- #1
I liked it, though not as much as other reviews here it seems. Still, it's definitely on the very good spectrum.The concept and the execution of it is fun. The protagonist is not quite as brain dead as others in this genre and his activeness in trying to stay away from the girls is pretty hilarious. The FL are all well developed (initially) with different back stories and personalities that feel well thought out+good reasoning for them falling for MC.For me the novel just takes itself too seriously after the 3rd girl was added to the harem. I kinda just wanted it to go into complete absurdness and lean into the comedy (which is it's strongest part) but instead were doing a pretty strong take on a romance story that I just don't think works at all. (For context the girls aren't yandere. They are just love sick teenage girls and having any romantic relationship with MC could get him executed since they are engaged to the emperor) Showing him affection is literally going to get him killed and they know that, but they still do it. Which after the comedy of that idea wears thin, just makes them really unlikable imo.It's a really fun concept at the begining, because you can buy into it for a short period. Unfortunately, as it goes on its more like 'well why would he ever like you if you're acting like this? And even if you did love him do you want him to die?'.The novel wants to have it's cake and eat it too. Either go full comedy and downplay trying to make these girls likable (like having the MC actually develop some animosity towards them) or go serious and explore the romance side.Trying to do both just doesn't work because no one would ever believe that these girls actually care about this guy in a real way, or that he would have even a bit of positive emotion towards any of them (Considering their actions are literally driving him to death!).