The claim that Tomato is a post-90s writer finally makes sense to me.
"Star Peak Legend" is his first novel.
Judging by the standards of those who criticize,
it's at an elementary school level.
As one of my two favorite things,
I exited the fantasy novels scene when they were flooded with harem stories.
After such a long break, I didn't expect that Tomato's mediocre writing would reignite my great enthusiasm.
The order in which I read them was "Stellar Transformation," "Coiled Dragon," and "Inch Mang."
My preference levels should also be arranged accordingly.
Although his works have established a fixed pattern: "leveling up to fight monsters, getting equipment, and抢BOSS," he still finds time to add some impressive life skills.
Despite the lengthy and boring explanations at the beginning of each book about cultivation methods,
and even though he is often in a state of being pursued, which doesn't quite fit my preference for less suffering,
there are, however, several reasons why I like his works:
1. The emotional drama is minimal, which is one of the main reasons I highly recommend his works. Isn't the essence of fantasy novels about cultivation and becoming powerful enough to look down on the world? If I wanted romance, why wouldn't I just read romance novels? I'm not sure if it's because Tomato doesn't want to write romance or isn't good at it, but he has successfully turned the protagonist's cold-heartedness and loyalty into motivation for cultivation. Interestingly, only when the protagonist grows to a certain extent can they obtain love. This is taken to the extreme in "Inch Mang."
Because of this dedication, it's definitely not a harem story, which I appreciate.
2. The stories are well-constructed, with beginnings, middles, and ends that connect well. It might be easy for a novel of a hundred thousand words to achieve this, but for novels of several million words, it's an entirely different matter. It's like the difference between a primary Golden Immortal and a primary Celestial Emperor—a qualitative change leading to quantitative differences. Tomato's ability to control the plot is indeed commendable. Although you may gradually notice that there's always something higher than the current peak, like there being controllers above celestial respecters? I've always believed that such novels require more skill: after the reader thinks they understand the general direction, the author still has the ability to create surprises within that framework.
3. The personality of the protagonist is set in a way that suits my taste perfectly. Their disposition is firm, not quick to speak, their likes and dislikes are clear, and they treat enemies with mercilessness. Perhaps it's because I've read too many novels with overly merciful protagonists who are kind to their enemies, which is essentially cruel to themselves. Truth is truth, no exceptions.
If the plot and characters satisfy me,
and as long as the writing isn't so bad that it's worse than mine,
I can keep reading.
Fortunately, I read "Stellar Transformation" first instead of "Star Peak Legend"...
"Star Peak Legend" perfectly meets all the criteria of the小白fantasy novels I often criticize,
whether it's the plot or the writing.
Actually, I keep consoling myself,
Tomato's books aren't very engaging at the start,
but if you persevere through this phase, it gets better.
However,
I'd rather not lower the high regard I have for "Stellar Transformation."
Being choked by "Star Peak Legend,"
I had to vent my thoughts.