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yellauraya's review
5.0
★★★★★ [5/5 stars]
I freaking enjoy reading Copper Coins so much. This is my third danmei novel with a dragon character in it, and I'm telling you, if there's a dragon MC or ML in a story, there's going to be an angst. It's just a tiny part of the novel, but angst is still an angst. But for the most part, I just had a fun reading the interaction between the MC and ML, though it's mostly the MC who dominates the conversation (as the MC never shuts his mouth while the ML treasures his words so much)
There are a lot of great things that comprised this novel, but my most favorite part is the MC being an embarrassment throughout the series. He's a very mighty and dignified but paralyzed mystical dragon who loves saving his own face. He's hilariously arrogant, dramatic, whiny and unreasonable. He spouts a lot of nonsense that makes him so embarrassing but always self-conscious when it comes to losing his dignity. He is like when you're in public with a friend, but your friend is so shameless that you don't want to admit he's your friend. That's the kind of character he is. And his inner thoughts are so funny! He's actually one of the most enjoyable characters I've ever read, not just in danmei. On the other hand, the ML is an aloof, cold and amnesiac monk. What I liked the most about the him is his very mysterious identity. Him being amnesiac added more to the mystique since he himself didn't know much about his past. Also, in my opinion, the ML has a very huge patience when it comes to the MC and I respect that a lot. He expressed his exasperation towards MC's nonsense, sighing and shaking his head, but he still always indulged the unreasonable dragon, both in subtle and direct way. The MC is a chaotic character and can never stay still, but I think the ML is the most tired between them. The contrast in their personality is so fitting, like they're really made for each other. This couple actually reminded me so much of WangXian from MDZS, the MC and Wei Ying both being so chaotic and lively while the ML and Lan Zhan both being aloof and a man of few words.
The romance is slow, but it can never be done otherwise. I loved the slow progress of their relationship and it builds up in the right timing. The story is so good and the ending is so satisfying, not just to the couple but also to the supporting characters. Also, the pet crow who always complains about the couple's 'indecency' is so funny and likable!
All in all, a very worthwhile read and I highly recommend this novel so much!!
I freaking enjoy reading Copper Coins so much. This is my third danmei novel with a dragon character in it, and I'm telling you, if there's a dragon MC or ML in a story, there's going to be an angst. It's just a tiny part of the novel, but angst is still an angst. But for the most part, I just had a fun reading the interaction between the MC and ML, though it's mostly the MC who dominates the conversation (as the MC never shuts his mouth while the ML treasures his words so much)
There are a lot of great things that comprised this novel, but my most favorite part is the MC being an embarrassment throughout the series. He's a very mighty and dignified but paralyzed mystical dragon who loves saving his own face. He's hilariously arrogant, dramatic, whiny and unreasonable. He spouts a lot of nonsense that makes him so embarrassing but always self-conscious when it comes to losing his dignity. He is like when you're in public with a friend, but your friend is so shameless that you don't want to admit he's your friend. That's the kind of character he is. And his inner thoughts are so funny! He's actually one of the most enjoyable characters I've ever read, not just in danmei. On the other hand, the ML is an aloof, cold and amnesiac monk. What I liked the most about the him is his very mysterious identity. Him being amnesiac added more to the mystique since he himself didn't know much about his past. Also, in my opinion, the ML has a very huge patience when it comes to the MC and I respect that a lot. He expressed his exasperation towards MC's nonsense, sighing and shaking his head, but he still always indulged the unreasonable dragon, both in subtle and direct way. The MC is a chaotic character and can never stay still, but I think the ML is the most tired between them. The contrast in their personality is so fitting, like they're really made for each other. This couple actually reminded me so much of WangXian from MDZS, the MC and Wei Ying both being so chaotic and lively while the ML and Lan Zhan both being aloof and a man of few words.
The romance is slow, but it can never be done otherwise. I loved the slow progress of their relationship and it builds up in the right timing. The story is so good and the ending is so satisfying, not just to the couple but also to the supporting characters. Also, the pet crow who always complains about the couple's 'indecency' is so funny and likable!
All in all, a very worthwhile read and I highly recommend this novel so much!!
edencruz's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ana_kp's review against another edition
4.0
This novel has so many cliche tropes yet it is also highly, highly entertaining!
The MC, Xue Xian, is a heavenly dragon who has lost his bones after getting maimed by a masked individual and is on a quest to gain them back. Alas, his mobility as a pseudo spirit makes that slightly difficult.
Enter Xuanmin, a typically aloof and ascetic monk, who is suffering from magical amnesia and seems strangely powerful for an ordinary human, and has gotten roped into helping Xue Xian.
This story may have a quite convoluted plot, but it is held up entirely by their wonderful cast! Xue Xian is hilarious to read about, arrogance in both his thoughts and actions, but ends up getting humbled multiple times before Xuanmin.
That brings forth their initial tussle, where he keeps trying to annoy and pester Xuanmin, who really has to be praised for his endless patience in tolerating it. The side characters are also well written and have an almost found family feel to them. There is also minimal drama in this book - mainly a lot of mystery solving and adventuring going around.
It's difficult to say what exactly made me love this story so much. It just has a wonderful flow to it, with engaging characters and an intriguing plot which kept me reading without pause.
Also, kudos to the translator for the amazing translation!
4
The MC, Xue Xian, is a heavenly dragon who has lost his bones after getting maimed by a masked individual and is on a quest to gain them back. Alas, his mobility as a pseudo spirit makes that slightly difficult.
Enter Xuanmin, a typically aloof and ascetic monk, who is suffering from magical amnesia and seems strangely powerful for an ordinary human, and has gotten roped into helping Xue Xian.
This story may have a quite convoluted plot, but it is held up entirely by their wonderful cast! Xue Xian is hilarious to read about, arrogance in both his thoughts and actions, but ends up getting humbled multiple times before Xuanmin.
That brings forth their initial tussle, where he keeps trying to annoy and pester Xuanmin, who really has to be praised for his endless patience in tolerating it. The side characters are also well written and have an almost found family feel to them. There is also minimal drama in this book - mainly a lot of mystery solving and adventuring going around.
It's difficult to say what exactly made me love this story so much. It just has a wonderful flow to it, with engaging characters and an intriguing plot which kept me reading without pause.
Also, kudos to the translator for the amazing translation!
4
ruth_miranda's review
3.0
3.5
Don't get me wrong, I've really enjoyed this novel - it's a fast read, once you get going, and the writing isn't cluttered or heavy, if anything, it's a bit too light for my preferences. And that's why it didn't reach 4 stars, for me. This was too light. And it was too juvenile. And somethings were too easy, too unrealistic, too forced, for me.
I liked the characters, and felt there was so much potential to both of them - especially Xuanmin, there was so much the author could have done with the bare bones they set for this character, but in the end, it was a chance wasted. There was hardly anything to them both, they lacked substance, their story lacked substance, their love especially lacked substance. There was no falling in love, no pining for each other, no lust (other than that crap about the dragon spit, a gimmick I found rather annoying, an easy way out to insert a bit of smut and physical intimacy between the two MCs). The romance goes from nothing to 'I will give my life for you, I will die for you' in what feels like crashing speed, with absolutely no in between - not to mention the fact Xue Xian is so quick to 'forgive the wrongs' he believes Xuanmin did him and understand just exactly what is going on. I think the problem with this novel is that it's too short, and the author didn't really know how to go from the extreme slow burn they were giving the readers to the satisfying conclusion and the subsequent get together of the MCs. You can have a short novel with a slow burn romance that still tugs at every cord of your being, and you can have a really long novel with a really slow burn affair and do the exact same thing to your readers - it's just a matter of consistency. And that's what's lacking here. The general plot, too, I felt like I'd read hundreds of books with that exact same theme, so it felt a little used up and stale, for me, though it was a fun plot, again, with potential to it that the author didn't know how to make use of. I think they may be rather young and immature in their writing, for it felt like that to me. If that's the case, I do believe this is one author with the potential to grow and gift the readers with really great stories, but they need time to get there. All in all, it was a promising tale, with promising characters and it was still fun to read.
Don't get me wrong, I've really enjoyed this novel - it's a fast read, once you get going, and the writing isn't cluttered or heavy, if anything, it's a bit too light for my preferences. And that's why it didn't reach 4 stars, for me. This was too light. And it was too juvenile. And somethings were too easy, too unrealistic, too forced, for me.
I liked the characters, and felt there was so much potential to both of them - especially Xuanmin, there was so much the author could have done with the bare bones they set for this character, but in the end, it was a chance wasted. There was hardly anything to them both, they lacked substance, their story lacked substance, their love especially lacked substance. There was no falling in love, no pining for each other, no lust (other than that crap about the dragon spit, a gimmick I found rather annoying, an easy way out to insert a bit of smut and physical intimacy between the two MCs). The romance goes from nothing to 'I will give my life for you, I will die for you' in what feels like crashing speed, with absolutely no in between - not to mention the fact Xue Xian is so quick to 'forgive the wrongs' he believes Xuanmin did him and understand just exactly what is going on. I think the problem with this novel is that it's too short, and the author didn't really know how to go from the extreme slow burn they were giving the readers to the satisfying conclusion and the subsequent get together of the MCs. You can have a short novel with a slow burn romance that still tugs at every cord of your being, and you can have a really long novel with a really slow burn affair and do the exact same thing to your readers - it's just a matter of consistency. And that's what's lacking here. The general plot, too, I felt like I'd read hundreds of books with that exact same theme, so it felt a little used up and stale, for me, though it was a fun plot, again, with potential to it that the author didn't know how to make use of. I think they may be rather young and immature in their writing, for it felt like that to me. If that's the case, I do believe this is one author with the potential to grow and gift the readers with really great stories, but they need time to get there. All in all, it was a promising tale, with promising characters and it was still fun to read.
whrainash's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
5.0
iuliatr's review against another edition
4.0
You all who think their romance was forced need a good pair of glasses, respectfully.
It wasn't by any means an impossible to decipher mystery but I had fun with this little gang.
Because of this story, I'll definitely pick up other stories by Mu Su Li.
4⭐/5
It wasn't by any means an impossible to decipher mystery but I had fun with this little gang.
Because of this story, I'll definitely pick up other stories by Mu Su Li.
4⭐/5
willow1113's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
viviiss's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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
clandestine's review
3.0
3.5
this was really sweet and interesting, being the first musuli work that i read. it's really fairytale-ish, which i loved! i'm not sure if this is musuli's earlier work or not, but the writing style did get repetitive (which the translator also held frustrations over). the main pairing's dynamic is so so cute and their build-up was so good. plot-wise not the strongest i've read, in my opinion, but it felt novel and was mysterious and enjoyable nonetheless.
this was really sweet and interesting, being the first musuli work that i read. it's really fairytale-ish, which i loved! i'm not sure if this is musuli's earlier work or not, but the writing style did get repetitive (which the translator also held frustrations over). the main pairing's dynamic is so so cute and their build-up was so good. plot-wise not the strongest i've read, in my opinion, but it felt novel and was mysterious and enjoyable nonetheless.