Reviews tagging 'Cannibalism'

พันสารท เล่ม 1 by Meng Xi Shi

13 reviews

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and War

Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, and Sexual harassment

laios's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, and Cannibalism

klbreyfogle's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Enjoyed it! A bit bummed the library only has the first one but not sure I loved it so much that I’m going to immediately buy the rest (which I did with Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation). It’s definitely politics and martial arts heavy which I enjoy, and also definitely starting out in the enemies territory of enemies to lovers with is always kind of fun, plus the author’s done a good job with it so far! Might end up reading an unofficial translation before deciding on buying though, because five books is a lot when I’m not like deeply in love with it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Homophobia and Cannibalism

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War

bonriki's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Cannibalism

Minor: Pedophilia and Rape

sahkitsune's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective slow-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abandonment

Minor: War

madao3's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual violence, Slavery, Cannibalism, and Toxic friendship

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

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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

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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 👉👈

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Body horror, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail