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Kaleidoscope of Death #5
Kaleidoscope of Death Vol. 5
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jun 26Open the wrong door… and you may never return.
One ordinary day, Lin Qiushi discovers a black door in the corridor outside his flat—a door that shouldn’t exist. When he steps through, he finds himself in a world governed by a deadly set of rules, where cryptic villagers speak in riddles, and the only way out is to take their obscure “tests”. The reward for passing: a key. The penalty for failure: death.
From haunted villages to blood-soaked puzzles, Lin Qiushi must solve increasingly strange and grotesque mysteries just to live another day. But he’s not alone. Enter Ruan Nanzhu—gorgeous, enigmatic, and unexpectedly lethal—who shows up in his room one night and whisks him into a secretive organisation of seasoned door-crossers.
With each door they pass through, the truth behind the world grows darker, and the line between ally and monster begins to blur.
Grim, gripping, and laced with razor-sharp banter, Kaleidoscope of Death is a danmei survival thriller where logic is your only weapon, trust is your greatest gamble—and laughter might be your last defense.
One ordinary day, Lin Qiushi discovers a black door in the corridor outside his flat—a door that shouldn’t exist. When he steps through, he finds himself in a world governed by a deadly set of rules, where cryptic villagers speak in riddles, and the only way out is to take their obscure “tests”. The reward for passing: a key. The penalty for failure: death.
From haunted villages to blood-soaked puzzles, Lin Qiushi must solve increasingly strange and grotesque mysteries just to live another day. But he’s not alone. Enter Ruan Nanzhu—gorgeous, enigmatic, and unexpectedly lethal—who shows up in his room one night and whisks him into a secretive organisation of seasoned door-crossers.
With each door they pass through, the truth behind the world grows darker, and the line between ally and monster begins to blur.
Grim, gripping, and laced with razor-sharp banter, Kaleidoscope of Death is a danmei survival thriller where logic is your only weapon, trust is your greatest gamble—and laughter might be your last defense.
Paperback
Expected publication June 1, 2026
2 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Xi Zi Xu
66 books55 followersAssociated Names:
* Xi Zi Xu (English)
* 西子绪 (Simplified Chinese)
* 西子緒 (Traditional Chinese)
* ซีจื่อซวี่ (Thai)
* Xi Zi Xu (English)
* 西子绪 (Simplified Chinese)
* 西子緒 (Traditional Chinese)
* ซีจื่อซวี่ (Thai)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 8, 2026
4.8/5
Review of advance copy
4.8/5 🌟
This volume was nearly perfect! Though I felt like the first arc of this volume (Sculptures) that Lin Qiushi help Gu Longming pass, was a little unnecessary and dragged out. The world building was very slow and so much was happening that it appeared messy. Though, I get the idea of when love goes wrong, and maybe that's what this whole world was meant to be, meant to have Lin Qiushi know the life he was willing to sacrifice for his lover, unlike Zhou Hanshan.
Zhou Hanshan wanted to sacrifice others to bring his dead lover back to life instead of giving up his life.
But even then, the meaning was a little convoluted. I guess it just solidified how death seperated lovers? I'm not sure, but for the longest time and even now, I can't help but borderline think that this run did almost nothing for the plot. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
My boy Gu Longming be making me laugh all the time tho! ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵) what a dork!
Anyway, the next event that happened brought the lovers together. And unfortunately it was a Tan Zaozao's death. I was so sad seeing her die. Her death made me cry and I could include paragraphs after paragraphs of beautiful moments discribing the impact she left as she died.
She died at her most beautiful, like in the moments that a full bloom blossom was when a flower was about to die. T^T
The way this half confession happened, was so beautiful, too. In the midst of dispare, Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu gave each other the warmth they needed in the cold reality of the world of death that could arrive at any moment.
Here's the long quote of that moment:
🔹 Lin Qiushi put his phone down, and said, “Nanzhu.”
Ruan Nanzhu reached out, and pulled Lin Qiushi into his arms. He held on with all his might, like he wanted to give Lin Qiushi strength through the hug.
Lin Qiushi obediently let himself be held, propping his chin on Ruan Nanzhu’s shoulder. He said quietly, “Tan Zaozao is dead.”
“Mh.”
“Wu Qi’s dead too,” Lin Qiushi said. “I know what you’re afraid of now.”
Ruan Nanzhu couldn’t speak. Eyes downcast, he gently pressed his lips to Lin Qiushi’s forehead. Stayed there, as he said, “I can take it. I’m afraid you can’t.”
He didn’t want Lin Qiushi to witness his death, at least not as a partner, a lover, one of a couple.
Wu Qi and Tan Zaozao were one thing; death was a daily dealing for them all. But he couldn’t bear Lin Qiushi becoming like how Zhuang Rujiao was now.
He couldn’t lose the warm and gentle Lin Qiushi before him. He just couldn’t.
And because of this, Ruan Nanzhu, who’d always braved the course and charged on ahead, chose to retreat for the very first time. If he got out now there was still time; Lin Qiushi didn’t like him like that yet.
But Tan Zaozao’s unexpected death turned all of Ruan Nanzhu’s efforts into dissipating foam. He’d called Lin Qiushi in a panic, rushed here, all to give Lin Qiushi a hug.
Lin Qiushi looked up, and met Ruan Nanzhu’s eyes.
Those eyes that were brimming with grief, like a quiet lake deep, deep in the woods.
Lin Qiushi thought for a while, before lifting his head and leaning closer. On Ruan Nanzhu’s cold lips, he left a soft kiss, and said, “I don’t want to think about that much. All I want to think about is right now.”
“And right now, I want to be with you.” Lin Qiushi spoke earnestly, with a touch of caution. “Are you going to keep avoiding me?”
Ruan Nanzhu knew he could no longer escape this. He didn’t want to. And so he said, “no,” and leaned down, and deepened the kiss. 🔹
(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )づ♡ (っ˶ ˘ ᵕ˘)ˆᵕ ˆ˶ς)
UGH! I love them! But omg Ruan Nanzhu made me so mad! My baby boy Lin Qiushi didn't deserve to suffer this way.
Another moment that made me cry was not only during:
"Yu Linlin, I love you."
"I love you, too."
Moment in the Hoka Onna arc, but also for a minor side character that left such an impact: Xiao Mei... Idk what character was used for her name Mei, but one character Mei (美) means beautiful. And her death was so fucking sad... I was not expecting it. She lost her lover, but in both inside and outside the door when she died, she died in the arms of her lover. (˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )
HAKO ONNA ARC WAS SO BAD ASS!!! MY FAVORITE ARC THUS FAR!
All of these deaths only brought our couple closer and closer as they understand how frágil life is, as well as each moment together. Each hug and gentle kiss makes their love just that much more tender, vulnerable, and delicate. ( ˊo̴̶̷̤ ̫ o̴̶̷̤ˋ)
🔹 She sighed a soft breath.
"Give me one more chance at this."
Her hand moved, and she lifted the lid. It revealed the Hakobito hidden inside.
But the moment she saw that Hakobito, Xiao Mei's smile was radiant. Those pale hands took hold of her, but she didn't struggle. There was an odd happiness on her face. She hugged the Hakobito back, and like so, with a look of satisfaction, she was dragged into the chest.
Lin Qiushi saw it all from the side. He knew why Xiao Mei looked so satisfied—the Hakobito inside that chest had been her lover. 🔹
｡°(°¯᷄◠¯᷅°)°｡
Read: 01/31/26
**Print version possibly ending midway through chapter 123 in the Minotaur Arc.**
This volume was nearly perfect! Though I felt like the first arc of this volume (Sculptures) that Lin Qiushi help Gu Longming pass, was a little unnecessary and dragged out. The world building was very slow and so much was happening that it appeared messy. Though, I get the idea of when love goes wrong, and maybe that's what this whole world was meant to be, meant to have Lin Qiushi know the life he was willing to sacrifice for his lover, unlike Zhou Hanshan.
Zhou Hanshan wanted to sacrifice others to bring his dead lover back to life instead of giving up his life.
But even then, the meaning was a little convoluted. I guess it just solidified how death seperated lovers? I'm not sure, but for the longest time and even now, I can't help but borderline think that this run did almost nothing for the plot. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
My boy Gu Longming be making me laugh all the time tho! ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵) what a dork!
Anyway, the next event that happened brought the lovers together. And unfortunately it was a Tan Zaozao's death. I was so sad seeing her die. Her death made me cry and I could include paragraphs after paragraphs of beautiful moments discribing the impact she left as she died.
She died at her most beautiful, like in the moments that a full bloom blossom was when a flower was about to die. T^T
The way this half confession happened, was so beautiful, too. In the midst of dispare, Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu gave each other the warmth they needed in the cold reality of the world of death that could arrive at any moment.
Here's the long quote of that moment:
🔹 Lin Qiushi put his phone down, and said, “Nanzhu.”
Ruan Nanzhu reached out, and pulled Lin Qiushi into his arms. He held on with all his might, like he wanted to give Lin Qiushi strength through the hug.
Lin Qiushi obediently let himself be held, propping his chin on Ruan Nanzhu’s shoulder. He said quietly, “Tan Zaozao is dead.”
“Mh.”
“Wu Qi’s dead too,” Lin Qiushi said. “I know what you’re afraid of now.”
Ruan Nanzhu couldn’t speak. Eyes downcast, he gently pressed his lips to Lin Qiushi’s forehead. Stayed there, as he said, “I can take it. I’m afraid you can’t.”
He didn’t want Lin Qiushi to witness his death, at least not as a partner, a lover, one of a couple.
Wu Qi and Tan Zaozao were one thing; death was a daily dealing for them all. But he couldn’t bear Lin Qiushi becoming like how Zhuang Rujiao was now.
He couldn’t lose the warm and gentle Lin Qiushi before him. He just couldn’t.
And because of this, Ruan Nanzhu, who’d always braved the course and charged on ahead, chose to retreat for the very first time. If he got out now there was still time; Lin Qiushi didn’t like him like that yet.
But Tan Zaozao’s unexpected death turned all of Ruan Nanzhu’s efforts into dissipating foam. He’d called Lin Qiushi in a panic, rushed here, all to give Lin Qiushi a hug.
Lin Qiushi looked up, and met Ruan Nanzhu’s eyes.
Those eyes that were brimming with grief, like a quiet lake deep, deep in the woods.
Lin Qiushi thought for a while, before lifting his head and leaning closer. On Ruan Nanzhu’s cold lips, he left a soft kiss, and said, “I don’t want to think about that much. All I want to think about is right now.”
“And right now, I want to be with you.” Lin Qiushi spoke earnestly, with a touch of caution. “Are you going to keep avoiding me?”
Ruan Nanzhu knew he could no longer escape this. He didn’t want to. And so he said, “no,” and leaned down, and deepened the kiss. 🔹
(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )づ♡ (っ˶ ˘ ᵕ˘)ˆᵕ ˆ˶ς)
UGH! I love them! But omg Ruan Nanzhu made me so mad! My baby boy Lin Qiushi didn't deserve to suffer this way.
Another moment that made me cry was not only during:
"Yu Linlin, I love you."
"I love you, too."
Moment in the Hoka Onna arc, but also for a minor side character that left such an impact: Xiao Mei... Idk what character was used for her name Mei, but one character Mei (美) means beautiful. And her death was so fucking sad... I was not expecting it. She lost her lover, but in both inside and outside the door when she died, she died in the arms of her lover. (˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )
HAKO ONNA ARC WAS SO BAD ASS!!! MY FAVORITE ARC THUS FAR!
All of these deaths only brought our couple closer and closer as they understand how frágil life is, as well as each moment together. Each hug and gentle kiss makes their love just that much more tender, vulnerable, and delicate. ( ˊo̴̶̷̤ ̫ o̴̶̷̤ˋ)
🔹 She sighed a soft breath.
"Give me one more chance at this."
Her hand moved, and she lifted the lid. It revealed the Hakobito hidden inside.
But the moment she saw that Hakobito, Xiao Mei's smile was radiant. Those pale hands took hold of her, but she didn't struggle. There was an odd happiness on her face. She hugged the Hakobito back, and like so, with a look of satisfaction, she was dragged into the chest.
Lin Qiushi saw it all from the side. He knew why Xiao Mei looked so satisfied—the Hakobito inside that chest had been her lover. 🔹
｡°(°¯᷄◠¯᷅°)°｡
Read: 01/31/26
**Print version possibly ending midway through chapter 123 in the Minotaur Arc.**
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2025
”But he didn't expect that after he said this, Ruan Nanzhu would fish something out of his own pajama pocket. Lin Qiushi looked down and saw that it was a piece of chocolate.
"Half for you and half for me." Pinching the chocolate between his fingers, Ruan Nanzhu lightly snapped it apart. "It'll be our secret."
The corners of his eyes curved up, and Lin Qiushi thought his smile was very lovely.”
Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu, the duo that you are. I love their quiet love, the small things they do for each other, but also the big and loud sacrifices. The twelfth door was probably my favorite one so far, it had lots of details and felt as if there was something at stake before the cheap cop out at the end. I don’t know if I’m expecting too much or if the author just doesn’t have a better way of solving it. I’ve given up on hoping for the Obsidian gang to get a bigger role in this book, but this story is truly too long for only two people to be the main focus. Even though I’m nitpicking a lot of details, it’s still sad this long, long, long series is about to end. Curious to see how much it’ll differ from the drama ending.
"Half for you and half for me." Pinching the chocolate between his fingers, Ruan Nanzhu lightly snapped it apart. "It'll be our secret."
The corners of his eyes curved up, and Lin Qiushi thought his smile was very lovely.”
Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu, the duo that you are. I love their quiet love, the small things they do for each other, but also the big and loud sacrifices. The twelfth door was probably my favorite one so far, it had lots of details and felt as if there was something at stake before the cheap cop out at the end. I don’t know if I’m expecting too much or if the author just doesn’t have a better way of solving it. I’ve given up on hoping for the Obsidian gang to get a bigger role in this book, but this story is truly too long for only two people to be the main focus. Even though I’m nitpicking a lot of details, it’s still sad this long, long, long series is about to end. Curious to see how much it’ll differ from the drama ending.
October 30, 2025
door 12: hako onna
door 13: minotaur
door 13: minotaur
November 9, 2025
Hako Onna my favourite door so far
Review of advance copy
The horror adventure itself hits all the spots, though. I really like the setting and all the 'games' in the door.
Even though this has a happy ending with some extras, I still think there are some loose ends. Some mysteries were never explained, such as . The romance is quite okay, Lin Qiushi is a bit too cold. I like how Ruan Nanzhu behaved when he was in the mirror door, and how Lin Qiushi equally responded when they were in the Hako Onna door. Those kinds of plot, be it on MC or ML, were delicious to read (a sadist reader I am).
I have not finished the drama (The Spirealm). However, up to ep 15, I noticed there were quite a lot of changes in the plot. Probably because it is low budget, and they also need to clear non-BL censorship in China. The theme is still similar in general. Unfortunately, with that limited budget, they couldn't make it a full blown horror. They did well with what they have, I still appreciate it.
Even though this has a happy ending with some extras, I still think there are some loose ends. Some mysteries were never explained, such as . The romance is quite okay, Lin Qiushi is a bit too cold. I like how Ruan Nanzhu behaved when he was in the mirror door, and how Lin Qiushi equally responded when they were in the Hako Onna door. Those kinds of plot, be it on MC or ML, were delicious to read (a sadist reader I am).
I have not finished the drama (The Spirealm). However, up to ep 15, I noticed there were quite a lot of changes in the plot. Probably because it is low budget, and they also need to clear non-BL censorship in China. The theme is still similar in general. Unfortunately, with that limited budget, they couldn't make it a full blown horror. They did well with what they have, I still appreciate it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2025
the thirteenth door stressed me out
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Best gate so far in the entire novel: Hako Onna
Worst gate: Minotaur
Worst gate: Minotaur
Review of advance copy received from Author
plus jamais de ma vie je m’inflige le fait de lire la porte 10 ça se fait vrmt pas
Review of advance copy
Rating the story and not the specifics of this translation; I have a file of the entire story translated by a fan. Absolutely loved it and it made me feel ALL the feelings.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews