Book Review: Under The Oak Tree- A Heartfelt Tale of Love and Insecurities

Under The Oak Tree is a romance fantasy light novel written by Kim Sooji. It is completed with 450 chapters under Ridibooks and has over 200 English-translated chapters. It is adapted into a webtoon by Namu and illustrated by P of Sicut_Vis and is published by Ridibooks and Manta.

This novel follows the story of Maximilian Croyso-Calypse who is forced by her father to marry Riftan Calypse, the commander of the Remdragon Knights. Duke Croyso wants Riftan to take his place in the subjugation of the dragon in exchange for her disgraced daughter's hand. Riftan then leaves Maxi and goes for the expedition after the night of their consummation. Three years later, Riftan comes back to take his wife and embarks on their married life in the land of Anatol.

Under the Oak Tree follows the story of Maxi and Riftan's love and devotion, as well as their struggles to overcome each of their insecurities.

The Author Behind

Under The Oak Tree is originally written by a South Korean novelist, Kim Sooji. There isn't much information about her identity on the internet but you can find her Lifelog Blog under the name fishbowl on Naver.

She is adept in writing romance, fantasy, and historical genres. She also has a deep understanding of personal development and struggles that are witnessed in this novel and her new work called Twilight Poem.

The Brilliant Storyline

Theme

Abuse, emotional trauma, inferiority complexes, miscommunications, and overcoming them all are the themes that run throughout the novel. Every chapter features exciting moments and passionate love-making scenes that will keep readers engaged and leave them wanting more.

Characters

This novel consists of beautifully written characters with different backgrounds and motivations that adds depth to the story. Here are the key characters you should follow:

Maximilian Calypse

Maxi is the novel's female protagonist, the Lady of Anatol, and Riftan Calypse's beloved wife. Maxi has large dark grey eyes and beautiful red wavy hair.

She is the eldest daughter of House Croyso, and she suffers from stuttering. She is forced to marry Riftan for him to assume Duke Croyso's place in the royals' dragon subjugation order.

Maxi has a hard time communicating and is abused by her father because of her speech disability. This made her terribly shy and made her feel inferior to everyone else..

She is kind to everyone and respects the people of Anatol with respect. She also has a remarkable determination to overcome her disability and insecurities to fulfill her duties to become someone worthy of standing by Riftan's side.

Riftan Calypse

Riftan is the novel's male protagonist and the husband of Maximilian Croyso-Calypse. He is the Lord of Anatol and the Remdragon Knights' commander.

Riftan has a more distinct physique than the other knights. He has tanned skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. He is a handsome man despite being on the battlefield from time to time. He also has a cold stare that makes him appear intimidating.

He has a short temper and is blunt. Riftan is thought to be quite unsociable, dismissing anyone who approaches him for selfish reasons. His stepfather taught him not to dream of a better life, which leads to his strong inferiority complex.

He's been in love with Maxi even before their marriage but he believes he doesn't deserve her as he is just a commoner. He also misinterprets Maxi's anxiety as fear and hatred towards him, yet he still loves and adores her.

Point of View

The novel uses a third-person limited point of view which gives the readers access to Maxi's thoughts and feelings but not the other characters. The readers can look into Maxi's perspective of the world more intimately which is a great way to hook the audiences into reading the novel. There is also a special chapter where a third-person limited POV is used and it is from Riftan's perspective.

Plot

Duke Croyso forces Maxi, a noble lady with a speech impairment, and his daughter, into marriage with Riftan, the commander of the Remdragons. Riftan departs with his knights for an expedition after their wedding night.

Riftan returns three years later as a great knight and takes Maxi to begin their life together. Although dealing with inferiority complexes and self-doubt, Maxi is starting to understand how to accept love.

Throughout the story, Maxi strives to overcome her insecurities and improve her speech impediment. Maxi and Riftan's lack of communication causes pressure in their marriage, but they try their best to make things work. She also puts a lot of effort into becoming a Remdragon Knights wizard so she may help the Anatolians and become a wife worthy of Riftan.

Writing Style

Under The Oak Tree by Kim Sooji gives off a romantic writing style that focuses on Maxi's growth and development as she learns to accept love and give love in return.

It also offers the most emotional scenes which is a staple element that readers want nowadays. The writing also gets more descriptive, particularly during the characters' love and intimate moments.

All things considered, the novel gives the readers a compelling plotline that features complex characters and intriguing experiences that readers can relate to.

Conclusion

Under The Oak Tree is a compelling romance fantasy light novel that explores Maxi and Riftan's personal growth as they go through the challenges of being a married couple through forced marriage. The novel centers on the emotional trauma and inferiority that the characters have to overcome, and the love that strengthens over the time they have together.

The novel's brilliant storyline and beautifully written characters are the elements that the readers would love and enjoy. This is a must-read for fans of the romantic fantasy genre. So if you want to experience the love and devotion that Maxi and Riftan have for each other, you better check out the novel Under The Oak Tree by Kim Sooji.

FAQs

Q: Are there any adaptations of the Under The Oak Tree web novel?

A: Yes, there is a webtoon adaptation of the web novel by Namu and illustrator P of Sicut_Vis. It is published by Ridibooks and Manta.

Q: What is the Under The Oak Tree web novel about?

A: This web novel is about the married life of Maxi and Riftan, their love and misunderstandings, and their journey in overcoming trials and their insecurities.