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Joyful Reunion (Novel) #1
Joyful Reunion (Novel) Vol. 1
An unwanted child becomes a man with a great destiny in this danmei/Boys’ Love novel from acclaimed author Arise Zhang, also known as Fei Tian Ye Xiang (非天夜翔)!
All his life, Duan Ling has been an unwanted child. Abandoned as an infant, he has grown up scrabbling for scraps in the dirt, beaten and abused by his adoptive family. Yet everything changes the day a stranger arrives at the Duan estate, claiming to have been sent by Duan Ling’s father.
Duan Ling finds himself following the mysterious Lang Junxia into a dangerous world of power and politics far beyond his childish understanding. All he knows is that Lang Junxia never lies, and that he has promised Duan Ling’s father will someday come for him. On that day, Duan Liang must be prepared for a destiny far greater than he knows—one that will shake the world.
462 pages, Paperback
Published August 5, 2025
43 people are currently reading
1243 people want to read
About the author
Fei Tian Ye Xiang
77 books148 followersAssociated Names:
* 非天夜翔
* Arise Zhang
* Fei Tian Ye Xiang
* เฟยเทียนเย่เสียง (Thai Profile)
* 非天夜翔
* Arise Zhang
* Fei Tian Ye Xiang
* เฟยเทียนเย่เสียง (Thai Profile)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
August 17, 2025
why his arms look like that im crying
December 18, 2025
5/5 🌟
I just want to say before continuing even further that this volume was intense. It made me feel love and warmth in ways no other novel has ever made me feel. Absolutely a must read!
BTW, there's a spoiler of the end of the whole novel in the comments by a commenter. Please be aware.
⚠️Volume Spoiler ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
Lang Junxia was such a precious ray of light for Duan Ling, pulling him out of the pits of poverty and hell.
Li Jinghong always kept his promises and provided that warm embrace Duan Ling has always wanted.
Duan Ling... My son... Oh... You are so precious. The way I am feeling every emotion you feel is such an indescribable feeling.
Words can't express how much I hurt right now. The way this volume ended was so cruel... The way that Duan Ling wasn't able to say goodbye.
I felt it.
The desperation in waiting for your loving parent to come home, yet they never could.
I have personally felt that with the loss of my father as a child.
Li Jinglong fought tooth and nail, having infinite arrows pierced through him, yet he still faught on, just in hopes that his son was alive. And luckily, he was able to know in his dying breath how much his son believed in him. How very much alive his son was. His sacrifice did not go to waste.
How dare you FTYX... How dare you make the most beautiful and loving family relationship and then just pierce and twist a knife into my heart? ( ;´ - `;)
I seriously long to read more of this. I did tell myself when this was first announced that I would read the first volume in the physical and continue with the fans translation. I knew this was going to be angsty, but I never expected to be this heartbroken. 💔 This was so beautiful though, I can't be mad at it because the love I felt between father and son was beyond words—incredible. I want to re-live the happy moments again, just one more time. Please. 😢
Read 08/20/25
Novel spoiler ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Lang Junxia... I can't believe... I don't want to believe you were that traitor. But after seeing how this all unfolded and your presence at the end... I am a mess.
I just want to say before continuing even further that this volume was intense. It made me feel love and warmth in ways no other novel has ever made me feel. Absolutely a must read!
BTW, there's a spoiler of the end of the whole novel in the comments by a commenter. Please be aware.
⚠️Volume Spoiler ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
Lang Junxia was such a precious ray of light for Duan Ling, pulling him out of the pits of poverty and hell.
Li Jinghong always kept his promises and provided that warm embrace Duan Ling has always wanted.
Duan Ling... My son... Oh... You are so precious. The way I am feeling every emotion you feel is such an indescribable feeling.
Words can't express how much I hurt right now. The way this volume ended was so cruel... The way that Duan Ling wasn't able to say goodbye.
I felt it.
The desperation in waiting for your loving parent to come home, yet they never could.
I have personally felt that with the loss of my father as a child.
Li Jinglong fought tooth and nail, having infinite arrows pierced through him, yet he still faught on, just in hopes that his son was alive. And luckily, he was able to know in his dying breath how much his son believed in him. How very much alive his son was. His sacrifice did not go to waste.
How dare you FTYX... How dare you make the most beautiful and loving family relationship and then just pierce and twist a knife into my heart? ( ;´ - `;)
I seriously long to read more of this. I did tell myself when this was first announced that I would read the first volume in the physical and continue with the fans translation. I knew this was going to be angsty, but I never expected to be this heartbroken. 💔 This was so beautiful though, I can't be mad at it because the love I felt between father and son was beyond words—incredible. I want to re-live the happy moments again, just one more time. Please. 😢
Read 08/20/25
Novel spoiler ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Lang Junxia... I can't believe... I don't want to believe you were that traitor. But after seeing how this all unfolded and your presence at the end... I am a mess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2025
"There's a limit to life, but not knowledge—who in the world would dare proclaim themselves truly well-read?"
Duan Ling makes a strong impression right from the start, carrying the story with a mix of quiet strength and inner conflict. His character is written with nuance, showing both vulnerability and determination, which makes him compelling to follow. The supporting characters don’t fade into the background either—each one adds tension, humor, or heart to the world around him. Together they create the sense of a living community where choices matter and loyalties shift. The father-son dynamic, in particular, adds depth and emotional weight, grounding the political threads in something more personal. Even without romance front and center, the groundwork for potential connections is present, leaving room for growth in future volumes.
The plot is gripping yet carefully paced, balancing intrigue and reflection in equal measure. Political maneuvering and personal loyalty intertwine in ways that feel natural, with no sense of events being forced for effect. While I wasn’t a fan of how the volume ended, I have to admit it was a fitting way to close, giving the sense of a deliberate turning point. The writing style deserves praise as well—it flows with clarity, offering just enough descriptive richness to draw the reader in without weighing down the story. The dialogue, in particular, feels real and layered, often carrying more meaning beneath the surface than the words suggest.
Worldbuilding is another highlight, as the court politics, cultural traditions, and everyday rhythms feel fully inhabited rather than delivered through heavy exposition. It’s easy to slip into the setting because the details emerge through character interactions instead of long explanations. When I first heard about this series, I was told it had multiple love interests to guess between, but the preface of the book seemed to hint otherwise. While the romance remains only a possibility at this stage, the book succeeds in building strong foundations for the larger series.
Date Read: 2025.09.02
Duan Ling makes a strong impression right from the start, carrying the story with a mix of quiet strength and inner conflict. His character is written with nuance, showing both vulnerability and determination, which makes him compelling to follow. The supporting characters don’t fade into the background either—each one adds tension, humor, or heart to the world around him. Together they create the sense of a living community where choices matter and loyalties shift. The father-son dynamic, in particular, adds depth and emotional weight, grounding the political threads in something more personal. Even without romance front and center, the groundwork for potential connections is present, leaving room for growth in future volumes.
The plot is gripping yet carefully paced, balancing intrigue and reflection in equal measure. Political maneuvering and personal loyalty intertwine in ways that feel natural, with no sense of events being forced for effect. While I wasn’t a fan of how the volume ended, I have to admit it was a fitting way to close, giving the sense of a deliberate turning point. The writing style deserves praise as well—it flows with clarity, offering just enough descriptive richness to draw the reader in without weighing down the story. The dialogue, in particular, feels real and layered, often carrying more meaning beneath the surface than the words suggest.
Worldbuilding is another highlight, as the court politics, cultural traditions, and everyday rhythms feel fully inhabited rather than delivered through heavy exposition. It’s easy to slip into the setting because the details emerge through character interactions instead of long explanations. When I first heard about this series, I was told it had multiple love interests to guess between, but the preface of the book seemed to hint otherwise. While the romance remains only a possibility at this stage, the book succeeds in building strong foundations for the larger series.
Date Read: 2025.09.02
September 19, 2025
the first 70% i didn't really care much for the book, but in the last 30%, things picked up somewhat. explanations were given; father and son stopped cuddling e/o's balls and suddenly things started to happen. hallelujah!
the ending i thought was predictable af and a bit too melodramatic for my taste but im interested to see what else fei tian is gonna throw at our baby boi. (hopefully his ML - he seems like fun.)
the ending i thought was predictable af and a bit too melodramatic for my taste but im interested to see what else fei tian is gonna throw at our baby boi. (hopefully his ML - he seems like fun.)
December 13, 2025
Are you kidding me? Is this a joke? That’s how the first volume ends?? AND THEN GIVING US THAT LAST ILLUSTRATION TO TOP IT ALL OFF?!
August 28, 2025
An absolute 5/5! PLEASE DON'T SPOIL ANYTHING PAST VOLUME 1 OF THE OFFICIALS -7SEAS- ENGLISH TRANSLATION THANKS! If I didn't have to work, I would've finished this a lot sooner! I did not want to put this down! I'm loving the dynamic of all these characters and how connected they are to each other, whether it's from the past or the future paths they share. Duan Ling, my baby, you're so strong! You went through so, so much, and you still overcame those hardships. At the age of 8, you protected someone you loved! You want to be their shield. I love this newfound platonic love that Duan Ling gets to experience and the warmth he longs for—it warmed my heart! Duan Ling is such an amazing character; his character growth is absolutely outstanding, and I can't wait to see more growth from him. I laughed, I "aww-ed," and I bawled my eyes out! Did I mention I threw my book!? The cliffhanger! I can't wait for volume 2 to come out on my birthday!
🌸 SPOILERS WARNING 🌸
Lang Junxia rescued Duan Ling from abuse. Lang Junxia cares for Duan Ling, feeding and clothing him, and giving him comfort when nightmares creep through his closed eyes. Every night, he plays the flute for Duan Ling during his time at school to help him sleep. Their relationship is about protecting one another. But why is Lang Junxia being fishy right now!? Is he going to be part of the enemy? I need answers! Hopefully in volume 2.
At the age of 13, Duan Ling found what he had been longing for but says goodbye to the one he wants to protect. They will meet again, but not in the way we hoped.
I loved this father-and-son dynamic! It's a familiarity they both sensed the moment they met. Li Jianhong is a wonderful father to Duan Ling; he cares for him so much! And Duan Ling, craving warmth, was able to feel it not just with Lang Junxia, but even more with Li Jianhong. I'm honestly glad we didn't have to wait forever for them to reunite.
I'm loving the political aspect of this novel! To me, it's not too hard to understand. Right now, Duan Ling is learning the ways of war, strategizing, and experiencing war himself. He's also learning martial arts while in war.
One last thing! The assassins! I found that so cool in this novel! I can't wait to see what's to come!
Happy reading! 🥰
🌸 SPOILERS WARNING 🌸
Lang Junxia rescued Duan Ling from abuse. Lang Junxia cares for Duan Ling, feeding and clothing him, and giving him comfort when nightmares creep through his closed eyes. Every night, he plays the flute for Duan Ling during his time at school to help him sleep. Their relationship is about protecting one another. But why is Lang Junxia being fishy right now!? Is he going to be part of the enemy? I need answers! Hopefully in volume 2.
At the age of 13, Duan Ling found what he had been longing for but says goodbye to the one he wants to protect. They will meet again, but not in the way we hoped.
I loved this father-and-son dynamic! It's a familiarity they both sensed the moment they met. Li Jianhong is a wonderful father to Duan Ling; he cares for him so much! And Duan Ling, craving warmth, was able to feel it not just with Lang Junxia, but even more with Li Jianhong. I'm honestly glad we didn't have to wait forever for them to reunite.
I'm loving the political aspect of this novel! To me, it's not too hard to understand. Right now, Duan Ling is learning the ways of war, strategizing, and experiencing war himself. He's also learning martial arts while in war.
One last thing! The assassins! I found that so cool in this novel! I can't wait to see what's to come!
Happy reading! 🥰
October 18, 2025
maybe Lang Junxia should google how to do his "work" better. he is little bit unlucky this book.
November 26, 2025
At its core, this volume is a coming of age story. Duan Ling starts out as an abused, malnourished child and through Lang Junxia, and later Li Jianhong’s, attentions, he develops intellectually, physically, and martially.
I feel oddly proud of this young man as he matures and learns to stand for himself and those under his protection. Already, I can see the traces of the benevolent king he will be.
I feel oddly proud of this young man as he matures and learns to stand for himself and those under his protection. Already, I can see the traces of the benevolent king he will be.
August 6, 2025
absolutely incredible. slayful reunion more like!!!
Want to read
March 16, 2025Please 7 seas, change this cover. Body proportions are way off
August 18, 2025
More like JOYLESS REUNION- That last chapter was FOUL 😭
September 25, 2025
3.5/5☆
That ending..I’m not okay
That ending..I’m not okay
December 19, 2025
2.5* rounded up because of the ending
The start and the end of the book were goof, but the middle part really dragged for too long.
The start and the end of the book were goof, but the middle part really dragged for too long.
August 10, 2025
went in knowing absolutely nothing, ended up in tears
duan ling is about to take me on a journey, huh. i'm really excited to see how his story turns out (but does he REALLY have to go through adversity and heartache...?)
this is my 1st time reading something from this author & i love his storytelling. it's a nice blend of action & humor and the characters are interesting too.
ppl were right about this series being best read going in blind. how many more plot twists & tragedies will we experience as the story goes on? :')
duan ling is about to take me on a journey, huh. i'm really excited to see how his story turns out (but does he REALLY have to go through adversity and heartache...?)
this is my 1st time reading something from this author & i love his storytelling. it's a nice blend of action & humor and the characters are interesting too.
ppl were right about this series being best read going in blind. how many more plot twists & tragedies will we experience as the story goes on? :')
August 3, 2025
Read book 1 online and I'm devastated! This is a masterpiece ya'll !!!
September 9, 2025
I sat for a while after finishing this one, trying to decide between 4 and 5 stars.
Technically, I did have some issues with a few of the plot points, mostly to do with how the passage of time was handled - and what characters were doing at ridiculously young ages. Duan Ling is, I think, still only 14 at the end of this volume, and 8 at its beginning. I'd thought more time was passing near the end, but the numbers didn't seem to add up any more. His father apparently also had him at age 16?? So I guess a 14 year old in this world and time period is reasonably expected to be able to battle and defeat cascades of full grown soldiers.
Beyond that, certain things just happened too quickly. When he and his father finally reunited, it seemed like a ton of things were happening, and they were doing all this bonding, but it had only been a month? The map and length of journeys from various cities also seemed a bit inconsistent.
I also found some of the political decisions confusing. It's all a whole lot more approachable than the dense worldbuilding of Ballad of Sword and Wine , for example, but I just didn't understand the point of some pieces. For instance, there's that whole progression that goes like:
- Li Jianhong sneaks the Borjigins out of the city in exchange for a promise: that they will lead a Mongol force to a certain point at a certain time
- Li Jianhong then leverages this danger to strike a bargain with the great Liao general, agreeing to lead a force of Liao soldiers to drive back the Borjigin force
- In exchange, Li Jianhong will be able to take 10,000 Liao soldiers south to reclaim his kingdom
I get all that. It's pretty much just Li Jianhong pulling a bunch of strings so he can accomplish his own goals. But why would the Borjigins agree to show up to be slaughtered? I guess there's an element of military pride, where at least they're doing so out in the open, rather than being killed as hostages. But Li Jianhong also seems to hate the Mongols - although Batu is shown to be a kind boy and a good friend to Duan Ling - and also apparently pen pals with the young Liao emperor ??? - all of his Mongol brethren become inhumane pillaging beasts as soon as the battles begin.
With that said, I just...really enjoyed reading this. It's one of the few danmei where I've wanted to immediately read the second volume - which is supposed to be out in a week, so that's exciting. (Weird for Seven Seas to be releasing them so close together, but I'm not going to complain about that.) I don't know if the full series will hold up, or whether the plot holes and time issues will bug me more as it goes on. The characters were super engaging, though, and I definitely want to see what happens next.
I'll also say this was the first danmei I've read where the romance angle is wildly unclear. That makes sense - Duan Ling is young here, and his primary relationship is that of a son getting to know his long-lost father. I've spoiled myself, I think, for what the pairing is meant to be, by looking at the cover for the next volume...much as I kind of ruined the ending of this book by flipping to the illustration on the final page before reading very far.
Don't do that. I love the illustrations Seven Seas includes, but I wish I'd been patient and waited to see it in its natural flow, because I spent a solid hundred or so pages thinking "oh no how can that possibly happen in the amount of space left in this volume???"
It was still very impactful, though. The last few chapters were devastating and were handled really well.
I do think this series - or this volume, anyway - also does a fantastic job of showing the brutality of war. Li Jianhong, the prince who was cast out from his kingdom, is one of the primary heroes of this story, and you're made to like him very much. But in reality, wasn't the general who rebelled against him right? He did so because Li Jianhong was a god of war who was destroying his country by sending waves of young men to die on the battlefields, and stripping their economy of much-needed income.
In Li Jianhong's eyes, much of what he did was necessary: after all, the Liao were invading, and the Mongols were battering down the gates, so didn't someone have to stand against them? But if every nation just puts warlords on the throne, the land will be perpetually soaked with blood.
Duan Ling is set up as someone who is much like his father, but with interests that are spread beyond the battlefield. His favorite hobby is gardening, and practicing herbal medicine. He doesn't necessarily love studying, but he learns quickly and applies the knowledge well. He's intelligent and soft-hearted and able to easily build relationships across cultural divides. Li Jianhong says from the start that his son will be a better emperor, and I think that's true.
But with the way this volume ends, I have no idea how long that's going to take, or if it's even possible. Didn't Li Jianhong burn down the world to accomplish nothing, other than leaving his son behind?
The other major question is what is going on with Lang Junxia, who was a terribly important character until Li Jianhong showed up and sent him away. I don't know what to make of his appearance at the end. I can't see him betraying Duan Ling, even though that's supposedly his whole deal and the backstory that everyone spreads about him and his fickle, cold nature.
He loved Duan Ling, and Duan Ling adored him - honestly, more than he ever loved his father. He truly cared for and respected his father, but Lang Junxia healed all the broken places inside of him, and left him devastated in a way he simply wasn't when his father went away.
Lang Junxia's motivations are obviously meant to be unclear at this point, with us intentionally not seeing what he was doing during all that time that Duan Ling was growing up with his father by his side. But I can't puzzle my way through it yet. It doesn't make any sense to me that he would become a villain, even if Wu Du is obviously being set up to take his place by Duan Ling's side.
So while there are elements I don't think were perfectly handled, the overall storytelling is very well done. While I'm waiting for the second volume, I'm going to dive back into my other series by this author, because I do see strong possibilities of him being a top favorite.
Technically, I did have some issues with a few of the plot points, mostly to do with how the passage of time was handled - and what characters were doing at ridiculously young ages. Duan Ling is, I think, still only 14 at the end of this volume, and 8 at its beginning. I'd thought more time was passing near the end, but the numbers didn't seem to add up any more. His father apparently also had him at age 16?? So I guess a 14 year old in this world and time period is reasonably expected to be able to battle and defeat cascades of full grown soldiers.
Beyond that, certain things just happened too quickly. When he and his father finally reunited, it seemed like a ton of things were happening, and they were doing all this bonding, but it had only been a month? The map and length of journeys from various cities also seemed a bit inconsistent.
I also found some of the political decisions confusing. It's all a whole lot more approachable than the dense worldbuilding of Ballad of Sword and Wine , for example, but I just didn't understand the point of some pieces. For instance, there's that whole progression that goes like:
- Li Jianhong sneaks the Borjigins out of the city in exchange for a promise: that they will lead a Mongol force to a certain point at a certain time
- Li Jianhong then leverages this danger to strike a bargain with the great Liao general, agreeing to lead a force of Liao soldiers to drive back the Borjigin force
- In exchange, Li Jianhong will be able to take 10,000 Liao soldiers south to reclaim his kingdom
I get all that. It's pretty much just Li Jianhong pulling a bunch of strings so he can accomplish his own goals. But why would the Borjigins agree to show up to be slaughtered? I guess there's an element of military pride, where at least they're doing so out in the open, rather than being killed as hostages. But Li Jianhong also seems to hate the Mongols - although Batu is shown to be a kind boy and a good friend to Duan Ling - and also apparently pen pals with the young Liao emperor ??? - all of his Mongol brethren become inhumane pillaging beasts as soon as the battles begin.
With that said, I just...really enjoyed reading this. It's one of the few danmei where I've wanted to immediately read the second volume - which is supposed to be out in a week, so that's exciting. (Weird for Seven Seas to be releasing them so close together, but I'm not going to complain about that.) I don't know if the full series will hold up, or whether the plot holes and time issues will bug me more as it goes on. The characters were super engaging, though, and I definitely want to see what happens next.
I'll also say this was the first danmei I've read where the romance angle is wildly unclear. That makes sense - Duan Ling is young here, and his primary relationship is that of a son getting to know his long-lost father. I've spoiled myself, I think, for what the pairing is meant to be, by looking at the cover for the next volume...much as I kind of ruined the ending of this book by flipping to the illustration on the final page before reading very far.
Don't do that. I love the illustrations Seven Seas includes, but I wish I'd been patient and waited to see it in its natural flow, because I spent a solid hundred or so pages thinking "oh no how can that possibly happen in the amount of space left in this volume???"
It was still very impactful, though. The last few chapters were devastating and were handled really well.
I do think this series - or this volume, anyway - also does a fantastic job of showing the brutality of war. Li Jianhong, the prince who was cast out from his kingdom, is one of the primary heroes of this story, and you're made to like him very much. But in reality, wasn't the general who rebelled against him right? He did so because Li Jianhong was a god of war who was destroying his country by sending waves of young men to die on the battlefields, and stripping their economy of much-needed income.
In Li Jianhong's eyes, much of what he did was necessary: after all, the Liao were invading, and the Mongols were battering down the gates, so didn't someone have to stand against them? But if every nation just puts warlords on the throne, the land will be perpetually soaked with blood.
Duan Ling is set up as someone who is much like his father, but with interests that are spread beyond the battlefield. His favorite hobby is gardening, and practicing herbal medicine. He doesn't necessarily love studying, but he learns quickly and applies the knowledge well. He's intelligent and soft-hearted and able to easily build relationships across cultural divides. Li Jianhong says from the start that his son will be a better emperor, and I think that's true.
But with the way this volume ends, I have no idea how long that's going to take, or if it's even possible. Didn't Li Jianhong burn down the world to accomplish nothing, other than leaving his son behind?
The other major question is what is going on with Lang Junxia, who was a terribly important character until Li Jianhong showed up and sent him away. I don't know what to make of his appearance at the end. I can't see him betraying Duan Ling, even though that's supposedly his whole deal and the backstory that everyone spreads about him and his fickle, cold nature.
He loved Duan Ling, and Duan Ling adored him - honestly, more than he ever loved his father. He truly cared for and respected his father, but Lang Junxia healed all the broken places inside of him, and left him devastated in a way he simply wasn't when his father went away.
Lang Junxia's motivations are obviously meant to be unclear at this point, with us intentionally not seeing what he was doing during all that time that Duan Ling was growing up with his father by his side. But I can't puzzle my way through it yet. It doesn't make any sense to me that he would become a villain, even if Wu Du is obviously being set up to take his place by Duan Ling's side.
So while there are elements I don't think were perfectly handled, the overall storytelling is very well done. While I'm waiting for the second volume, I'm going to dive back into my other series by this author, because I do see strong possibilities of him being a top favorite.
September 20, 2025
3.75/5stars
I REALLY liked this one, and I can only seeing this series go up from here. The only reason this isn't a full 4 for me is because the ending got a bit boring (especially because I KNOW fei tian can write war/fighting/action scenes really interestingly because of LoE) and felt like too much time was going by and we were jumping around a bit too much - it was like a movie montage rather than a focused story.
I'm so excited to continue though, especially after that ending like WHAAAAT?? I'm also still so curious to see who the ML is in this as everyone kept telling me not to google the spoiler and from this first vol i have NO idea
I REALLY liked this one, and I can only seeing this series go up from here. The only reason this isn't a full 4 for me is because the ending got a bit boring (especially because I KNOW fei tian can write war/fighting/action scenes really interestingly because of LoE) and felt like too much time was going by and we were jumping around a bit too much - it was like a movie montage rather than a focused story.
I'm so excited to continue though, especially after that ending like WHAAAAT?? I'm also still so curious to see who the ML is in this as everyone kept telling me not to google the spoiler and from this first vol i have NO idea
October 25, 2025
i liked it. i was hooked. love the daddy. wish he was mine.
Want to read
March 21, 2025my favorite book ever. top. always.
but why do me dirty with the book cover :(
but why do me dirty with the book cover :(
August 12, 2025
I fully expected it, given the author, but man that hurt.
September 24, 2025
once again a quick and easy read but I'm a little disappointed in this volume. I suppose its the nature of it being vol1 and having to set up the story for the book and maybe I'm just being unfair because I can't stand the sickly sweetness of the relationships (I am not a sentimental person clearly) . I understand he's a kid for the majority of it but for 3/4 of the book nothing really happens.
I really enjoyed the ending so I'm really hopeful for the next volume!
I really enjoyed the ending so I'm really hopeful for the next volume!
Want to read
May 10, 2025pg 211 guys i have no attention span
May 13, 2025
um so i don’t think i’ve ever cried this hard (re: chapter 9)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2025
Aghhhhhhhh I absolutely loved this. Cannot quite form coherent thoughts this late at night however if this book keeps this up, it's definitely gonna be one of my favorite Danmei of all time
January 3, 2026
What’s with that ending!! 😭😭 so unfair. This is the second year in a row that the first book I read in the new year has MCD. This shit not fair! Even if I knew it was coming! Still—FUCK! 😭
This danmei was more coming of age than romance which I’m okay with. I wanted a long read. But man this is the part I hate about reading: I already experience something like a death when I simply FINISH a book, why make it worse by having a literal on page death! Double homicide! My heart, I can only take so much.
I will admit a lot of the politicking went right over my head. I wish there was colors assigned to each faction so I could keep track. I only began to have a (shaky) understanding of who was on our side and who wasn’t when it was being info dumped towards the end. But I just loved the father-son connection, so heartwarming, they’re the reason I kept reading. You knew it was coming tho 😭 AHHH.
Although when is the crack supposed to hit??? This isn’t called danmei for no reason—where’s the ML??? When are we gonna have our meet and greet???? Albeit I loved the coming of age arc that dominated the entire book it wasn’t why I picked this up. I’m holding one star hostage simply because I didn’t like being left hanging on who’d be the ML (yes I did look up spoilers. Not knowing WHO was ruining my reading experience. I needed piece of mind). I hate getting attached to a character who won’t stay around for long.
Lovely read tho! Reeeeeeeeeeec
This danmei was more coming of age than romance which I’m okay with. I wanted a long read. But man this is the part I hate about reading: I already experience something like a death when I simply FINISH a book, why make it worse by having a literal on page death! Double homicide! My heart, I can only take so much.
I will admit a lot of the politicking went right over my head. I wish there was colors assigned to each faction so I could keep track. I only began to have a (shaky) understanding of who was on our side and who wasn’t when it was being info dumped towards the end. But I just loved the father-son connection, so heartwarming, they’re the reason I kept reading. You knew it was coming tho 😭 AHHH.
Although when is the crack supposed to hit??? This isn’t called danmei for no reason—where’s the ML??? When are we gonna have our meet and greet???? Albeit I loved the coming of age arc that dominated the entire book it wasn’t why I picked this up. I’m holding one star hostage simply because I didn’t like being left hanging on who’d be the ML (yes I did look up spoilers. Not knowing WHO was ruining my reading experience. I needed piece of mind). I hate getting attached to a character who won’t stay around for long.
Lovely read tho! Reeeeeeeeeeec
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2025
4.25 stars!
i really enjoyed the writing style and the translation, and the set up for the story was really engaging but spending SO much time in duan ling’s childhood just wasn’t super for me? i loved the ending, which made me feel insane, and i genuinely think this series could be a fave much like qjj, but the childhood arc brings it down just a hair. still, the story got stronger as the volume progressed and i’m excited for the next volume and i’m glad i picked this up despite being a touch hesitant at first (there was something in the synopsis that wasn’t quite for me, but it turned out to be a complete nonissue)
i really enjoyed the writing style and the translation, and the set up for the story was really engaging but spending SO much time in duan ling’s childhood just wasn’t super for me? i loved the ending, which made me feel insane, and i genuinely think this series could be a fave much like qjj, but the childhood arc brings it down just a hair. still, the story got stronger as the volume progressed and i’m excited for the next volume and i’m glad i picked this up despite being a touch hesitant at first (there was something in the synopsis that wasn’t quite for me, but it turned out to be a complete nonissue)
December 28, 2025
Arise Zhang, how can you do this to me? The end of the first volume broke me. That is the least thing I wanted to happen. How could you? Have you thought of Duan Ling? He just lost his father...
Anyway, after reading the first volume, I knew this will or is a masterpiece, like his other danmeis I already read.
Anyway, after reading the first volume, I knew this will or is a masterpiece, like his other danmeis I already read.
August 19, 2025
I love Duan Ling sm. literally my baby
August 21, 2025
Never in my life have I seen such a healthy, cute, beautiful, and wholesome father-son relationship. The last chapter however ... we ride at dawn, because THAT was just foul 😫
August 7, 2025
Oh boy, I think I’m going to have to re-read this one when the next volumes come out! Because I am confused about some characters and I feel like I am missing a lot of information. It’s why I can’t give it five stars, I am worried that I am going to miss really important details between the wait for volumes. Overall, I think I really like the book. I personally hate the fact that it ends on such an alarming and angsty cliffhanger but that’s a personal preference, I suppose, so I haven’t docked an additional star. I have genuinely never recommended waiting for more books to come out before reading, but I think that’s the best play here. The narrative is really interwoven with clues and I think you need at least book 2 right away to make the connections.
The is a coming of age story, and thus it starts with the MC as a child. There is no romance in this first volume, and the ML is seriously not obvious - it’s one of those points of confusion. While I’ve read other coming of age danmei and enjoyed them (Stars of Chaos, Coins of Destiny) there wasn’t so much confusion over who the ML would be. Joyful Reunion feels like a dating sim with a whole host of possibilities and as of the first novel the chosen ML feels like the least likely of the suspects.
My favorite thing about Fei Tian’s writing is his ability to flesh out a massive cast of side characters quite quickly. Here, I think it’s not quite as perfect as in Riverbay Road and Legend of Exorcism. Only certain members of the cast of side characters get fleshed out. I *think/hope* they will get more back story and you’re not meant to know them up front but boy does it make it difficult to keep track of the breadcrumbs. It also means you’re not quite as attached to some characters so you’re not sure whether to really be worried about them or not, meaning some suspense is lost. This especially applies to . However, the relationship between our MC and his father is one of the most beautiful father-son relationships I’ve ever seen depicted. It’s almost heartbreaking for anyone who doesn’t have a relationship like that to read (aka, me, I am sad). It is just so well done that I can overlook not understanding who the other people are, I’ve never read anything quite like this father-son story.
The plot is overall good, if a little simple. It’s a very straightforward hero’s journey, with the only standout being the MC’s approach to everything. So far our MC is a…little bit of a Mary Sue but not in an unforgivable way. He manages to get over pretty extreme child abuse and doesn’t seem to look back once he feels he’s safe and loved, which feels a tad unrealistic, but his earlier reactions as a child ring true. The MC also stops feeling like a child quite quickly, which I feel *is* realistic to the time period and I’m glad he’s not dumbed down as a teenager. When you’re put through that much adversity as a child, you’re absolutely going to mature faster. He is just…generally good at everything, though, and there hasn’t really been any character flaw reveals which make it a little difficult for me to really connect with him. Hoping that will change in the next volume.
The writing quality is gorgeous, things are beautifully described, and the translation feels extremely well done. The world feels rich and vibrant and it’s easy to picture all the scenes in your head. I do feel like this book benefits from having a bit of a background in Chinese classical literature, some classical quotes don’t really get explained (the footnotes can only help so much, I suppose). The ones I did understand the context of definitely deepened the story for me - but none of this is the translation or writing’s fault, and it’s not necessary to read it and enjoy it. The original audience was simply probably not westerners!
Overall, I did enjoy reading this, I just kinda wish I’d waited until book 2 is out. Hopefully this review will remind me of everything!
The is a coming of age story, and thus it starts with the MC as a child. There is no romance in this first volume, and the ML is seriously not obvious - it’s one of those points of confusion. While I’ve read other coming of age danmei and enjoyed them (Stars of Chaos, Coins of Destiny) there wasn’t so much confusion over who the ML would be. Joyful Reunion feels like a dating sim with a whole host of possibilities and as of the first novel the chosen ML feels like the least likely of the suspects.
My favorite thing about Fei Tian’s writing is his ability to flesh out a massive cast of side characters quite quickly. Here, I think it’s not quite as perfect as in Riverbay Road and Legend of Exorcism. Only certain members of the cast of side characters get fleshed out. I *think/hope* they will get more back story and you’re not meant to know them up front but boy does it make it difficult to keep track of the breadcrumbs. It also means you’re not quite as attached to some characters so you’re not sure whether to really be worried about them or not, meaning some suspense is lost. This especially applies to . However, the relationship between our MC and his father is one of the most beautiful father-son relationships I’ve ever seen depicted. It’s almost heartbreaking for anyone who doesn’t have a relationship like that to read (aka, me, I am sad). It is just so well done that I can overlook not understanding who the other people are, I’ve never read anything quite like this father-son story.
The plot is overall good, if a little simple. It’s a very straightforward hero’s journey, with the only standout being the MC’s approach to everything. So far our MC is a…little bit of a Mary Sue but not in an unforgivable way. He manages to get over pretty extreme child abuse and doesn’t seem to look back once he feels he’s safe and loved, which feels a tad unrealistic, but his earlier reactions as a child ring true. The MC also stops feeling like a child quite quickly, which I feel *is* realistic to the time period and I’m glad he’s not dumbed down as a teenager. When you’re put through that much adversity as a child, you’re absolutely going to mature faster. He is just…generally good at everything, though, and there hasn’t really been any character flaw reveals which make it a little difficult for me to really connect with him. Hoping that will change in the next volume.
The writing quality is gorgeous, things are beautifully described, and the translation feels extremely well done. The world feels rich and vibrant and it’s easy to picture all the scenes in your head. I do feel like this book benefits from having a bit of a background in Chinese classical literature, some classical quotes don’t really get explained (the footnotes can only help so much, I suppose). The ones I did understand the context of definitely deepened the story for me - but none of this is the translation or writing’s fault, and it’s not necessary to read it and enjoy it. The original audience was simply probably not westerners!
Overall, I did enjoy reading this, I just kinda wish I’d waited until book 2 is out. Hopefully this review will remind me of everything!
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