DNF 55%
I just can't with this.
This volume was so, so, SO frustrating to read through. The amount of miscommunication and misunderstandings had me nearly rip my hair out in anger. Miyo's meek character reached its peak in this book and I couldn't take it anymore. The conversations and flow of the story felt awkward as all hell, especially after Hazuki came into the picture. There's nothing inherently wrong with her besides being a stereotypical, outgoing big sister type you see in most shojo/josei oriented manga/novels. But somehow, her involvement in Kiyoka and Miyo's relationship only made things worse IMO. Yes, it was Miyo's idea to start her 'bridal' training and yes, Hazuki did a good job helping her- but her fierce, overprotective attitude and "uwu she can do no wrong" stance towards Miyo only further helped in turning the latter into a baby.
You'd think that... after EVERYTHING this couple went through in volume 1, their relationship would get stronger but... nope. It actually seemed to have gotten weaker. While Kiyoka was the one who really, really tried to help his fiancée open up and feel more comfortable, Miyo on the other hand, did everything in her power to destroy it, albeit unknowingly. Yes, the narrative is that her self esteem is low enough to lick dirt- but her loyalty towards Kiyoka is what's supposed to keep her going forward. In an effort to make this volume somehow even MORE dramatic than the last, the author added a bunch of really dumb misunderstandings and another evil family to fight through. Great. More family drama; that's what we really needed in this volume, not well-paced and structured character development. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that the whole point of this volume is to have Miyo get her proper character development; but the way the author wrote it is simply unrealistic and frustrating.
I wanted to power-through this novel, but Miyo's character really annoyed me. I liked how the first half of the story focused on world-building and setting up a decent, supernatural plot. I liked how we had Kiyoka act the part of a loving, understanding and doting husband. I really hated how Miyo was written though, and it's one of the biggest reasons why i DNF'd the book. She refused to open up to her fiancée in fear of 'burdening' him, despite his insistence that she couldn't ever. She kept pushing herself to the point of becoming sick while lying to everyone that she was 'ok', including Kiyoka. She actually believed that Kiyoka would LEAVE HER for 'being a burden', despite EVERYTHING he has done for her. She broke his heart by lying and lying, hiding about her nightmares and sickly state. And the cherry on top? When they both went to the Usuba estate and discovered the truth about her powers- Miyo actually resented her MOTHER for protecting her and sealing her abilities. She really thought it would've been better to have earned the love of her shitty family, who tormented and tortured her in volume 1, rather than the thoughtful protection of her mother. That's insane.
Oh, and the part that really pissed me off? When her cousin Arata asked her if she'd like to come stay with them (her mothers side of the family) or remain with Kiyoka. Miyo, again, was 'afraid' of 'becoming a burden' to Kiyoka. So instead of reaffirming her love and devotion to him; she pretty much shrugged it off and said that it didn't matter, much to Kiyoka's shock and chagrin. My heart broke for him because this man literally juggles between his intense military duties and a wife-to-be with PTSD- and still does an INCREDIBLE JOB as both a commander and fiancée. Give this man a medal.
I also wanted to choke Hazuki for saying that Kiyoka's the idiot and one at fault in their rapidly declining relationship... Sis, your brother did nothing wrong. He was a goddamn sweetheart the whole way through.
My ADHD went off the charts while writing this. There's so much to say but I have so very little patience. I can't even bring myself to think of the right words. There's nothing wrong with reading a book about a heroine like Miyo, and I don't think every female lead should be kickass or anything. But when you write a character this meek, this prone to create misunderstandings- it gets really, really annoying, regardless of her past.
I can't rate this novel, I don't have the right to.