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samugranjo's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Gore, Slavery, Cannibalism, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Medical content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
duckyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Abandonment
atlanticgiantpumpkin's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Outing, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
cait's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
It's hard to discuss Volume 2 of Heaven Official's Blessing without spoiling Volume 1. We continue to follow Xie Lian immediately after the events of the first book - as expected, since this was a serialized web novel that has now been split into multiple books as opposed to an actual series written in parts and over an extended period of time. The Crown Prince is still dealing with the consequences of his actions at Banyue Pass when the Emperor asks him to complete a secretive mission to rescue a missing heavenly official who was least heard from outside of the ghost city run by Hua Cheng. Xie Lian is the only person the Emperor thinks can a) be trusted and b) survive a potential run-in with Hua Cheng during the course of the investigation.
I loved this book almost as much as the first one. Hua Cheng and Xie Lian have the best interactions - who knew rolling dice could be so hot?! - and the second half of the novel is finally diving into Xie Lian's backstory from before he ascended the first time, giving us our very first opportunity to really get to know Mu Qing and Feng Xin and the tumultuousness of their relationship from the start. That, along with the introduction of Rong Rong, has me excited to learn more about how we got to this point with Xie Lian's good luck turned bad (I have theories), Mu Qing's seeming hatred of Xie Lian, Feng Xin's seeming indifference towards Xie Lian, and what exactly drove Hua Cheng to be Hua Cheng.
As ever, the character interactions are second to none, the dialogue is hilarious, and the story-telling maintains all of Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù's signature wit and skill. My only complaint is that I really, really wanted more Hua Cheng, which leads to the fact that I am so excited for Volume 3!
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment