The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
rainsought'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
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Self harm, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Rape
nannahnannah's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Representation:
- as this takes place in ancient China, every character is Chinese
- now, Iām not sure I would consider this representation, really, because itās written by a fujoshi, but ā¦ okay, well, besides a few chapters, the last few chapters, and the extras (AVOID AT ALL COSTS), I could relatively call this LGBT media, with a bi main protagonist and a gay love interest.
Wei Wuxian, the infamous Yiling Patriarch, became a villain and a demon in the eyes of the rest of the civilized cultivation world after creating Demonic Cultivation (aka becoming a necromancer). When he causes almost uncountable death, all the clans rise together against him, and Wei Wuxianās reign of chaos ends.
Of course, though the timeline of the book switches between the present (thirteen years after Wei Wuxianās death) and the past (before he even becomes the Yiling Patriarch), itās clear this is only the beginning. For one, in the present timeline, Wei Wuxian is brought back to life. Secondly, Wei Wuxianās spirit isnāt the only thing returning from his past: the weapon that made him so powerful before he died (and the thing he destroyed!) is somehow in use again. Thirdly, heās just run into the very two people he wanted to avoid in this new life: his brother -- the one who took credit for his death -- and Lan Wangji, a skilled cultivator, the definition of righteousness, and someone who Wei Wuxian thought had despised him for his demonic cultivation.
Unfortunately, Iāll just have to imagine what this story could have been like in the hands of someone who didnāt fetishize gay men (or one who actually cared about women). Its potential to be an amazing book is just ā¦ and the way itās wasted in Mo Xiang Tong Xiuās hands because she just canāt view lgbt men as people other than something to salivate over and use for her own sexual satisfaction is too frustrating. Yes, these scenes made up about 10-15% of the book (and the horrifying extras; donāt read), but they were enough to completely throw me off, disgust me, and realize that as much as the plot, characters, and everything else in this book is written with such care, the story isnāt meant for lgbt people (or like ā¦ normal people) like me to enjoy. Itās for that gross niche audience: fujoshi and bl lovers. I donāt understand it; I donāt understand what makes that type of āromanceā enjoyable -- why canāt these people enjoy a non-disturbing romance between two men?
Itās just so disappointing.
Because thereās just no way I can fully describe my frustration and disappointment, fine, Iāll move on. I donāt know if it was the translation (which is unofficial. Thereās no real English translation for this novel, so I had to go through fan translations -- which, unfortunately, are also done by fetishists) or the actual writing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, but the book reads stilted and awkward. Itās one of those books thatās more dialogue than prose, but there arenāt even dialogue tags or beats! Maybe itās the style that Iām not used to. Mo Xiang Tong Xiu also doesnāt seem to trust her audience to understand hints from text or dialogue, because she feels the need to explain everything. We understand what lying is, we promise (āJin Ling clearly didnāt see Wen Ning and was making it up to distract Jiang Cheng so he would leave, etc., etc.ā ā obviously not word for word).
Now, thereās lots to love about the book, too. The themes are amazing: challenge what youāre being taught and question whoās teaching you; always question your own choices constantly; how the younger generation can carry the intolerances of the older one, but how they also can be guided in other directions; how to deal when family and loved ones donāt have the same values/donāt think the same way you do -- and how do you continue to love them when they turn their backs on you?
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu also is a master of characterization and character arcs. And definitely plot twists. A big, big problem though is how she treats women -- lmao, which is a large problem with fujoshi in general. All of the women have tiny roles and are fridged, weak, and without fail die tragically. Itās pathetic.
Without making this like a dissertation, Iāll just sum it all up. Stick with the drama and other adaptations, especially since the drama takes a lot of the dialogue directly from the novel. Look up specific scenes if you really want to, but honestly? The sweet romance of the tv drama will make you feel so much more than the (non-con) sex in the book.
Graphic: Rape and Gore
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Ableism and Incest
note: noncon and rape is, lmao, only vilified if between men and women; treated as normal and even āāāromanticāāā when between two men ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦.; but also: fetishization, gross stereotypes about gay/bi men, such as them having 0 self control, being sexually aggressive & seme/uke stereotypes come the last few chapters + extrasilliteratenerd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Slavery, War, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Homophobia
Minor: Incest, Sexual violence, Child death, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
atlanticgiantpumpkin'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, War, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Sexual content, Cursing, Alcoholism, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Self harm
Minor: Vomit, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Child death, Outing, Sexism, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship
Itās pretty dark, not gonna lie, but itās worth it.zhanghao's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Body horror
Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, Blood, Medical trauma, Sexism, and Gaslighting
i don't recommend reading this before watching the live adaptation. the time-skips are not always coherent and sometimes there's a flashback inside of a dream inside of a talisman-induced recollection inside of a-- you get the ideamyreadingodyssey's review
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Incest, Homophobia, Gore, Death of parent, Death, Blood, Alcohol, and Misogyny
ungles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, War, Violence, Sexual content, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Gore, and Genocide
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Mental illness, and Homophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Incest, and Pregnancy
consensual non-consent , rape kink, pregnancy kink, manipulation, sexual content, necromancy, quarteringkarambit's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Biphobia, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and War
Minor: Bullying, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, and Trafficking
hanaia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence
vael's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Rape
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content