Chapters considered for review : Till "The Price Of Freedom" as of March 12, 2023
The book is a romantic drama with fantasy elements set in old times... with the societal structure more medieval. The central theme of the story is agency and freedom. Exploration of how taking it away corrodes any sense of being of a person, permeating all facets of their existence, making them subservient not only to the external class system, but to themselves. The way women were treated as tactical political objects and such are explored.
It goes into harrowing detail about what such a society meant for its down trodden. Aspects of colonialization and the effects on the population in regards to loss of identity are explored. How knowledge and education are often tools for people in power, both restricting access and flooding it with state propaganda, can be used to further their agenda is expressed clearly.
A short synopsis goes like this: Clowned prince of the Lion empire wants to start a civil war in Azure Kingdom, to help his fractured economy. He tasks his "eye" Tetsuya to prop up a puppet king there. A king that the citizens reject. This is the backdrop and canvas for the story to explore the aforementioned details. In search of the hated prince, the main cast of characters end up on a ship travelling south - as a part of Emperor's strategy for a political alliance - with the sea being used as a metaphor for freedom and explores the life of a pirate that the rogue prince is.
The first thing that stands out about this and the strength of the book - is it's narration. Take the case of Ogewara. He is introduced as a character who is a "cupbearer" for the nobles. He diligently performs what he sees as his "duty" and still gets punished for it more often that not. Such oppression expects unfair things to happen to him and when something marginally less horrendous takes place, he sees it as benevolence from the perpetrator. The scene with him later on, in the ship slapping one of his "handlers", is fascinatingly narrated with a back and forth. Though what he did is justified, the horrors of its implications make him and the audience relate. We are even at one point look at the man who punishes him in a sympathetic way. The world portrayed is that bleak.
Crown prince Akashi is portrayed as a scheming, manipulating person with high political aspirations in the beginning. He is shown to have a soft-spot for the main chararcter of the story - Tetsuya - albeit in a really creepy way, but his character development is shown as his relationship with him grows. Tetsuya is still technically his "property" and the power imbalance is nauseating but their relationship is aptly done for the time setting. He loses the menace as the story goes on and is shown as a relatively compassionate guy from a family of heinous people. After a chapter called "Dream of Nightmares", which I might add is not for the squeamish, it is admittedly getting difficult to root for him. The imagery is bold, I will give it that.
Tetsuya is introduced as a dancer for the nobles and is tasked with a coup. The dynamic he shares with Ogiwara who he claims is his sworn brother has some good moments. Though he doesn't want to be joined by him in this perilous task, series of events group them together. For a fair amount of time, we see things from Ogewara's perspective - a commoner's reaction to the insanity around them. Throughout the chapters, Tetsuya's backstory is explored. How he became a cog in the system and how he eventually met Ogiwara. The early chapters say "He saved me from burning, I saved him from drowning." When everything unfolds, it is time-appropriately gut wrenching and savage. Adding to other horrific things he went through from former handler he was saved from, his assassin training, his supposed childhood friend and so on...
Daiki as the cursed prince as his citizens call him, is the one who let's see Tetsuya what being free could mean to a person. They go from enemies to being close and the transformation was something that I liked. He is the window to the audience regarding traumatic experiences that they both shared growing up. The crew of the ship like Maro and the cook were nice side characters. There are some exciting fantasy action towards the latter part of the story in that setting.
While I agree with the author's decisions throughout the book, and it lands with the intended effect, some of it is repulsive, edgy and is there for shock-value. One might disagree, but it's my personal opinion. This book has no business being not rated as mature which surprises me at this point. (CORRECTION: It was. Sorry for inconvenience caused)
The parts in the book that I liked the least are the romance portions - mostly the ones with Daiki. I know it's not meant to play off as one but it kind of does so I think I am entitled to that opinion. One with Akashi grew on me like the author intended.
I spent the most amount of time I have for reading a Wattpad book for this review and for the most part, I liked it. I might be tweaking my rules a bit in the upcoming days.
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Constructive reviews (COMPLETED)
Random[PERMANENTLY CLOSED] A honest take on Wattpad books that I read. Review is from a reader's perspective. My reviews are my opinion and not objective truth.
