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496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 21, 2024
I often question whether I am well-suited to reviewing books, particularly when I find myself critiquing a story that is competently written but falls outside my personal tastes. I have read books within the harem genre before, but it has never truly appealed to me, as I tend to favor monogamous romances where the emotional connection between two characters is the central focus. That said, there have been rare instances where a harem book was so exceptionally well-crafted that I was able to overlook the harem aspect.
Considering that this is the author's debut novel, I must acknowledge that it is impressively written. The prose is polished, the pacing is steady, and the story is structured in a way that demonstrates a clear understanding of the genre's conventions. The first half of the book was the superior half in my opinion, as it focused on the two leads developing their relationship with each other, with a well-balanced dual-perspective narrative. I have always been most drawn to the early stages of romance - the slow build-up, the mutual discovery, and the gradual deepening of emotions. Stories that emphasize these elements tend to be marketed more toward women (though not always), and as a result, they often feature tropes that specifically appeal to that audience. This frequently includes emotional conflicts between the romantic leads themselves (misunderstandings, betrayals, or external forces that drive them apart) whereas romance written for men often prioritizes external challenges that the couple must overcome together. I enjoyed the first half of this book because it aligned more with my preferences in this regard. The only real obstacle between the protagonists was their mutual obliviousness to each other's feelings, which allowed for an engaging, tension-filled romance without unnecessary interpersonal strife.
Where the story lost me was around the 55% mark, where the singular romance I had been enjoying was abruptly and unintentionally broken. This shift was particularly egregious for me because it immediately preceded an intimate scene. On the topic of intimate scenes, I found that they were competently written but very clearly geared towards a male audience in a way that didn't resonate with me. For me, the appeal of romantic intimacy lies equally in its emotional depth - the sense of vulnerability and connection between two characters - as in the animalistic attraction. Here, however, the focus was on raw lust and, more notably, on showcasing Lily’s obsessive and psychotic devotion to Ethan. While I can appreciate that this was an intentional aspect of her characterization (and a necessity as the book is a yandere), it left little room for the kind of emotional complexity I personally look for in these moments.
Similarly, I found the male protagonist to be a little too flawless - an idealized figure without enough complexity or internal conflict to make him feel truly human. His only notable flaw was that he wasn't an S-tier Slayer. While some readers might appreciate this kind of character, I tend to prefer romantic leads with more depth, flaws, and emotional nuance. Of course, this is a matter of personal preference, and I recognize that others may enjoy the wish-fulfillment aspect of such a portrayal.
In the end, I can see this book appealing to those who enjoy both yandere and harem elements, and it is undeniably well-crafted for its genre. However, it simply wasn’t for me. While I found the first half compelling, my interest waned as the story progressed. As such, I would rate the first half a 4 and the second half a 2, ultimately arriving at an overall score of 3.