and caused so much tragedy in this story. Actually a lot of filler scenes could have been avoided if she was just a bit more discerning.Some plot points were left open ended - like Jiya and the masked person. The latter rarely stepped out of the shadows. I was expecting a battle of wits between the entire kingdom and the masked person - but it never panned out.All things considered, this was a half-decent story with an interesting setting and believable characters, but it is bogged down by unnecessary details. You can skim through the last quarter without missing too much.