Review Detail of Horizon in Evolving into a Great Dragon From a Koi Fish

If you want the short reviwe simply go to the last paragraph, for the long one keep reading, thanks! Overall a basic run of the mill evolution story in the same being as “I can turn into a fish” but with more mystical elements. In this world spiritual energy has started to emerge along with mutations due to “pollution” while the MC transformed into a fish after his death. Honestly this aspect of the story is one of its weak points. The author seems to not have settled on what he wanted the story to be about, whether creatures were evolving due to spirit energy or pollution isn’t really fleshed out. This sometimes left me scratching my head at the explanations for things. Regardless onto the rest of the story. The MC is another run of the mill mc with a streak for stupidity and cowardliness, along with being a mild pervert. He isn’t really annoying or anything, he is just bland. Same thing for side characters, just bland characters that we could find copies of in other stories. So far no singular character has grabbed my interest so far (chapter 102) but still the interactions between them aren’t a drag to read so that’s good. Plot and progression is where this story is currently floundering. Progressing jumps all over the place and events don’t feel natural when they happen out of nowhere, to only seemingly push the plot forward. It went quickly from a focus on the MC evolving and trying to become strong enough to turn back into a human, to him becoming part of the Chinese army/internal department and dealing with other countries’ agents. This is the weirdest change in pace, as the story in the past 15-20 chapters just feels like some weird nationalist propaganda about how China is so strong and special because they are the only country that can do this or that, or how they are super rich now or whatever. Every chapter is now half just about commenting how amazing the army is and better they are. One funny comment was from an outside agent that’s dying and says “I want to reincarnate to China in my next life. I want to be a dog in China.” Kinda too on the nose my friends. Translation and release pace is fine. Standard level for a new novel, though we will have to see if the chapter releases are stable over the coming weeks. However I do wish the translator picked better names for items as sometimes they name different items the same thing with maybe just one word difference so it can make reading about them confusing. In the end this story is overall middle of the road story. Characters are fine but bland ones with no outstanding characteristics but no clear bad traits. World background is weak but nothing too bad since is a modern world so it’s not that big of deal for most readers. Plot is the weakest aspect with no clear progression on where the story is heading. There is a fear the quality is degrading as of chapter 100 due to a weird turn and focus on nationalism and how great the Chinese army is. We’ll have to see if it’s just for a bit or if it’ll continue just being about that. So far my interest is being lowered due to it but I am willing to give it another 50 chapters to see where it goes and if I wish to drop or not. Final score 2.8 (for character, plot, background), 3.6 (if translation and release stability are added in)