Scan barcode
esmeloa's review against another edition
3.75
So, second danmei it is (just read TGCF so far).
First, yes, as many have said, lots of info dump. It does make it quite hard to read at times, and having watched the donghua first definitely helped me picture all the different characters better when reading the novel. (I was unsure if I should jump right to volume 3 or still read vol 1 and 2 first, but this volume has proven me that it's interesting to read vol 1 and 2 even after having watched the donghua - many scenes are remodeled quite differently in the donghua, toned down let's say.)
I also have some issues with the translation - it's fine for the most part, but"This Shen asks Sect Leader Yan to bring him away with you.” (171) : just why. Why, why. As a comparison in the donghua it went "Take me away with you." Granted that's probably quite a stretch from the original, but this is English we're dealing with. The impact of this line is completely lost in the novel's translation. I understand why it's translated that way, except the utter lack of localization lefts me a bit bewildered as a reader. You cannot possibly read this and feel anything other than "well what was that." As faithful as a translation needs to be it still needs to be natural English. "Bring him away with you" : is it him or is it you? That's just not a proper English sentence. In general I don't understand why danmei translators keep the third tense for characters talking about themselves in English. You wouldn't find that in any novel (I don't know much about Chinese literature, but I read Japanese, in which similarly the third person tense can be used to talk about oneself. Professional translators don't leave the third person tense when translating Japanese novels, because it does not make sense in Western languages.) I'm all for remaining faithful to the original but not when 1. It hinders your comprehension of the text and reduces its impact, and 2. It seems quite random. All the shixiong, shidi, etc are kept but Yan Wushi is somehow "sect leader." The sentence I quoted just really encapsulates why I disagree with certain translation choices in this novel, and wish there were more thorough editing.
Anyway do I love what's going on between Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao yes absolutely so I'm driving into volume 2 rn but here is why it's a 3.75 : info dump (on the author) and questionable translation (on the translator). Otherwise it's so far quite good.
First, yes, as many have said, lots of info dump. It does make it quite hard to read at times, and having watched the donghua first definitely helped me picture all the different characters better when reading the novel. (I was unsure if I should jump right to volume 3 or still read vol 1 and 2 first, but this volume has proven me that it's interesting to read vol 1 and 2 even after having watched the donghua - many scenes are remodeled quite differently in the donghua, toned down let's say.)
I also have some issues with the translation - it's fine for the most part, but
Anyway do I love what's going on between Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao yes absolutely so I'm driving into volume 2 rn but here is why it's a 3.75 : info dump (on the author) and questionable translation (on the translator). Otherwise it's so far quite good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and War
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, and Sexual harassment
sirenricobooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War
vvayl's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Blood, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
paradicsomleves's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual harassment
_i_am_et_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Most of my annotations were "wtf", like the most random things were just put in a sentence like some after thought (eg. SQ castrating mu yipo or smth)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood
drsinoire's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Ableism and Sexual harassment
fred___'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Gore and Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, and Cannibalism
areen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
reading the official translation has been extremely fun. I loved picking up on the little details, seeing how it all started for different characters knowing how it all ends for them.
I love how mxs keeps a good balance of explaining it directly and showing so we're not left behind.
one of my favorite things about thousand autumns has always been how it doesn't take sides, but instead shows both. I'm a sucker for complex characters that are not immediately boxed into good or evil and just rereading the first part made me realize just how prevalent it is in this book.
also while I do miss the author notes bc they were hilarious, but I really REALLY appreciate the appendix for being so detailed on the references and context of the world as it is based on rl history and also shows how much research went into writing it. special thanks to the pronunciation guide, I now know how to say their names more accurately 👉👈
I love how mxs keeps a good balance of explaining it directly and showing so we're not left behind.
one of my favorite things about thousand autumns has always been how it doesn't take sides, but instead shows both. I'm a sucker for complex characters that are not immediately boxed into good or evil and just rereading the first part made me realize just how prevalent it is in this book.
also while I do miss the author notes bc they were hilarious, but I really REALLY appreciate the appendix for being so detailed on the references and context of the world as it is based on rl history and also shows how much research went into writing it. special thanks to the pronunciation guide, I now know how to say their names more accurately 👉👈
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
areen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I'm so sad it's over. I never not wanted a book to end this badly. this novel is a masterclass in characterization and writing!!
shen qiao and yan wushi are such iconic characters. I loved shen qiao for being the epitome of kindness (and cuteness) while also being equally strong-hearted and fierce. I thoroughly enjoyed and loved yan wushi for, well... being yan wushi? I can't really compare him to any character ever. his arrogance mixed with his flirting is not something I expected to like, let alone becoming one of my favorite things of the book lol.
the character development of these two, especially SQ was immaculate! it's so subtle that it's hard to describe but that's what makes it so immaculate imo. I loved that despite these two being polar opposites, they didn't change each other's character at all but also they grew closer so naturally!
and these two together is just so much chaos LMAO. they're the funniest couple ever and I mean it with so much respect! I was worried I wouldn't understand why SQ fell for YW but... if you can pick up on the subtlety then!!! it was way better than I expected and I couldn't be happier 😭
I have so much love and respect for the author for taking time to work on almost every single character, and there's SO MANY of them!! bai rong, bian yanmei, yu shengyan, shiwu, chen gong, qi fengge, yu ai and so many others, I believe I'll remember them forever. even if we didn't spend a lot of time with every character I could still tell exactly what kind of person they were.
this book is also crack. I can't for the life of me put it down once I start. whenever I wasn't reading, all I could think about was them and how I want to know more. I spent my entire weekend only reading this book and I didn't feel tired at all. they've completely consumed me (with consent) and I'll never be the same again.
I've never had such an entertaining and meaningful journey with a story before. it's so freaking long but I never once felt like this arc dragged too long or wasn't necessary. almost every character gave a grey perspective of morality and how complex humans are, how you can't really box them as good or evil.
everywhere, it's a 10/10 from me. my standards for danmei has gone up so much now I'm afraid of reading anything else. also I'm so freaking jealous of yan wushi!!!! 😩
shen qiao and yan wushi are such iconic characters. I loved shen qiao for being the epitome of kindness (and cuteness) while also being equally strong-hearted and fierce. I thoroughly enjoyed and loved yan wushi for, well... being yan wushi? I can't really compare him to any character ever. his arrogance mixed with his flirting is not something I expected to like, let alone becoming one of my favorite things of the book lol.
the character development of these two, especially SQ was immaculate! it's so subtle that it's hard to describe but that's what makes it so immaculate imo. I loved that despite these two being polar opposites, they didn't change each other's character at all but also they grew closer so naturally!
and these two together is just so much chaos LMAO. they're the funniest couple ever and I mean it with so much respect! I was worried I wouldn't understand why SQ fell for YW but... if you can pick up on the subtlety then!!! it was way better than I expected and I couldn't be happier 😭
I have so much love and respect for the author for taking time to work on almost every single character, and there's SO MANY of them!! bai rong, bian yanmei, yu shengyan, shiwu, chen gong, qi fengge, yu ai and so many others, I believe I'll remember them forever. even if we didn't spend a lot of time with every character I could still tell exactly what kind of person they were.
this book is also crack. I can't for the life of me put it down once I start. whenever I wasn't reading, all I could think about was them and how I want to know more. I spent my entire weekend only reading this book and I didn't feel tired at all. they've completely consumed me (with consent) and I'll never be the same again.
I've never had such an entertaining and meaningful journey with a story before. it's so freaking long but I never once felt like this arc dragged too long or wasn't necessary. almost every character gave a grey perspective of morality and how complex humans are, how you can't really box them as good or evil.
everywhere, it's a 10/10 from me. my standards for danmei has gone up so much now I'm afraid of reading anything else. also I'm so freaking jealous of yan wushi!!!! 😩
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying
cammaleahh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Blood, and Sexual harassment