- #1
While I'm only quite at the beginning of the novel (vol2 arc1 chapter 18 - the curent highest available free chapter), I'd call this novel a hidden gem!But before I begin to swoon over the novel let's point out its weaknesses:-The story takes place in the ancient Japan where men rule supreme. Still, as this is a yury story there are quite many - of course beautiful, young and powerful - women in leading positions.- As this is a "wuxia" story we have the thing called blood feud. Meaning, because the weak child of a unimportant branch family lost to and is hurt by the MC, members of the branch family, then the main family and later even a leader wish to kill the MC. A small stone thrown into a pond causes ripples that get bigger and bigger. All that because of a nobody / useless child, while the MC has the name of a powerful family, shows incredible growth (normally impossible without the backing / genes of a powerful family) and has increasingly mighty backings. This has logic gaps, but the story requires enemies and a reason for the MC to get stronger quickly and this is an easy way for story building.- And last my main peeve: Once the action is rolling the author seems to sometimes forget the (currently more unimprotant) story threads / characters. For example the MC rushes after her friend after a "fight" and tells her companion he/ she'll be back in no time, but the companion should call for help if he/she is not back at a certain time. The MC reaches and rescues the friend, but decides to stay with her family for some time instead of going back or even informing her companion at home.Of course the MC needs to stay there for some action only a few chapters later and of course the MC need to be "missing" from home for some time for another story thread to play out. Still, I don't like how the MC seems to completely forget the companion and how this companion currently got so little story focus / remains sallow and in the background.Now, lets get on to the swooning:- It is a Chinese novel that takes part in Japan and does a good job at painting a halve way realistic picture and in no way (at least so far) will it bash the Japanese people or culture.- What sets DSM apart from other novels is, that while it is constrained by its main themes yuri, gender bender and wuxia it does a good job to not adhere to these limits very strictly.* It really shows a world where the women (mostly) have no say in important decisions and are seen as the weaker gender.* The soul of the MC, being a man before coming to this world, is interested in girls. While the body he resides in is that of a woman, who of course was interested in men. Most gender bend yuri novels completely ignore this discrepancy and just set the soul as dominant, so that the now female MC will like women still. DSM though tries to give this situation some thought. While the soul is still dominant and the MC will therefore like women, he/ she can't help but blush and get a bit excited if she sees a beautiful man or gets helped by a warrior.* The MC no longer behaves just like a man, nor does he behave and feel perfectly like a woman. The body remembers how to move, so (intuitive) actions are done mostly girlish while he/ she still has to learn some etiquette. Especially interesting is, that in DSM the MC does get influenced by the body (?) over time - meaning he for example starts to like buying and wearing several woman’s cloths and makeup.- The MC comes from our peaceful time / world and is thrown into a world with ghosts and fighting. It takes time for the MC to adjust to this. While still a boy the MC was shy and quite weak, but as the story progresses he grows in character. The MC will not immediately like fighting / hurting people, but he also doesn't remain afraid of hurting or even killing other people. The growth is a bit fast, but still told in a believable fashion.- What also sets this novel apart from others is, that the MC has needs! An inconvenient topic that most novels steer clear of as it does not fit well with heroic stories in a beautiful fantasy world. Or as a certain arch wizard once said "Crimson magic clansmen don't need to use the washroom". Well, in this story / that age there are no convenient flush toilets and showers - especially not in the wildness and the MC is now in the body of a woman. The story deals with and describes this topic quite well.- As all yuri novels the girls around the MC are interested in her. Still in DSM the girls each have quite a character and won't be satisfied with only looking at eh MC. The story shies away from being R-18, but it is quite descriptive and does touch upon the topics.- And of course, there is love! It is nicely told how the MC tries to stay true to his love for Lily, while all the while also falling for another girl in this world. (Also, according to the tags, the MC also won't get attached to the other girls liking her and the story won't become a typical harem.) All in all, while it has its weeknenes (same as other stories of similar kind and mostly even less than those) - mostly caused by it contrains - its a great story that takes a realistical approach, is fast paced and has great action scense, but also has its comedy moments. It is a gender bend yuri story and doesn't fear to be a bit more descriptive than most <R-18 novels. As for character development, not only the MC is growing, but also the persons around the MC (though so far we only got shot flashes of the character of the probable love interest and the sotry focuses on only the growth of one of the girls around the MC). Finally the mysteries of the world and around the MC are continuously growing and I trust the author to connect and explain them well.Oh, as for the translation, its very well done! Silva is giving explanations where necessary, but makes sure to keep them as well as comments to a minimum as not to break the reading flow. The flow and tone of the interactions / story is well preserved.