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emergencily's review against another edition
4.25
A lot of fantasy romance novels fall into the trap of either focusing too much on crafting their worlds, leaving the development of the characters and romance to the wayside, or the reverse situation. Thankfully, MXTX manages to balance all of these reasonably well.
The plot is genuinely interesting and well-crafted. The author's somewhat excessive use of time skips can sometimes stall the pacing and confuse you when reading. And for readers unfamiliar with the tropes & terms of xianxia, combined with a large cast (each of whom has about 5 different names and titles) it means it takes some perseverance to get through the first volume and make sense of it all. But once the story hits its stride, it's a page turner of a murderous action, thriller and mystery rolled into one.
The MC, Wei Wuxian, is the star that holds it all together. You can't help but fall in love with his mischief, lackadaisal arrogance, and enduring kindness. Seeing his character grow over the course of the novel is a treat. The highs he hits only makes the lows he falls to from his own hubris even more painful (and trust me. He falls low, and takes everyone around him down with him). He's also strongly situated as a character within a larger cast full of characters who are all interesting, loveable and frustrating in turns in their own rights. All the recurring characters are connected by a web of complex and unique relationships - emnity, sworn brotherhood, rivalry, servitude - that the story takes its time nurturing. And of course the relationship btwn Wei Wuxian and his love interest Lan Zhan as it grows over the decades, withstanding death, war, and time, is the one you root for the most.
Graphic: Torture, War, and Violence
Moderate: Incest and Homophobia
Minor: Rape
zia_c'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
5.0
It's got everything to make you forget the world and fly on cloud 9. (˵ ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°˵)ノ⌒♡*:・。.
MXTX is a literary goddess!! I love her so much. ꉂ(ˊᗜˋ*)♡
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gore, Death, Murder, Outing, Alcohol, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia
_persephone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Moderate: Bullying, Alcohol, and Homophobia
Minor: Incest
caelysium's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Homophobia and War
Minor: Sexual harassment
asukaya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The cultivation is something new for me but the execution of it and worldbuilding in the story are compelling. What is difficult to follow at times is the usage of multiple names for the same character, so it can be hard to keep up with who is who and who is related to who. This is generally not too big of an issue since the book contains a glossary with characters and unacquainted vocabulary and concepts.
The text itself, especially the spoken conversations, feel a bit stiff and unnatural for an English reader. I presume this to be a peculiarity of the Chinese language and how it gets translated. While it can be a bit jarring at times you get used to it fast that it doesn't take you out of the reading experience.
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Torture
Minor: Infidelity
weiwuxianism's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Minor: Body horror and Homophobia
green_amaryllis's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia and Infidelity
peachr080's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: War
rolling_in_dough's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Homophobia
eatingbrains's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
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.
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, War, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Outing, Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Bullying