What do you think?
Rate this book
The Creator's Grace Vol. 1
She came home for the truth. What she found was the woman who took everything… and wanted her most of all.
Six years ago, Ran Jin rose to power and prominence under the wing of her lover—only to be accused of orchestrating that woman’s mysterious death. Now, her late lover’s sister, Chi Yu, returns from abroad to reclaim what was stolen and uncover the truth.
But Ran isn’t the cold-blooded traitor she seems. She’s brilliant, enigmatic, and as devoted to Chi as can be.
What starts as a personal pursuit of justice spirals into obsession, as Chi unearths traces of a truth stranger than fiction—one that challenges not only the story she’s been told but even humanity itself. The deeper she digs, the more she risks for a love that feels inevitable, even if it was never meant to exist.
The Creator’s Grace is a gripping sci-fi romance about fractured identities and impossible salvation, where love may be the only truth that holds.
Six years ago, Ran Jin rose to power and prominence under the wing of her lover—only to be accused of orchestrating that woman’s mysterious death. Now, her late lover’s sister, Chi Yu, returns from abroad to reclaim what was stolen and uncover the truth.
But Ran isn’t the cold-blooded traitor she seems. She’s brilliant, enigmatic, and as devoted to Chi as can be.
What starts as a personal pursuit of justice spirals into obsession, as Chi unearths traces of a truth stranger than fiction—one that challenges not only the story she’s been told but even humanity itself. The deeper she digs, the more she risks for a love that feels inevitable, even if it was never meant to exist.
The Creator’s Grace is a gripping sci-fi romance about fractured identities and impossible salvation, where love may be the only truth that holds.
284 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 17, 2026
Wowwww, i liked this a LOT more than my first baihe read. Now I just have to deal with how badly I wish I had the sequel!
The dynamic between the leads is deliciously twisted in multiple ways, while still feeling shockingly romantic most of the time. And, credit presumably to both the original and the translation, there was some really beautiful language in here, especially some really striking weather scenes that set the mood so well, and some turns of phrase about emotion that I had to pause and read twice. The corporate backdrop was maybe a little shallow, but it also touched on some remarkably current and near-future coded things (space resource race! deep sea tourism!) that I am absolutely invested in seeing progress.
Some of the dialogue felt a little bumpier, but all in all, this had some of my favorite ever GL-in-translation prose I’ve ever read, and a plot that kept me turning pages. I’m so eager to read more from this series (and this publisher!)
The dynamic between the leads is deliciously twisted in multiple ways, while still feeling shockingly romantic most of the time. And, credit presumably to both the original and the translation, there was some really beautiful language in here, especially some really striking weather scenes that set the mood so well, and some turns of phrase about emotion that I had to pause and read twice. The corporate backdrop was maybe a little shallow, but it also touched on some remarkably current and near-future coded things (space resource race! deep sea tourism!) that I am absolutely invested in seeing progress.
Some of the dialogue felt a little bumpier, but all in all, this had some of my favorite ever GL-in-translation prose I’ve ever read, and a plot that kept me turning pages. I’m so eager to read more from this series (and this publisher!)
May 10, 2026
The Creator’s Grace is a sci-fi mystery romance between Chi Yu and her now-deceased sister’s ex-girlfriend, Ran Jin. Chi Yu’s sister’s death was ruled to be a suicide but the evidence Chi Yu uncovered points to Ran Jin being the murderer. Now, I’m not sure if it’s because I saw cover art of the audio drama but it was pretty clear to me why that evidence isn’t as tangible as it’s made out to be, especially given Ran Jin’s solid alibi. It was pretty frustrating that it took so long to be addressed, and only vaguely. However, the characters and relationship were interesting enough for it not to bother me too much. It’s worth the note that Chi Yu spent a lot of time with a significantly older Ran Jin from about 16 to 18yo, though the story takes place several years later. This is only the first of four volumes and there’s a lot of mystery around Ran Jin, who she is and how she feels, so we don’t know for sure when Ran Jin starts feeling attracted to Chi Yu. Actually, it’s hard to review this volume since it’s a mystery web novel that wasn’t meant to be released as those four volumes. I just feel like I need to know more to make up my mind about a lot of key points.
What I can say is that I really enjoyed my read and that I really want to continue reading it. The story was easy to follow and I like that there’s so much enigma around Ran Jin, it makes me eager to know more about her. I also really liked Chi Yu and Ran Jin’s dynamic as love interests, their relationship is shifting, the feelings they hold towards each other are very different and I like that.
Overall, this volume makes a great introduction to the story despite a few criticism I have. It’s hard to be left hanging like this… I need the next volumes ASAP !!!
What I can say is that I really enjoyed my read and that I really want to continue reading it. The story was easy to follow and I like that there’s so much enigma around Ran Jin, it makes me eager to know more about her. I also really liked Chi Yu and Ran Jin’s dynamic as love interests, their relationship is shifting, the feelings they hold towards each other are very different and I like that.
Overall, this volume makes a great introduction to the story despite a few criticism I have. It’s hard to be left hanging like this… I need the next volumes ASAP !!!
May 28, 2026
Political arguments over the moons' resources, featuring an enemies-to-lovers/revenge baihe romance between high-powered businesswomen. I really enjoyed this, it read so easily and I will DEFINITELY continue the series. The world building and plot is so intriguing, constantly teasing developments and the two main characters are both very likeable together (despite how scandalously morally ambiguous it is to crush on your ex's little sister).
May 19, 2026
So I actually ended up really enjoying The Creator’s Grace, and I’m honestly glad I went into this mostly open-minded instead of relying too heavily on reviews.
The story follows Chi Yu, whose sister Chi Li died under mysterious circumstances that were ruled a homicide. After her sister’s death, Chi Yu takes over the family tech company while also trying to uncover the truth behind what really happened. A major part of that mystery revolves around Ran Jin, Chi Li’s ex-lover, who has also been in Chi Yu’s life for years.
One of my favorite aspects of this volume was definitely Ran Jin as a character. She’s extremely mysterious throughout the story, and the author does a really good job of slowly feeding information without fully revealing what’s really going on. Regardless of how someone feels about the pacing or certain aspects of the story, I think the intrigue alone is enough to keep you wanting to continue.
I’ve seen some criticism toward Chi Yu’s personality, with some people calling her bratty or immature, but personally I didn’t really see her that way. She definitely can be impulsive and hot-headed at times, but considering she recently lost her sister under traumatic circumstances while also suspecting someone she personally knows, her reactions felt understandable to me. If anything, I felt like there was already some growth beginning in this first volume.
As for the sci-fi elements, I honestly think it’s a little too early for me to judge that aspect harshly. Right now, it feels like the foundation is being set through the company itself, Ran Jin, and the strange discoveries surrounding Chi Li’s death. There was also a character who behavior is peculiar in a way unexplained. I feel like later volumes are probably going to expand more heavily on those elements, so I’m interested to see where it goes.
The pacing starts off strong, though I personally wouldn’t call this fast-paced overall. It felt more medium-paced, but in a way that kept me engaged because there was always this lingering sense of mystery underneath everything.
Overall, I think this is one of those stories people should try for themselves instead of fully relying on reviews. I also genuinely hope more baihe gets licensed and published because there’s clearly an audience for it. Personally, I found this more engaging and better written than some Danmei stories I’ve seen receive significantly more praise.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next volume.
The story follows Chi Yu, whose sister Chi Li died under mysterious circumstances that were ruled a homicide. After her sister’s death, Chi Yu takes over the family tech company while also trying to uncover the truth behind what really happened. A major part of that mystery revolves around Ran Jin, Chi Li’s ex-lover, who has also been in Chi Yu’s life for years.
One of my favorite aspects of this volume was definitely Ran Jin as a character. She’s extremely mysterious throughout the story, and the author does a really good job of slowly feeding information without fully revealing what’s really going on. Regardless of how someone feels about the pacing or certain aspects of the story, I think the intrigue alone is enough to keep you wanting to continue.
I’ve seen some criticism toward Chi Yu’s personality, with some people calling her bratty or immature, but personally I didn’t really see her that way. She definitely can be impulsive and hot-headed at times, but considering she recently lost her sister under traumatic circumstances while also suspecting someone she personally knows, her reactions felt understandable to me. If anything, I felt like there was already some growth beginning in this first volume.
As for the sci-fi elements, I honestly think it’s a little too early for me to judge that aspect harshly. Right now, it feels like the foundation is being set through the company itself, Ran Jin, and the strange discoveries surrounding Chi Li’s death. There was also a character who behavior is peculiar in a way unexplained. I feel like later volumes are probably going to expand more heavily on those elements, so I’m interested to see where it goes.
The pacing starts off strong, though I personally wouldn’t call this fast-paced overall. It felt more medium-paced, but in a way that kept me engaged because there was always this lingering sense of mystery underneath everything.
Overall, I think this is one of those stories people should try for themselves instead of fully relying on reviews. I also genuinely hope more baihe gets licensed and published because there’s clearly an audience for it. Personally, I found this more engaging and better written than some Danmei stories I’ve seen receive significantly more praise.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next volume.
June 6, 2026
4/5
As a long-time fan of anything sapphic and science fiction, I was seduced by the near-future premise of The Creator's Grace. Once I began reading, I quickly found myself immersed in the narrative balance between the mystery thriller and romantic elements. The death of Chi Yu's sister—Chi Li—hangs over both Chi Yu and Ran Jin's lives in numerous, nuanced ways. With that being said, I don't think The Creator's Grace will be for everyone.
I was genuinely surprised at times by how vitriolic the main leads could be to each other. Chi Yu's hatred for Ran Jin stems from her love for her late sister. Ran Jin, on the other hand, will do anything to keep Chi Yu safe, even if it means letting Chi Yu hate her. If you're not a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope where one of the main characters genuinely hates the other in the beginning, then I would tread carefully with The Creator's Grace.
With that being said, I actually really enjoyed Chi Yu's characterization. She caught onto key details faster than I anticipated, and she was quick to discard prejudice when she realized it was unfounded. As the first installment in a four-part series, we've only started getting hints of the truth behind Chi Li's mysterious death. But whatever it is, it's already promising to be far darker and messier than anything Chi Yu (and by proxy, the reader) could have predicted.
But despite how much I enjoyed the novel, I would be remiss if I didn't give a content warning about non-consent: There are two scenes in this novel that involve non-consensual kissing. Fortunately, the novel doesn't play these scenes off as romantic (they are clearly framed as non-romantic power plays between Chi Yu and Ran Jin), but it might nonetheless leave a sour taste in readers' mouths.
Last November, I complained about the American publishing giant Seven Seas Entertainment making the "safe but uninspired choice" to translate Feng Ren Zuo Shu's The Beauty's Blade as their first official baihe (Chinese sapphic) novel. In comparison, Rosmei has done anything but with the release of Ning Yuan's The Creator's Grace. The Singapore-based publishing house has already committed to the cover designs of the remaining three volumes of the series.
Overall, I'm happy with the direction of the story and where the first volume chooses to leave off. The translation quality is admirable (for the most part), and the physical book is gorgeous. But I do have one slight nitpick: Why doesn't the physical edition have a synopsis on the back? What if I want to lend it out to a friend? While I know you can only order The Creator's Grace online for now, I think it's a missed opportunity for word-of-mouth exposure.
As a long-time reader of Chinese sapphic novels, I'm elated that the "genre" is finally making its way to the English-speaking market. While I think there is a learning curve to reading Chinese novels (for example, they tend to have very different tropes from the West and are often written in third-person omniscient), I also find it super rewarding. In my opinion, The Creator's Grace is a gorgeous, angsty enemies-to-lovers story written with grace and seduction.
As a long-time fan of anything sapphic and science fiction, I was seduced by the near-future premise of The Creator's Grace. Once I began reading, I quickly found myself immersed in the narrative balance between the mystery thriller and romantic elements. The death of Chi Yu's sister—Chi Li—hangs over both Chi Yu and Ran Jin's lives in numerous, nuanced ways. With that being said, I don't think The Creator's Grace will be for everyone.
I was genuinely surprised at times by how vitriolic the main leads could be to each other. Chi Yu's hatred for Ran Jin stems from her love for her late sister. Ran Jin, on the other hand, will do anything to keep Chi Yu safe, even if it means letting Chi Yu hate her. If you're not a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope where one of the main characters genuinely hates the other in the beginning, then I would tread carefully with The Creator's Grace.
With that being said, I actually really enjoyed Chi Yu's characterization. She caught onto key details faster than I anticipated, and she was quick to discard prejudice when she realized it was unfounded. As the first installment in a four-part series, we've only started getting hints of the truth behind Chi Li's mysterious death. But whatever it is, it's already promising to be far darker and messier than anything Chi Yu (and by proxy, the reader) could have predicted.
But despite how much I enjoyed the novel, I would be remiss if I didn't give a content warning about non-consent: There are two scenes in this novel that involve non-consensual kissing. Fortunately, the novel doesn't play these scenes off as romantic (they are clearly framed as non-romantic power plays between Chi Yu and Ran Jin), but it might nonetheless leave a sour taste in readers' mouths.
Last November, I complained about the American publishing giant Seven Seas Entertainment making the "safe but uninspired choice" to translate Feng Ren Zuo Shu's The Beauty's Blade as their first official baihe (Chinese sapphic) novel. In comparison, Rosmei has done anything but with the release of Ning Yuan's The Creator's Grace. The Singapore-based publishing house has already committed to the cover designs of the remaining three volumes of the series.
Overall, I'm happy with the direction of the story and where the first volume chooses to leave off. The translation quality is admirable (for the most part), and the physical book is gorgeous. But I do have one slight nitpick: Why doesn't the physical edition have a synopsis on the back? What if I want to lend it out to a friend? While I know you can only order The Creator's Grace online for now, I think it's a missed opportunity for word-of-mouth exposure.
As a long-time reader of Chinese sapphic novels, I'm elated that the "genre" is finally making its way to the English-speaking market. While I think there is a learning curve to reading Chinese novels (for example, they tend to have very different tropes from the West and are often written in third-person omniscient), I also find it super rewarding. In my opinion, The Creator's Grace is a gorgeous, angsty enemies-to-lovers story written with grace and seduction.
May 28, 2026
Really a 3.5, but the half a star deduction is really down to the publisher's decision to put out this first volume at only 284 pages. I'm hoping that's due to how the story progresses, aka how quickly it progresses, from this point forward.
Because this volume -- as fun and engaging as it was -- is an exercise in frustration with its limitations. This is all buildup, no resolution -- not for a single damn question the story raises, and it raises a TON. I don't know if that's down to the author's lack of skill in executing such a slow-burn mystery, or if the publisher is just dragging this series out as long as possible. Either way, that complete nothingburger of an ending REALLY harms this volume as its own entry. It's not a self-contained arc of the story. It just................ ends.
That said! I like this premise, I like these characters (Chi Yu you're a mad one, and I adore you for it), and I'm pretty sure I like where this is going. I don't remember if I read spoilers somewhere or if I've just been reading scifi for so long that I'm picking up on clues, but if this story is about what I THINK it's about.......... I'm excited. It's got all the ingredients necessary to come together into a fantastic meal: intrigue, deception, ✨lesbian yearning✨, etc etc.
I just hope the next volume actually lets us GET INTO THE DAMN THING.
Because this volume -- as fun and engaging as it was -- is an exercise in frustration with its limitations. This is all buildup, no resolution -- not for a single damn question the story raises, and it raises a TON. I don't know if that's down to the author's lack of skill in executing such a slow-burn mystery, or if the publisher is just dragging this series out as long as possible. Either way, that complete nothingburger of an ending REALLY harms this volume as its own entry. It's not a self-contained arc of the story. It just................ ends.
That said! I like this premise, I like these characters (Chi Yu you're a mad one, and I adore you for it), and I'm pretty sure I like where this is going. I don't remember if I read spoilers somewhere or if I've just been reading scifi for so long that I'm picking up on clues, but if this story is about what I THINK it's about.......... I'm excited. It's got all the ingredients necessary to come together into a fantastic meal: intrigue, deception, ✨lesbian yearning✨, etc etc.
I just hope the next volume actually lets us GET INTO THE DAMN THING.
May 16, 2026
The way this author writes the story is just not for me.
What I don't enjoy:
- So far, the sci-fi aspect is very superficial. The author doesn't seem to be well-versed in physics for convincing world-building nor bring the story to the next level. Basically, the sci-fi is just a backdrop for a romance story.
- Character portrayals: For someone who's in a busy industry, both Chi Yu and Ran Jin have a lot of 'free' time to do or get involved in things outside of work. Like Ran Jin was a supporting actress for Hollywood movie at some point of her life. I'm not sure if this is even adding anything to the story? And also, a lot of actions that Chi Yu took are impulsive and serves no clever purpose but I'll just accept this as her being young and hot-headed. Chi Yu is really a brat in this first volume.
- Outdated way of writing a scene: the dialogue when the family members are arguing over inheritance, Chi Yu's avenge method.
What I like:
- The book cover is pretty :)
- The mystery. I still want to know what's going on despite the quirks I mentioned.
What I don't enjoy:
- So far, the sci-fi aspect is very superficial. The author doesn't seem to be well-versed in physics for convincing world-building nor bring the story to the next level. Basically, the sci-fi is just a backdrop for a romance story.
- Character portrayals: For someone who's in a busy industry, both Chi Yu and Ran Jin have a lot of 'free' time to do or get involved in things outside of work. Like Ran Jin was a supporting actress for Hollywood movie at some point of her life. I'm not sure if this is even adding anything to the story? And also, a lot of actions that Chi Yu took are impulsive and serves no clever purpose but I'll just accept this as her being young and hot-headed. Chi Yu is really a brat in this first volume.
- Outdated way of writing a scene: the dialogue when the family members are arguing over inheritance, Chi Yu's avenge method.
What I like:
- The book cover is pretty :)
- The mystery. I still want to know what's going on despite the quirks I mentioned.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews