This was definitely a ride... I wouldn't say roller coaster but how about a dirve far upp in the alps or any other really narrow, steep and curvy road, the type where you are not sure if the car ahead of you is heading away from you or toward you.

Before entering this ride I had been warned that I would end up crying, I think i held on for a long time but towards the end the tears just wold not stop falling down so even my top got wet. But enough about the end, here is more about the way there. This is probably one of the worst love storys ever written, but a great story about deception, betrayal, how power ruins everything and the fragile male ego all in the name of love...

The pace in this drama is really good and consistent. I can really not say i experienced a dull moment, even when I thought it would start getting dull, I was confronted with a new twist and I was back wondering what would happen next. I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out who was good, who was evil and in what order the people (mainly the princes) would die. I did not get a singel one right, mostly because this was a story involving humans that where ever evolving and subjected to change. So even if I was waiting for a sad ending I really had no clue in what way it would end sadly ( you would be surprised over how many ways my mind could come up with).

The characters in this drama brought the 10th century in to the 21st century... With most probably 0 historical accuracy. And I cherish them all. While many dramas use annoying characters for comic relief, here the comic relief came from smart and sweet characters that made for a good balance without being ridicules or annoying, so big + for that.

The women in this drama rock, most of them are evil and scary as hell but all (except for one) had great acting skills and where very convincing int their role. They probably had the least character development though they stood for quite a few twists and I thought for the longest time that this drama would end up being about how men got the credit for the evil deeds of past women (I´m not going to tell you how accurate I was).

The princes different personalities and talents reminded me of boys over flowers but way cuter and in a kind of waiting to die/ kill each other way. It was also interesting to try to figure out who wold be involved in the love star (I have named a love triangel with more then three people for a star, I do not know if there is another term for this, maybe love tangel....but I like star so I´m keeping to it).

IU was amazing all the way! I loved her ok, I did not love all of her characters choices but her acting was flawless and she was as bad ass as always.

The male lead prince no 4, was a typical wounded sole waiting to be rescued, however he had severe trust issues and really did not grasp the notion of consent, but I guess that is to be expected of a prince 1000 years ago but he did make some attempt at gaining consent but really did not stick to it witch was really to bad. He was however mostly kind, and really did go out of his way to protect the woman he loved, and seemed to have a constant struggle within himself protect-own-protect-own her. He probably had the weirdest character development that made it hard for me to love him in the end, so I guess i ended upp feeling sorry for him.

I had mixed feelings about the second lead, I don´t know about you but there is something in the line I am going to love you the way I could not love your (dead) cousin (that was like a mom to you)" just douse not really scream love of my life for me but hey, who am I to judge. He is also the character that surprised me the most and was probably the most interesting male character of them all.

The princess had an interesting character development and was both smart and driven, this drama would definitely have been boring without her. a perfect love to hate character and probably oddly enough the perfect match to the person she ended up with.

Prince no 10 was so sweet and adorable his interaction with IUs character was adorable and stod for the humor in the drama.

The generals daughter was so cool, both loving, funny and reminded me little bit of Do Bong Soon from (SWDBS).

Prince no 13 was sweet but probably had the least character development, this was however not Nam Joo Hyuks best acting.

Prince no 14 grew on me with time and is probably the most admirable prince of them all.

So in short this is a great drama that will let you experience a range of emotions that will most probably surprise you even if you have read this review that tells you that you will most probably cry in the end.