Rating: 4.82 out of 5

Omg, I have to talk about this novel because I am still recovering from that ending! I know the title is basically a whole paragraph (classic isekai behavior, lol), but do not let that scare you off. This story is actually a hidden gem. I went into it expecting another OP protagonist who blasts everyone with magic in Chapter 1, but Ren is so refreshing because he starts with literally nothing. No cheat skills, no EXP bar, just pure stubbornness.

The whole setup with Hikaru getting reincarnated as Ren, a gardener's son, is honestly such a vibe. It feels so grounded. His dad being adamantly against magic added this layer of family drama that I lived for. It wasn't just "I want to be strong"; it was "I have to hide this from the people I love," and that tension made every secret practice session feel so high-stakes. When he started taking lessons from that mysterious drifter? I was on the edge of my seat. It gave major Karate Kid energy but with magic circles.

And can we talk about the action? The author does not hold back. The fight scene in Chapter 34 with the dragons was insane! watching Brontus use his bone magic - literally pulling bones out of his body to fight - was gross but also the coolest thing I have ever read. I was stressing out so hard for Sarah and Christopher. The way Ren had to use his brain instead of just overpowering enemies makes every victory feel earned.

The pacing is perfect for a binge-read. It balances the slice-of-life gardening moments with these terrifying monster encounters. The ending wrapped up the first big arc really well, but that dream sequence epilogue? Chills. Literal chills. It left just enough unanswered questions to make me desperate for more.

If you are tired of main characters who have it easy and want to see someone actually work for their power while dealing with family secrets, you have to read this. 4.82/5 because Ren's persistence is inspiring and I need to know what happens next immediately!