'Divine-Level Chinese Drama' Premieres on GTV Tonight! 'Reverse-Trope' with 100 Death Methods Sparks Divided Reviews, Netizens Point Out '4 Flaws' and Say 'Can't Watch'

GTV Drama Channel will premiere the costume fantasy romance drama 'Book and Sword, Dream of Fate' at 9 PM on the 27th.

The story begins with Xiaoyu Song (played by Li Yitong), an obscure actress, who suddenly finds herself transported into the script of a historical drama. In the script, she becomes the protagonist Song Yimeng, destined to be used by the cold-hearted prince Nan Heng (Liu Yuning) and ultimately meet a tragic end.

To survive, Xiaoyu tries to avoid Nan Heng at all costs, even attempting to marry other characters. However, any deviation from the original plot instantly triggers a new death scenario. No matter how she runs or changes her choices, she always wakes up back beside Nan Heng.

Realizing escape is futile, she decides to fight back against the script, attempting to rewrite not only her fate but that of other characters. Through repeated confrontations, she gradually discovers that Nan Heng is far more complex than his scripted persona suggests.

After its premiere, 'Book and Sword, Dream of Fate' was frequently described online as 'insane,' 'anti-formulaic,' and 'stress-relieving.' The first episode deliberately parodies traditional costume romance dramas, featuring absurd love triangles, characters stabbing each other in circles, and the heroine dying repeatedly—so much so that viewers couldn't tell if they were watching a serious drama or a satirical short.

One netizen commented: 'I've never seen such a crazy drama. Right from the start, a love triangle with circular stabbings—when the character 'Xi' (meaning 'marriage') appeared, I genuinely thought I was watching a Bilibili fan-made parody, maybe even a darkly comedic version.'

Others listed elements like 'isekai, infinite loop, awakened paper characters, official meta-commentary, forced romance, anti-trope, light comedy,' exclaiming: 'It's intense, satisfying, crazy, and full of memes! The music is also insanely catchy! Circular stabbings, Song Yimeng's 100 death methods, 'grapes must not grow seeds,' 'blue braised chicken feet'—the silly, joyful vibe really lifts your mood.'

For viewers who prefer traditional palace intrigue dramas, this style might feel too chaotic. But for those tired of predictable plots, the unpredictable twists make it easy to keep watching.

Li Yitong breaks away from the typical gentle, tragic heroine archetype. Her character is afraid of death, wants to live a low-key life, and even directly mocks the plot when in danger. Her exaggerated expressions and comedic reactions are a major source of early humor.

One viewer said: 'I thought Li Yitong could only do tragic roles, but she's surprisingly well-suited here—a lazy, laid-back heroine whose personality gradually evolves. She acts well. This drama is perfect to watch with family!'

Liu Yuning plays dual roles: Prince Nan Heng and the martial artist Li Shiliu. The two personas differ significantly in demeanor and speech. Some viewers feel his performance is more natural than before, especially when delivering deadpan jokes or doing absurd things with a straight face—the contrast is striking.

One fan even praised: 'His acting has completely transformed. The entire cast delivers solid performances. The production is high-quality, and the music, plot, and character designs are all excellent—there's both laughter and tears.'

However, 'Book and Sword, Dream of Fate' has received mixed reviews. While the opening deconstructs drama tropes in a fun way, once Xiaoyu fully enters the historical world, the plot gradually returns to familiar palace struggles and romance arcs, causing the initial freshness to fade.

One viewer noted: 'The beginning was great, with a crazy comedy vibe. It would've been better if it stayed focused on the modern storyline. Once the isekai part started, it fell back into clichés. The only highlight is Li Yitong's quirky performance.'

Others feel the dense humor loses effectiveness in the middle and later episodes: 'The early episodes were packed with jokes and fun, but it got tiring by the mid-season. The ending predictably collapsed. Even though it's going for a 'crazy drama' style, having every character ready to drop internet slang at any moment is unnecessary.'

The romance development has also sparked controversy. Many feel the shift from mutual manipulation to romance isn't smooth. Some scenes, designed to create emotional moments, make the characters suddenly lose their judgment.

One comment read: 'It lured me in with the first episode, then took a nosedive... From episode 7 onward, it forces the leads together, lowering their intelligence from elementary to kindergarten level just to create 'heartwarming' scenes. I can't watch anymore.'

Yet, some argue the true theme of 'Book and Sword, Dream of Fate' isn't isekai or romance, but whether characters can escape the endings written for them. Initially, Yimeng only wants to survive, but gradually realizes other characters are also trapped in their predetermined roles, endlessly repeating betrayal, sacrifice, or death.

Thus, some viewers describe the drama as 'a story of breaking free from constraints beneath its absurd surface.' Some who were disappointed with the middle episodes raised their ratings after the finale: 'After watching the ending, I changed my score from 6 to 10! The middle was dragging, but the final ensemble scene was so intense. Destiny is in your own hands.'

Is 'Book and Sword, Dream of Fate' worth watching?

The drama's strengths and weaknesses are clear. The early episodes are fast-paced and joke-dense, with fresh concepts like isekai, death loops, and character meta-commentary. Li Yitong and Liu Yuning's contrasting performances carry many comedic scenes.

However, in the mid-season, the plot shifts back to traditional costume romance and political intrigue, with some segments feeling dragged out and the romance criticized as forced.

If you enjoy absurd comedy, anti-trope isekai, or stories of characters collectively defying fate, 'Book and Sword, Dream of Fate' offers plenty to enjoy. But if you prioritize tight logic, consistent pacing, and nuanced emotional development, you might feel a significant gap.

The Four Flaws of 'Book and Sword, Dream of Fate'

- Weak pacing in mid-to-late episodes: Early humor and fresh setup lose momentum; mid-season drags, late tension fades - Plot becomes clichéd: After entering the historical world, it reverts to standard palace intrigue, power struggles, and romance tropes - Forced romance development: Lead interactions feel artificially pushed for emotional impact, with characters acting irrationally - Overuse of comedy elements: Excessive internet slang, exaggerated acting, and 'everyone is a comedian' design become fatiguing over time