Set in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms era comes a story of childhood friends and the changes their relationship faces in the midst of war.
From their days of childhood innocence to their time fighting, Zhou Yu and Sun Ce never forgot the promise they made to one another. Yet, as they faced the terror of war both together and alone, there still remained feelings left unsaid between them. But can a promise between children remain strong when those friends face a sudden shift in status and power?
This bittersweet story is the heartwrenching tale of two men and the complexities of their relationship as it transitions from friends to ruler and subordinate.
Don’t recommend if you don’t have any knowledge about the three kingdoms era / don’t know any of these characters. The story could definitely be interesting if you are already interested in the setting but without any knowledge of the three kingdoms era, it’s a really confusing read
"Are you willing to stand with me, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, to conquer the world?" Sun Ce asked, face solemn. "That is all I shall ask. But if you come, you shall not be able to leave."
I'd recommend this book only to those familiar with the historical period and its figures, otherwise, I don't think it's worth picking up. I’m a fan of the characters, especially those from Wu, so seeing a book focused on Sun Ce and Zhou Yu was enough to convince me to read it.
Although marketed as a danmei, there's essentially no romance between the two characters, just a few ambiguous hints that could be interpreted as playful or friendly banter. Don’t start it if that’s what you’re looking for. What’s more, toward the end, the characters Xiao and Da, who historically become the wives of Zhou Yu and Sun Ce, are introduced, leaving me wondering what the author has planned.
The story never really takes off. It’s interesting enough if you’re invested in the characters, but Sun Ce and Zhou Yu are separated for almost the entire book. While I enjoyed appearances by figures like Lü Bu or Gan Ning, I imagine a reader unfamiliar with the era might wonder why certain characters show up only to disappear just as quickly.
"You have to sign your name, stamp, and hand your contract of servitude to me right now. That way I can go to your house later on and demand your mother hand you over."
This hurts to do because I was really excited for this for a while but I can't keep going. I like the two leads, Zhou Yu and Sun Ce, but so far they've barely actually been together and it feels like Zhou Yu has gone from prison and problem to prison to problem and it just feels a bit boring and repetitive. I don't find myself wanting to read it, despite liking it when I do, and I don't really think about it as much. There's also so many names that are just thrown at you almost with the expectation that you just know who they are, which may just be a me issue since I don't really know anything about this period of history. It doesn't help that which is not really what I'm here for. I could have looked past that if I was more engaged and having a good time. I like their bond and their friendship, but after nearly 200 pages, they've spent more time apart than together.
Maybe I'll come back to it at some point. Maybe I won't. But I've tried.