Sequel to Breaking Through the Clouds/Po Yun. English title is Swallowing the Seas/Tunhai but Rosmei will be publishing it as The Hunt for the Leviathan. Here’s a link to why they changed the title (I think I like Swallowing the Seas better 😬). https://x.com/rosmeihey/status/185226...
Characters: Wu Yu, previous undercover agent (MC)- quiet, gentle, well liked, secretive, has a traumatic and mysterious past, cutie pie that easily can kill you Bu Chonghua, Captain (ML)- initially comes off cold, strict, and aloof BUT when he learns to love, he loves hard 💙supportive, protective, devoted, loyal. Also, rich 💰 **One of the best things about this novel is their relationship development. At the moment I can’t put into words how special what happens between them is.
*🚓 Police Crime/thriller/suspense/mystery *🚓 slow burn (with very little 🌶️) *🚓action packed- really just non-stop! *🚓found family/team/crew- loved the Criminal Investigative Unit! *🚓plot twists/betrayals/crazy reveals (even in the last chapter) *🚓one reveal kind of shook me to my core but the author included a note that really helped *🚓intertwined with Breaking Through the Clouds so definitely do not read this first *🚓little confusing at times because of the flashbacks without any warning in my translation *🚓tighter story (slightly easier to follow) than Breaking Through the Clouds
What I loved 💙The way Bu Chonghua was 100% there for Wu Yu and sometimes that meant letting him go ( bu 💙The small things they would do for each other that no one else would see 💙Yan Xie and Jiang Ting!!! Perfect amount of carryover from Po Yun 1. Absolutely do not read this before Breaking Through the Clouds (IMO)
These two novels have unexpectedly found a way into my heart and I recommend them regardless of what genre you prefer.
English title: Swallowing the Seas / Hunt For the Leviathan
From the gripping backstory and countless plot twists, to the extreme suspense, this book was an intense ride from start to finish.
Wu Yu is such a complex character, weighed down by trauma and baggage. His backstory is heartbreakingly sad, and his journey to healing is long and riddled with obstacles. He’s also insanely cool when he fights!
Bu Chonghua has his own tragic past, and their relationship constantly hits stumbling blocks as he struggles with Wu Yu’s secrecy. The dynamics between them evolve continuously, blending longing, despair, sweetness, and the ever-present fear that it’s all fleeting.
The cases themselves aren’t overly complex, but are deeply interlinked. The sheer number of plot twists is overwhelming though. At times, I found myself losing track of who actually did what and why. But I was more interested in the couple’s relationship anyway, and was glad that’s the main focus of the story.
A pleasant surprise was how much Yan Xie and Jiang Ting were involved. This main couple from Breaking Through the Clouds didn't steal the limelight, but provided crucial support at just the right moments.
Let me also mention that there’s some comedy woven into the story, offering readers some much-needed breathing space amidst the suspense and heartbreak. They’re a refreshing contrast, giving you a chance to laugh and decompress before diving back into the intensity.
Sadly, the translation I read was subpar, but I’m thrilled that Rosmei will be publishing an official version. I can’t wait to read it, though I’m bracing myself for the shipping costs!
I absolutely loved this book just as much as Poyun! It’s a solid police story with an intricate plot, well-developed characters, and the perfect balance of action, angst, and romance.
I really enjoyed both protagonists in this story—especially Wuyu (MC), who is a deeply compelling and multifaceted character. Beneath his calm demeanor lies a past shaped by pain and hardship, yet he carries it all with quiet resilience. His journey isn’t just about survival—it’s about healing, rediscovering trust, and allowing himself to hope again. What makes Wuyu so likable is the way he balances strength with vulnerability—you can’t help but root for him. The ML (Bo Chonghua) is equally fascinating. His relationship with Wuyu becomes a powerful force of mutual growth—he doesn’t just support Wuyu’s healing, he finds a kind of healing himself, as he too carries the weight of a painful past. Their bond is built on trust earned through hardship, and with his unwavering devotion, he’s someone genuinely worthy of Wuyu’s heart.
This is also my third read by Huai Shang, and I have to say, I’m a big fan of her writing—she truly has a gift for crafting such amazing stories that they’re impossible to put down. Highly recommend! I can’t wait to add this series to my shelf once it’s published by Rosmei!
Unfortunately, I liked this novel less than Poyun. It doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy this, because I certainly did, but maybe the way the plot became so convoluted halfway through the story that I found it a bit less appealing than the prequel.
I always find stories with complex plot fascinating, especially when it was constructed with little to no flaws. The plot twists here really got me if I'm being honest, but it became so apparent to me that the author really tried her best to create more reveals for the sake of providing shocking factors. Which is not bad, especially since the author really did drop some foreshadows, but it got too much for my taste that the plot became so disorganized. I wouldn't even include the inconsistencies of some event from Poyun where Yan Xie and Jiang Ting are involved because the author herself acknowledged that point.
Also, I'm grateful for the translator for her effort in translating this long novel, especially since she did it for free, but the translation is a bit jarring. The use of 'he' and 'she' sometimes interchange, as if I was reading an MTL. Also, if there are sudden flashbacks, it got a bit confusing because there's no indication. I don't know if it's how the author wrote it or it's a translation issue, but it definitely put me out of the story a few times.
Nevertheless, I had a fun ride with this novel. The author still managed to bring me on the edge of my seat. Though I also personally loved the cases more in Poyun but I loved Bu Chonghua and Wu Yu's couple dynamic as much as I loved Yan Xie and Jiang Ting. I'm even glad that I can see both couples here solving cases together.
Maybe I had too much expectation, but I'm kind of disappointed with the novel. If it wasn't for my love for both Bu Chonghua and Wu Yu, I would have given this a lower rating plot wise. I'm actually sad to not love this as much as the first one.
Este libro me dejo loca en muchos sentidos, Huai Shang de verdad construyo el mejor mundo posible.
Voy a ser sincera, al principio, me aburrió un poco y no estaba segura de si me iban a gustar los personajes (porque me enamore de los de poyun so estaba comparando, muy mal), pero después NO SE parecia que todo eso fue a propósito porque los personajes se van desenvolviendo cada vez y te demuestran que tal vez no eran lo que esperabas.
Wu Yu se volvio uno de mis personajes favoritos por su construcción e historia, yo sigo sin creerme todo lo que paso, le quiero dar un abrazo. Y Bu Chonghua me sorprendió como loquita, tenia una imagen muy juiciosa sobre el pero cada capítulo iba cambiando de una forma tremenda, lo amo. Encima, es el mejor hombre románticamente hablando chau
Wow, that was a wild ride! This novel is definitely more exciting and engaging than Poyun (破云). If it was adapted by the Netflix, that would turn out one hell of the story: there are mysteries and conspiracies, wild plot twists, double double agents, drug overlords and undercover agents, revenge, slowly built romance and true friendship, loyalty and betrayal. A beautiful, touching, sometimes funny and at other times heartbreaking story of a flower that was born in hell, finally blooming under the sun.
Truth be told, I've been in a bad danmei slump for the longest time 😅. I've been struggling to actually finish a new one that hasn't got licensed yet, since I don't have as much time as I did when I first read some other favorite danmei novels, the licensing made it easier to reread physically (2ha being the exception, as I had less work when I was reading it), and I usually struggle with reading novels solely online. However, I'm incredibly happy this wasn't the case with Po Yun 2. It's my first modern danmei, and I wasn't expecting to come out of reading this with a new favorite, but here we are 😁🥰.
(I also also had the best time updating on Goodreads with quotes or things that I liked)
4.6! Las revelaciones estuvieron en su punto, lloré por ese pasado trágico, las venganzas y las oportunidades aprovechadas. La relación entre primos y hermanos jurados son de lo más caótico y delirante que he leído. Hace que extrañe el anterior libro. Xie Xing y A-Gui son de los personajes que me impresionaron, amé el vínculo forjado a través de su madre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Making my way through this author's works. I'm kind of ambivalent about this one. The best thing about this story is the main couple's relationship because it is very sweet and tender but also really angsty. Everything else I had various issues with.
3.75🌟 It gets a bit ridiculous but that's fine because the characters are stupid and i want them in my pocket. Oh and Chonghua u r a bigass red flag, good thing Wu Yu doesn't give a shit about colors...or fashion....or safety....or common sen-
Huai Shang has an amazing ability to write relatable characters, interesting plots and mindturning twists/cases, while mixing it with exceptional research, which makes every book absolutely a feat to read. Although Poyun somehow sticked to me more, Tunhai I will remember for a long time also. Huai Shang was my author discovery of this year, and couldn't be more happy for it.