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Zhu Yan
The story takes place in Kong Sang Continent, and revolves around the tumultuous love story between Zhu Yan, princess of the Chi Yi Tribe and Shi Ying, the royal prince and the great priest in the Jiuyi mountain.
When he was only a child Shi Ying’s mother was framed, and he was banished to Jiuyi Mountain to cultivate. During his teenage years Shi Ying meets Zhu Yan and takes her as his disciple. With the time Shi Ying began to develop romantic feelings for Zhu Yan. However because of their relationship as teacher and student, both of them do not voice out their feelings.
Fate also stands in their way when they stood on opposite sides in political struggle and undergo life and death situations. However, they eventually put aside their issues, and work together hand-in-hand to protect Kong Sang Continent.
This is the prequel to the Mirror series.
When he was only a child Shi Ying’s mother was framed, and he was banished to Jiuyi Mountain to cultivate. During his teenage years Shi Ying meets Zhu Yan and takes her as his disciple. With the time Shi Ying began to develop romantic feelings for Zhu Yan. However because of their relationship as teacher and student, both of them do not voice out their feelings.
Fate also stands in their way when they stood on opposite sides in political struggle and undergo life and death situations. However, they eventually put aside their issues, and work together hand-in-hand to protect Kong Sang Continent.
This is the prequel to the Mirror series.
1794 pages, ebook
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 28, 2025
di adaptasi JD dracin THE LONGEST PROMISE, yg main nya Xiao Zhan as Shiying dan Renmin as Zhuyan.
September 18, 2026
After watching "The Longest Promise" I wasn't quite satisfied with drama's ending. So I dig in a little and found out about the book it's based on (Zhuyan (With Prequel of Mirror) 朱颜 by Cang Yue).
By pure impulse I read the first page and instantly was a goner. I wouldn't be able to stop reading even if wanted to.
The power those web novels have over me is amazing.
But there should be no surprise. Dynamic plot, where everything intertwine, complex characters, vivid world building. And my favorite, killer angst. In short, a great book.
Best thing #1 Zhu Yan
I simply love her as the main character. She's nothing but flawed. Entitled princess, spoiled daughter, very quick to anger and impulsive beyond belief. She's also a beautiful force of nature. It's a wonder to encounter female lead with such a presence.
Best thing #2 The setting
The way to put George RR Martin to shame, really. Race conflict is beyond brutal, bloody and graphic. We have to witness unbelievable torture and mutilation Shark/Merman people suffer in slavery, and it itself sets up motivations of all characters in the story.
Best thing #3 Cast of characters
Everyone, from the most prominent to the most insignificant character in the story has depth, believable motivations and complexity deeply rooted in the unjust world they all live in. In short, they all act as real people, the way they would act if they were born into this world. So no one is simply bad or good. They all face impossible choices. No one is beyond reproach. Everyone has redeeming qualities, as well as committed enormous sins. They all are the foils and contrasts to each other. Red King and White Kind for example. Though they are like minded allies one treats his children instrumentally, taking from them what once was taken from him. Personal happiness for the sake of White Clan prosperity. He makes contrast to Red King, Zhu Yan's father, who's breaking generation trauma. They both commit heinous crimes though. As almost everyone in the story.
So clueless and rush Zhu Yan in this world sticks out as one with no idea about anything, unaware of consequences she runs head first into many troubles, and it's the main point of her growth. Everyone she encounters is more verse in the inner workings of their world and more cunning. They reprimand her to no end. But also, deeply envy her and admire that in her. They all would want to live like her, be like her. It's also clear they sometimes want to break her or protect her exactly because of this trait of hers. They all chosen survival over something they desired and are bewildered by Zhu Yan who stubbornly refuses to give up her loyalties. And loyal she is. To the grave, literally. She's also about the only one in the story free from racial prejudice. She fell in love in the shark, she adopted little shark, she stood against the one she admired the most to protect them. That's unbelievable courage. And so what if you have to be a little foolish to be this brave. I don't mind that at all. It only gives her more authenticity.
I only wish I could read the Mirror series in English. That it's not translated yet is the only bad thing about it.
(Deep thanks to Bunny Love Reader who's unofficial translation made this read possible. I greatly admire people like you who make reading Chinese stories possible for the rest of us readers. You are my hero 🫶)
By pure impulse I read the first page and instantly was a goner. I wouldn't be able to stop reading even if wanted to.
The power those web novels have over me is amazing.
But there should be no surprise. Dynamic plot, where everything intertwine, complex characters, vivid world building. And my favorite, killer angst. In short, a great book.
Best thing #1 Zhu Yan
I simply love her as the main character. She's nothing but flawed. Entitled princess, spoiled daughter, very quick to anger and impulsive beyond belief. She's also a beautiful force of nature. It's a wonder to encounter female lead with such a presence.
Best thing #2 The setting
The way to put George RR Martin to shame, really. Race conflict is beyond brutal, bloody and graphic. We have to witness unbelievable torture and mutilation Shark/Merman people suffer in slavery, and it itself sets up motivations of all characters in the story.
Best thing #3 Cast of characters
Everyone, from the most prominent to the most insignificant character in the story has depth, believable motivations and complexity deeply rooted in the unjust world they all live in. In short, they all act as real people, the way they would act if they were born into this world. So no one is simply bad or good. They all face impossible choices. No one is beyond reproach. Everyone has redeeming qualities, as well as committed enormous sins. They all are the foils and contrasts to each other. Red King and White Kind for example. Though they are like minded allies one treats his children instrumentally, taking from them what once was taken from him. Personal happiness for the sake of White Clan prosperity. He makes contrast to Red King, Zhu Yan's father, who's breaking generation trauma. They both commit heinous crimes though. As almost everyone in the story.
So clueless and rush Zhu Yan in this world sticks out as one with no idea about anything, unaware of consequences she runs head first into many troubles, and it's the main point of her growth. Everyone she encounters is more verse in the inner workings of their world and more cunning. They reprimand her to no end. But also, deeply envy her and admire that in her. They all would want to live like her, be like her. It's also clear they sometimes want to break her or protect her exactly because of this trait of hers. They all chosen survival over something they desired and are bewildered by Zhu Yan who stubbornly refuses to give up her loyalties. And loyal she is. To the grave, literally. She's also about the only one in the story free from racial prejudice. She fell in love in the shark, she adopted little shark, she stood against the one she admired the most to protect them. That's unbelievable courage. And so what if you have to be a little foolish to be this brave. I don't mind that at all. It only gives her more authenticity.
I only wish I could read the Mirror series in English. That it's not translated yet is the only bad thing about it.
(Deep thanks to Bunny Love Reader who's unofficial translation made this read possible. I greatly admire people like you who make reading Chinese stories possible for the rest of us readers. You are my hero 🫶)
December 6, 2024
Can a deity fall in love with a simple human? find out in this story
May 5, 2024
In the end, we are just prisoners subjected to the constraints of time and fate. We can't fathom the lives of those who are living above and beyond us -Shi Ying, Crown Prince of Kongsang-
August 6, 2023
I must clarify that I don't read Chinese in any form. I had to rely on a personal translation to English done by Bunny Love Reader on their website. I hope that, at some time, an English translation will be approved by the author and her publisher.
If you are reading this because you loved "The Last Promise" series on Netflix, you will find that, like many adaptations, it varies from the original. I loved the TV series because it was pretty romantic. The volumes, however, are more complicated than this love story.
Many English readers will not understand how critical prophecy is to the book. There is just a vague understanding of prophecy in the modern world, even though many religious texts are entwined in prophecy.
The conflicts and intrigues in Yunhuang--like a continent--and within Kongsang the empire, are seen through the events that surround Zhu Yan. Zhu Yan is a naive soul, loyal, outspoken, spoiled, and brash. Even with her innocence, she plays a crucial part in the prophesies that will befall Yunhuang and the Kongsang empire. All through the story fate and prophesy are intricately woven into an intriguing story of love, in many of its forms, and the plans of man.
If you are reading this because you loved "The Last Promise" series on Netflix, you will find that, like many adaptations, it varies from the original. I loved the TV series because it was pretty romantic. The volumes, however, are more complicated than this love story.
Many English readers will not understand how critical prophecy is to the book. There is just a vague understanding of prophecy in the modern world, even though many religious texts are entwined in prophecy.
The conflicts and intrigues in Yunhuang--like a continent--and within Kongsang the empire, are seen through the events that surround Zhu Yan. Zhu Yan is a naive soul, loyal, outspoken, spoiled, and brash. Even with her innocence, she plays a crucial part in the prophesies that will befall Yunhuang and the Kongsang empire. All through the story fate and prophesy are intricately woven into an intriguing story of love, in many of its forms, and the plans of man.
January 19, 2024
Leí esta historia luego de terminar la serie, y no puedo explicar lo enojada que estoy con la serie por arruinar el personaje de zhu Yan!
Con el tremendo personaje que es zhu Yan, no dejo de leer este libro, es mi lugar seguro, ya lo leí 3 veces!
Amo todo espectacular! Solo me queda la tristeza por sumo y porque nunca pudo saber que ella nunca lo abandonó.
5 estrellas definitivamente!
Con el tremendo personaje que es zhu Yan, no dejo de leer este libro, es mi lugar seguro, ya lo leí 3 veces!
Amo todo espectacular! Solo me queda la tristeza por sumo y porque nunca pudo saber que ella nunca lo abandonó.
5 estrellas definitivamente!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews