eauderat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Torture, Death of parent, Suicide, Pandemic/Epidemic, Self harm, War, Suicide attempt, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Genocide, Grief, Pedophilia, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Body shaming
some_random_person_hi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I adore the way the themes of fate and love as well as the sheer number of character foils and ship(?) foils this book is so analysable as a lit student I am in love with it. But unlike other books that read like it's written for analysis (cough to kill a mockingbird, babel cough) and thus vaguely boring, this one is so fast paced. I read a couple of paragraphs and something new has already happened -> I finally managed to voluntarily finish a full length chinese book that isn't explicitly written for kids
Mm I'm never going to forget this book it singlehandedly dragged my chinese grades up, made me stop hating my mother tongue, hard carried my will to live for a semester all because I finally found a fast-paced fantasy book that I could understand.
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Abortion, Child abuse, Classism, Grief, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, War, Xenophobia, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Abandonment, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Body horror, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Murder, Bullying, Cursing, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Ableism, Genocide, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Stalking, Excrement, Racism, and Misogyny
Minor: Rape and Animal death
eatingbrains's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I do think the official translations streamlined and polished everything based on what I did read.
What can I even say about the story? It's about love and hate. It's about destiny. It's about willpower. It's about life and death. It's about sacrifice.
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Genocide, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Cannibalism, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Classism, Cursing, Murder, Toxic relationship, War, Child abuse, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Stalking, Torture, Toxic friendship, Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Child death, Body horror, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Medical content
caladbolg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Stalking, Racism, Xenophobia, Violence, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and War
Moderate: Sexism
illiteratenerd'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, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, and War
Moderate: Abandonment, Cannibalism, Murder, Child abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
nuwuria'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Torture, Murder, War, Blood, Genocide, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent and Misogyny
debreadings'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? Yes
5.0
Xie Lian is sometimes perceived as a "perfect" and kind character, but as the book moves from the present to the past, we learn about the traumas that led to who he is at the beginning of the novel. There are some great philosophies about what it means to "be a god" (i.e. have seemingly infinite power), and how life can be beautiful even in the simplest ways. Also, the love story that is central to the plot is beautiful. The writer apparently said in an interview that she set out to write a love story, so that is at the heart of the novel. Xie Lian and Hua Cheng's relationship is beautifully depicted.
One could argue that the way women are portrayed in the story is sometimes questionable - there are clear cultural norms (that frankly also persist in any culture) - but even then the female characters are still complex and not entirely virtuous. The most powerful god may or may not even be a woman. Heaven Official's Blessing puts into question what "power" even is, and the answer is rarely physical strength.
I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into when I started this book. Months later, I still go back to it to reread passages and to understand the story better.
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Misogyny
weiwuxiann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Cursing, Addiction, Abandonment, and Torture
Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, Body shaming, Child abuse, Vomit, Suicide, Stalking, Self harm, Misogyny, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, and Dysphoria
Minor: Chronic illness