Joy of Life, Kingdom’s Bloodline, and Surviving The Succession are three distinct novels, yet they share a common theme of Political Intrigue. In this article, I’ll delve into the political elements woven into these captivating stories.
Before we dive deep into the political aspects, let’s briefly introduce these novels.
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Introduction
Joy of Life
Joy of Life follows Fan Xian, who, on his deathbed, experiences a mysterious rebirth into the body of a two-month-old infant during an assassination attempt. He’s reborn as the illegitimate son of a noble, inheriting political secrets and his mother’s legacy.
Joy of Life is undoubtedly one of my favorites, easily making it into my top 10 most liked and recommended novels. What makes this story truly remarkable is not just the brilliance of the main character, armed with knowledge from his previous life, but also the formidable enemies who surpass Fan Xian in intelligence and power.
The writer skillfully incorporates touches of romance, beautifully written and seamlessly integrated. The world-building and storytelling are exquisitely detailed. While a harem element may not appeal to everyone, it feels appropriate given the ancient setting. However, what truly sets this story apart is its exploration of politics, philosophy, and the fleshed-out characters whose choices propel the narrative forward.
The story expands beyond the main character, delving into other characters’ distinct personalities. The twists and turns, coupled with the exceptional antagonists, are the primary reasons to read this captivating tale. I’ve also written a separate review for this web novel.
Related: Joy of Life Web Novel Review
Kingdom’s Bloodline
Now, let’s discuss Kingdom’s Bloodline. I’ll be honest; I’m reading this novel at a leisurely pace, having only read about 50 chapters so far. The reason I’m including this work in this comparison is that the political intrigue element emerges early in the story.
Kingdom’s Bloodline tells the story of Thales, who finds himself grappling with three identities: a lowly child beggar, a noble prince, and a monster perceived as the enemy of the world. Set in a magnificent yet chaotic world where the glorious Empire has fallen, Thales faces a future filled with challenges.
Despite having nothing but his determination, bravery, and unwavering beliefs, he navigates through conspiracies, divided kingdoms, and a dying royal family. As he grapples with preserving his identity and proving that a king’s respect isn’t solely based on bloodline, Thales embarks on a journey where darkness tests light, and fire forges true steel.
Kingdom’s Bloodline is lauded for its intricate storytelling, detailed world-building, and well-developed characters. It stands out for its complex political intrigue, strategic schemes, and realistic depiction of struggle and perseverance. Readers find the pacing slow but purposeful, and the main character, Thales, isn’t overpowered but instead relies on his cunning and determination to navigate the challenges.
Despite some finding the pacing and extensive politics challenging, the novel’s depth and attention to character arcs are highly appreciated, making it comparable to “Game of Thrones” in complexity and appeal.
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Surviving The Succession
Lastly, Surviving The Succession is a fairly straightforward yet highly detailed and well-written web novel available on RoyalRoad. One way this web novel differs from the above two is that Surviving The Succession is an English original work, while Joy of Life and Kingdom’s Bloodline are Chinese stories translated into English by Webnovel.
Surviving the Succession (A Transmigration Fantasy) by umedrop24 is a political fantasy set in Ancient China, infused with elements of magic and transmigration. The story follows Kayla, a struggling college graduate burdened with debt, who finds herself transported into the body of a doomed villain from a web novel she once read.
The novel’s protagonist must now navigate the treacherous world of imperial politics and succession struggles. Her new identity is that of Zhao Wenyuan, a young noble destined to perish in his rivalry against the Seventh Prince. Armed with modern sensibilities and the historical knowledge from the novel’s plot, Kayla strives to rewrite her fate, gaining allies and outwitting political adversaries in the intricate, dangerous web of the imperial court.
The narrative deftly combines historical intrigue with fantasy, as Kayla grapples with living in the body of a man while fending off political rivals. The story emphasizes complex characters, strategic alliances, and Kayla’s growth as she maneuvers through cutthroat politics and fate, delivering a unique blend of transmigration, magic, and a Chinese historical setting.
I’ll be honest; the first 10 chapters were somewhat boring for me, not because I blame the author, but because there have been several stories similar to Surviving The Succession where the main character finds themselves in the body of an ill-fated noble inside a novel world, soon to be killed by the main character. Using the plot details, they escape death. This novel also gives the same vibe initially, but as I continued reading, the story gradually stood out on its own, and before I knew it, I had crossed the 50-chapter mark.
One aspect that impressed me about this novel, besides the writing and simplicity, is the author’s level of research into the Chinese historical setting.
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Now, let’s discuss the political elements in these web novels.
Political intrigue
Kingdom’s Bloodline presents a much more complicated political system. The nuances are numerous, and the tension in the story is over the top. The darkness and the helplessness of the main character are also taken to the next level. The author doesn’t seem to know how to take a break, with one challenge after another. Reading this web novel all at once can be suffocating. The author has tried to make things as realistic as possible, even though it’s set in a fantasy world.
The political aspect of Kingdom’s Bloodline is central to the story’s plot. It’s intricately woven into Thales’ journey as he navigates a world rife with schemes, conspiracies, and power struggles. The novel depicts a divided world where the remnants of a once-glorious empire grapple with internal strife, external threats, and hidden agendas. Thales, a prince with a forbidden lineage, faces challenges from noble factions, religious institutions, and foreign powers, each seeking control over the fractured kingdom.
His enemies and allies alike have personal motivations and long-term goals that drive their actions, resulting in a layered and complex web of intrigue. Strategic alliances, betrayals, and tactical maneuvering are common, and characters often engage in psychological battles as much as physical ones. As Thales tries to strengthen his position, he must navigate the manipulative and treacherous court politics, all while striving to preserve his values and beliefs.
The political intrigue, shaped by a mix of noble ambition and historical legacy, adds to the suspense and makes Thales’ survival an ongoing struggle. The author meticulously crafts this environment, ensuring that every faction, character, and decision profoundly influences the broader political landscape.
There’s tension in Joy of Life as well, but it’s often diminished by the main character’s humor, which readers appreciate. The political landscape outside the court takes center stage in Joy of Life, but it doesn’t shy away from political tension, betrayal, motivations, and, most importantly, the schemes and twists that no one can foresee. The story’s slow pace enriches the twists and schemes, like a cherry on top of the cake.
In Joy of Life, the plans and conspiracies take several chapters to execute while focusing on the main character’s adventures and antics. In contrast, in Surviving The Succession, plans are straightforwardly shown, and the tension in the story only exists for a short period.
The shock value that a political web novel should provide, I would say, is maintained at around 50% in Surviving The Succession, while it’s above 100% in Joy of Life and Kingdom’s Bloodline. In my opinion, I think this is because of the multiple points of view that foreshadow what’s about to come next, decreasing the tension and shock. Take the family details of the main character, for example. It’s already foreshadowed in the story, so when the details of his family are revealed later, it’s less effective since we already know what’s coming.
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Conclusion
In the end, Joy of Life, Kingdom’s Bloodline, and Surviving The Succession showcase the intricate art of political intrigue in their unique ways. Joy of Life delicately balances intensity with the main character’s humor while meticulously building towards shocking twists.
On the other hand, Kingdom’s Bloodline plunges readers into a relentless, dark political abyss that tests Thales’ and readers’ perseverance.
Surviving The Succession takes a more straightforward approach, though its foreshadowing techniques may slightly diminish the shock value. However, the author’s commendable research into the Chinese historical setting adds an authentic richness to the narrative.
Despite their differences, these novels demonstrate the versatility and complexity of weaving political elements into captivating tales of fantasy and transmigration, offering unique journeys through the treacherous landscapes of power dynamics, conspiracies, and resilient characters navigating the pitfalls of court politics.
Hey can u make a page for novels with antihero/cruel mc (not cruel originally but became because of the dark world).
Novels like :-
reverend insanity
cursed immortality
renegade immortal
warlock of the magus world
nethril’s glory etc.
You can check this this out:
https://dragneelclub.com/cultivation-novels-with-evil-main-character/
Literally the 3 best political intrigue, scheming and strategy novels right now.
Unfortunately I finished/am up-to-date with all of them.
Do you have something similar to these bad boysz? You should also read The Goblin Emperor, which is a traditional book.
Hey Thanks for the recommendation. Unfortunately I didn’t find any good ones than these three. Maybe you can try some Palace dramas with female lead. You can find many recommendations on Novelupdates. I will also create a list soon.