Friday, September 20, 2024

Webnovel Review: The Omega Can’t Pretend to Be a Beta After Accidentally Witnessing the Major General’s Susceptible Period by 翡唐

Title: The Omega Can’t Pretend to Be a Beta After Accidentally Witnessing the Major General’s Susceptible Period
Author: 翡唐
Chapters: 98 chapters
Publication: 2021
Summary from Novel Updates:

The top alpha, Major General Ji Cheying, disguises himself as a down-on-his-luck beta in order to carry out a secret mission. One day, when he goes out to take out the garbage, while wearing a pair of torn socks, he comes across the poor nephew of his landlord, Xie Quan, a good-looking beta who was staying in the dirty and terrible bas**ent.

The two look at each other, each feeling a little sorry for the other.

No one expected that one of these two miserable people was the prestigious Major General Ji and the other was the most powerful mecha engineer in the Empire. And to Ji Cheying’s further surprise, this beautiful beta confessed his passionate love for him!

He was torn again and again under the prudent choice to refuse the other, after all, this is a mission, not the time to talk about love.

When the mission was over and it was time to talk about love, it was Xie Quan’s turn to become baffled, “Who do you think likes you? Who confessed? I didn’t, I’m not, don’t talk nonsense.”

Ji Cheying: ???!

It was only then that Xie Quan unexpectedly realized that the Imperial Major General seemed to have mistakenly thought that he was in love with him.

A few months later, Major General Ji, who had entered his susceptible period, was violent and fierce, not able to be approached by strangers. However, his eyes were red and he was tugging at Xie Quan, his voice hoarse, “You little liar, cheating on my feelings and not taking responsibility.”

Xie Quan sighed, lifted his hair, and tore off the invisible gland patch, finally revealing the omega gland at the back of his neck, “Bite it. I’ll give you a bite.”

Ji Cheying gritted his teeth, “You’re a f*cking omega?”

True love has nothing to do with identity and gender.

3.5 STARS - I LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

Don't let the summary fool you; the actual gender reveal doesn't exactly happen like described. It's definitely more serious than described lol. 

I was also mainly expecting action and comedy based on the summary and tags on Novel Updates, so I was surprised by the amount of suspense and mystery throughout the book. It kept me hooked, that's for sure! However, I felt like the author was too wordy at times trying to drag out the suspense by rehashing scenarios from different people's perspective. 

Xie Quan was a rare cold and intelligent omega love interest. I loved how rational and calm Xie Quan was, even in the face of his pheromones going out of control. He was cold hearted, logical, and smart, which helped him out of many situations that could have gone south quickly. 

On the contrary, Ji Cheying was a rare male lead alpha who also had a super tight control on his emotions and pheromones. Best of all, the man knows consent! Even in the midst of his susceptible period! They really were meant for each other, but man, they had to go through so much to get there. 

Also disappointed there were no extras. I want to see how they spent their future together!

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Weekly Haul 167

It's been a long time since I last bought any books, especially because I was holding off on buying anymore before the big move. However, after the last 2nd & Charles run to sell some books, I ended up buying some more poetry books. The good news is that most of them were used and were less than $5 each!


This is for the Women Who Don't Give a Fuck by Janne Robinson

Please Don't GO Before I Get Better by Madisen Kuhn

Starry Night, Blurry Dreams by Henn Kim

Heart Talk by Cleo Wade

Thursday, September 12, 2024

Manga Review: Cheeky Brat vol. 23 by Mitsubachi Miyuki

Title: Cheeky Brat vol. 23
Author: Mitsubachi Miyuki
Pages: N/A
Publication: 2022
Summary from Goodreads:

The new semester has begun, and Yuki and Naruse have moved up one grade at a time.

The final volume of the big hit basketball romantic comedy!

4 STARS - I REALLY LIKED IT

MY SPOILER REVIEW: 

It's finally over!

Overall, I enjoyed the series and am glad to have reread it from the start to appreciate catching up with the end of the series. However, I don't think we needed 23 volumes to depict their relationship and growth.

The beginning and near the end were so frustrating at times because Yuki and Naruse seemed to be stuck in their same old problems: Letting problems build up because of temper tantrums and lack of communication. Like, the whole middle of the series was great when they were finally together and working to be better together. It seemed like they made 10 steps forward as a couple but then went 11 steps backwards once new love interests were introduced. It just seemed that some arcs were dragged out because of the same problems.

Btw, I ended up loving Sanohara; she could have had a whole spin-off series on her own with her situation. Also, finally, no cat fights between girls over a boy. I hope she found a boyfriend and is living well with her mom. 

However, I do appreciate how the author depicted their relationship over the years. I think this was one of the few manga I've read where it shows all of the ups and downs of being in a long-term committed relationship that spanned from high school to college, especially where they're both in different grades. Unlike most series wanting to jump to the good part years later, there wasn't just one long time skip or a breakup before doing a time skip.  

I'm glad I could finally finish the series, but I wish there were some extras on the side couples! How are Usami and Suwa doing? What about the captain and the other manager?? What's more, Himiko and Usamin???? I want to read more about their dynamic!!! Also, author never explained why Usami is ashamed/hates her lil bro lol. I just want to knowww

Monday, September 9, 2024

Book Unhaul 35

Here's the last part of books I'm unhauling after bringing them back from my parents' house recently. Now, there's another giant bookshelf of YA fiction to bring back lol.

Love★Com vol. 1-9 by Aya Nakahara

MeruPuri vol. 1-4 by Matsuri Hino

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Books I Want to Read This Month

Instead of waiting for the Demon Slayer movies to come out, I should just read the manga, because I'm ready to see Tanjiro beat some ass! That or catch up on some of my other series now that I finally have them at home lol.

  1. Yona of the Dawn vol. 1 by Mizuho Kusanagi
  2. Yona of the Dawn vol. 2 by Mizuho Kusanagi
  3. Yona of the Dawn vol. 3 by Mizuho Kusanagi
  4. Demon Slayer vol. 1 by Koyoharu Gotouge
  5. Demon Slayer vol. 2 by Koyoharu Gotouge
  6. Demon Slayer vol. 3 by Koyoharu Gotouge
  7. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 1 by Fujita
  8. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 2 by Fujita
  9. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 3 by Fujita
  10. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 4 by Fujita
  11. Oksi by Mari Ahokoivu
  12. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
  13. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Familia Chronicle Novel vol. 1 by Fujino Omori
  14. Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
  15. Scum Villain's Self-Saving System vol. 1 Mo Xiang Tong XiuBailin and Li Yun by Jayessart

Sunday, September 1, 2024

August in Retrospect

Whoops, didn't manage to post much last month. However, I did read a lot of MTL novels this month and completely caught up with Demon Slayer! Now, I'm just waiting for the movies to come out! 

I read: 

  • Tyrant's Little Ginseng Queen by 吾彩
  • The Little Wolf Dog I Picked Up Is An Investment Boss by N/A
  • My Boyfriend Has Superpowers!? by 艾斯沐恩
  • What to Do If Your Legs are Swollen Due to the Wrong Treatment by 灸尾妖狐
  • The Sand Sculpture Cannon Fodder Attack in a Sadistic Novel by 夏從靈
  • I'm Really Not a Child of Luck by 祝龔
  • The Little Deaf Man Decided to be Spoiled by 严颂颂
  • After Rebirth I Found Everyone Is My Fan Brother by 梟鑰
  • Arrogant Baby Lu Online by 白云朵


I watched: 

  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc (2021)
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc (2023)
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc (2024)
  • Inception (2010)  [rewatched]

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Book Unhaul 34

Here's some more of my old series that I'm no longer interested in keeping~

Pandora Hearts #1-4, 6 by Jun Mochizuki

Gakuen Alice #1-3 by Tachibana Higuchi

Dazzle #1 by Minari Endoh

Mugen Spiral: The Complete Two-Volume Series by Mizuho Kusanagi

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Mini Review: After Rejecting the Boss, the End of the World has Come; Cheeky Brat vol. 1; Five Scum Gongs Get Crazy Jealousy For Me

Title: After Rejecting the Boss, the End of the World has Come
Author: 曙歌
Chapters: 77 chapters + 2 extras
Publication: 2018
Summary from jjwxc:

There is a coal boss's father with a net worth of hundreds of millions, and the rich lady Mei Tiantian rejected the courtship of the poor boy Shen Zhan, and sincerely advised him: I know you are very good, but you should find a girl of the right family, so that you can be happy.

Then, the end of the world came... O((⊙﹏⊙))o Modern society collapsed overnight, animals and plants became the masters of the earth, and human lifestyles and diets were forced to undergo earth-shaking changes.

Some animals and plants even have the attribute of time. When a human kills a strange beast, the countdown to life will start for three days.

If you want to survive, you must always be careful not to step on the ants under your feet, and be an ordinary person who does not kill; or keep killing strange beasts to gain precious survival time, and embark on a path of danger and opportunity.

Only humility and death await the weak, while the strong can even live forever. And Shen Zhan, an outstanding graduate of the physical education department with well-developed limbs, a not simple mind and good looks, has become a big boss at the top of the food chain!

Mei Tiantian: (╯‵ ′)╯︵┻━┻

Shen Zhan: Build the strongest base together and be the best boss?

Mei Tiantian: Alright. o(* ̄︶ ̄*)o 

One sentence copywriting : After rejecting the boss, Mei Tiantian became the boss herself.

Small Theater: It is said that Shen Zhan is a loyal dog, but Mei Tiantian doesn't think so. He is obviously a wolf with a big tail, no matter day or night, as long as there is no one, he will hold her in his arms and kiss her!

Mei Tiantian: It's so late, can you calm down for a while, don't bite! Do you think I'm a teething stick, or a scratching board?

Shen-so wronged-Zhan: I didn't bite you, I just wanted...

Mei Tiantian: Shut up!

Shen Zhan: ...

3 STARS - I LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

There's a lot of nationalism, especially in the beginning and end. Not terrible, but can be off-putting at first.


Title: Cheeky Brat vol. 1
Author: Mitsubachi Miyuki
Pages: 192
Publication: 2014
Summary from Goodreads:

I, Yuki, became the basketball team manager for one reason—I had a crush on the captain and wanted to be with him, always. But when Kido-senpai suddenly announced he got a girlfriend, where did that leave me? In the clubroom, crying my eyes out…until this cheeky brat of an underclassman showed up. And now that stupid, pretty playboy, Naruse, seems determined to wiggle his way into every corner of my life…

3 STARS - I LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

I started this series 5 years ago and really enjoyed it, especially the later volumes that came out at the time. Found out that the series was finally completed last year and wanted to start from the beginning and enjoy it all over again now that it's officially licensed in the US. 

However, I forgot how much of a stereotypically toxic shojo boy Naruse was in his pursuit in the beginning by basically harassing Yuki to tease her... 

The first couple volumes weren't as great as I remembered, but I still enjoyed them. I'm hoping the later volumes will get better as the couple matures through time and experience together.


Title: Five Scum Gongs Get Crazy Jealousy For Me
Author: 木三观
Chapters: 79 chapters
Publication: 2022
Summary from Novel Updates:

System: As long as you complete five scum gong elimination missions, you can retire.

The first is a school bully at the Royal Military Academy. To vent the protagonist Shou’s anger, he will have you disabled.

The second is the “white cut black*” Imperial Academy Taifu. To vent the protagonist Shou’s anger, he will have you drop out of school.

The third is a capitalist who is extremely wealthy and holds the lifeline of the global economy. For the protagonist Shou, he will have your family go bankrupt.

The fourth is a well-known interstellar medical scientist who saves you from water and fire and cures your disabilities. But in fact he accepted you for the protagonist Shou to use as a human experiment.

The fifth is the emperor of the empire, who has the power to overturn the whole world is interested in you and wants to take advantage of you, but after falling in love with the protagonist Shou, he throws you into the cold palace…

Shan Weiyi: Alright, I see, have them come all at once.

System: ?

Shan Weiyi: I want to eliminate five at a time, understand?

System: You may not quite understand the difficulty of the retirement task. In addition to starting as a cannon fodder to eliminate the scum gongs, you also need to deal with the challenge of “the protagonist shou”. They are played by the quick transmigration commissioners holding the script of the protagonist in hand, entering the small world before you, gaining the favorability of the Scum Gong first, and will try their best to prevent you from completing the task. In other words, you not only have to face five scumbag gongs, but also five Mary Sues…

Shan Weiyi: I understand.

System: What do you understand?

Shan Weiyi: I have to fight ten.

* refers to a character who looks innocent and cute on the surface, but is actually a black-bellied boss, decisive and ruthless

3.5 STARS - I LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

I really liked the world building in this book. Most interstellar books gloss over a lot of technological advancements other than weapons and body modification that obviously impact the plot. However, I really liked how the author used big data to highlight parts of the plot. 

Also, Shan Weiyi was ruthless, and I was all for it! Especially loved Tongzi's growth as well. What a cutie.