DNF @ 46% because dragging myself through this book is going to put me in a reading slump
The best thing this has going for it is the cover is stunning. The MC, Ning, is annoying and overdramatic at some points, and too chill at other important times. I don't understand why she makes the dumb decisions she repeatedly makes (SPOILER: like reciting poetry about killing royals to the royal court literally day 1 of the competition, or when the head of the kitchen told Ning to stay away from the kitchens for everyone's safety and the first thing Ning does is go back to the kitchen to confront her, even though it would accomplish nothing (either the head maid did carry out the royal's order and poison Ning, in which case you can't blame her that much if her own life and her families lives are on the line, or she didn't and Ning is endangering her for no reason other than to throw false accusations)).
Things happen because they are convenient to the plot, not because they make sense (SPOILER: like when Ning says she has to practice brewing the truth tea, so she makes the prince try it. But like what did she accomplish from that? It worked, but even if it didn't, what could she have done a day before the competition? The fact that she saw the tea was the only actual advantage she got from the whole ordeal, so making the prince drink it was only there to introduce the dead king idea. Needing "practice" is just such a flimsy excuse).
And to be honest, I'd be pissed if I was Ning's other sister. Ning only mentions thinking of and missing her dead mom and sick sister, but what about worrying and thinking about your other sister Ning? You left her behind to deal with all the shit you caused with your accidentally poison tea and then you don't even spare her a thought LOL. You kinda suck.
And when given the opportunity to cheat in the competition, she gladly takes it. I'm not even saying she's wrong to take it, especially since some of the other competitors also have unfair advantages, but for someone who preaches about honor and how wrong it is when people get unfair treatment, she surely didn't even think twice before doing the same. All I'm asking for is a single thought of hesitation, and then she can go forth with it. Just show me she's not a complete hippocrate.
Lastly, the writing is not for me. It came off very juvenile, underdeveloped, and stilted at times. There was a whole lot of telling vs showing, and sometimes events would be told in a way that felt like I was reading a bulleted list of plot points. I think the worst thing for me though was the dialogue. Who actually talks like that? There were so so many points in which contractions could've been used, but they weren't. Who's got the time when speaking to never use contractions? It's just unnatural. And some of the language used in the dialogue were weird choices like "however" vs "but". Especially since this is Ning talking, who is supposed to have been raised in a super poor town far from court, but somehow speaks like the Queen of England.
Also idk if I'm crazy, but I couldn't stop comparing it to Spin the Dawn. Not just on the magic competition for a spot working in the royal court aspect, but also "evil" lady royal who is in charge of the competition (SPOILER: who asks MC to deceive and spy on male love interest). Which I think is exacerbated by the fact that embroidery will be brought up every now and then. But the difference being I actually cared about those characters and what happened to them.
The best thing this has going for it is the cover is stunning. The MC, Ning, is annoying and overdramatic at some points, and too chill at other important times. I don't understand why she makes the dumb decisions she repeatedly makes (SPOILER: like reciting poetry about killing royals to the royal court literally day 1 of the competition, or when the head of the kitchen told Ning to stay away from the kitchens for everyone's safety and the first thing Ning does is go back to the kitchen to confront her, even though it would accomplish nothing (either the head maid did carry out the royal's order and poison Ning, in which case you can't blame her that much if her own life and her families lives are on the line, or she didn't and Ning is endangering her for no reason other than to throw false accusations)).
Things happen because they are convenient to the plot, not because they make sense (SPOILER: like when Ning says she has to practice brewing the truth tea, so she makes the prince try it. But like what did she accomplish from that? It worked, but even if it didn't, what could she have done a day before the competition? The fact that she saw the tea was the only actual advantage she got from the whole ordeal, so making the prince drink it was only there to introduce the dead king idea. Needing "practice" is just such a flimsy excuse).
And to be honest, I'd be pissed if I was Ning's other sister. Ning only mentions thinking of and missing her dead mom and sick sister, but what about worrying and thinking about your other sister Ning? You left her behind to deal with all the shit you caused with your accidentally poison tea and then you don't even spare her a thought LOL. You kinda suck.
And when given the opportunity to cheat in the competition, she gladly takes it. I'm not even saying she's wrong to take it, especially since some of the other competitors also have unfair advantages, but for someone who preaches about honor and how wrong it is when people get unfair treatment, she surely didn't even think twice before doing the same. All I'm asking for is a single thought of hesitation, and then she can go forth with it. Just show me she's not a complete hippocrate.
Lastly, the writing is not for me. It came off very juvenile, underdeveloped, and stilted at times. There was a whole lot of telling vs showing, and sometimes events would be told in a way that felt like I was reading a bulleted list of plot points. I think the worst thing for me though was the dialogue. Who actually talks like that? There were so so many points in which contractions could've been used, but they weren't. Who's got the time when speaking to never use contractions? It's just unnatural. And some of the language used in the dialogue were weird choices like "however" vs "but". Especially since this is Ning talking, who is supposed to have been raised in a super poor town far from court, but somehow speaks like the Queen of England.
Also idk if I'm crazy, but I couldn't stop comparing it to Spin the Dawn. Not just on the magic competition for a spot working in the royal court aspect, but also "evil" lady royal who is in charge of the competition (SPOILER: who asks MC to deceive and spy on male love interest). Which I think is exacerbated by the fact that embroidery will be brought up every now and then. But the difference being I actually cared about those characters and what happened to them.