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rebeccazh's Reviews (2.89k)
![大哥 [Dage] by priest](https://assets.thestorygraph.com/assets/placeholder-cover-a3ae92250eb3301e32dc3eabf8d50576c2f047dda89f6ee7cfa9a859cb1fd746.jpg)
A very very good book and simplicity at its best honestly. This book is about a small, dysfunctional family of 3: Wei Qian, his younger sister (I forgot her name coz I read this in June I think), and an orphaned/homeless boy whom he takes in as a younger brother, Wei Zhiyuan. This is a 'level-up' story as Wei Qian struggles to bring up the other two when they have no adults to rely on or money.
In typical priest fashion, Wei Zhiyuan is the rather besotted/obsessed/possessive love interest/secondary main character (see Chang Geng) and Wei Qian is a hardy, tough and mature character (a bit like Lin Jingheng from [b:残次品 Can Ci Pin The Defective |52678272|残次品 Can Ci Pin The Defective (残次品, #1)|Priest|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585085226l/52678272._SX50_.jpg|90896074]). I enjoyed the emotional intensity of the romance, but honestly the Wei Qian and Wei Zhiyuan feel like a familial relationship.
Priest's writing and the themes both shine here. It's literally a kid trying to bring up two other kids and doing odd jobs and stuff like that, but I couldn't stop reading. Firstly, 'levelling up' and domestic narratives are very satisfying when Wei Qian's efforts pay off, and also when all three start to really function and feel like a family. Secondly, the characterizations of both characters are very strong and you really feel like you went through the years with them. Thirdly, I LOVE family- and relationship-centric narratives (think stuff like Minari, Shoplifters (but less depressing), cdramas like Go Ahead, and books like [b:The Time Never Back|15833099|The Time Never Back|Tong Hua|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345215507l/15833099._SX50_.jpg|21569290]. It was so comforting and satisfying to read on all levels!! I was spellbound by this small character/family drama.
So, yeah, really enjoyed this.
In typical priest fashion, Wei Zhiyuan is the rather besotted/obsessed/possessive love interest/secondary main character (see Chang Geng) and Wei Qian is a hardy, tough and mature character (a bit like Lin Jingheng from [b:残次品 Can Ci Pin The Defective |52678272|残次品 Can Ci Pin The Defective (残次品, #1)|Priest|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585085226l/52678272._SX50_.jpg|90896074]). I enjoyed the emotional intensity of the romance, but honestly the Wei Qian and Wei Zhiyuan feel like a familial relationship.
Priest's writing and the themes both shine here. It's literally a kid trying to bring up two other kids and doing odd jobs and stuff like that, but I couldn't stop reading. Firstly, 'levelling up' and domestic narratives are very satisfying when Wei Qian's efforts pay off, and also when all three start to really function and feel like a family. Secondly, the characterizations of both characters are very strong and you really feel like you went through the years with them. Thirdly, I LOVE family- and relationship-centric narratives (think stuff like Minari, Shoplifters (but less depressing), cdramas like Go Ahead, and books like [b:The Time Never Back|15833099|The Time Never Back|Tong Hua|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345215507l/15833099._SX50_.jpg|21569290]. It was so comforting and satisfying to read on all levels!! I was spellbound by this small character/family drama.
So, yeah, really enjoyed this.
Absolutely fascinating. I didn't know reading about genres could be so interesting. Gail Carriger deconstructs the Hero and Heroine's Journey and uses pop culture examples, and goes in depth to provide writing advice and analysis of the Heroine's Journey. In short, the Hero's Journey defines success as (solitary) victory, triumph, power (Batman); it generates feelings of excitement for readers. Narrative endpoints often see the hero alone or so changed from the journey he can no longer return (Frodo).
The Heroine's journey defines success as connection, belonging, family (blood or found); it generates feelings of comfort for readers. Narrative endpoints often see the heroine with community, family, friends, etc. Think Harry Potter, or the typical romance novel trajectory. Detective novels also fall under this category, which does make a lot of sense to me.
Carriger talked about crossovers between the two genres, which was very fascinating and illuminating. And honestly this explained to me why I like the books I like, because of the feeling of comfort and connection.
I lowkey kind of wish this was a bit more concise but nonetheless, I managed to read the whole book continuously despite being in a reading slump. How do I find more books like this...
The Heroine's journey defines success as connection, belonging, family (blood or found); it generates feelings of comfort for readers. Narrative endpoints often see the heroine with community, family, friends, etc. Think Harry Potter, or the typical romance novel trajectory. Detective novels also fall under this category, which does make a lot of sense to me.
Carriger talked about crossovers between the two genres, which was very fascinating and illuminating. And honestly this explained to me why I like the books I like, because of the feeling of comfort and connection.
I lowkey kind of wish this was a bit more concise but nonetheless, I managed to read the whole book continuously despite being in a reading slump. How do I find more books like this...
I was fully prepared for this to be quite bad because, let's be honest, the summary looks like a weeb wrote it. BUT I should have known Annette Marie is trustworthy and her usual tropes are all here: a distinctive and likeable protagonist, hot guys (who can't stop manhandling her so lots of close physical contact), HEA, plot twists, a fast paced story, found family themes, character development and the heroine levelling up in power. This was surprisingly well-researched and I actually know quite a few of the Japanese legends through cultural osmosis via anime and Japanese lessons so it was very fun to see the twists and new takes on the legends.
I have a few gripes: way too much use of Japanese. Sometimes, it's better to use English because the many many Japanese terms are very distracting (even for a reader like me who knows what they mean). And also it comes off like you're exoticizing the language.
I also feel like more time was spent on the angst between the two of them than on the fluffy and fun parts, like bantering, or sweet moments. The first two books were very solid and fun, but the third book was a bit draggy because the romance was just dithering back and forth on 'will they won't they' and bogged down by the heroine's martyr tendencies which were understandable at first but annoying by the end.
But with all that said, this book feels like if a yokai, Spirited Away-inspired fantasy anime was written as a hot and angsty YA romance. I read this over the weekend and it was very nice.
I have a few gripes: way too much use of Japanese. Sometimes, it's better to use English because the many many Japanese terms are very distracting (even for a reader like me who knows what they mean). And also it comes off like you're exoticizing the language.
I also feel like more time was spent on the angst between the two of them than on the fluffy and fun parts, like bantering, or sweet moments. The first two books were very solid and fun, but the third book was a bit draggy because the romance was just dithering back and forth on 'will they won't they' and bogged down by the heroine's martyr tendencies which were understandable at first but annoying by the end.
But with all that said, this book feels like if a yokai, Spirited Away-inspired fantasy anime was written as a hot and angsty YA romance. I read this over the weekend and it was very nice.
Reread 13 Dec 2022: reread this because I was in Bath and I was watching Bridgerton with my friend and of course thought of Jane Austen. She perfected the enemies-to-lovers trope and it is still very fun to read this again. I do find myself seeing a lot of the characters and themes differently a second time round though.
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I love this book!!! SO. GOOD. It's going into my favorites shelf.
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I love this book!!! SO. GOOD. It's going into my favorites shelf.
I wonder if I can squeeze in a few more books on GR before the year ends