[[[[Please be advised that this review contains spoilers for the first five chapters of this novel. If you do not wish to have any plot points revealed, please proceed with caution. However, if you have already read the first five chapters or do not mind spoilers, then please feel free to continue reading. This review has been written specifically for the first five chapters of the novel, and will not include any information beyond that point.]]]]
After reading the first five chapters of this novel, I can confidently say that the author has done a fantastic job in captivating the reader and keeping them engaged. The writing style is smooth and the plot is intriguing, making me eager to continue reading. I have no doubt that the rest of the novel will be just as well-written as the beginning. I plan on updating this review once I have finished reading the entire novel to fully reflect my thoughts on the work as a whole.
-----------------------
The story development in the novel is well thought out and it progresses at a good pace. The beginning of the novel introduces the main character, Bai Lang, and his background as a military family member who is known as "the nerd". This sets the stage for his character development throughout the story.
One quote that stands out in regards to character development is when Bai Lang meets his friend, Mitzuki, during a science competition in high school. Mitzuki tells Bai Lang "he should pursue his dreams and his studies. That by pursuing his studies and his dreams didn't make him less then. That there was more to life then the military." This moment has a significant impact on Bai Lang's character development as it helps him realize that he doesn't have to conform to the expectations of his military family and can follow his own passions.
In addition to character development, the story also does a good job of world building. The novel takes place in a post-apocalyptic world called Paradise, which is filled with monsters and danger. The description of this world is vivid and immersive, as seen in the quote "The prison walls were breached by several oak trees which had fallen on the walls. It wouldn't be hard to fix, but it resulted in the prisons being empty. All prisoners and guards seemed to have died and if they hadn't died, they must have run away. In some locked cells you still could see and hear zombies banging against the doors." This quote not only gives a clear image of the state of the prison, but also helps to establish the dangers of the world of Paradise.
Psychological Perspective:
Bai Lang, the protagonist of the novel, exhibits several traits that suggest he struggles with low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy. Born into a military family but known as "the nerd," he feels self-conscious about his interests and choices and often tries to please his family by following their requests, even if it means agreeing to an engagement with someone he has no feelings for. "I already disappointed my parents enough by not joining the military, therefore I will try to follow my parents' wishes in everything else they require from me," he thinks to himself, indicating a deep-seated belief that he is not good enough as he is.
Additionally, his fiancé Claire views him as weak and unworthy, further contributing to his low self-worth. It is only through his friendship with Mitzuki, who encourages him to pursue his dreams and studies, that Bai Lang begins to develop a sense of self-worth and value. However, even after two years of surviving in the harsh world of Paradise, Bai Lang is still easily affected by feelings of betrayal and abandonment, suggesting that he has not fully overcome his self-esteem issues. "Bai Lang felt utterly betrayed for two years he was running on fumes too make sure to give everything to a group, who never really seemed to appreciate him much," he thinks after being left for dead by his squad. It is clear that Bai Lang is a complex character with deep-seated psychological struggles, but with the support of his friends and a sense of purpose, he is able to continue fighting for survival in this new world.
character design:
The character design in this novel is well-developed and unique. Each character has their own distinct personality and traits that make them stand out.
For example, Bai Lang is described as "born in a military family but known as 'the nerd'"(This was also mentioned above in my review) and having a PhD in biology, medicine, and science. This immediately sets him apart from the other characters, who are all soldiers and have a more physical focus. He is also described as having "low EQ, like most geniuses" which adds depth to his character and helps to explain his actions and interactions with others.
Claire, on the other hand, is portrayed as a strong female soldier with a dismissive attitude towards Bai Lang, seeing him as weak and unworthy of her attention. This creates tension and conflict between the two, as Bai Lang is engaged to her but she is more interested in his brother, Georgi.
Georgi is described as having a "muscular build" and being a major in the military at only 28 years old, making him a physically strong and capable character.
Mitzuki is also unique, being a military brat who takes to military life well but also being a safe haven for Bai Lang and encouraging him to pursue his dreams and studies.
What could be improved:
One area that could be improved in the writing is the pacing. The first chapter jumps quickly from introducing Bai Lang's background and his family situation to discussing his engagement with Claire and her feelings towards him. This sudden shift in focus can be disorienting for the reader and make it difficult to fully understand and invest in the characters and their relationships. Adding more transitional phrases or sentences to smooth out the transitions between these different aspects of the story would help to improve the pacing and make the narrative flow more smoothly.
Another aspect that could be improved is the character development. While the characters are introduced and their backgrounds are briefly explained, there is not much depth or complexity to their personalities or motivations. For example, Claire is portrayed as being shallow and solely interested in Bai Georgi, but there is no explanation or exploration of why she feels this way or what her desires and goals are. Adding more depth and complexity to the characters would make them more believable and engaging for the reader.
The world building is also somewhat lacking in detail and consistency. The novel mentions that the world has undergone significant changes due to the start of Paradise, but there is not much description or explanation of what these changes are or how they have affected the world and the characters. Additionally, there are moments where the descriptions of the world and its inhabitants seem to contradict each other or are not fully fleshed out. For example, the squad encounters both zombies and monsters, but it is not clear what the differences between these two types of creatures are or how they fit into the overall world building. Adding more details and consistency to the world building would help to make the story more immersive and believable for the reader.
