I’m Just an Ordinary Clown at the Academy

◖ ✿❀✤ Réina ✤❀✿ ◗ says:

Here’s a quick summary of this novel as I’ve read up till 46 chapters. One word: Boring.

1. This novel is just your generic harem story but with “intriguing” main character who behave like a clown. Well of course he is. And all the girls feel like they’re all fawning over MC for absolutely no particular reason. I can’t find any single logical, sensible, and reasonable cause for them to fall head over heels to our MC. Okay I get it if they have a crush on MC, but it’s written like they all treat MC specially and fall head over heels. The relationship progression feels very contrived for me.

2. The story feels like it’s a barrage of tell-dont-show and there’s a lot of contrivance here and there. Firstly what’s with the shadow step technique? What makes it special? What differentiate this footwork technique with others? How does it work? Okay so the first application is the shadow clone. And then the emperor comes to basically teach the protagonist that the shadow step technique has more depths. But why can’t you write and show the demonstration, application, and process when the protagonist learn it to understand the technique more? It’s just written like he almost died many times, but that’s it, we don’t get to see he’s struggling to understand the technique itself. And what’s with the sudden asspull? It’s like when there’s a fight, the enemy leaps toward MC and then the enemy doesn’t realize that there’s a trap installed in the ground before the MC. Okay, so, when did he set it up? How did he set it up in the first place? How the hell does that happen in the first place? Can you at least give a hint, foreshadowing, and checkov’s gun on it? It just feels like “Oh? Really? What? Did our MC do that?” and of course it’s to show the protagonist’s wit. But in terms of storywriting it just feels like it’s only told, but not shown. And what about when the protagonist spread the news, reports, and buzz when he infiltrated the Noble’s house? Can you at least show it or at least give a hint to us a little? Not just, oh yeah, that happened? And there’s a lot of contrivances here and there as well like example the characters behave very strangely like they’re there to spoon and feed the protagonist with “special treatment”. Its a barrage of tell-dont-show and contrivances.

3. The MC feels OP not in the power sense but in the social network sense. It feels like he’s golden-spooned by a people with high social status here and there that acts and behave very oddly considering their status. Why do they behave that way and all the same dynamics to our MC? Oh by the way, MC is kinda OP too in the power sense, because not even a dragon could see through his illusion. And how does his pocket ability work? What’s the range, limitation or restrictions of his ability? Maybe you can, I don’t know, use it to drop heavy, massive thing from the sky? Can we explore more into the illusion superpower that he possess? I don’t know it seems kinda important to me considering the fact that a dragon can’t see through it. What about his mask? You can flesh it out more. And not just explaining it but maybe show it as well.

4. This novel is heavily, like really heavily, revolve around our main protagonist. I don’t find any unique and distinctive attributes, characteristics, and personality on each different individuals presented. The way they talk is all the same. The way their personality and behaviour are written feels contrived. The way their relationship progress feel boring. The way they treat our MC is kinda similar (golden-spoon treatment). I can’t even differentiate which one is who if the author doesn’t write their physical trait first. The other supporting characters kinda feel bland and shallow with how troupey and strangely contrived they behave towards our MC.

5. What’s up with the recurring repeated mask gag? Okay, I get it, for the first time, it might seem funny, but don’t just shove it down my throat for too many times. And what’s up with the protagonist keep boasting how handsome he is 24/7? Is that supposed to be a funny joke? I don’t get it. Some might say that it’s written like a Chinese cultivation novel MC. It almost feels like we’re following a journey of a narcissistic/histrionic person with how cunning, overbearing, boastful, superficially charming, and dramatic/theatrical he be acting and behave sometimes. And why does he behave that way?

6. I agree with what the preceding reviewers have stated. The relationship doesn’t really progress somewhere because of how our MC treat them with this “unserious” feeling I got.

7. In summary, I agreed with what the other have generally stated. This novel is carried heavily by its MC. But it’s still hit or miss. The other characters suck. THE INTERACTION BETWEEN CHARACTERS IS ONLY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT’S CARRIED BY THE MC PERSONALITY (Sorry I don’t know how to italicize this sentence). So, If you don’t like the MC. I bet you would drop this novel early.

8. I might change my review after I continue reading it. But for now, it’s 6/10 for me. It’s hella boring, ngl.