This volume is just wow。Iris having now dealt with the people plotting against her, now learns that there are events and issues more pressing occurring in the kingdom than she originally thought。 Throughout this, she does whatever she can to keep the people of her domain safe, at whatever cost necessary。 Iris comes to terms with her growing feelings for Dean and is also suddenly proposed to by a foreign prince, who has come to the duchy seeking an alliance, with said proposal to cement the deal。 This volume is just wow。Iris having now dealt with the people plotting against her, now learns that there are events and issues more pressing occurring in the kingdom than she originally thought。 Throughout this, she does whatever she can to keep the people of her domain safe, at whatever cost necessary。 Iris comes to terms with her growing feelings for Dean and is also suddenly proposed to by a foreign prince, who has come to the duchy seeking an alliance, with said proposal to cement the deal。However, when a crisis occurs that affects the entire kingdom, the 2nd prince's faction does what they can do to solidify their stance, while the 1st prince is said to still be abroad。 But as everything seems dire, the 1st prince (Alfred) suddenly makes an appearance and everything comes to light, not only regarding the actions that the actions of people within Ed's faction, but also his mother the empress and Yuri, the 'heroine' in the original storyline。While I felt this particular ending a little rushed, as I would have liked to see certain events dragged on, I overall found the ending bittersweet for Iris。 I very much look forward to the next volume! 。。。more
Rebecca,
This is a roller coaster of a volume。 It starts out with fifty of the dullest pages I've read in recent memory before becoming an emotional narrative of impending revolution and political drama and finally wrapping up in a very bittersweet way that makes me very glad there's a volume five。 It's the sort of volume that makes me glad I stuck with what was previously a mediocre series。 This is a roller coaster of a volume。 It starts out with fifty of the dullest pages I've read in recent memory before becoming an emotional narrative of impending revolution and political drama and finally wrapping up in a very bittersweet way that makes me very glad there's a volume five。 It's the sort of volume that makes me glad I stuck with what was previously a mediocre series。 。。。more
Pieter,
Iris has barely dealt with people directly plotting against her, before she learns things are even more dire in the kingdom then she thought they would be。 Can she keep herself and the people of her domain save?The story has certainly changed from its first volume over the previous volumes。 I found the intrigue mixed in with a bit of slice-of-life and kingdom building an enjoyable read。 I like the characters involved, and at least things do not go as smoothly as they did in volume 1。 My one bit Iris has barely dealt with people directly plotting against her, before she learns things are even more dire in the kingdom then she thought they would be。 Can she keep herself and the people of her domain save?The story has certainly changed from its first volume over the previous volumes。 I found the intrigue mixed in with a bit of slice-of-life and kingdom building an enjoyable read。 I like the characters involved, and at least things do not go as smoothly as they did in volume 1。 My one bit of complaint is that Iris lacks a bit of agency in this volume。 She does damage control, but it are others who resolve the actual issue (and without her direct involvement at that) and take the centre state。 It makes sense in the context, but I like the MC to do at least be somewhat involved and I would expect a bit more anger from her from being kept out of the loop by those around her (even if that was done for the best of intentions)。 I am not even talking about Dean, but about parents。Still, eagerly looking forward to volume 5 although I am not sure how much a bureaucrat and politician can do in said events。。。 。。。more
Lissa Hawley,
On the one hand, if I didn't already love the manga I would have given up on these light novels ages ago。 The manga cuts out a lot of tedious exposition about government reform。 On the other hand I am now further ahead in the story than the English version of the manga, to which I can only be delighted and aghast at with this latest cliffhanger。 On the one hand, if I didn't already love the manga I would have given up on these light novels ages ago。 The manga cuts out a lot of tedious exposition about government reform。 On the other hand I am now further ahead in the story than the English version of the manga, to which I can only be delighted and aghast at with this latest cliffhanger。 。。。more
Elizabeth Aguilar,
RTCNot sure how to rate this one。 While I liked most of it, the way the first plotline was handled-- introduced, made a big thing, and then seemingly forgotten till the end-- was my biggest gripe。 There certainly was not much she could do about it till it was relevant again。 But it's odd she wouldn't have considered using it as a trump card or as part of her overall plan。The ending also left me empty。 She seemed so resigned to her fate, which is so unlike her。 I can understand the logic of the d RTCNot sure how to rate this one。 While I liked most of it, the way the first plotline was handled-- introduced, made a big thing, and then seemingly forgotten till the end-- was my biggest gripe。 There certainly was not much she could do about it till it was relevant again。 But it's odd she wouldn't have considered using it as a trump card or as part of her overall plan。The ending also left me empty。 She seemed so resigned to her fate, which is so unlike her。 I can understand the logic of the decision to an extent。 However, unlike other situations where Iris doesn't consider an alternative decision, the circumstances shifted。 Even if she had made the same choice, I would have liked for her to at least consider the merits of the other possible alternative。 。。。more
Jen ,
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 I’m sorry, but what the actual F*CK was that ending?!? Would have been one star, but I’m going to give it the benefit of the doubt。 My day started off so well。 This was queued on my eReader, I downloaded it and started to read at lunch and my day at work went to poo, but I still had this to read。 And then THAT ENDING happened and my day required me to listen to Bodies on repeat as I drove home and a comfort re-read of both the I Swear manga AND light novel, BUT that also left me depressed becaus I’m sorry, but what the actual F*CK was that ending?!? Would have been one star, but I’m going to give it the benefit of the doubt。 My day started off so well。 This was queued on my eReader, I downloaded it and started to read at lunch and my day at work went to poo, but I still had this to read。 And then THAT ENDING happened and my day required me to listen to Bodies on repeat as I drove home and a comfort re-read of both the I Swear manga AND light novel, BUT that also left me depressed because WHEN ARE THE NEXT VOLUMES COMING OUT FOR THOSE, HUH, HUH?!?!So now I am desperate for a positive read and SO HELP ME, this book has a LOT to answer for!!!2, the next book DAM WELL better be STELLAR or I am DONE, stars。 。。。more