I started this right after finishing Eating Melons in the Police Station, and wow—this was on a whole different level. While the melon novel had its charm, this one felt solid. Deeper. Sharper. More emotionally resonant.
The ABO setup is nothing new in interstellar settings, but this novel takes a different route. Instead of leaning into gendered stereotypes or over-the-top dynamics, it focused on the real problems behind the roles—choice, fate, expectation, and power. Yes, Lu Zhao is an omega, and Bai Li is an alpha. But their relationship doesn’t feel like a typical A x O match. It feels like two men navigating marriage, identity, and life together. I loved that about it. Their gender dynamics fall into the background, and what you’re left with is a relationship rooted in respect, growth, and the freedom to be.
Lu Zhao is one of my favorite protagonists I’ve read in a while. He starts off helpless, trapped by fate and circumstance, but he fights—hard—and comes out victorious. The title of “Eagle of the Emperor” wasn’t handed to him; he earned it, step by brutal step.
Bai Li, on the other hand, plays the role of the so-called “concrete” in this marriage—the one everyone looks down on because of his physical disability and quiet retirement. But he’s not weak. He’s smart, emotionally strong, and his shameless “I love living off my omega” interviews are both hilarious and a subtle rebellion against traditional alpha expectations.
And then there’s Bai Li’s brother. That part hit me hard. He’s the opposite of Lu Zhao. He didn’t know what he was up against, didn’t get a choice, and ended up a pawn of fate. He wasn’t right, not by a long shot, but he was tragic. And this novel doesn’t shy away from that complexity. It’s a story about what people do when they’re backed into corners, and whether they choose to fight or fold.
This novel is about choice—making it, losing it, reclaiming it—and it does that in a deeply thoughtful way, all while balancing humor, romance, and action. I loved it. It’s a rare kind of story that handles its tropes with this much nuance.
💯 Rating: 5/5. I would absolutely recommend this. If you’re into interstellar settings, complex characters, and a romance that defies the mold, give this one a shot. You won’t regret it.
