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Little Mushroom (Novel) #1
Cây Nấm Nhỏ - Tập 1
“Lợi ích của nhân loại là trên hết.”
Con người đang sống trong kỉ tận thế. Từ trường bảo vệ trái đất đã biến mất, ánh mặt trời ấm áp không còn, mà chỉ có những tia bức xạ nguy hiểm. Những tia bức xạ ấy làm biến đổi gen của con người và động vật, sinh ra các loài vật biến dị nguy hiểm có khả năng huỷ diệt loài người.
Không còn những thành phố lớn tự do, con người buộc phải sống trong các căn cứ được bảo vệ nghiêm ngặt, ra vào đều phải trải qua quá trình sàng lọc cực kì tàn khốc và nhạy bén của Người Phán Xét.
Căn cứ loài người ở phía Bắc có một Người Phán Xét tên Lục Phong. Anh sở hữu trực giác cùng sự quyết đoán cực kì cao, và hành động đúng như khẩu hiệu của căn cứ: “Lợi ích của nhân loại là trên hết.”
Không thể để người bị thương hoặc mang dị vật bước vào căn cứ, bởi lây nhiễm diện rộng sẽ khiến cả căn cứ bị tổn thất.
An Chiết chỉ là một cây nấm nhỏ. Em chẳng liên quan gì tới loài người đang miệt mài với cuộc chiến sinh tồn không ngơi nghỉ ngoài kia, mục đích cả đời của em chỉ là nuôi dưỡng bào tử của mình, kết thúc sứ mệnh của một cây nấm.
Giản đơn và ngây thơ như vậy.
Ấy thế mà một ngày kia, An Chiết phát hiện ra sự giản đơn ấy lại biến thành phức tạp, vì bào tử của em đã bị người ta lấy mất rồi!
Vậy là Cây nấm nhỏ can đảm rời khỏi hang ổ, bắt đầu hành trình tìm lại báu vật của mình. Chưa tìm thấy báu vật, An Chiết đã đụng độ thẩm phán khét tiếng Lục Phong.
Đây là một câu chuyện khốc liệt và bi tráng về sức mạnh sinh tồn của con người, cũng là câu chuyện thật dịu êm về cây nấm nhỏ và chàng Thượng tá Lục Phong. Một câu chuyện phi thường về tình yêu.
Con người đang sống trong kỉ tận thế. Từ trường bảo vệ trái đất đã biến mất, ánh mặt trời ấm áp không còn, mà chỉ có những tia bức xạ nguy hiểm. Những tia bức xạ ấy làm biến đổi gen của con người và động vật, sinh ra các loài vật biến dị nguy hiểm có khả năng huỷ diệt loài người.
Không còn những thành phố lớn tự do, con người buộc phải sống trong các căn cứ được bảo vệ nghiêm ngặt, ra vào đều phải trải qua quá trình sàng lọc cực kì tàn khốc và nhạy bén của Người Phán Xét.
Căn cứ loài người ở phía Bắc có một Người Phán Xét tên Lục Phong. Anh sở hữu trực giác cùng sự quyết đoán cực kì cao, và hành động đúng như khẩu hiệu của căn cứ: “Lợi ích của nhân loại là trên hết.”
Không thể để người bị thương hoặc mang dị vật bước vào căn cứ, bởi lây nhiễm diện rộng sẽ khiến cả căn cứ bị tổn thất.
An Chiết chỉ là một cây nấm nhỏ. Em chẳng liên quan gì tới loài người đang miệt mài với cuộc chiến sinh tồn không ngơi nghỉ ngoài kia, mục đích cả đời của em chỉ là nuôi dưỡng bào tử của mình, kết thúc sứ mệnh của một cây nấm.
Giản đơn và ngây thơ như vậy.
Ấy thế mà một ngày kia, An Chiết phát hiện ra sự giản đơn ấy lại biến thành phức tạp, vì bào tử của em đã bị người ta lấy mất rồi!
Vậy là Cây nấm nhỏ can đảm rời khỏi hang ổ, bắt đầu hành trình tìm lại báu vật của mình. Chưa tìm thấy báu vật, An Chiết đã đụng độ thẩm phán khét tiếng Lục Phong.
Đây là một câu chuyện khốc liệt và bi tráng về sức mạnh sinh tồn của con người, cũng là câu chuyện thật dịu êm về cây nấm nhỏ và chàng Thượng tá Lục Phong. Một câu chuyện phi thường về tình yêu.
432 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2022
536 people are currently reading
9976 people want to read
About the author
Yi Shi Si Zhou
22 books170 followersAssociated Names:
* 一十四洲 (Chinese)
* Nhất Thập Tứ Châu (Vietnamese)
* อีสือซื่อโจว (Thai)
* 一十四洲 (Chinese)
* Nhất Thập Tứ Châu (Vietnamese)
* อีสือซื่อโจว (Thai)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 903 reviews
November 2, 2023
I inhaled all 27 chapters of this book in something of a daze and I am now a changed person.
Little Mushroom: Judgment Day, the 1st book in the Little Mushroom duology, follows the story of a sentient little mushroom that gains human form and journeys undetected through a dystopian world in search for his stolen spore—and into the path of the one human who can discover the truth of what he is and kill him for it.
If this sounds unlike anything you’ve ever read—it’s probably because it is. Shisi offers a fearlessly inventive and deliciously bonkers spin on the post-apocalyptic novel that is also downright endearing and a lot of fun along the way. But don’t let the cute exterior fool you—Little Mushroom: Judgment Day packs a hefty punch, achieving more levels of complexity, imagination, and depth than a surface-reading might give it credit for.
This is a story about what it means to survive in a world that perpetually flickers towards extinction. It asks questions central to our very species: what does it do to a person to understand, acutely and with pain, the world’s capacity for violence? Who are we after enduring, when all that’s left of us is so ruthless to survive even when we don’t have the stomach for it?
Dystopia is about things carried to extremes, and Shisi is unafraid to push past the hold of even our most uncomfortable imaginings. The novel’s resounding theme—should human interests be put above all else?—haunts the pages, reminding us that we are all-too-often sustained and consoled by the knowledge that science will always prevail, that survival is inevitable, that collapse is something that happens to other people in far away places. Or that, at the very least, we can always reassemble ourselves in the aftermath of collapse.
It is against this monumental reality of cataclysm that An Zhe’s innocent search for his spore unfolds, and because he’s a literal mushroom, with a rudimentary and naive understanding of good and evil or of what propels humans to do the things they do, there is very little space for the endless self-justifying impulse of “human interest.” In a little mushroom’s rendering of the world, the ugliness—that is to say, all the details of struggle and survival—is stark and unflinching, with nothing to hide behind. What we are ultimately left with is a haunted and haunting portrait of what we do to one another in our desperate grasping to unmake our undoing.
Oh, and this is also a queer love story!
All in all, I’m grateful for the enthusiasm of the several people who suggested this book to me. I signed up for a whipcrack sci-fi romp and got much more than I bargained for—and my reading experience was definitely all the better for it.
Little Mushroom: Judgment Day, the 1st book in the Little Mushroom duology, follows the story of a sentient little mushroom that gains human form and journeys undetected through a dystopian world in search for his stolen spore—and into the path of the one human who can discover the truth of what he is and kill him for it.
If this sounds unlike anything you’ve ever read—it’s probably because it is. Shisi offers a fearlessly inventive and deliciously bonkers spin on the post-apocalyptic novel that is also downright endearing and a lot of fun along the way. But don’t let the cute exterior fool you—Little Mushroom: Judgment Day packs a hefty punch, achieving more levels of complexity, imagination, and depth than a surface-reading might give it credit for.
This is a story about what it means to survive in a world that perpetually flickers towards extinction. It asks questions central to our very species: what does it do to a person to understand, acutely and with pain, the world’s capacity for violence? Who are we after enduring, when all that’s left of us is so ruthless to survive even when we don’t have the stomach for it?
Dystopia is about things carried to extremes, and Shisi is unafraid to push past the hold of even our most uncomfortable imaginings. The novel’s resounding theme—should human interests be put above all else?—haunts the pages, reminding us that we are all-too-often sustained and consoled by the knowledge that science will always prevail, that survival is inevitable, that collapse is something that happens to other people in far away places. Or that, at the very least, we can always reassemble ourselves in the aftermath of collapse.
It is against this monumental reality of cataclysm that An Zhe’s innocent search for his spore unfolds, and because he’s a literal mushroom, with a rudimentary and naive understanding of good and evil or of what propels humans to do the things they do, there is very little space for the endless self-justifying impulse of “human interest.” In a little mushroom’s rendering of the world, the ugliness—that is to say, all the details of struggle and survival—is stark and unflinching, with nothing to hide behind. What we are ultimately left with is a haunted and haunting portrait of what we do to one another in our desperate grasping to unmake our undoing.
Oh, and this is also a queer love story!
All in all, I’m grateful for the enthusiasm of the several people who suggested this book to me. I signed up for a whipcrack sci-fi romp and got much more than I bargained for—and my reading experience was definitely all the better for it.
February 28, 2022
Hi everyone!
I served as editor on Little Mushroom V1. I really hope you all enjoy it, as it's become one of my favorite projects of my career so far. He's just a little mushroom, after all.
I served as editor on Little Mushroom V1. I really hope you all enjoy it, as it's become one of my favorite projects of my career so far. He's just a little mushroom, after all.
February 10, 2025
‘I'll just sometimes think about... the choices I made. Just what am I judging, and who will judge me in the end?’
first of all big thank you to my buddy reads who didn’t even start the novel and i already finished it, peace and love to those people🫶
AAHHH when i tell this is going in my top danmei novels I MEAN IT. the way i was was turning pages as if i was possessed. i might have had a couple of strokes too. at one point i was halfway through a page before i even realized i hadn’t blinked in a while.
𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼
this story isn’t just another end-of-the-world scenario—it’s an apocalypse with logic, originality, and a grim sort of poetry. dark, dangerous, where there is simply no place for people. death isn’t lurking in the shadows—it’s out in the open, making itself at home in the wastelands, the streets of so-called safe zones, the merciless hands of Arbiters, and the jaws of mutated nightmares. every step forward feels like a step closer to oblivion. the air itself is thick with the scent of human decline—despair, fleeting hope, the stubborn instinct to survive, and, finally, quiet acceptance.
and through it all, we see the world not through the hardened eyes of a battle-worn survivor, but through something far more unexpected: a tiny mushroom. fragile, naïve, an observer rather than a participant, detached at first, untouched by human tragedy. but as the story unfolds, the little fungus grows—not just in size, but in understanding. An Zhe learns, changes and starts to care. and in a world where people disappear as quickly as they appear, this unassuming mushroom finds himself drawn into the remnants of humanity, not just surviving—but feeling.
𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼
Lu Feng is a real enigma—a cold, ruthless Arbiter feared and hated by others—a reality he has long accepted without question. yet, despite his hardened nature, he reaches out to this defenseless ray of light, drawn to something he may not fully understand. i liked that his role is ambiguous throughout the novel and keeps posing the ultimate philosophical riddle: what is he, really? a villain draped in authority or a hero trapped by circumstance? a merciless executioner or just another cog in an unforgiving machine? a soulless enforcer of the system, or—despite everything—a human being yearning, however quietly, for belief, acceptance, and love?
‘What does he look like?’
‘Like... the aurora, I suppose.’
𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼
the feelings between the characters grow slowly and quietly, each one building on the last. as the story goes on, their emotions deepen—mistrust and trust, the impulse to harm and the desire to protect, cruelty and tenderness. their love, much like the world around them, feels desperate, fragile, and uncertain.
as for the world itself, one thought kept coming back to me while reading (and i partly blame An Zhe for that—his perspective always sticks with me): innocently gloomy in its necessary cruelty.
there was a quiet sadness that lingered as i read, watching the inevitable end of humanity unfold. but this sadness wasn’t heavy or suffocating, it remained somehow gentle. maybe it’s because, despite the ever-present shadow of death, there were still moments of warmth, of tenderness that felt real. or maybe because, even in the darkest moments, there was still a glimmer of hope for something better.
overall, the novel is very delightful, and it also has a wonderfully beautiful manhua, which would be bold of you to assume i haven't read already
pre-read:
buddy read with komy, ada, starry and riki :3
July 26, 2023
brain chemistry: altered. to unravel such a morally complex homoerotic slowburn against a backdrop of ecological collapse and political strife.....................absolutely delicious. the "non-human experiencing humanity for the first time and learning what it means to love" trope never not hits (and hits HARD) and it is even more stellar and gut-wrenching when that non-human is just a tiny little mushroom intent on honoring the owner of his human body 😭😭😭😭 lu feng is extremely annoying and soooooo hot and cold in book one, however—though i grew to love him nonetheless. MY emotionally repressed serial murdering little meow meow
October 5, 2023
Re-read 03/23 & 10/23: (Still) One of the best danmei I've had the pleasure of reading. I'd highly recommend Little Mushroom to those who are newer to the genre or maybe getting tired of re-reading the same MXTX series. 😂 I'd also recommend this book to people who like post-apocalyptic settings (for instance, if you enjoyed Fallocaust or Swan Song).
An Zhe = best mushroom. 🍄🍄🍄
Original review 12/22: My thoughts are all over the place, and I'm also halfway through the next book so I don't really feel like stopping to write a review. 😅
I will probably write something more cohesive when I re-read this (which I definitely will).
For now, all I'll say about Little Mushroom is that it is one of the best things I've ever read. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
An Zhe = best mushroom. 🍄🍄🍄
Original review 12/22: My thoughts are all over the place, and I'm also halfway through the next book so I don't really feel like stopping to write a review. 😅
I will probably write something more cohesive when I re-read this (which I definitely will).
For now, all I'll say about Little Mushroom is that it is one of the best things I've ever read. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
March 2, 2022
an zhe
i would forfeit all my mortal possessions for an zhe
i give this novel 5 stars purely because i love him.
i would forfeit all my mortal possessions for an zhe
i give this novel 5 stars purely because i love him.
June 9, 2025
Do not go gentle into that good night
yeah... the book sure did not go gentle on me
My rating is for Xiao's fantastic translation in PFH edition. Do not confuse with any other translations/editions please.
yeah... the book sure did not go gentle on me
My rating is for Xiao's fantastic translation in PFH edition. Do not confuse with any other translations/editions please.
January 8, 2023
It took me 8 days to finish this book.
First of all, don’t let the cover trick you, this book is dark, dystopian setting, non human MC, monsters, lot of killing, less romance and zero heat. In the other hand it’s not that angsty and mostly sweet with the naive narration of the main character.
The writing was strange for me, the book felt dragged sometimes, and sometimes the side stories are over detailed. I had hard time to connect with the main character. There wasn’t much dialogues and those was awkward sometimes. ButTHE WORLD BUILDING IS PHENOMENAL!! I was ready to dnf but can’t bc I haven’t read anything like this. It is unique and clever and I can see the humanity would react this was in a similar situation. It got 4 stars by me because the the level of the author imagination is outstanding I’m deeply impressed with it.
First of all, don’t let the cover trick you, this book is dark, dystopian setting, non human MC, monsters, lot of killing, less romance and zero heat. In the other hand it’s not that angsty and mostly sweet with the naive narration of the main character.
The writing was strange for me, the book felt dragged sometimes, and sometimes the side stories are over detailed. I had hard time to connect with the main character. There wasn’t much dialogues and those was awkward sometimes. ButTHE WORLD BUILDING IS PHENOMENAL!! I was ready to dnf but can’t bc I haven’t read anything like this. It is unique and clever and I can see the humanity would react this was in a similar situation. It got 4 stars by me because the the level of the author imagination is outstanding I’m deeply impressed with it.
March 16, 2024
If little mushroom has million numbers of fan i am one of them. if little mushroom has ten fans i am one of them. if little mushroom have only one fan and that is me. if little mushroom has no fans, that means i am no more on the earth. if world against the little mushroom, i am against the world.
i love u my little mushroom i love u an zhe i love u an zhe’s spore i love you lu feng i love u all the characters who took one look at lu feng & an zhe and immediately went “…bffr you guys love each other just get together already 🙄”
anyways!! off to go read the second book!! can’t wait for the inevitable heartache to kick in
i love u my little mushroom i love u an zhe i love u an zhe’s spore i love you lu feng i love u all the characters who took one look at lu feng & an zhe and immediately went “…bffr you guys love each other just get together already 🙄”
anyways!! off to go read the second book!! can’t wait for the inevitable heartache to kick in
January 31, 2025
This book gave me the top tier dystopia I've been craving for years.
It's 2120 and there's few humans left after the Earth's magnetic field failed a hundred years before, leading to terrifying mutations in the flora and fauna. In the Abyss, one of the most affected areas, a little mushroom has been nourished on An Ze, a human who passed away there. This little mushroom takes his shape and gains his knowledge and memories, and is named An Zhe by the human. The little mushroom did that so he could go to the human base and find out what happened to his spore, which had been taken from him.
However, entering the human base is not an easy task: everyone needs to be checked by the Judges, and deemed whether they are truly human. This is where An Zhe meets Lu Feng, the most feared man who is called the Arbiter, and who can kill anyone on sight if he judges them a xenogenetic. Although Lu Feng suspects An Zhe, the genetic tests disprove him, so he has to let An Zhe go.
From then on, I'd describe the book as "An Zhe can't get a break". Everything that can go wrong, it does. And yet, it is not bleak and depressing? I think it's because An Zhe is such a gentle soul. He's just a little mushroom!!! Trying to find his spore!!! and in the meantime acquiring a boyfriend, whom everyone thinks is a hardass but who has such a soft spot of him that it can be seen from space!!! And I think that's the biggest charm of this book, just that there can be gentle, soft feelings in a world that is falling apart.
I cannot wait to read the next book! I just need to know what happens to my little mushroom guy ;__:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 reread: An Zhe... he's just a little mushroom! Reread this so I can finally go for vol 2!
It's 2120 and there's few humans left after the Earth's magnetic field failed a hundred years before, leading to terrifying mutations in the flora and fauna. In the Abyss, one of the most affected areas, a little mushroom has been nourished on An Ze, a human who passed away there. This little mushroom takes his shape and gains his knowledge and memories, and is named An Zhe by the human. The little mushroom did that so he could go to the human base and find out what happened to his spore, which had been taken from him.
However, entering the human base is not an easy task: everyone needs to be checked by the Judges, and deemed whether they are truly human. This is where An Zhe meets Lu Feng, the most feared man who is called the Arbiter, and who can kill anyone on sight if he judges them a xenogenetic. Although Lu Feng suspects An Zhe, the genetic tests disprove him, so he has to let An Zhe go.
From then on, I'd describe the book as "An Zhe can't get a break". Everything that can go wrong, it does. And yet, it is not bleak and depressing? I think it's because An Zhe is such a gentle soul. He's just a little mushroom!!! Trying to find his spore!!! and in the meantime acquiring a boyfriend, whom everyone thinks is a hardass but who has such a soft spot of him that it can be seen from space!!! And I think that's the biggest charm of this book, just that there can be gentle, soft feelings in a world that is falling apart.
I cannot wait to read the next book! I just need to know what happens to my little mushroom guy ;__:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 reread: An Zhe... he's just a little mushroom! Reread this so I can finally go for vol 2!
December 16, 2025
“You're just a tiny… little mushroom.”
In the year 2020, Earth's magnetic poles disappeared and humankind was nearly wiped out by cosmic radiation. Within the span of a hundred years, living creatures began to mutate and devour each other while the remaining humans, numbering in the tens of thousands, struggled bitterly in their man-made bases.
In the Abyss, home to the mutated xenogenics, there lived a sentient little mushroom. Because it had been nourished by the blood and flesh of the deceased human An Ze, not only did it take on a similar-looking human form, but a similar name as well: An Zhe.
An Zhe had gained consciousness quite a while back but now with a human appearance, he can go in search of his beloved spore which was taken from him some time ago. But when he arrives at the human base, he gets the attention of the Arbiter, Lu Feng
He was the master of the Trial Court, determining whether each person entering the city was human or xenogenic. He could decide anyone's fate no matter who they were, needing no justification. Now it was his own turn to stand trial.
What follows is An Zhe’s struggle to find his spore against Lu Feng’s attention all while humanity continues to struggle to survive. “Humankind's interests take precedence over all else” and An Zhe bears witness to this as he watches countless people die. Judgement Day has arrived and the Arbiter must bear that weight.
Lu Feng doesn’t have an easy job. In fact, all of his predecessors have gone mad or killed themselves from the enormity of it all. But Lu Feng has held. For seven years he has done it all to keep humanity safe but along the way he lost his family and friends. And then he met An Zhe. His training tells him there’s something off about him but all scientific tests prove otherwise.
An Zhe is just a little mushroom so he must use An Ze’s memories to get by. This means he is not as socially aware as he should be. There are nuances in human relationships and he can’t quite understand when he is being teased (or bullied as he loves to say). It makes for adorable situations, especially with Lu Feng whom he struggles to understand.
Lu Feng reached out with his right hand and ruffled An Zhe's hair.
An Zhe lowered his eyes slightly. The feeling of being patted on the head by the Arbiter was very wondrous. He felt that Lu Feng was now very soft. If it was because his previous words comforted this man, he would feel rather happy.
Thus, he smiled at Lu Feng.
Then he saw Lu Feng's gaze turn malicious, and the fingers that had been patting his head moved downwards and pinched his face.
An Zhe felt that it was better when this man was in a worse mood, because at least then he wouldn't randomly bully others.
They’re so cute.
I was not expecting to love this as much as I did. I thought this would be a cute story of a mushroom trying to find his baby but from the first page it was nothing but pain and violence. There’s something about post-apocalyptic stories that scares me. I try to avoid them as it is in these stories that the worst of humankind is displayed but I realised it’s also where the best of humankind can be found.
“Humankind's interests take precedence over all else. It's not kindness to a single person, it's kindness to the fate of all of humankind. This is the source of unwavering conviction.”
May 28, 2022
Don’t let the title and cover fool you.. THIS IS NOT A CUTE BOOK OKAY (even tho yes the main character is cute AF) it’s actually quite dark full of monsters and crazy mutant human-plant or human-arthropod and the world is in the edge of ending 😨🫣
Post apocalyptic story is one of the story that I actually love to read and happy to started this book without knowing anything other than it’s danmei and found this book own that story and A REALLY GOOD ONE *heart eyes*
Our main character is a mushroom… yessss a mushroom 🍄 and then he became human because of the blood contamination, An Zhe still has memory and knowledge from his human blood but most of his memory is lost, all he knew he needs to find his spore, something that really important for a mushroom… he then traveled to The Base, the protected cities. To enter one of the city they need to scan everyone so they knew this person is not mutant or infected.. they have this Trial Court with judges who will judge you if you can enter the city or not and also maintain peace in the city, these Judges can kill you immediately if they found out you are infected or a mutant, so our Little Mushroom need to survive this trial in order to get his spore back
We got a lot of action (some even brutal) and crazy adventures in this book and of course that angsty romance between our main lead and main interest Lu Feng… ughhh the feels!! 🥰😍 the plot is really fast and keep you in the edge of your sit!!!! I truly enjoyed my time reading this book it’s a perfect balance between great worldbuilding, plot and romance 😍👍🏼
I highly recommend this book if you love Dystopia genre, M/M angsty cute romance with grumpy sunshine trope, MONSTERS (a lot of Monsters) and fast plot! I personally cannot wait for the second book!!!
You can buy the official English translation from here: https://www.peachflowerhouse.com/mush...
Post apocalyptic story is one of the story that I actually love to read and happy to started this book without knowing anything other than it’s danmei and found this book own that story and A REALLY GOOD ONE *heart eyes*
Our main character is a mushroom… yessss a mushroom 🍄 and then he became human because of the blood contamination, An Zhe still has memory and knowledge from his human blood but most of his memory is lost, all he knew he needs to find his spore, something that really important for a mushroom… he then traveled to The Base, the protected cities. To enter one of the city they need to scan everyone so they knew this person is not mutant or infected.. they have this Trial Court with judges who will judge you if you can enter the city or not and also maintain peace in the city, these Judges can kill you immediately if they found out you are infected or a mutant, so our Little Mushroom need to survive this trial in order to get his spore back
We got a lot of action (some even brutal) and crazy adventures in this book and of course that angsty romance between our main lead and main interest Lu Feng… ughhh the feels!! 🥰😍 the plot is really fast and keep you in the edge of your sit!!!! I truly enjoyed my time reading this book it’s a perfect balance between great worldbuilding, plot and romance 😍👍🏼
I highly recommend this book if you love Dystopia genre, M/M angsty cute romance with grumpy sunshine trope, MONSTERS (a lot of Monsters) and fast plot! I personally cannot wait for the second book!!!
You can buy the official English translation from here: https://www.peachflowerhouse.com/mush...
February 21, 2025
He had never paid attention to anyone's pleas before, but that one time, he lifted the white cloth covering the corpse to reveal that person's wound.
A person's wavering starts from the first time their heart softens.
Please excuse me while I scream over how wonderful this book was. I’ve legit been reading all day and my eyes are crying for a reprieve but I persevered for An Zhe and Lu Feng.
First of all, the setting. Amazing of course. I am always down for a post-apocalyptic sci-fi setting. You know, the type of book that makes me feel dumb as fuck in a way that I love. But the lore, the mutations, the history were all so fascinating.
Then, the plot. Cut the book down to its basic premise; a sentient mushroom takes the form of a human to get his spore back?? Got me giggling it sounds so ridiculous. But no. It’s so much more than that. It’s got adventure. It’s got heartbreaking stories. It’s got learning the nuances and complexities of humanity.
Which leads me into the characters. An Zhe was a great main character. His naïveté, his intelligence, his calm, his curiosity (all because he’s, you know, a mushroom). All makes him so enjoyable to read. And he’s also just so fundamentally good. The mushroom has more decency and humanity than anyone, in the book and in real life. And he’s, you know, a goddamn mushroom.
And Lu Feng was a nice second lead. I’m a sucker for his whole persona of putting on a facade of a cold, heartless guy. When in reality the guy is just trying to protect people and do his job. And he’s actually a ruthless, annoying little brat (towards An Zhe) in an affectionate way, which I love.
And so of course, the romance. Slow burn and secondary to the plot? Oh yeah, that’s my jam. It’s so adorable. And all those little moments make me wanna die, because. It’s. Just. So. Cute. The way An Zhe was the only person (mushroom?) to see Lu Feng in any capacity other than the cruel Colonel, and is the only one to not blame him? Perfect. The fact that An Zhe is the only one to make Lu Feng’s heart soften and waver? Amazing.
They. Are. Everything.
"When the aurora lights up again, the Colonel will return.”
~~~
Reread:
Typically, when I reread something I once enjoyed, I have that lingering fear that the book will not feel the same as the first time. But rereading Little Mushroom I felt no such fears, and I was right to have none because this book still hits. Goodness, my love and enjoyment of this book knows no bounds.
May 5, 2022
Our main character An Zhe is a mushroom, and he loves to eat mushroom soup. So would that be considered cannibalism?
May 13, 2025
NEXTTTT
April 9, 2023
first of all, this is such a wonderful unique premise - a story about a sentient little mushroom who gains human form amidst an ecological apocalypse and has to learn what it means to be human while watching humankind lose their humanity in a bid to save the world.
i love the themes the author is exploring here - not just the essence of humanity (which is a given for a story with a non-human protagonist) but also what is worth losing in service of the greater good, and what is worth saving: individual people or the collective society? it's so interesting to see how this story unfolds with humankind sacrificing individuals in order to preserve society while slowly losing what makes life worth living in a society in the first place.
and this is all manifested in lu feng, the love interest and the character who embodies the concept of sacrificing for the greater good. not only is he constantly forced to kill people, he seems less human than our mushroom protagonist, an zhe, in that he appears to have killed all emotions within himself too. so of course, it's an zhe who starts to revive the humanity within him (a trope i do love to see in romance).
unfortunately, while i love the themes and find the two main characters fascinating, i can't look past the glaring faults of this book. the translation is just not good - and i'm wording this politely. full of odd, choppy sentences and dialogues that don't flow well at all - it made for a difficult reading experience that sadly hampered my enjoyment of the story. with sentences like "an zhe astutely picked up on the opportunity and seized the opportunity to ask...", it's obvious this book desperately needed several more rounds of editing. it's a shame because it's not the original author's fault and i wish i could properly experience this story like it was meant to be (also i've liked lower quality fan translated works before, i just had higher expectations from an officially published translation).
plus, i felt that this volume is severely lacking in emotions. not to say you can't have two emotionally repressed main characters, but then the writing needs to be skilled enough to really draw out the underlying emotional subtleties in a way that impacts the reader, the lack of which could be due to the poor translation. i was also disappointed by the absence of prominent side characters - so far the side characters in this volume are just plot devices rather than actual characters. all this resulted in me only being distantly interested in the story and not really emotionally connecting to it. hopefully this changes in the second volume.
i love the themes the author is exploring here - not just the essence of humanity (which is a given for a story with a non-human protagonist) but also what is worth losing in service of the greater good, and what is worth saving: individual people or the collective society? it's so interesting to see how this story unfolds with humankind sacrificing individuals in order to preserve society while slowly losing what makes life worth living in a society in the first place.
and this is all manifested in lu feng, the love interest and the character who embodies the concept of sacrificing for the greater good. not only is he constantly forced to kill people, he seems less human than our mushroom protagonist, an zhe, in that he appears to have killed all emotions within himself too. so of course, it's an zhe who starts to revive the humanity within him (a trope i do love to see in romance).
unfortunately, while i love the themes and find the two main characters fascinating, i can't look past the glaring faults of this book. the translation is just not good - and i'm wording this politely. full of odd, choppy sentences and dialogues that don't flow well at all - it made for a difficult reading experience that sadly hampered my enjoyment of the story. with sentences like "an zhe astutely picked up on the opportunity and seized the opportunity to ask...", it's obvious this book desperately needed several more rounds of editing. it's a shame because it's not the original author's fault and i wish i could properly experience this story like it was meant to be (also i've liked lower quality fan translated works before, i just had higher expectations from an officially published translation).
plus, i felt that this volume is severely lacking in emotions. not to say you can't have two emotionally repressed main characters, but then the writing needs to be skilled enough to really draw out the underlying emotional subtleties in a way that impacts the reader, the lack of which could be due to the poor translation. i was also disappointed by the absence of prominent side characters - so far the side characters in this volume are just plot devices rather than actual characters. all this resulted in me only being distantly interested in the story and not really emotionally connecting to it. hopefully this changes in the second volume.
January 6, 2025
Oh my god. Where do I even start!!! I loved this. Like absolutely LOVED THIS.
An Zheeee… he’s so fucking adorable man. I got such severe cuteness aggression the whole time. I just wanted to squeeze him. I was so enthralled reading about him learning how to be human 😭 I want the absolute best for my boy.
I’m also suupeerr intrigued by Lu Feng, I’m really looking forward to learning more about him. I have some vague ideas about why he’s this way, but I’m still looking forward to actually getting the full story behind him.
And oh my god, the development of their relationship is just TOO GOOD.
And the ENDING!!!!
Finally!!! I was so fucking happy An Zhe got his little spire back. I was kicking my feet throughout that whole scene. It was absolutely perfect! The best reunion by far. I’m starting the next one immediately. I’ve officially unlocked a new obsession
March 28, 2024
At first I was like a mushroom with only one spore?? This doesn't make sense. But then I was like, that's also kinda cute, I guess.
For a setting where individual human life is not worth much and people get shot dead on a regular basis, this story is strangely wholesome. I think it deserves all the accolades.
ps if lu feng ever writes his memoirs it should be called how i met my MILF: the mushroom i'd like to f-
For a setting where individual human life is not worth much and people get shot dead on a regular basis, this story is strangely wholesome. I think it deserves all the accolades.
ps if lu feng ever writes his memoirs it should be called how i met my MILF: the mushroom i'd like to f-
December 21, 2022
"When the aurora lights up again, the Colonel will return."
IM NOT SOBBING YOU ARE ♡o(╥﹏╥)o ♥♡
Please come back Lu Feng…
IM NOT SOBBING YOU ARE ♡o(╥﹏╥)o ♥♡
Please come back Lu Feng…
Currently reading
February 10, 2025buddy read with gang 🙏🙏
September 2, 2025
This might be the best Danmei I’ve ever read. I’m gnawing on the bars of my enclosure OVER A LITERAL MUSHROOM.
THE PREMISE: a sentient mushroom absorbs the life force of a human, and travels through a dystopian land of monsters and mutants to get to the human base and get his spore back. But he keeps finding himself in the orbit of the base’s most merciless protector, the same person his spore keeps trying to get to.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Dystopian future sci-fi
- Two autistic bbs
- Beautiful writing
- Character experiencing humanity for the first time
- One bed trope
- Slowwwwburn. It’s all *I have an urge to protect you* and *for some reason I keep reaching out to grab your sleeve for comfort*
THE PREMISE: a sentient mushroom absorbs the life force of a human, and travels through a dystopian land of monsters and mutants to get to the human base and get his spore back. But he keeps finding himself in the orbit of the base’s most merciless protector, the same person his spore keeps trying to get to.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Dystopian future sci-fi
- Two autistic bbs
- Beautiful writing
- Character experiencing humanity for the first time
- One bed trope
- Slowwwwburn. It’s all *I have an urge to protect you* and *for some reason I keep reaching out to grab your sleeve for comfort*
November 28, 2025
YALL THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. RAAAAAAR. In Robert's words, mhm love gay dystopian scifi. And while, historically, I've not been a scifi lover, THIS ONE WAS SO GOOD. I love how the story was driven and i felt really connected to An Zhe. I'm so curious to see where we go next based on the events of the ending and I'm curious to see how seven seas handles this title when they release their version.
January 30, 2025
09/14/23:
i devoted the whole day to devouring this book, and it did not disappoint me!
i've been wanting to read this since forever, and the moment the desire to read this occurred to me, i immediately grabbed it and looked where it got me—finishing it within a day LMAO
this is my first time (i think?) that i've read an interspecies romance between an unusually calm, kindhearted simpleton mushroom (he's just a tiny little mushroom !!) which can shapeshift into a human, and an aloof, dreaded judge, the arbriter, who has the blood of a thousand people on his hands. it's actually really intriguing to read from an zhe's pov because of his indifference, his out-of-touch empathy towards his environment, and his slow adaptation to being a human, especially the human feelings foreign to a mushroom like him (the only thing he knows that seems closer to feelings is the instinct for survival of himself and his spore). i also liked the fact that he seemed like a bystander watching the destruction of the earth unfold in front of him, like what dr. ji said. well, given that he's not human after all, he will definitely feel that he's not part of the present and will just go with the flow.
on the other hand, I LOVE HOW LU FENG ALWAYS TEASES AN ZHENG ! and the way they both got closer and unofficially deemed each other "friends". i can't wait for their romance to bloom <3
01/28/25: still one of the best danmei i've ever read
"6.19: Judgement Day, countless dead."
i devoted the whole day to devouring this book, and it did not disappoint me!
i've been wanting to read this since forever, and the moment the desire to read this occurred to me, i immediately grabbed it and looked where it got me—finishing it within a day LMAO
this is my first time (i think?) that i've read an interspecies romance between an unusually calm, kindhearted simpleton mushroom (he's just a tiny little mushroom !!) which can shapeshift into a human, and an aloof, dreaded judge, the arbriter, who has the blood of a thousand people on his hands. it's actually really intriguing to read from an zhe's pov because of his indifference, his out-of-touch empathy towards his environment, and his slow adaptation to being a human, especially the human feelings foreign to a mushroom like him (the only thing he knows that seems closer to feelings is the instinct for survival of himself and his spore). i also liked the fact that he seemed like a bystander watching the destruction of the earth unfold in front of him, like what dr. ji said. well, given that he's not human after all, he will definitely feel that he's not part of the present and will just go with the flow.
on the other hand, I LOVE HOW LU FENG ALWAYS TEASES AN ZHENG ! and the way they both got closer and unofficially deemed each other "friends". i can't wait for their romance to bloom <3
01/28/25: still one of the best danmei i've ever read
June 3, 2024
3 little mushrooms
First of all, the concept is really original and captivating. This cute little mushroom has taken on human form and is now exploring this post-apocalyptic planet to discover the purpose of life and how people adapt to survive.
This is entirely my fault; although I'm not a huge lover of science fiction, I wanted to give it a shot because I adore Damei and it had a great rating. Nevertheless, I wasn't happy with the outcome.
I'm relieved that the pace is quick and simple to follow because I was feeling disconnected at times. I just couldn't get into this book.
However, I really want to discuss the incredible worldbuilding and the attention to detail that went into the post-apocalyptic world and how everything works. It's as though our MC An Zhe and we, the readers, are going through this together.
I don't want to say too much about the characters because I didn't find it interesting or have a connection to any of them. An Zhe is incredibly sweet and pure, while Lu Feng is a highly interesting character. Even though I'm not a huge science fiction lover, I feel like this one has truly given me a whole new perspective.
Looking forward to the next volume.
"Humankind's interests take precedence over all else. It's not kindness to a single person, it's kindness to the fate of all of humankind. This is the source of unwavering conviction"
First of all, the concept is really original and captivating. This cute little mushroom has taken on human form and is now exploring this post-apocalyptic planet to discover the purpose of life and how people adapt to survive.
This is entirely my fault; although I'm not a huge lover of science fiction, I wanted to give it a shot because I adore Damei and it had a great rating. Nevertheless, I wasn't happy with the outcome.
I'm relieved that the pace is quick and simple to follow because I was feeling disconnected at times. I just couldn't get into this book.
However, I really want to discuss the incredible worldbuilding and the attention to detail that went into the post-apocalyptic world and how everything works. It's as though our MC An Zhe and we, the readers, are going through this together.
I don't want to say too much about the characters because I didn't find it interesting or have a connection to any of them. An Zhe is incredibly sweet and pure, while Lu Feng is a highly interesting character. Even though I'm not a huge science fiction lover, I feel like this one has truly given me a whole new perspective.
Looking forward to the next volume.
September 18, 2022
This book is everything I've been looking for.
A dystopian world, action packed from the very first page till the last one. An interesting plot, full of twists and turns. Endearing and well-build characters, the genuine sweet moments they share.
And An Zhe. I would do anything for An Zhe. Someone needs to give him all the potato soup of the world right now.
A dystopian world, action packed from the very first page till the last one. An interesting plot, full of twists and turns. Endearing and well-build characters, the genuine sweet moments they share.
And An Zhe. I would do anything for An Zhe. Someone needs to give him all the potato soup of the world right now.
January 21, 2025
Still the best sci-fi danmei I've ever read
January 5, 2025
This is probably the strangest, most unique story I've ever read. It's a sci-fi dystopian danmei novel following An Zhe, a little mushroom that took on a human form to go to one of the last human bases to find his stolen spore. Now tell me that doesn't sound utterly bizarre 👀
The writing is nothing spectacular. I don't know if the translation makes it so clunky and weird, but it took me a while to get used to. Even the constant use of exclamation marks outside the dialogue was throwing me off. On the other hand, it's strangely cinematic - I could easily picture everything (it was almost like I was watching an anime version in my mind). And some passages were so beautifully written that they took me by surprise. The pacing was all over the place at times but I didn't feel confused and I count that as a victory 😅
The worldbuilding is the strongest aspect, it was captivating. Even though I'm not usually a fan of sci-fi dystopian stories, I was hooked from the start, and it kept getting better and better. Yes, there are plot holes but you know what, I was happily jumping right over them 🐸
An Zhe himself...awwww 🥰🥰 I've come to adore our little mushroom, he's so damn precious. Since we follow the story through his eyes, most things seem to be happening at an emotional distance because An Zhe isn't inherently human, he isn't burdened by a myriad of deep emotions or society's moral codes. As a result, he seems so very pure and naive and I love him for it.
And then there is Lu Feng 😳 Our talk, dark and handsome Colonel, one of the top dogs in the human base. Of course, he's the coldest son of a bitch out there. And of course, he's a bit taken with our little mushroom, his cold exterior melting juuust a tiny little bit at times 🤭 I'm a basic bitch because I ate this dynamic up, all those small interactions made me giggle so much.
By no means should you go into this purely for the romance plot, though! Because it really doesn't feel romantic, there are just hints and crumbs of fondness and gentleness between An Zhe and Lu Feng. It's just that I love going feral over such crumbs 😅🥰
Can't wait to read the sequel ❤️
The writing is nothing spectacular. I don't know if the translation makes it so clunky and weird, but it took me a while to get used to. Even the constant use of exclamation marks outside the dialogue was throwing me off. On the other hand, it's strangely cinematic - I could easily picture everything (it was almost like I was watching an anime version in my mind). And some passages were so beautifully written that they took me by surprise. The pacing was all over the place at times but I didn't feel confused and I count that as a victory 😅
The worldbuilding is the strongest aspect, it was captivating. Even though I'm not usually a fan of sci-fi dystopian stories, I was hooked from the start, and it kept getting better and better. Yes, there are plot holes but you know what, I was happily jumping right over them 🐸
An Zhe himself...awwww 🥰🥰 I've come to adore our little mushroom, he's so damn precious. Since we follow the story through his eyes, most things seem to be happening at an emotional distance because An Zhe isn't inherently human, he isn't burdened by a myriad of deep emotions or society's moral codes. As a result, he seems so very pure and naive and I love him for it.
And then there is Lu Feng 😳 Our talk, dark and handsome Colonel, one of the top dogs in the human base. Of course, he's the coldest son of a bitch out there. And of course, he's a bit taken with our little mushroom, his cold exterior melting juuust a tiny little bit at times 🤭 I'm a basic bitch because I ate this dynamic up, all those small interactions made me giggle so much.
By no means should you go into this purely for the romance plot, though! Because it really doesn't feel romantic, there are just hints and crumbs of fondness and gentleness between An Zhe and Lu Feng. It's just that I love going feral over such crumbs 😅🥰
Can't wait to read the sequel ❤️
February 21, 2025
5/5stars
Second Read Feb 2025:
Just as obsessed as the first time I read this!
First Read Sep 2024:
I'm absolutely OBSESSED WITH THIS
this story is somehow so so endearing about this little mushroom who just wants to get his baby back while also being so intense and insane with stakes that just get higher and higher (but also feel very natural and make a lot of sense)
I absolutely love our characters and the romance so far, but story is also just SO GOOD like world is so well developed and the actual plot is so good and the romance is so good but the story can stand on its own without the romance. That's the type of romance I like where yes the romance is amazing love it A+ but the story can stand alone without the romance yk?
This world especially is so incredibly unique and interesting and I think I could read about our lil mushroom boy and his story without Lu Feng at all (even though I also love him and love their dynamic!), seeing this world and humanity through An Zhe is just so fascinating and I'm loving it
I'll be diving into book 2 immediately - I need to know what happens next!!!
Second Read Feb 2025:
Just as obsessed as the first time I read this!
First Read Sep 2024:
I'm absolutely OBSESSED WITH THIS
this story is somehow so so endearing about this little mushroom who just wants to get his baby back while also being so intense and insane with stakes that just get higher and higher (but also feel very natural and make a lot of sense)
I absolutely love our characters and the romance so far, but story is also just SO GOOD like world is so well developed and the actual plot is so good and the romance is so good but the story can stand on its own without the romance. That's the type of romance I like where yes the romance is amazing love it A+ but the story can stand alone without the romance yk?
This world especially is so incredibly unique and interesting and I think I could read about our lil mushroom boy and his story without Lu Feng at all (even though I also love him and love their dynamic!), seeing this world and humanity through An Zhe is just so fascinating and I'm loving it
I'll be diving into book 2 immediately - I need to know what happens next!!!
August 14, 2025
My unicorn diamond that I got just months before the announcement that Peach Flower House was closing forever.
LOVED EVERY SECOND! I can see why this is a fan favorite. Cannot wait to continue An Zhe's and Lu Feng's story in book two. You just know Lu Feng's gonna be there.
So far this has followed along with the manhua beautifully!
Favorite scene so far when Lu Feng was wondering who would be judging the choices he's made for humanity since no one has power over his decisions. How An Zhe told him how he thought his choices have been correct so far. How humans do not know but a mushroom like An Zhe knows....
*Overthinking that might get answers in book 2 or never.
-How do they never have a shortage of ammunitions? Where are the factories or at least picking up the spent shells to make more bullets... Jobs for those deemed not intelligent enough for white collar jobs.
-If An Zhe the little mushroom was able to "infect" An Ze's body by absorbing him then how did the little spore Lu Feng harvested not also quietly infect Lu Feng... Or at least some of it absorb into Lu Feng. That would be why the spore responds to him limitedly.
-Lu Feng spends half his year in the wilderness/abyss but has never been infected. Sus! Yet he has 100% accuracy identifying mutated humans. Is he a xenogenics like An Zhe? Who can pass all the tests?
-Did Lu Feng know the city was lost and therefor told An Zhe to go the next day to apply for that position because he knew he would follow his suggestion/order and therefore be saved?
-They nuked a city so the bugs wouldn't be able to breed nor have human dna but what about all the mercenaries that lose their lives/mutate out in the wilderness/abyss.... It's already been compromised.
-How are their sciences so advanced and yet so primitive? They can "grow" babies roughly 10,000 a year (certainly not via women) but they cannot figure out how to more successfully protect humans from being mutated. Say with an immunization. Or machines that do not get disrupted by giant worms and rain. Plus all the materials needed to create said items.
-With the electromagnetic field destroyed how are there even ecosystems via mutant lifeforms? "Aliens".
-Thoughts on using other planets with intact electromagnetic fields for survival........
-Thoughts on Lu Feng knowing right from the start that An Zhe was the mushroom that he found on Valentine's day in the wilderness due to it's/his unique appearance.
LOVED EVERY SECOND! I can see why this is a fan favorite. Cannot wait to continue An Zhe's and Lu Feng's story in book two. You just know Lu Feng's gonna be there.
So far this has followed along with the manhua beautifully!
Favorite scene so far when Lu Feng was wondering who would be judging the choices he's made for humanity since no one has power over his decisions. How An Zhe told him how he thought his choices have been correct so far. How humans do not know but a mushroom like An Zhe knows....
*Overthinking that might get answers in book 2 or never.
-How do they never have a shortage of ammunitions? Where are the factories or at least picking up the spent shells to make more bullets... Jobs for those deemed not intelligent enough for white collar jobs.
-If An Zhe the little mushroom was able to "infect" An Ze's body by absorbing him then how did the little spore Lu Feng harvested not also quietly infect Lu Feng... Or at least some of it absorb into Lu Feng. That would be why the spore responds to him limitedly.
-Lu Feng spends half his year in the wilderness/abyss but has never been infected. Sus! Yet he has 100% accuracy identifying mutated humans. Is he a xenogenics like An Zhe? Who can pass all the tests?
-Did Lu Feng know the city was lost and therefor told An Zhe to go the next day to apply for that position because he knew he would follow his suggestion/order and therefore be saved?
-They nuked a city so the bugs wouldn't be able to breed nor have human dna but what about all the mercenaries that lose their lives/mutate out in the wilderness/abyss.... It's already been compromised.
-How are their sciences so advanced and yet so primitive? They can "grow" babies roughly 10,000 a year (certainly not via women) but they cannot figure out how to more successfully protect humans from being mutated. Say with an immunization. Or machines that do not get disrupted by giant worms and rain. Plus all the materials needed to create said items.
-With the electromagnetic field destroyed how are there even ecosystems via mutant lifeforms? "Aliens".
-Thoughts on using other planets with intact electromagnetic fields for survival........
-Thoughts on Lu Feng knowing right from the start that An Zhe was the mushroom that he found on Valentine's day in the wilderness due to it's/his unique appearance.
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