Volume 1. ✅
Honestly?
Really good. Solid 8-8.5/10. CF has truly mastered mystery writing and dropping seamless plot twists. Side characters were good, and the pacing is faster than his usual Vol 1s, which I don't mind.
The MC doesn't shine much yet, but it's only Vol 1 so I'm trusting CF. Felt a tiny bit of plot convenience in some spots, but nothing I can exactly pinpoint.
Overall? A great start, but for me personally, LOTM Vol 1 still clears.
Volume 1. ✅
Honestly?
Really good. Solid 8-8.5/10. CF has truly mastered mystery writing and dropping seamless plot twists. Side characters were good, and the pacing is faster than his usual Vol 1s, which I don't mind.
The only real struggle early on was keeping track of all the Chinese names in the back of my head. Takes a bit more mental energy compared to LOTM/COI/Arcana, but you get used to it by the end. Not CF's fault, just a genre thing. Still makes you pay close attention to the plot.