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Ballad of Sword and Wine #8
Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu (Novel) Vol. 8
FALL OF AN EMPIRE
Fresh from victory at Duanzhou, Xiao Chiye leads the Libei Armored Cavalry deep into the eastern desert, hoping to deliver a killing blow to Amur and his Biansha Horsemen. Xiao Chiye will gamble everything on this final strike—but even as he forges ahead, Amur’s Scorpions lurk in the heart of the empire, poised to strike at everything Xiao Chiye has left behind, including his beloved.
Shen Zechuan, far from defenseless, prepares his Zhongbo troops to confront the capital of Qudu and its girl emperor, Li Jianting. But the coming battle will test more than military might. Shen Zechuan understands better than anyone that the real war will be won or lost in the hearts of the people. Can the nation ever kneel to the son of Shen Wei, the empire’s most reviled traitor?
This triumphant series finale contains an exclusive new chapter from Tang Jiu Qing!
Fresh from victory at Duanzhou, Xiao Chiye leads the Libei Armored Cavalry deep into the eastern desert, hoping to deliver a killing blow to Amur and his Biansha Horsemen. Xiao Chiye will gamble everything on this final strike—but even as he forges ahead, Amur’s Scorpions lurk in the heart of the empire, poised to strike at everything Xiao Chiye has left behind, including his beloved.
Shen Zechuan, far from defenseless, prepares his Zhongbo troops to confront the capital of Qudu and its girl emperor, Li Jianting. But the coming battle will test more than military might. Shen Zechuan understands better than anyone that the real war will be won or lost in the hearts of the people. Can the nation ever kneel to the son of Shen Wei, the empire’s most reviled traitor?
This triumphant series finale contains an exclusive new chapter from Tang Jiu Qing!
448 pages, Paperback
Published August 11, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Review of advance copy
By far this novel has one of the best wrap up in a novel, ever!
The way everything wrapped up so nicely is what made this S Tier! I was blown tf away! I'm so excited for the extra i haven't read!
However! To end a certain part like that is diabolical and broke my heart!!! T97! I will never forgive you!
Read: August 2024
The way everything wrapped up so nicely is what made this S Tier! I was blown tf away! I'm so excited for the extra i haven't read!
However! To end a certain part like that is diabolical and broke my heart!!! T97! I will never forgive you!
Read: August 2024
Currently Reading
August 10, 2026what do you mean it's over with this volume 🥹🥹🥹... the volume arrived about a week earlier in canadian bookstores but, the complete re-read took some time. now, i wish it took some more time so, i can prolong my time with this...
March 30, 2026
я тільки що дочитала свій новий улюблений роман 💔
~
весь мій біль і мої сльози належать яо венью та цяо тянья.
~
весь мій біль і мої сльози належать яо венью та цяо тянья.
May 22, 2026
[5] ✦
May 6, 2026
4 / 5 stars - Though, if I'm being honest it's more of a 3.75, but I can't bear to give it below a 4...
Okay, it wasn't bad. It was fine. I think it checked off all the boxes and everything was addressed... A decent ending but not a magnificent one. And I don't think it will detract from my enjoyment of the series overall, but I just wish it had been more thrilling of a finale. Kind of underwhelming. I think the previous volume was much stronger, it almost feels like that was the real climax of the series.
Don't get me wrong - I like having a strong cast of side characters whose actions are meaningful, but it it was almost too much. It kind of felt like *only* the side characters were driving the plot, not, you know, the main characters of the series. I recognize that my own personal preferences are influencing my critique here - I love Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye, and I care about them a lot more than everyone else. But at the same time, from a more objective standpoint, this is the last arc of the book and the main characters barely had a presence. I would consider this a flaw.
-- rant section --
just to rant a little, Lanzhou barely did ANYTHING and I'm kinddddddd of upset about it. I REALLY wanted one last brilliant move from him, and while he did make some impactful decisions, he didn't get a moment to truly shine like he had been able to in other installments. Can I say something? He felt like a side character in his own book. There! I said it. It's like t97 didn't know what to do with him anymore. Meanwhile, Xiao Chiye... he had, something to do? Obviously it wasn't going to be as exciting as him vs. Hasen, but it was just so unexciting and there was no tension to it at all.
I do like the spotlight that characters like Yao Wenyu and Li Jianting got, but personally it's hard to fully enjoy it tbh when the MCs didn't feel present.
I also feel like we could have gotten some story between the final battles and the end of the book... I'm going to stop thinking about it.
---
It's still a great story overall, and I love cezhou with all my heart 🥰
---
edit: Ok I'm starting to feel really sad that the story is over. I've read the extras, too, so it really is over 🥲. I loved going on Lanzhou and Ce'an's journey from being trapped in their respective cages in Qudu to thriving at the top of the world. They've accomplished so much, and I loved seeing them both strive toward their own goals and work together to achieve them. The best power couple of all time. I loved how even when they were apart, they always yearned for each other and had undying loyalty and faith in one another.
This story has an intricate plot with charismatic main characters, supported by a very strong cast of side characters. Overall, I think the world building and politics were well done. When I typically read these kinds of stories, one metric that I use for determining if there's enough complexity in the politics is, "how much am I using the map?". And oh boy, I was hella using it. There were so many factors at play - the interests of the different factions and clans, the impending threats from the east, THE GRAIN - and I think t97 did a great job at weaving them all together.
I'll definitely have to re-read the series someday. There's definitely details that I probably didn't catch the first time around, and I think regardless that the re-readability of this series is very high.
I think that QJJ is going to have a spot as one of my favorite danmei. It's been a wonderful experience reading this series over the past couple months, and I loved my time with cezhou so much.
Okay, it wasn't bad. It was fine. I think it checked off all the boxes and everything was addressed... A decent ending but not a magnificent one. And I don't think it will detract from my enjoyment of the series overall, but I just wish it had been more thrilling of a finale. Kind of underwhelming. I think the previous volume was much stronger, it almost feels like that was the real climax of the series.
Don't get me wrong - I like having a strong cast of side characters whose actions are meaningful, but it it was almost too much. It kind of felt like *only* the side characters were driving the plot, not, you know, the main characters of the series. I recognize that my own personal preferences are influencing my critique here - I love Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye, and I care about them a lot more than everyone else. But at the same time, from a more objective standpoint, this is the last arc of the book and the main characters barely had a presence. I would consider this a flaw.
-- rant section --
just to rant a little, Lanzhou barely did ANYTHING and I'm kinddddddd of upset about it. I REALLY wanted one last brilliant move from him, and while he did make some impactful decisions, he didn't get a moment to truly shine like he had been able to in other installments. Can I say something? He felt like a side character in his own book. There! I said it. It's like t97 didn't know what to do with him anymore. Meanwhile, Xiao Chiye... he had, something to do? Obviously it wasn't going to be as exciting as him vs. Hasen, but it was just so unexciting and there was no tension to it at all.
I do like the spotlight that characters like Yao Wenyu and Li Jianting got, but personally it's hard to fully enjoy it tbh when the MCs didn't feel present.
I also feel like we could have gotten some story between the final battles and the end of the book... I'm going to stop thinking about it.
---
It's still a great story overall, and I love cezhou with all my heart 🥰
---
edit: Ok I'm starting to feel really sad that the story is over. I've read the extras, too, so it really is over 🥲. I loved going on Lanzhou and Ce'an's journey from being trapped in their respective cages in Qudu to thriving at the top of the world. They've accomplished so much, and I loved seeing them both strive toward their own goals and work together to achieve them. The best power couple of all time. I loved how even when they were apart, they always yearned for each other and had undying loyalty and faith in one another.
This story has an intricate plot with charismatic main characters, supported by a very strong cast of side characters. Overall, I think the world building and politics were well done. When I typically read these kinds of stories, one metric that I use for determining if there's enough complexity in the politics is, "how much am I using the map?". And oh boy, I was hella using it. There were so many factors at play - the interests of the different factions and clans, the impending threats from the east, THE GRAIN - and I think t97 did a great job at weaving them all together.
I'll definitely have to re-read the series someday. There's definitely details that I probably didn't catch the first time around, and I think regardless that the re-readability of this series is very high.
I think that QJJ is going to have a spot as one of my favorite danmei. It's been a wonderful experience reading this series over the past couple months, and I loved my time with cezhou so much.
August 12, 2026
Laughed, cried, poured one out for Qiao Tianya and Yao Wenyu. Time to reread the whole series.
August 13, 2026
The final volume in one of my favorite danmei series. QJJ is full of political intrigue, along of course with the romance. In this installment, we see Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan's hard work and scheming pay off.
But it isn't all happy. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say there was a death that really made me sad. But our main boys get their happy ending, and I was glad to see the final battle wasn't too rushed, the final arc taking up the first 300 pages of the book. A wonderful ending all around (except for that one aforementioned thing).
But it isn't all happy. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say there was a death that really made me sad. But our main boys get their happy ending, and I was glad to see the final battle wasn't too rushed, the final arc taking up the first 300 pages of the book. A wonderful ending all around (except for that one aforementioned thing).
August 12, 2026
QJJ my love 😭 very solid ending to what has become my favorite danmei of all time, i feel like everything wrapped up really well and i did cry and the extras were very good as well. i will miss getting to experience this story for the first time ever AAAAA but i will always have the chance to reread ahead of me, so. at least theres that
August 10, 2026
I need to come back for the review of this one because I inhaled it in a day, and as a slow reader that’s not normal for me. It was…DJSKFKGKKF. QJJ is a masterpiece.
August 14, 2026
Forever my favorite danmei, Ce’an and Lanzhou are my favorite couple ever, no other has compared to them🥺🤍 this story is simply amazing and 7s did a wonderful job with the translation and the illustrations. I finished this book last year but i was waiting for the official release to read the extras and they did not disappoint. I just love this story so much and i hope everyone can experience this amazing book and love it as much as i do🤍
Review of advance copy received from Otros
This is easily one of the best danmei novels I've ever read
I'm heartbroken that it's over, but so thankful I got to experience this journey 😭😭😭
Lanzhou, Ce'an, and every single character found a place in my heart, and I know they'll stay with me forever ❤️🩹
I'm heartbroken that it's over, but so thankful I got to experience this journey 😭😭😭
Lanzhou, Ce'an, and every single character found a place in my heart, and I know they'll stay with me forever ❤️🩹
May 1, 2026
۱۱اردیبهشت۰۵
Review of advance copy
Los amo tanto. 😭♥️😭♥️😭♥️😭
Review of advance copy
Yao wenyu and xiao tianya you have bewitched me body and soul
August 13, 2026
#1 favorite danemi ever i love cezhou so bad 🥰💕💕💕
August 14, 2026
SO SATISFYING!
LITERALLY everything that this whole plot was building up to was successful executed and wows it feels so good.
5/5 stars
LITERALLY everything that this whole plot was building up to was successful executed and wows it feels so good.
5/5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Autre
4.75
-Idk what to do now that I've finished this entire novel; took over a year w some breaks
-docked .25 just bc I never fully followed Qudu politics
-i love CeZhou so much it's been such a good time following them and their schemes. Easily one of my favorite couples
-Yao Wenyu :( the final scene of Qiao Tianya and his zither was SO sad
-love love loveee
-Idk what to do now that I've finished this entire novel; took over a year w some breaks
-docked .25 just bc I never fully followed Qudu politics
-i love CeZhou so much it's been such a good time following them and their schemes. Easily one of my favorite couples
-Yao Wenyu :( the final scene of Qiao Tianya and his zither was SO sad
-love love loveee
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews