This was really thought out explanation and concludes some of the reason why I ended up dropping the story. I had initially enjoy the found family aspect but what really drew me in was the mystery of the FL’s powers and her getting a chance to use it more. So, I really lost interest in the story when the focus drove away from that. Not to include that the ML felt off? Their relationship felt fake and forced. (I really love your analysis)
Thank you for the compliment. As you can see while I had several issues while reading this story my main problems were the forced relationship between the FL & ML and the "abandoned" idea of a Dark Saintess. I really wanted to see a Dark Saintess who was the heroine instead of a villainess. (︶︿︶)
Agree with the other points however they did explain why sacrificing all those children was a mistake, it was mentioned all the sacrificed children had silver/white hair and they realised it was a mistake because those were the ones with power and they've been killing off the stronger sibling, hope this clears it up!
The effort you put in this explanation you're one vocal fellow
Thanks. As I said I skimmed a lot of the chapters trying to get to the end or at least something interesting. I remember it was pointed out that the first head of the FLs original house was a silver/white haired person and it was hidden from the descendants. But I wasn't sure if the reason why they were wrong for sacrificing those children was made apparent; hence, why I said depending on your interpretation of what was read (re: I read) did the golds not only have low ability usage but also low fertility as it made it seem like the OG family was the last of the line.
I can't praise this story as those commenters below me; however, I will not completely give it a negative review. The story started out very strong. I was excited at the prospect of having a Saint of Darkness instead of the usual holy saint of light/healing. But the author abandoned the idea soon in favor of family moments with cocoa and then a time skip. We, as readers, learn almost nothing about the abilities of Darkness. We don't even learn why MCs ancestors realized that sacrificing those children was a huge mistake. Your interpretation may swing between low fertility or low ability usage. But the author never explains it. We get a couple of training chapters using Darkness, but it's barely used again until the end.
Next is the ML -- his family issues aren't fully explained. He has a usual trope of: high expectations father, sick mother, younger brother, but suddenly his father is siding with the enemy. We don't see the father as anything: not a knight, a nobel cleric working in the palace, or a loving husband. As for the ML's position in the family an earlier plot tone in the story made it seem like he was plotting to overthrow his father with help from the Salvatore family. But that idea went mostly discarded and only the shell remained in use at the end. Thereby, making his interest in FL very odd.
FL/ML -- Y'all might dispute me, but they have absolutely NO chemistry. Hear me out: FL has issues with trust outside her adopted family, so her first friend is a friend of her brother who happens to also be the tutor approved by her mother. We never see during the time skip FL meeting with her peers or getting to know others outside the ducal estate. So of course, FL latched onto the familiar (ML) as she never officially spread her wings to meet other people. FLs second friend only was able to break through the barrier by being a huge fan of her mother. FL gave no one else a chance to be within her social circle (males or females) as we saw her rejecting all invitations. As for the ML, he gains interest into FLs small circle by being a family approved visitor. He brings her sweets, which he despises; he manipulates his way into being her guard or partner whenever FL is away from her family's home. This may all seem sweet until you realize ML initially started bringing her sweets, so she would be less wary of him during their tutoring and so he could maintain his connection to the Salvatore family. Where's the love?? FL is suffering from slight Stockholm syndrome and ML had an agenda that the author discarded but still alluded to in their interactions.
Other minor issues: The Duchess -- she needed a girl child to be Arabella and was excited to have and train a Dark Saint, but that went nowhere. Several mentions of her betrayal, but it's never really revealed (maybe??) if the Dowager Empress was behind it or caused it. The weak Emperor...the second prince (who became CP) that came out of nowhere beside mentions; the first prince was he fully plotting/evil or not (being manipulated by the flowers the DE gave him)?? His emperor father still did him dirty with the CP announcement and the avoidance. The Dowager Empress was a good primary villain with excellent helpers, but the author muddied the reasoning behind for her villainess behavior with too many dead plotlines. Revenge?? Seeking power??
I honestly started skimming chapters as this story moved on without anything really interesting happening. I gave it a full star for its strong beginning; it gets a half star as I did enjoy the family and another half star for chapter 121 with the sacrificed children -- it made me tear up. All in all, not that great of a read.