Deep in the inner palace resides the Raven Consort, a woman who neither spends the night with the emperor nor kneels to him. Jusetsu, the current Raven Consort, ruminates on her decision to disobey her predecessor’s orders. However, a gruesome incident inside the palace reveals a shocking truth that she was completely oblivious to. Just who is Uren Niangniang, the goddess who deprives the Raven Consort of her freedom? And who is this “Owl” that she fears so much?
This is a definite improvement from volume 1; while grammatical errors are disappointingly still present, the overall translation felt like less of a rush job and! Besides getting more lore and worldbuilding, this book is so much darker than the first one. The first book almost felt like a cozy fantasy inspired by Chinese imperial dynasties, while this second one is full ✨xianxia✨ vibes, less cozy but way more exciting and grim.
Oh My God, this series is incredible. I love it so much. After finishing the first volume I went out and bought all other volumes my bookstore had. I heard there's going to be an anime of it in April, but I kinda wanna finish reading the books first.
Anyway, this second volume follows the structure of the first. It has some smaller cases at the start, followed by a bigger one that also explains a lot of backstory. But the ghosts and smaller mysteries aren't the main thing in this series, imo. The characters and their development, as well as their interactions are sublime. If you compare Jiyusetsu at the beginning of the first volume to the end, or even to the end of the second, you can see how much she has grown. As has the emperor, and the people around her. It's so much fun to read about it.
That is not to say the mysteries aren't good. The biggest mystery of this whole series is of course what exactly an "Uhi" is, because no one really knows, so learning about it with the characters is a lot of fun, and it's written in a super engaging way.
The smaller mysteries are well-written, and everything makes so much sense. Reading this book is a whole lot of "I really should have seen that coming", because once you know you start to see all the hints that were there all along. Yet it's not predictable. Maybe that's because I haven't read a lot of Japanese (Chinese inspired?) historical fantasy, but most things aren't super obvious, yet the plot twists never feel jarring. They make so much sense that I start wondering how I didn't see it coming, but then thinking back to the actual scenes, it was just out of reach, and that's just the way things should be imo. Foreshadowing and a well-thought out plot is way more valuable to me than the shock value of a plot twist that makes no sense.
Also, can I just say that the last "small mystery"'s reveal was haunting. I literally got goosebumps as I grasped what was going on around the same time Jiyusetsu did. (I have to say, getting goosebumps and seconds later reading that the main character gets goosebumps is a new experience xD) The description was the perfect combination of vague, gruesome, and with just enough details to figure out what's happening at the same pace the main characters do. That scene is probably my favourite of the whole book just because of how powerful it was.
The epilogue was super cute too, and I really loved that, it was a good way to end it after the haunting last small mystery and the bigger plot twist/reveal we had just before that. I already can't wait to start on the third volume. I really hope the anime will be good, just so this series gets translated and so I can give it to everyone I know xD
The translation is much, much smoother this time around, and the story brings us to the end of the anime adaptation. My only real issue is that by using the Japanese readings of the names rather than the Chinese, we go way beyond "unusual" and straight into "weird" in a few cases.
the writing still feels a bit unnatural to read due to it's repeated words or sentences, but what can we do Seven Seas seems to struggle to find a good balance ^^' The story is still super interesting!! I found it veeeery slow for the biggest part of the book, the last part being the only one where it truly picked up for me. The events during the book felt all a bit tooooo convenient for me? But I don't mind that much since it's more of a chill relaxing read for me. I am super curious tho for what the next parts hold in store !! Will get the next parts for sure once my reading pile gets smaller haha xD
I enjoyed this installment as much as the first. I like how dark the mysteries tend to go, and I find both unable to stop turning the pages and shuddering as what I read creates images in my mind -- it can be quite grotesque at times, especially in this volume, bordering at the edge of what I would consider horror, a genre I shy away from. It's also interesting to me how the characters interact in this world; Koshun and Jusetsu are both very different protagonists from what I am used to, and I am always eager to find out how they will react to certain situations and why they had that reaction. The big background mystery that is slowly unraveling is also really well done, both pace-wise and how deep it keeps going. Another bomb was dropped at the end of this volume, so I'm excited to see how things progress from here.
El anime es completamente fiel a la novela y me encanta. Esta es la última novela que adaptaron en el anime así que tengo ganas de leer la siguiente para continuar realmente con la trama. 😍🤭
On en apprend un peu plus sur la malédiction des consorts Corneilles en même temps que Jusetsu et l'apparition d'un nouveau personnage d'importance pour Uren Niangniang implique qu'il pourrait y avoir une autre version de l'histoire que les deux officielles.
This is a good continuation of the story from volume 1. There are still episodic cases, but there's also a long arc weaving its threads throughout each case. Jusetsu and Koshun continue to grow, and they make you want to root for them. There is a little more insight into court politics, and I hope that continues into the next volume.
Love love loved this one. It helps that it's not the first so it's in an already established world, but I think I particularly loved it since it overlaps so much with the anime but also had so much more the anime didn't or couldn't adapt. It did also make me realize in the anime they say the names as they appear in the novel but the subtitles transliterate the names differently, which is really confusing but now I know what's happening.
Quando ho letto il primo volume, nell'aprile dello scorso anno, mi sono lanciata in uno dei miei soliti proclami, ovvero quello di recuperare un volume al mese perché ero curiosa di vedere lo sviluppo della storia dopo il finale della prima stagione dell'anime. Avrò mai tenuto fede a questo proposito? Ovviamente no! Infatti è passato più di un anno e solo ora mi sono decisa a rimettere mano ai volumi rimanenti in modo da giungere finalmente alla conclusione. Speriamo che la seconda volta sia quella buona 🥲
Questo secondo volume regala qualche informazione in più per quanto riguarda i misteri che circondano la figura della Consorte Corvo, tanto più che Jusetsu si trova davanti il nemico mortale del Corvo, ovvero il Gufo. The Owl. Arrivato direttamente dalla terra in cui vivono le divinità per porre fine all'esistenza del Corvo e del povero vessillo umano dentro cui è sigillato. Infatti, Jusetsu (e tutte le consorti che l'hanno preceduta) non è una semplice sacerdotessa di Uren, una sua rappresentante, ma porta sigillata al suo interno la dea stessa. Una situazione che non solo si traduce nella grande sofferenza provata nelle notti di luna nuova (quando il potere di Uren non può essere contenuto), ma che comporta il serio rischio di veder consumate la propria identità e la propria anima da questa presenza ingombrante. E quindi, dove finisce Jusetsu e dove inizia il Corvo? Per ora, grazie all'arrivo provvidenziale di Shinshin, la minaccia è stata sventata, ma credo che il peggio debba ancora venire. E la cosa più triste è che Jusetsu è una Consorte Corvo decisamente atipica, visto che è la prima a essere circondata da servitori che la seguono con affetto e che vogliono il suo bene. La ragazza ha sempre vissuto in solitudine - prima perché erede di una dinastia da eliminare e poi perché confinata tra le mura di un palazzo, in un ruolo che le è stato imposto. Ora però le cose stanno cambiando: l'imperatore non le fa mai mancare il suo sostegno (anche per via del senso di colpa per le azioni dei suoi antenati), ha una dama di compagnia che non la lascia mai sola, una guardia del corpo che si butterebbe nel fuoco per lei, un piccolo eunuco che la adora. Insomma, il suo palazzo vuoto si è fatto parecchio movimentato...cosa che va a cozzare con gli insegnamenti della donna che l'ha preceduta. Immagino che questa dicotomia si ripresenterà molto spesso nel corso della storia. Alla fine è facile dimenticarsi del fatto che Jusetsu ha solo 16 anni e che, per via del suo ruolo, è destinata a vivere tutta la sua vita all'interno del palazzo imperiale, senza poter mai uscire. Il minimo che si possa fare è permettere a questa poverina di avere al suo fianco gente che tiene sinceramente a lei. Sarà interessante vedere l'evoluzione di questa ragazza, così come sarà interessante capire se il cambio alla guida del Ministero dell'inverno (dedicato a Uren), porterà qualche cambiamento nella vita e nel destino della protagonista. Ah, e poi qui si aspettano sviluppi nel rapporto tra Jusetsu e Koshun (e capire se la ferita che gli è stata inferto dal Gufo, gli creerà dei problemi, giusto per peggiorare la situazione di questo poverino che già fa fatica a dormire di suo), il Sovrano dell'Estate e la sua Consorte Corvo, i primi interessati a interagire e a collaborare. Vedremo se riusciranno a cambiare le cose e a mettere la parola fine alla vita di isolamento della Consorte 🤔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Even better than the first volume. It's still in episodic format, but with a much stronger connectivity leading to a gripping climax. There's more action involved this time, the characters are actually thrusted into life-threatening situations, and we even get court politics on top of that. More info is also revealed about Jusetsu and her link to the Raven, as well as some background story for the previous Raven Consort. She'd only been described as an old lady who was Jusetsu's mentor before, but she too had her own time as the Raven Consort and people who cared about her.
The cases for this second volume are all haunting, still with a strong hint of sorrow. Each of them is so well-written, even if all of them end tragically. The book also shows that everyone mourns differently, so that's also a plus point because… man, some of the characters' reaction to the death of others LOL. Aside from ghosts and demons, Jusetsu also has to deal with a disastrous resurrection attempt which is very much the product of grief. There's a lot of foreshadowing since the earlier chapters so the climax involving the Owl isn't exactly shocking, but both the build-up and the execution are so good. It made me realize that a plot twist isn't always necessary in a mystery book.
As a character, Jusetsu has a lot of growth. Just as Koshun says, her heart is thawing so her compassionate side is showing a lot more than before. She opens up more to others, makes new friends, and even gets attached to them. The problem is the story always paints this as something that should never be done. It's hinted over and over again that Jusetsu's growing attachment to others will only cause problems in the future, and it's gradually starting to sound like an ominous warning the further you go into the book.
Can't wait to start vol. 3, but might need to read something more lighthearted before continuing.
Volume 2 continues the story.Raven of the Inner Palace is a Light Novel and Volume 2, continues the story.
Volume 2 contains the following parts / stories:
The blue swallow The water's voice The man in the mask Yearning aroma
These are not stand-alone stories, but parts within the novel. Jiyusetsu is the Raven Consort and she isn't your typical consort, kind of like a contract marriage. She is forced to take upon the role and that role includes solving mysteries. Most of these mysteries are unresolved deaths, which is the most fascinating part of the read.
There is a slight "romance"/ friendship / bond between Jiyusetsu and the emperor and it's probably my favorite part of the read. Of course, nothing happens, but the interactions between the two is always sweet and wholesome. Jiyusetsu and emperor continue their companionship but we as the reader know, they are slowly starting to care for each other more and more.
I think I liked the stories more in volume 1 because it seemed a little fresh to me. The stories in this one were still good (like the last one!), but it's always someone dying / dead and figuring how who it is and why. I do hope volume 3 will have something totally different.
What a wonderful follow-up! I just love the spooky, horror vibe you get from the different ghost stories. I also still think the characters and their relantionships are a lot more fleshed out than in the anime. It's very beautiful to see Jusetsu create her little found family! And now, I'm even more curious for the 3rd volume, since we are now entering a part of the story that was not covered by the anime. I want to see more about the new Winter Minister. He seemed a very nice person! And I'm curious to know what's next for our characters. Altough, from the tone this story has, I can sense some beloved character may die in the future... I really hope not, but something is telling me it's going to happen.
Serialised mysteries with an overarching plot set in a historical fantasy setting with what might be an incredibly slow burn romance… I would read through any number of spelling errors for that 😝 saying that though there are a lot of spelling errors and broken sentences in this book. Strange double negatives and instances where they started one sentence and changed it half way through but never went back to fix the first part. Still have strange descriptions like the night being so dark that it felt as if its fingers were reaching in to the room, an odd visual that was eerie for not particular reason and it didn’t seem to be setting the mood for what happened next.
But hey the story is interesting enough that I’m not going to stop reading.
Very good continuation to the first novel. The overarching plot of the mystery of the Raven Consort is slowly getting expanded on and the episodic stories it uses as vehicle are all interesting.
A negative, albeit translator error not issue with the book itself, is the translation. Although the prose might be a bit cumbersome, I think it adds to the posh setting full of ceremony and etiquette. The grammatical errors, however, do not. It is especially jarring at the end of the novel, when the editor prolly couldn't be arsed anymore as even wrong pronouns are being used...sometimes within one sentence.
It might be a 3.25, mostly because of the last story, who got deeper into the main mystery behind the Raven Consort.
So yes, it feels less episodic, a bit more like part of a bigger story. It reminds me of the way volume 1 and volume 2 of Sailor Moon are build.
Now, Seven Seas did a slightly better job at proofreading this one vs the first volume. But there's still a lot of room for improvement and, ino, they can and should do better on that front.
This author is so talented! Really I love the characters they’re just getting better and the mythology is so rich and so deep. The stories are just getting better and better… The mysteries are building on themselves, and I appreciate the structure of the stories how they’re constructed is so interesting and efficient. I think I’m falling in love with this author. Great job.
I as mistaken. The anime covers almost all of the first two books. I kind of wish it covered all bc the second volume has such a good ending. It was also less confusing/clearer about the revelations that happen at the end of the anime.
This volume had a significant amount of typos, but the content is excellent. I love the delicate touch the author uses and yet still manages to clearly convey what the various characters are experiencing.
I guess it must be good because I’ve been reading non-stop? This volume has its usual supernatural cases that the Raven consort need to solve, in addition, jesetsu’s background, winter and summer king roles were slowly being revealed, and so the secret of Uren Niangniang as well. Koshun’s consorts were also introduced and revealed here, as well as the relationship between the emperor and jusetsu..