Rubies, fine roses and... blood. What do these all have in common? Yes, they're all dyed in the brilliant, rich, intense red hue of the color known as 'scarlet'. And one particular psychic's world is fated to be bathed in this very red hue. What will become of him and his comrades? And just like that, I am bereft of any possible words of praise for this sublime novel. What can I say that hasn't already been said? At this point, I am basically blind to the story's any possible shortcomings, so in all honesty, please consider this to be a fangirl review. Sorry not sorry. Let's start with the world of Scarlet Dream, wherein lies all this erratic epicness. It's ever expansive, ever mysterious, and has this lingering ominous vibe to it, which can't be put into words -- you'll just have to read to find out. There has never been a single instance where I felt that the foundations were shaky. Everything fits together perfectly like a puzzle. No detail is wasted, which, in my opinion, is a really tough thing for newbie writers to accomplish. But an excellent world needs excellent characters, and herein those too are present in abundance. The protagonist is the real deal. The farthest thing from being a self-insert, he holds his own against an equally well-written and diverse cast of characters. You can feel their frustration, sorrows and worries seeping into you. They make mistakes, just like real people. They have flaws, just like real people. Some of them are so beautifully broken, you won't know whether to smile or cry for them. Some tread the fine line between madness and genius. Some are such dauntless bravehearts, that you can't help but root for them. They aren't perfect, but they sure as heck are unique. And crazy. On the surface, they're a bunch of dignified gentlemen and graceful ladies, but once you get to know them.. you'll find that they don't 'suffer' from insanity -- these lads and lasses thrive in it. So yes, it's worth getting to know these 'nutcases' (as author-san likes to call them). Where do I even get started with the dialogue.. Just calling it 'engaging' would be an understatement. The conversations flow so smoothly into one another. The grammar is basically flawless except for some rare typos. The feel of modern storytelling is still there but there's this uncanny, mystifying vibe about it that keeps you on the edge, pondering what would happen next.. And mysteries are indeed the core of story development, which contributes to the binge factor. You know a story is amazing when you reach the end of a chapter and go, 'wait, that's all?!' It's such a shame that only stories with popular tags gain more readership on webnovel. But don't worry author-san, real talent never goes unnoticed. At least not in the long run. Keep doing your best!! The first arc had a slow start but it's a necessary introduction to this peculiar world, and it was just the tip of the iceberg. The story underwent a massive metamorphosis in the second arc, but I won't reveal it's events, for I wish to keep this little appraisal as spoiler-free as possible. The moral of this review is to go give the novel a try if you haven't. It's unique, it's peculiar, it tries to do something different in the sea of clichés. With it's wonderfully sublime and astounding finesse. This is as much a story of hope as it is of despair. Of insanity, kindness and extraordinaire.. And no, I did not mean to rhyme that.
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LIKE"you'll find that they don't 'suffer' from insanity -- these lads and lasses thrive in it." Shit! Why didn't I ever use that line in any of my reviews! >_< (Just kidding!) But seriously, that's probably the best way to put it. And I know what you mean by not meaning it all to rhyme. After reading this book, it just feels like writing anything in the way the author does, doesn't it? Great review!
Ho ho, why thank you sir!
CianNomer:"you'll find that they don't 'suffer' from insanity -- these lads and lasses thrive in it." Shit! Why didn't I ever use that line in any of my reviews! >_< (Just kidding!) But seriously, that's probably the best way to put it. And I know what you mean by not meaning it all to rhyme. After reading this book, it just feels like writing anything in the way the author does, doesn't it? Great review!