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Twin Jades of Jiangdong #1
Twin Jades of Jiangdong (Novel) Vol. 1
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.
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.
372 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2026
About the author
Fei Tian Ye Xiang
97 books211 followersAssociated Names:
* 非天夜翔
* Arise Zhang
* Fei Tian Ye Xiang
* เฟยเทียนเย่เสียง (Thai Profile)
* 非天夜翔
* Arise Zhang
* Fei Tian Ye Xiang
* เฟยเทียนเย่เสียง (Thai Profile)
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 11, 2026
Enjoyment of this novel will depend on how you define three things: 1) Danmei/BL 2) Romance and 3) Bad endings. I will post mine at the end in case it’s considered a spoiler. Just know this is a historical fiction novel and neither JJWXC or Novel Updates have BL tags 🫣. Also, if you love learning about history though reading this will be perfect for you! This story was fascinating to me and I loved looking up all the characters and events so it took me a little longer than normal to read.
The heart of this story is the relationship between Zhou Yu and Sun Ce from childhood till death during a very unstable time in China history. It’s beautiful and tragic but strong and reliable. Historic events and time change things of course so be prepared for your heart to break and be put back together multiple times 💔
Personally, I think you can read this not knowing anything about the time period (end of Han Dynasty, Three Kingdoms Era, Battle of Chibi/Red Cliffs, etc) but I think it will be more enjoyable if you read up on the different real life characters like Cao Cao, Zhao Yun, Lu Bu, etc. Just about every character plays a significant role in Chinese history. Just remember that it will spoil you on who dies, how and who kills them
I finished the FTL (which had multiple maps and detailed history timelines!) so I could finally know for myself 1) is there any romance? 2) do they get together/stay together? and 3) what exactly is the “BE” everyone says it has?
❗️Spoilers below:❗️
1)There is yearning, sadness, joy, angst, pain, sorrow, fear, love, unsaid feelings, an unwavering connection, regret, and more- all the things that come with a love story- but they do not have any romantic intimate moments, they do not ever end up together (in fact they marry sisters), and one of them dies early. Seven Seas labels this as danmei but they also initially labeled Kinnporsche as danmei and that’s Thai so…
2)I didn’t consider this to have any romance at all. There were a few hints of more than platonic feelings, some yearning, occasional flirty behavior, and an extremely sad scene with Zhao Yu and his mom when he told her he didn’t wanted to get married. I don’t need physical intimacy for something to be considered romantic but IMO still no romance.
3)As far as a BE, if you expected a couple pairing and them to end up together then yes, it’s a BE. Also, it has tragic events as it is based off of history, so there is definitely heartbreak and death. The heartbreak is more about the relationship and how it changes. I don’t consider this a BE. It’s a story with some tragic elements though.
I thought this novel did a terrific job telling a beautiful and tragic story but I don’t think it will be enjoyed by everyone- especially if you are looking for a romance forward danmei. Also, I think you really have to like history, politics, war, etc.
Enjoyed this as a buddy read with @Laura!’
I have so many other thoughts on this very short novel so I might be editing often.
The heart of this story is the relationship between Zhou Yu and Sun Ce from childhood till death during a very unstable time in China history. It’s beautiful and tragic but strong and reliable. Historic events and time change things of course so be prepared for your heart to break and be put back together multiple times 💔
Personally, I think you can read this not knowing anything about the time period (end of Han Dynasty, Three Kingdoms Era, Battle of Chibi/Red Cliffs, etc) but I think it will be more enjoyable if you read up on the different real life characters like Cao Cao, Zhao Yun, Lu Bu, etc. Just about every character plays a significant role in Chinese history. Just remember that it will spoil you on who dies, how and who kills them
I finished the FTL (which had multiple maps and detailed history timelines!) so I could finally know for myself 1) is there any romance? 2) do they get together/stay together? and 3) what exactly is the “BE” everyone says it has?
❗️Spoilers below:❗️
1)There is yearning, sadness, joy, angst, pain, sorrow, fear, love, unsaid feelings, an unwavering connection, regret, and more- all the things that come with a love story- but they do not have any romantic intimate moments, they do not ever end up together (in fact they marry sisters), and one of them dies early. Seven Seas labels this as danmei but they also initially labeled Kinnporsche as danmei and that’s Thai so…
2)I didn’t consider this to have any romance at all. There were a few hints of more than platonic feelings, some yearning, occasional flirty behavior, and an extremely sad scene with Zhao Yu and his mom when he told her he didn’t wanted to get married. I don’t need physical intimacy for something to be considered romantic but IMO still no romance.
3)As far as a BE, if you expected a couple pairing and them to end up together then yes, it’s a BE. Also, it has tragic events as it is based off of history, so there is definitely heartbreak and death. The heartbreak is more about the relationship and how it changes. I don’t consider this a BE. It’s a story with some tragic elements though.
I thought this novel did a terrific job telling a beautiful and tragic story but I don’t think it will be enjoyed by everyone- especially if you are looking for a romance forward danmei. Also, I think you really have to like history, politics, war, etc.
Enjoyed this as a buddy read with @Laura!’
I have so many other thoughts on this very short novel so I might be editing often.
March 9, 2026
2.5 /5 *
I understand why this has a low average rating now.
It started off ok but by the 50% + mark my interest waned.
The plot is pretty much:
Zhou Yu (MC) and Sun Ce (ML) join forces.
Then they have to separate for some reason and sometimes don’t see each other for YEARS.
Repeat.
Thank god our trusty post-delivering falcon called Fei Yu was there to ensure all the plans went off without a hitch. They were the most hard-working character in the novel.
On a positive note, you can tell the author has a lot of passion about this time period in history and has done their homework. However, I mostly read danmei for the romance so won’t be picking up volume 2 because it’s non-existent.
Despite me not loving this, big shout out to Stacie. I had a lot of fun buddy reading this with you! If anyone wants to buddy read with me in the future, just let me know and we can make it happen =)
I understand why this has a low average rating now.
It started off ok but by the 50% + mark my interest waned.
The plot is pretty much:
Zhou Yu (MC) and Sun Ce (ML) join forces.
Then they have to separate for some reason and sometimes don’t see each other for YEARS.
Repeat.
Thank god our trusty post-delivering falcon called Fei Yu was there to ensure all the plans went off without a hitch. They were the most hard-working character in the novel.
On a positive note, you can tell the author has a lot of passion about this time period in history and has done their homework. However, I mostly read danmei for the romance so won’t be picking up volume 2 because it’s non-existent.
Despite me not loving this, big shout out to Stacie. I had a lot of fun buddy reading this with you! If anyone wants to buddy read with me in the future, just let me know and we can make it happen =)
February 8, 2026
"You're this kite. I hold your string in my hand so you will always come back to me in the end."
I finished this feeling quietly impressed and a little weighed down, in a good way. The story leans heavily into war, military politics, and the constant pressure of survival. A lot of time is spent on planning, negotiations, illness, travel delays, and the unglamorous work of holding power together. Progress comes slowly, and even success never feels safe for long. The pacing can feel heavy at times, especially when chapters focus on preparation or recovery instead of visible breakthroughs, but that weight made the setting feel believable to me. I also liked where the volume ended. It felt like a natural stopping point that gave closure without pretending the danger was over.
The characters are what stayed with me most. Zhou Yu carries himself with careful control, always thinking several steps ahead, every decision shaped by responsibility and a quiet fear of losing what he’s protecting. Because he holds so much inside, the moments where grief or devotion break through land with real force. Sun Ce feels like his opposite in the best way. He moves through the story with confidence and physical warmth, expressive and impulsive, yet deeply attentive to the people he loves. He understands others instinctively and commits without hesitation. Together, their connection feels grounded in shared history and mutual reliance. It’s intimate and tense, communicated through trust, proximity, and choice rather than declarations.
Since this is only a two book series, I found myself wishing there had been a little more space for romance in the first volume. The focus stays firmly on war and political maneuvering, and the emotional moments are intentionally quiet and restrained. I didn’t dislike that approach, but I wanted just a touch more softness early on. Even without it, the bond between the leads feels earned and deeply personal, and the story left me invested and eager to see how everything resolves.
Date Read: 2026.02.08
I finished this feeling quietly impressed and a little weighed down, in a good way. The story leans heavily into war, military politics, and the constant pressure of survival. A lot of time is spent on planning, negotiations, illness, travel delays, and the unglamorous work of holding power together. Progress comes slowly, and even success never feels safe for long. The pacing can feel heavy at times, especially when chapters focus on preparation or recovery instead of visible breakthroughs, but that weight made the setting feel believable to me. I also liked where the volume ended. It felt like a natural stopping point that gave closure without pretending the danger was over.
The characters are what stayed with me most. Zhou Yu carries himself with careful control, always thinking several steps ahead, every decision shaped by responsibility and a quiet fear of losing what he’s protecting. Because he holds so much inside, the moments where grief or devotion break through land with real force. Sun Ce feels like his opposite in the best way. He moves through the story with confidence and physical warmth, expressive and impulsive, yet deeply attentive to the people he loves. He understands others instinctively and commits without hesitation. Together, their connection feels grounded in shared history and mutual reliance. It’s intimate and tense, communicated through trust, proximity, and choice rather than declarations.
Since this is only a two book series, I found myself wishing there had been a little more space for romance in the first volume. The focus stays firmly on war and political maneuvering, and the emotional moments are intentionally quiet and restrained. I didn’t dislike that approach, but I wanted just a touch more softness early on. Even without it, the bond between the leads feels earned and deeply personal, and the story left me invested and eager to see how everything resolves.
Date Read: 2026.02.08
January 28, 2026
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
August 1, 2026
3.75/5 stars
(Page 188/chapter 4)
“I’ll leave you to your own devices. I’m tired.”
“Then let’s sleep together,” Sun Ce suggested.
Zhou Yu cleaned up the bed, and they pulled one blanket over their bodies as they pressed together to sleep. Zhou Yu’s bed was tiny, and they both had large builds, so they ended up with their hands and feet pressed together. A few more sounds drifted in from outside, and Sun Ce’s eyes raised to look at the ceiling.
“It’s winter,” he said, amused, “and yet there’s still so many rats.”
Not expecting such a comment from Sun Ce, Zhou Yu chuckled out loud.
Sun Ce continued, clearly entertained, “Tomorrow we need to inform the great general, so he can bring the infestation under control.”
“You brought the rats with you,” Zhou Yu replied. “I’ve lived here over a month and never saw one, but as soon you came—rats. Make sure you aren’t bitten in your sleep.”
Honestly I loved their platonic relationship, although they don't get together. It's sad really, they talk about it a couple times of how they'll "get a wife in the future" as if they're forced to marry the opposite sex so that they'd carry on their bloodline despite them so obviously being into eachother. This is realistic though both historically and currently. It's so cute that they sleep with eachother so much, its a daily routine everytime they're finally able to see eachother, although they get long separations a LOT in this volume, and I mean a lot. A couple times it ranges from half a year to multiple years. At the end of the story, it's about 4-5 years after the beginning, if that gives you the clear idea; and the beginning is when the two reuinite after not seeing eachother since their childhood.
I was kind of worried of not liking or atleast being neutral with this duology because of the ratings, and honestly I can understand them because this was falsely placed as a "danmei" when the characters are heavily platonic, not romantic or sexual. Although, I do believe that if this had a good ending instead of a bad one they could have gotten together. But at the same time, I do feel like Sun Ce's dad is a part of the reason (not exactly sure if it is actually, because of obvious reasons... I literally just finished volume 1) since he had a whole lot of acting before thinking when killing people. And in chapter 6 we can see Sun Ce being somewhat influenced in that, as well as still having the need to revenge him, but Zhou Yu managed to stop him beforehand when the ones he was about to kill weren't even heavily involved with them. So, I'm not fully surprised that Sun Ce went batshit crazy in volume 2, because he still hasn't gotten his revenge in this volume. Meaning he's slowly losing his patience and getting more and more upset, especially with him getting into more arguments with Zhou Yu despite this not being a reoccurance in the other chapters as adults.
Anyways, I also liked Sun Quan and Cao Pi's interactions, they were so silly. Honestly, this volume reminded me of Ballad of Sword and Wine because there were many names you had to remember, and for the obvious part... politics.
(Page 188/chapter 4)
“I’ll leave you to your own devices. I’m tired.”
“Then let’s sleep together,” Sun Ce suggested.
Zhou Yu cleaned up the bed, and they pulled one blanket over their bodies as they pressed together to sleep. Zhou Yu’s bed was tiny, and they both had large builds, so they ended up with their hands and feet pressed together. A few more sounds drifted in from outside, and Sun Ce’s eyes raised to look at the ceiling.
“It’s winter,” he said, amused, “and yet there’s still so many rats.”
Not expecting such a comment from Sun Ce, Zhou Yu chuckled out loud.
Sun Ce continued, clearly entertained, “Tomorrow we need to inform the great general, so he can bring the infestation under control.”
“You brought the rats with you,” Zhou Yu replied. “I’ve lived here over a month and never saw one, but as soon you came—rats. Make sure you aren’t bitten in your sleep.”
Honestly I loved their platonic relationship, although they don't get together. It's sad really, they talk about it a couple times of how they'll "get a wife in the future" as if they're forced to marry the opposite sex so that they'd carry on their bloodline despite them so obviously being into eachother. This is realistic though both historically and currently. It's so cute that they sleep with eachother so much, its a daily routine everytime they're finally able to see eachother, although they get long separations a LOT in this volume, and I mean a lot. A couple times it ranges from half a year to multiple years. At the end of the story, it's about 4-5 years after the beginning, if that gives you the clear idea; and the beginning is when the two reuinite after not seeing eachother since their childhood.
I was kind of worried of not liking or atleast being neutral with this duology because of the ratings, and honestly I can understand them because this was falsely placed as a "danmei" when the characters are heavily platonic, not romantic or sexual. Although, I do believe that if this had a good ending instead of a bad one they could have gotten together. But at the same time, I do feel like Sun Ce's dad is a part of the reason (not exactly sure if it is actually, because of obvious reasons... I literally just finished volume 1) since he had a whole lot of acting before thinking when killing people. And in chapter 6 we can see Sun Ce being somewhat influenced in that, as well as still having the need to revenge him, but Zhou Yu managed to stop him beforehand when the ones he was about to kill weren't even heavily involved with them. So, I'm not fully surprised that Sun Ce went batshit crazy in volume 2, because he still hasn't gotten his revenge in this volume. Meaning he's slowly losing his patience and getting more and more upset, especially with him getting into more arguments with Zhou Yu despite this not being a reoccurance in the other chapters as adults.
Anyways, I also liked Sun Quan and Cao Pi's interactions, they were so silly. Honestly, this volume reminded me of Ballad of Sword and Wine because there were many names you had to remember, and for the obvious part... politics.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2026
if you don’t know the characters at all, it’s It Is not an Easy book to read. if you know them historically, it’s fun to see people like Cao Pi, Gan Ning, Zhao Yun (I literally screamed when he appeared), etc. show up. Otherwise, it can feel a bit rushed and it’s not always clear who is who.
The romance is very minimal, but honestly I couldn’t see how they could easily insert a romance between the protagonists, since they are both actually married (to two sisters).
I’m curious to read the sequel, but also a bit worried that the author might stick too closely to real history…( please, author, change things a bit.)
The romance is very minimal, but honestly I couldn’t see how they could easily insert a romance between the protagonists, since they are both actually married (to two sisters).
I’m curious to read the sequel, but also a bit worried that the author might stick too closely to real history…( please, author, change things a bit.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2026
I loved reading a grounding yet romantic story after so many fantasy ones. It's amazing.
February 7, 2026
This was…fine. It’s definitely more a war/political story than anything else. And I already know a spoiler about the ending of the series, so my expectations weren’t super high. I will definitely be reading the second book, but it’s not my absolute favorite Fei Tian novel
February 15, 2026
ngl. i’m a little disappointed.
February 18, 2026
Definitely underrated.
January 27, 2026
"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."
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."
Did Not Finish
January 17, 2026DNF at page 181, Chapter 4, 49%.
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.
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.
July 25, 2026
Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed and was really hoping this was going to be better than it was.
I dont really know if it's a translation error or something but the writing style itself was a but of an issue for me along with how quickly you're thrown into the characters stories. I'm all for stories where you're dropped right into the action however In this it's way too much wayyyyy too quickly while expecting you to care or even remeber most of the details necessary for the emotions to hit properly.
For me this was a complete miss but alm the power to those that were able to enjoy it. This particular one was not for me and I will not be continuing this series.
I dont really know if it's a translation error or something but the writing style itself was a but of an issue for me along with how quickly you're thrown into the characters stories. I'm all for stories where you're dropped right into the action however In this it's way too much wayyyyy too quickly while expecting you to care or even remeber most of the details necessary for the emotions to hit properly.
For me this was a complete miss but alm the power to those that were able to enjoy it. This particular one was not for me and I will not be continuing this series.
February 10, 2026
Fei Tian is a big history nerd and there's nothing I can do but take it 😭 If you're like me and have almost no knowledge of the Three Kingdoms era then this will be quite a difficult read. I was just along for the ride 🫠
August 1, 2026
Okay this is not the fault of the book this time but the fault of the publisher. This is wrongly sold as a danmei novel which it is not. It's purely historical fiction with no romance which is not something I'm looking forward to read.
Did Not Finish
September 6, 2026I have put off reading Fei Tian Ye Xiang's work for a while now because I didn't think they would suit my taste, but finally decided to take the plunge today with this novel.
Unfortunately, my premonition was correct and this book did not in fact suit my tastes. Now that being said this author does have a lot of novels in a variety of genres so I do not intend to write them off just yet. I plan to try some of their other works (perhaps the Dinghai Fusheng Records?) before making any sort of final conclusions.
Why didn't I like this novel? I'll tell you why:
1) This series was mistakenly advertised as danmei, but there is in fact no gay romance to be found, just a very mild bromance. Instead this book is a historical and political tale with apparently some amount of historical accuracy, although I have no personal knowledge on how accurate it is to real historical accounts. While the false advertising is not the book's fault... it still means that I am not the intended audience.
2) Quite a few reviews mention that this book would be confusing to people who don't know the history that this story is trying to cover... and they are right? But honestly to me that feels like a problem with how it is written rather than an issue of whether or not the reader knows history. History in and of itself can be written to be understandable and I would think that a fictional recounting should be even more so since the author has licence to simplify or explain confusing topics. The author also makes some weird choices in how they structure their scenes and action. For example, one scene early in the book starts with the main character hanging out with... someone... waiting for a letter by a pond and in this entire scene we never get any real explanation about who this other person is or why they matter, we don't get any explanation for why they are fooling around fishing by the pond (when the MC is ostensibly the head of a household?), nor any explanation on why he was expecting a letter at that particular time. This is all just sort of hand-waved. There are many similar instances in this book where things don't make any real sense and are hand-waved away as if he author couldn't be bothered to make things make sense. All of this to say, that I was not impressed with the author's writing style.
3) The main characters are repeatedly praised as smart and strong and amazing... but I honestly saw no evidence of that. They were constantly tripping into trouble and didn't seem to have any real plan or ability to save themselves. On one page the main characters are talking about how one day they will rule the world and within like ten pages they are caught spying and end up running for their lives... for the SECOND time. I know they are quite young in the portion of the book that I read so they may develop later on, but eh I don't have high hopes for these idiots.
4) Did anybody else realize how completely unrealistic it was to have the hawk (falcon? I can't remember) magically find people no matter where they were? I was lowkey so grossed out by this blatant author-pushing-plot device that I decided it needed it's own point. It is not unreasonable for a hawk to be able to bring messages between a couple well known places, but it is totally unreasonable to just toss a hawk out of window and expect it to find a person who is actively moving long distances. Complete nonsense. Tomfoolery even.
So yea... I was unimpressed to say the least and I will not be continuing this book.
Unfortunately, my premonition was correct and this book did not in fact suit my tastes. Now that being said this author does have a lot of novels in a variety of genres so I do not intend to write them off just yet. I plan to try some of their other works (perhaps the Dinghai Fusheng Records?) before making any sort of final conclusions.
Why didn't I like this novel? I'll tell you why:
1) This series was mistakenly advertised as danmei, but there is in fact no gay romance to be found, just a very mild bromance. Instead this book is a historical and political tale with apparently some amount of historical accuracy, although I have no personal knowledge on how accurate it is to real historical accounts. While the false advertising is not the book's fault... it still means that I am not the intended audience.
2) Quite a few reviews mention that this book would be confusing to people who don't know the history that this story is trying to cover... and they are right? But honestly to me that feels like a problem with how it is written rather than an issue of whether or not the reader knows history. History in and of itself can be written to be understandable and I would think that a fictional recounting should be even more so since the author has licence to simplify or explain confusing topics. The author also makes some weird choices in how they structure their scenes and action. For example, one scene early in the book starts with the main character hanging out with... someone... waiting for a letter by a pond and in this entire scene we never get any real explanation about who this other person is or why they matter, we don't get any explanation for why they are fooling around fishing by the pond (when the MC is ostensibly the head of a household?), nor any explanation on why he was expecting a letter at that particular time. This is all just sort of hand-waved. There are many similar instances in this book where things don't make any real sense and are hand-waved away as if he author couldn't be bothered to make things make sense. All of this to say, that I was not impressed with the author's writing style.
3) The main characters are repeatedly praised as smart and strong and amazing... but I honestly saw no evidence of that. They were constantly tripping into trouble and didn't seem to have any real plan or ability to save themselves. On one page the main characters are talking about how one day they will rule the world and within like ten pages they are caught spying and end up running for their lives... for the SECOND time. I know they are quite young in the portion of the book that I read so they may develop later on, but eh I don't have high hopes for these idiots.
4) Did anybody else realize how completely unrealistic it was to have the hawk (falcon? I can't remember) magically find people no matter where they were? I was lowkey so grossed out by this blatant author-pushing-plot device that I decided it needed it's own point. It is not unreasonable for a hawk to be able to bring messages between a couple well known places, but it is totally unreasonable to just toss a hawk out of window and expect it to find a person who is actively moving long distances. Complete nonsense. Tomfoolery even.
So yea... I was unimpressed to say the least and I will not be continuing this book.
August 11, 2026
I actually had to go back and change my rating from 3 to 2 stars. I find all of this authors couples to be quite toxic towards each other and I cannot fathom where any of their “relationships” come from, not just in this particular book. The plot itself was fine, nothing revolutionary but it wasn’t too bad either. That’s why it’s 2 stars and not one.
I really have a problem with the main couple - them not communicating about anything, biting back resentment, staying quiet and pretending nothing’s the matter is something fun to read about? Sure, there are stories that are plot-driven or romance-driven and even if I try to think of this book as the former one, I still cannot get over the red flags and the emotional immaturity of the main couple.
I really have a problem with the main couple - them not communicating about anything, biting back resentment, staying quiet and pretending nothing’s the matter is something fun to read about? Sure, there are stories that are plot-driven or romance-driven and even if I try to think of this book as the former one, I still cannot get over the red flags and the emotional immaturity of the main couple.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2026
A slow burner
A strong bond that stands firm in an ever changing world where one would find it difficult to trust those that you think you know. They support each other but I suspect that they can feel the winds of change threatening to force them apart. The author is good at conveying the emotions that the characters feel. I am worried that they will drift apart, especially given that the path to accomplishing their goals might cause the bond to strain as the differences in their stations start to widen. let's see what happens next. I hope that we will see them explore their feelings more.
A strong bond that stands firm in an ever changing world where one would find it difficult to trust those that you think you know. They support each other but I suspect that they can feel the winds of change threatening to force them apart. The author is good at conveying the emotions that the characters feel. I am worried that they will drift apart, especially given that the path to accomplishing their goals might cause the bond to strain as the differences in their stations start to widen. let's see what happens next. I hope that we will see them explore their feelings more.
September 17, 2026
Im going to be honest this isn't a danmei. The writing was OK a bit slow. But danmei is a boys love romance and true romance has a happy ending. This is boys love coded but not boys love & i dropped it because it has a be. I wish 7seas didn't market it as a danmei. If I went in knowing it wasn't maybe my expectations wouldnt hsve ruined this for me.
September 23, 2026
tried reading this without knowing anything about romance of three kingdoms and it's just so confusing. the translation feels off, the pace is too fast and so many characters' names get thrown at you all at once without a proper introduction. and as many others said, this was wrongly labeled as danmei.
February 20, 2026
I js found the spoilers for this novel(I searched it up bc I hate myself) AhHhhaaHahahahhah what the hell 😭😭😭😭😭😭 I enjoyed reading the first volume though…… bc I didn’t have any of that in mind, well I read ts knowing it’s BE BUT STILL 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 2nd volume might be my biggest heartbreak
July 2, 2026
If I could give this 4.5 stars I would solely bc I felt I was missing some context but loved the mcs very much yes yes
September 7, 2026
3,5*.... je to fajn co se týká intrikování a válečných strategií, ale hlavní dvojice si mě moc nezískala.
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