Emma

Aaahh.. thx Jordan!

@Whitesand. I love judith McNaught. A kingdom of dreams and Something Wonderful are my favourites. Her male leads are arrogant, yes. They are always near royal (dukes), very handsome and very rich. If it made Ye Hua more attractive to you because he's the Crown Prince then you may like it they are dukes. And they answer to no one but themselves. The leads are very attractive and almost too perfect (like every girl wants the male lead). Judith McNaught is just all romance for me (like Eternal Love is). Realistic? No, but it makes me sigh...

I am also familiar with Bertrice Small. I like the Skye O'Smalley novels and many others. But it is a totally different type of novel that gives me a totally different feeling. If I want to fantasize about true, undying love I won't pick this author, because the male leads die all the time and the heroine finds someone else (but the scenes are hot!

@jordan. Thanks! I will definitely check out these authors. I heard of Elizabeth Hoyt, not sure I have actually read one. I have read many novels over the years so it's quite possible.
I have certain periods that I read a lot. Now I'm catching up on C'dramas. I haven't seen one in 10 years. I got disappointed too many times. So I focused on romance novels, american movies and series. It was only that I watched Ice Fantasy on Netflix 6 months ago that I was interested again in C dramas. Not that Ice Fantasy was that great, but I liked Feng Shou Feng (he is very handsome in ice fantasy and lan ling wang, not so much in modern dramas). Then it was easy to find Lang Ling Wang, General and I, My sunshine (because of Wallace) and Eternal Love. I'm only going to watch the top rated dramas
I think and wait again for a year or more for new top rated ones come out. I don't want to waste my time on bad Cdramas. I would rather spend my time reading/watching top american (romance) novels, movies and series. There is just so much choice nowadays.

Btw I have no problem with a ruthless DH☺. I like DH in the novel more.

I'm still on page 84 or something part 1. Pillow book has much more details than BQ's novel, right? Writing style seems also different? Or maybe it' because I knew the storyline of BQ/YH after finishing the drama (that's when I read the novel). Sometimes it's hard for me to follow the story in pillow book with all the details. Also To the Sky Kingdom started with susu jumping off the terrace and soon she meets YH in the sea palace. I feel like the pillow book is far more slow paced and needs a lot of pages to build up the emotions...

I hope it will be as good as the story for BQ/YH. Though I want shifu to be happy and not suffer too much...

@cherilyn, jordan: I also read lots of romance novels mostly from the US). Who's you're favourite writer? I like historical romance novel in particular (I also like historical c-dramas more than modern c-dramas). I'm a fan of Judith McNaught. I love A Kingdom of Dreams. Set in medieval England (a period I usually dislike, but neither did I like fantasy dramas before Eternal Love). I was just that good that after finishing I could only sigh and was totally in love with the leads. This story is btw book 2, that tells the story of the predecessor of the Westmoreland dukes.

If I don't have much time but want to read a romance novel I just pick one of the top rated Mills & Boon novels. Some of them are great as well.

@jenny. You mean DH in Eternal Love isn't the DH in pillow book?

I'm half way through part 1.

Re journey of flower. I only watched ep 1. It didn't impress me, but I will continue to watch till it gets better.

I'm suffering from the same. I read the novel and watched it 3 times, but every time I skipped parts. I'm now reading the pillow book. And... yesterday I started a new drama. Journey of flower. I only watched ep 1 and don't feel much connection yet. Hopefully it will come soon.

A fan made this beautiful video which expresses my sentiment wrt BQ/YH/MY. I'm on YH's ship. He did so much for BQ, he totally deserves her. But ooooh... everytime I see the MY scenes I wish BQ had a twin sister as well...

https://youtu.be/5u2sGuOj8T8

Edit: I realize that perhaps this video is made by someone here?? I want to thank that person for this wonderful video. The song is very besutiful too. I wasn't able to leave a comment on youtube, but maybe there is a chance that person reads it here

Thx!

Yes, yang yang does look very handsome! More than Mark, but that also has to do with the costumes and hairstyle (I didn't like the high bun on YH's head and the silky, black robe, I'm more fan of Li Jing's style, I think he looked great in the drama) but so far you can judge from the trailer... I like Mark's facial expresions more. I remember in the drama when Susu was about to jump off the terrace, his horrified look and despair when he rushed there. Yang yang's expressions in this scene (though it was only 2 seconds in the trailer) didn't move me as much YH/mark did. The female lead though is excellent (forgot her name but I know she was in return of the condor heroes), whilst I'm usually not a very big fan of hers. Looking forward to the movie. Can't wait

Does anyone know where to watch chinese movies online, preferably subbed? I don't mind to pay for it, I'm used to since pirating regulations are very strict in my country. t's just that I don't know any reliable providers. And when are movies usually available online? In my country as soon as it is no longer in cinema. I would love to watch the movie version of this drama this summer or so many other titles.

I like FJ's antics, she is funny and cute but somehow I didn't like dilmurat and vengo portraying them. Maybe the age difference does seem enormous on screen and Vengo actually looked old?? I remember one line from 4th brother in ep 44. That age difference doesn't matter as long as their appearace matches. He said that to BQ when she was concerned that she is 90.000 years older than YH. BQ/YH looked great together.

Thanks all for the elaborate comments! I'm going to watch the drama this weekend and let you know

I'm still reading pillow book and really looking forward to the drama. Although I liked feng jiu and Dong hua in eternal love, I hope (and assume) they cast other actors for the drama than dilmurat and vengo. Chemistry was lacking or they just don't fit like mark/yang mi did. I also found feng jiu in eternal love very childish especially at the beginning. I skipped their scenes when I binge watched the drama in the first round (also because there were no subtitles then and my chinese isn't great). After watching their scenes the 2nd round I liked their story more. But somehow I didn't find their love believable the way it was portrayed now in eternal love by these 2 actors.

Not sure whether to watch this now or not. It sounds like a very destructive love. I expect watching this drama would be a very emotional ride (in a bad, unsatisfying way)?

Thanks! I think I understand why it's cut out. I am still surprised that chinese (historical) dramas have changed so much in just a few years time wrt intimate scenes. And I am happy with it as long as it adds to the emotions in a scene.

@jordan. Can you explain/elaborate on your comment? I really liked mo yuan/bai qian and that's why i'm planning to watch this.

Yes! Definitely a must watch. My no. 2 historical drama so far (ranking behind Eternal Love).