This book started off strong with Wu Xieeee <3 and Xiao Hua fussing over Wu Xie <3 <3 <3 It quickly took a turn as the story shifted back to Li Cu who is reckless and often unlikable as a main character. My frustration with Li Cu's story was continuously exacerbated by the author who would switch POVs the moment Li Cu's story started building momentum.
Another writing issue is the intelligence level attributed to various characters. It's one thing when Wu Xie's narrative goes on tangents about extraneous info because he's a college grad w/theoretical and practical experience in the field who grew up in a family where such information would likely be passed down...Li Cu, on the other hand, is a failing high school student and I just don't buy him knowing half the shit that spews out of his mouth. The author certainly writes Li Cu as his own character with a different personality, world view, and temperament from Wu Xie but he treats Li Cu as the same info dumping vehicle that he uses Wu Xie as and expects us to find it believable. Now if Su Wan were the one popping off with all this knowledge, I'd accept it because he's both an exceptional student and a weirdo lol
Hei Yan Jing fans REJOICE. We get more content here AND bits and pieces of backstory. Love the dynamic between him and Su Wan. Their scenes were a welcome reprieve from Li Cu's story.
I knew before starting this series that Sand Sea was incomplete but didn't realize until finishing this book that Part 4 isn't a continuation of Part 3 in any way!!! So this book is the end of Sand Sea until the author finally decides to continue the story. Since it's been many years, however, I think it's safe to say we may never know how this storyline ends. In true Lost Tomb fashion, there are many questions left unanswered and threads left dangling. On the bright side, Part 4 switches back to Wu Xie's POV and I couldn't be more excited!!!
In the rating of this book, I'm conflicted. I feel that 沙海 is a lot more interesting and better written than the original series, so considering that I've given a few volumes of 盗墓笔记 4 stars, shouldn't I match that in my ratings for 沙海? Yet, every time my mouse hovers over the fourth star, I hesitate - because I cannot in my good conscience rate any book featuring as many snakes as this series do anything more than 3 stars. So the rating will stay as it is.
Still, aside from all the moments I was terrified out of my ass because of the snakes, this series as a whole had some very very amazing moments. Ten years later, some of these characters have changed spectacularly (Looking at you, 邪帝) while others appear as they always have been. But all of them, are a delight to read.
At its heart, this book isn't about tomb raiding; it's about tomb raiders. This series have made me fall in love with all the characters all over again, for all their complexities, but also their simple determination -- that they will complete this plan, no matter what cost, for Wu Xie. It's almost as if this book is really more about 5 friends' plan to forcefully change the entire world, all to have a home waiting for Kylin when the time comes. And that, well, that warms my heart.
When did Sha Hai become a comedy? Li Cu, Su Wan, and Yang Hao are your classic three idiots bumbling into a desert together. In between high-stakes sequences where their lives are in danger, they're kind of just goofballs.
I've thought this for a while about this author, but with the character of Liang Wan, I really cannot ignore how bad he is at writing female characters. Sigh.
Side note: I've been reading physical copies of the books borrowed from the library, but when I compare it to the online version, there are huge differences. I'm confused.