First of all plot is amazing. All instances are freaking awesome. Don't even mention about the props and awards from clearing instances. Remember one thing if you're looki g for fluff and dog food this is not your cup of tea. The thing MC and ML have here so unique and kinda implicit. They just know what other think and feel just by looking at their eyes. Well it's not like you can be lovey dovey when you have to focus on surviving almost all the time. This is a... more>> gem. Don't miss it. <<less

This is a seriously the best novel I have ever read. I can't even began to describe how much I love this novel. I've prob re-read at least 10 times at this point and am still not tired of it. The writing and translation quality is absolutely amazing. I can literally feel the fear and anxiety from the characters themselves while reading and the setting is just seriously the best! It's so creative and well thought out! I really don't think I'll be able to view some of those black... more>> tower monsters in the same light again, especially Mario and Santa Claus.

Pros:

• • well thought out setting and very creative. I really do love some of the black tower monsters, especially the circus leader. The villains of the story-the system-is really just so detailed. They're well known fairy tail charas, but at the same time, the author adds so much little details to them that it really brings them to life and make you see them in a diff light. It's unbelievable how detailed this setting is. I can't compliment it enough.

• • lots of action and survival, also has adventure aspect

• • actually keeps you on your toes throughout the story. It engages the audience/readers, rather then just tells the story to us.

• • the main charas are not necessarily OP, as in they're strong but not strong the extent that everything becomes easy (looking at you card game)

• • romance is subtle, but also very much there at the end. - even the sub chara/minor chara are well thought out
  • Spoiler

    lots of charas do end up dying and while I do like the charas that did die, I also liked that it wasn't a perfectly happy ending and that they weren't brought back to life. The ending was realistic and slightly bittersweet and it's nice to finally read a novel that doesn't have a perfect ending.

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cons:

• • wish their was more romance but it can't be helped. I'd rather their be an amazing plot then more romance

Rating: 5/5

Overall, seriously the best survival/action type novel I've read. A lot better than card game. I read this first and then card game hoping it'd be the same, but card game just lacked the emotion this novel has. I highly recommended this novel to anyone looking for a good plot and some seriously good action. Also, does anyone know of another novel that is as great as this one? <<less

The humorous notes and dialogues got me. The book that he has is so funny. I actually look forward to seeing more of it's funny notes and restrictions without noticing it.

The story is clearly worth it. It may be slow burn and the romance is not that shown too much but when they act together, their intentions and interaction with each other is worth squealing for.

... more>>

Spoiler

Specially their first meeting, I was fan girling their stares at each other. This is how silent people flirt with each other. *Stares*

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About the logic and critical thinking, since I get most of it then I won't complain about anything.

My only complain is that there are couple of questions that the author didn't provide any answers. It's like "you guess~" that Bai always say.

And I was wondering what will the earth will be after the tower disappear. They didn't said anything, they just let it pass. It's lacking.

But since I like it anyway. I give it five points. <<less

Just wanna give a review for this story. This is reaaaallly reallyyyyy reaaallyyyy good.

Plot - 10/10

Setting - 10/10

Main Characters - 10/10❤

Side characters/villains - 10/10

This is really very good. It's rare for me to enjoy every bit of details of the story. You can actually feel their struggles and can picture out every scenes depicted.

Thanking author-sama for such a wonderful novel. Thanking translator-san for bringing the quality of the story.

I also enjoyed the comments made by the fellow readers😆

this story is really amazing, I have no words for this. It was just too amazing even though I wished there is more extra chaps but it was enough. The ending was a very happy one so it made me really happy

some parts are confusing due to the translation

Wow. That total rating said it all.
Definitely definitely definitely goes to my re-read list.

It is an apocalypse novel, but much much better from the zombie one, in term of originality. The general plotline that usually is the hightlight of apocalypse novel is only a side thing in this book. For example, food. As for brutality, it is hard to compare. I tend to feel zombie novels are more brutal (killing people just for their crystal core. It is extremely selfish because without doing that, you can still live). It is only in my opinion 'tho (because in the beginning of this novel, about billions people disappear (there's no brutality, but for someone who is sensitive about death, that's a very high casuality). Then, the surviving people become more and more selfish when playing the instances (I do feel their horror. And it's different from snatching crystal core because they won't live if they are not doing that (at least in their mind that's the case because the black tower's clues are puzzling and has clues inside clue))).

The instances are really really interesting!! Love them so much! Most of them is from fairytale and traditional games. I can't say much about the instances, you need to experience them yourself ;)

Next, BAI RUOYAO. Who is he? Hmmm. I guess he is... someone really interesting? I really love and really hate this guy. Never have I ever found a character that annoyed me so much 'till I chanted "Just kill him already, MC!" but at the same time when he is not there I really missed him. He is not a good nor a bad person. He is a psychopath. So how can I like him? Well, I don't really know, but, I know I am not the only one who likes him.

Now, the minus. The final (7th) floor is too short! Why did Grecia's moment was just like that? And I am still not really familiar with Queen of Heart yet! And Peterpan! How come you came out suddenly and also disappear suddenly?!

All in all, despite those minus (which in my opinion is still okay), this novel is absolutely wonderful! The instances were abundant and the way to complete them racked my brain. Plus, I am really surprised with my own choice of fav character in this novel. It is a nice surprise and one that I didn't expect at all! (I really hate and despised him at first, truly! I didn't have an ounce of pity for him and even wished him dead).

Last, I really want to say this:
[!! Game Instance Spoiler !!]

I read everything but the extras and I have so many questions left?! And to me, the earlier games felt more enjoyable as there was more suspense; later on it seemed like they were resolved too easily.

I love reading survival novels, which tend to be BL oddly enough. I also love to read reviews... and am sometimes disappointed by them. For this particular novel, TRUST THE FIVE STAR REVIEWS! I am constantly being disappointed by other highly rated works when I compare them to this novel.

I actually almost dropped this initially as it took a little while to ramp up for me, but I ended up enjoying it a lot in the end, especially once the MC actually met the ML. It's definitely a plot-first, romance much lower priority book, but the main pairing has definite moments of teasing cuteness and dog food sprinkled throughout as they work together more. I also really enjoyed a lot of the other cast as well as the MC builds up a network of allies/frenemies.

If I could give more stars to this novel; I'd make sure the star maker keep pouring them all on this masterpiece. (*˘︶˘*).｡*♡

From the summary, you should've know that this story is more focusing to the plot. So enjoy the plot.

Of course the main cp is *chef kiss.

But really, the plot is more than *chef kiss.

Even though it is considered Yaoi & BL, there wasn't really any physical romance scenes besides holding hands. They started as friends and majority of the story was focused on the games, world-building, and interactions between people.

I really enjoyed this novel. Thanks so much to turtle for translating it. It doesn't have that much BL but its such a nice cherry on top for those of us who enjoy it. The focus is primarily on the survival games which I really enjoyed and theres a lot of thoughts and smarts involved. The explanations can be kind of confusing. There have been times in the translations where the turtle used another name instead of one meant to be used so it doesn't really make sense, but I... more>> do think this is one of my favorite Chinese BL novels. <<less

This novel is one of the best I've read even if its BL and I can guarantee that it is worth the read just for the plot. Even those who hate BL can try to read this since there are no detailed smut scenes in the story (Even when they did 'that', it was written in an analogy of guns (lol) and many readers even missed it) and the romance like what others said can be summarized in just one paragraph.

Background: The world-building of the story is very well done... more>> albeit a bit confusing at first. The story is set in an apocalyptic setting where the humans are forced to play the games of the black tower where failure usually means death. The bosses of these games are mostly fairytale characters with a twist that they like to eat humans.

Story: The plot itself is very interesting with many twist and turns. The games presented by the tower are mind-boggling and I even doubt my own IQ while reading this. Some games even have hidden conditions where the MC magnificently completed it while outsmarting the other characters.

Characters: The characters feel real and they are not 1-dimensional. There are no s*upid characters that only exist to serve as a foil for the MC. Each character is depicted as vividly and realistically possible. Even the villains, both humans and black tower monsters have another side to them aside from their usual selves that the readers will grow to love.

Conclusion: I can't write more on the review since it will possibly spoil the whole story so just try to read it and enjoy the ride :). <<less

This story was so stunning! It was a roller coaster ride adventure and I enjoyed reading every chapter so much I still crave for more. 💙 Edited: (11.22.20) I still think this is one of the best that I've read so far.

Really like the concept.. the games in it are really interesting.

Be prepared for some character deaths here and there - this is not a spoiler - it is kind of expected due to the nature of the story and the games involved.

But I feel kind of sad that

... more>>

Spoiler

Mu Huixue died. I don't want her to die! She's really a good person... her interaction with Bai Ruoyao is so funny..I kind of want her to be with him...

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The romance part is very very slow though... and if you add up all the romance scenes together it will only amount to few sentences. But it is still sweet.

The couple are a perfect match -both are strong and they complement each other nicely, that's why they make a good team in the games.

Spoiler

I like the extra AU chapters though where the black tower is not there and how the characters behave in the normal world..

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Overall this novel is really very good. highly recommend !! <<less

This book was a fun ride. Read it for the survival games and action. The BL in this series is almost negligible, and I would recommend this to readers who are not into BL as well.

The strong point of this series are the games, especially the first few ones that show up. Later games aren't as clever as the first few but are still a fun ride. The author often incorporates small items or clues from previous chapters into subsequent games.

This series has weak characterizations and relationships. You will learn... more>> the characters' names and who they are because the author will stress out certain character names over the chapters, but the characters themselves aren't strongly articulated. Even the MC and ML. That's also why I think this series is palatable for non-BL readers though. It doesn't hinder the story too much since the focus is on the game elements and the action, but it is rather disappointing to be expecting a character to show up for 30 chapters only for the character to end up flat as a board.

The ending is also kind of feels so-so, but that's often the case with apocalyptic series. Again though, I was in it for the games and action, and the book delivered in that aspect. Solid 4/5. <<less

After this one I started to carefully check novels' tags carefully XD

Still games are memorable. Most of them have all sorts of tricks carefully masked by rules. This one is a very solid story.

... more>> Yaoi comes in latest chapters and it doesn't affect story much. Moreover it's more readable than few harem novels I encountered where after nth chapter the only thing u ll see would be incessant bickering of harem members

One of the instances (example) - monopoly game. To finish it you needed to end the loop. 160 (?) squares, 7 (?) players. You roll 2 dices and teleport on corresponding number of steps. You never know which effect unvisited square will have for you in stock. Some of listed effects were: get a rare artifact/ fight a monster/ get a magic property shroom that will last until you roll dice again/ teleport (on any number of steps behind or up 20 steps ahead) /unavoidable death square. All effects with exception of teleport square were bound by the rule "first come first served" so other players won't get anything. The first player to reach finish will get a special prize and the game will naturally come to the end. If two characters end up on the same square death battle will commence. So where does trick lies? Last two dozens of steps were death squares. So usually strongest players who persevered through the whole game ended up simply eliminated while finish line was in the eye's reach. The first square of monopoly had a unique effect. The one who steps on it will be teleported to the endgame square. As there were 2 dices least number one could possibly roll was 2 so no one will be able to get there unless one will use teleport square special effect. But who will teleport back when finish line glimmers with desirable treasures?.. <<less

Really-really-really good novel!

The world, games, MC, ML, and all secondary characters, everything is amazing!

Though it is BL, there are no explicit scenes, and overall not many BL scenes. So, I hope more people will read this novel. It deserves more love and appreciation!