eatingbrains's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Pretty solid start for a series.  There's a huge cast of characters who have various forms of address so it can be difficult to keep track of everything in the beginning.

The dynamic between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji is hard to describe of only because you don't know the whole history they have yet, nor where it will go in the future.  So far, one is basically a class clown/jock type while the other is a stoic nerd type and I'm having a great time with it.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

keddy4306's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

nightivy's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

reallife_kazbrekker's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark sad medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

While this book did have issues, like using the word "crippled" on 1 page for example, I still really enjoyed reading it! 
I know that people have been saying the translation isn't great, but I think I'm just too dumb to pick up on that... I didn't have an issue with the translation and I thought it had quite fast, but again that might be because I'm just too dumb to pick up on any issues.

Also side note: Lan Wangji seems way less autistic coded in the book than in the live action series and I don't know how I feel about that... He definitely still feels autistic coded, but yeah just less. Kinda makes me sad because I was really hoping he would be even more autistic coded in the book.

Anyway Lan Wangji is autistic and Wei Wuxian has ADHD. Nobody can change my mind about it!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

akari137336's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

toopunkrockforshul's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Really enjoyed this book and I think the translation is pretty well done, all things considered. It is cool to get the full story after watching the show adaptation, and I'm excited to read the rest of them!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

i_island's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

morebedsidebooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

 In 2021 North American publisher Seven Seas announced licensing for English publication multiple novel series by Chinese author Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (MXTX). My initial reaction to this was both excited and a little uneasy. The latter because it marked the launching of an entirely new venture. The first time this publisher would be bringing over any kind of such works at all. Anyone therefore might expect challenges and minor setbacks. Let alone added tests due to acquiring one of the author’s juggernauts the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mó Dào Zǔ Shī (MDZS). Then too I felt a bit of apprehension because of previous history (only in 2020 and updated editorial policies also leading to other plans for re-editing ) involving certain Japanese light novels Seven Seas does have more experience publishing. These concerns felt small in the face of such a big announcement though. I at least put The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation on my wishlist. When December of 2021 came, the first English volume release was the biggest debut in Seven Seas’s history and to bestseller status. I among the hundreds of thousands of readers fortunately did get it as a gift. 

At last, this webnovel series that often felt like everyone had read in one form or another except me, I could encounter in an official English translation. A property that I previously had some knowledge of via certain circles, as someone not unfamiliar with genres like xianxia, wuxia, or danmei. A popular work that has spanned multiple media. An example I truly fell in love with through the live-action adaptation (Chén Qíng Lìng [CQL] or The Untamed) during the start of the pandemic. Again, I could consider these fascinating characters and get lost in an original, mature, intricate Chinese m/m high fantasy series. And crucially this time in a predominate and my favourite format— literature. 

Unfortunately, my early fears seem to have some foundation. First try as I might, I could not help stopping to reread passages frequently. Pause for the wrong reasons at parts of the supplementary materials to aid readers when it comes to communication, context, and culture. Distractedly thinking about publishing, translation theory and certain discourse while at it.  To the point my eyes hurt, setting the book down time and again. Not exactly the experience I was expecting or hoping for. Nor an experience that paralleled those whom I previously knew talked of and praised MXTX over the years. 

A couple of months later, in the middle of my still mulling the English edition over, came the publisher Seven Seas addressing growing rumblings regarding proofreading to mistranslation errors. Members of the localisation team previously expressing also regrets and dedication. Thinking back, it was something of a feat that this edition of MDZS arrived when it did. However, I wonder at what cost. These issues do still cause one to wonder exactly about internal goings-on at Seven Seas. Immense workloads and crunched timelines are a recipe for… exactly this trouble. Revising the book naturally should also take some time. 

More months passing of course. The promised errata listed on the publisher’s danmei novel website still reflecting only a small number of concerns. An updated version of the first English volume with an August 2022 third edition copyright set in print. Likewise, the updated eBook should at some nearer point become available too. I would stress readers and those interested in the English edition to exercise a lot of patience, in all matters. Although it is the handling of this series in English that moved me from my usual discreet stance when it comes to danmei. Sad and frustrating that sharing a review that represents the most words I have ever said about MDZS, apologetically probably says more about its North American publisher Seven Seas. 

So, if one has not done already, especially first try a sample. Then my recommendation is to purchase the books digitally if able, which are more easily updated and can be redownloaded. (Available in Canada, Germany, France, Great Brittan, Ireland, Italy, Philippines, US, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden & Finland). Otherwise delaying more costly print purchases until a later date. Moreover, considering even then, this translation may just not work or be trying to work for you. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

em_reader's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

tiredtori's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

If you're after a book about complex characters with a rich magic system and an interesting plot with LGBT rep then this is the book for you. It is so easy to lose yourself in the pages of this book that the time flies by without you realising. I think this is fast becoming a comfort read for me. 

I've read a fan translation of this online before it was released in English so this is technically a re-read for me but it was so nice to get back into this world again. I understand why they have had to break the story up into separate books but when you reach the end you can tell that this is not where it was meant to be stopped. 

I've already pre-ordered the next two books in the series and can't wait to read them again, for the time being, though I'll just rewatch The Untamed on Netflix.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings