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Heartbreak
Jian gave up on immortality long ago. Backed into a corner, can he defy fate and surpass his old limits?
Jian was a prodigy, at least until he discovered that his path of cultivation had hit a dead end almost as soon as it began. That was all years ago, though. He has long since resigned himself to his fate and prepared himself for a dull, ordinary, but happy life. Stunted cultivation or no, he's clever enough to carve out his own comfortable niche.
Unfortunately, his fiancée has other ideas.
When his past entanglements come back to create new problems, Jian will have to step up and deal with them... or at least figure out how to wriggle free of the consequences.
Jian was a prodigy, at least until he discovered that his path of cultivation had hit a dead end almost as soon as it began. That was all years ago, though. He has long since resigned himself to his fate and prepared himself for a dull, ordinary, but happy life. Stunted cultivation or no, he's clever enough to carve out his own comfortable niche.
Unfortunately, his fiancée has other ideas.
When his past entanglements come back to create new problems, Jian will have to step up and deal with them... or at least figure out how to wriggle free of the consequences.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2020
49 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 3, 2021
Slow pace, crafting novel
So I was 50% of the way through the book before things started to “pick up” and that’s being generous. Things didn’t really get interesting for me until the expedition near the end. It was just really slow.
Because of the MCs condition no real progression takes place and there wasn’t really any sense of conflict/danger/peril until the previously mentioned expedition. There is a very mild sense of danger propelling the MC, but it isn’t super urgent. Without this occurring the story slows down and there isn’t any sense of excitement.
I did enjoy the crafting aspect though. For the vast majority of the novel this only included mundane rather boring items. The MC did have one project he worked starting at around the 50% mark that was sorta interesting, but didn’t really get fun until near the end.
In the end the story took way to long to get to the point. What the author did with the plot, characters, relationships, etc. was great but took way to long to accomplish it. Was severely lacking in exciting action and interesting crafting. In my opinion the author included potentially cool things in the story, but didn’t excel in any of them until the last 75% of the book.
So I was 50% of the way through the book before things started to “pick up” and that’s being generous. Things didn’t really get interesting for me until the expedition near the end. It was just really slow.
Because of the MCs condition no real progression takes place and there wasn’t really any sense of conflict/danger/peril until the previously mentioned expedition. There is a very mild sense of danger propelling the MC, but it isn’t super urgent. Without this occurring the story slows down and there isn’t any sense of excitement.
I did enjoy the crafting aspect though. For the vast majority of the novel this only included mundane rather boring items. The MC did have one project he worked starting at around the 50% mark that was sorta interesting, but didn’t really get fun until near the end.
In the end the story took way to long to get to the point. What the author did with the plot, characters, relationships, etc. was great but took way to long to accomplish it. Was severely lacking in exciting action and interesting crafting. In my opinion the author included potentially cool things in the story, but didn’t excel in any of them until the last 75% of the book.
October 9, 2020
Just not for me
Good writing and editing for an indie, but it lacked the action I like in Wuxia. I think you could call this “the merchant in a land of cultivators” for a more apt name, I’m fairly sure the MC doesn’t kill anything or anyone in the entire book. I stuck with it in hopes that it would end strong, but it mostly stayed the same. So if you’re looking for an action packed wuxia this might not be for you, but if you’re into crafting books it’s certainly worth the read.
Good writing and editing for an indie, but it lacked the action I like in Wuxia. I think you could call this “the merchant in a land of cultivators” for a more apt name, I’m fairly sure the MC doesn’t kill anything or anyone in the entire book. I stuck with it in hopes that it would end strong, but it mostly stayed the same. So if you’re looking for an action packed wuxia this might not be for you, but if you’re into crafting books it’s certainly worth the read.
October 6, 2020
This book was incredible.
This is a book about Jian, a cultivator that encountered what is basically an insurmountable obstacle in his path to advancement. Don't read this book if you want or expect unlimited power creep. The main character isn't the stronger of the bunch, neither does he become stronger and stronger as he story goes on. I'd say it's mostly a story about how he manages to accept his limitations even as outside circumstances forces him to try to overcome them. As such this is a breath of fresh air in this genre, that is usually driven either by revenge stories or by infinite power-ups.
The cast is limited in number, having few other characters besides the MC and his friend Shan, that complements the MC nicely. I'd like to have seen the conflict between Jian and his betrothed a little more in depth, since it's basically the driving force behind the whole plot. As it was, we are left with some hints about what he felt, almost foot-notes, but I guess he is saving that for future books. I can't wait for the inevitable conflict between them and how the author will solve this issue.
This is a book about Jian, a cultivator that encountered what is basically an insurmountable obstacle in his path to advancement. Don't read this book if you want or expect unlimited power creep. The main character isn't the stronger of the bunch, neither does he become stronger and stronger as he story goes on. I'd say it's mostly a story about how he manages to accept his limitations even as outside circumstances forces him to try to overcome them. As such this is a breath of fresh air in this genre, that is usually driven either by revenge stories or by infinite power-ups.
The cast is limited in number, having few other characters besides the MC and his friend Shan, that complements the MC nicely. I'd like to have seen the conflict between Jian and his betrothed a little more in depth, since it's basically the driving force behind the whole plot. As it was, we are left with some hints about what he felt, almost foot-notes, but I guess he is saving that for future books. I can't wait for the inevitable conflict between them and how the author will solve this issue.
November 4, 2020
Fun twist on cultivation
If you get bored of the "underdog grows strong to take revenge on everyone" trope, then you'll enjoy this. It's a well written story with a slower build and not as much action as the all brawn no brains cultivators.
If you get bored of the "underdog grows strong to take revenge on everyone" trope, then you'll enjoy this. It's a well written story with a slower build and not as much action as the all brawn no brains cultivators.
December 2, 2020
Iron heart
A short but sweet kind of cultivation story where a guy can't cultivate so he literally invents a mechanical heart to help him cultivate and then go through heart surgery and all the other normal cultivation tropes.
A short but sweet kind of cultivation story where a guy can't cultivate so he literally invents a mechanical heart to help him cultivate and then go through heart surgery and all the other normal cultivation tropes.
October 11, 2020
Intriguing
How does break through an unbreakable barrier? It won't be easy but great risks bring great rewards. Loved it! Bring on book 2
How does break through an unbreakable barrier? It won't be easy but great risks bring great rewards. Loved it! Bring on book 2
November 26, 2020
It’s good
Solid cultivation novel. Well written. There’s something missing for me though that I can’t put my finger on. So not top grade but worth reading.
Solid cultivation novel. Well written. There’s something missing for me though that I can’t put my finger on. So not top grade but worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews