Do you guys know how I felt when I first stumbled upon Dragon Blood? Pure elation. Every tag, every warning, every trope, every single thing about this book fits to my taste. It gave me undeniable joy just thinking about this book even way before I started reading it. And it didn't disappoint me in the slightest! Sure, it has problematic themes and parts but that's what I like! It adds to the spice!
Anyway, this is actually the first book I tried from 水千丞. I already heard a lot about the author and their books, so I'm not that surprised. In fact, I have always wanted to try one of her works. And I'm glad this is my first one.
Dragon Blood is definitely an experience I will never forget. It even has monsterf*ck*ng. I am in tears! On a technical standpoint, the book definitely has its own flaws. But those flaws made it more enjoyable to me. The book isn't too complex but it's still good.
I love each and every character! I was brimming with excitement reading through Shen Changze's and Shang Ming's evolution in terms of their personalities, and relationship. It was so fun and interesting. Mad respect to all the characters, especially to our fallen comrades in the Peregrine Falcon. I also especially loved Ayer and Tang Tingzhi, their dynamic is so cute and beautiful!
I hope they could continue to experience different joys in their lives. Long live to all of them.
Sci-fi action story about mercenary Shan Ming who finds 5 year old Shen Changze in the jungle while on a mission and decides to raise him as his son. Turns out Shen Changze is the subject of a human experiment to turn humans into dragon shifters and the mercenary group becomes the focus of an international manhunt. As Shen Changze gets older he becomes obsessed with Shan Ming and there’s a pseudo-incestuous and unhealthy codependent romantic relationship between them. This was fun in an action movie kind of way and both MCs were pretty comical (Shan Ming as an irresponsible slob, Shen Changze as completely overbearing and singleminded). I didn’t find the story to be emotionally impactful and I kept finding geography errors but it was an enjoyable mindless read.
CWs: animal death, child abuse, pedophile/rapist side character, attempted rape of a child, human experimentation and eugenics, racism, violence/gore, rape, confinement
I haven’t read many of Shui Qian Cheng’s (水千丞) works, but without a doubt, this is my favorite novel from her. The themes hit so close to home for me, especially as a massive fan of the anime Jormungand. This story feels like it was tailor-made for anyone who loves military and mercenary tales with a twist.
On Novel Updates, the book is listed under the title Dragon Blood (龙血), and honestly, I think that name captures the spirit of the story much better than Foster Father (养父). It reflects the supernatural elements in a way that’s so fitting, though I wasn’t expecting those elements at first. I originally picked it up purely because of the military and mercenary focus. After finishing Jormungand, I was desperate to find something with a similar vibe, but there wasn’t much out there—until I stumbled on this gem. It blew my expectations out of the water.
Even though it’s 153 chapters long, plus 15 extras, I finished it all in just a week. I loved how much effort the author put into developing the military and mercenary side of the story. It wasn’t just a backdrop for romance—it was an integral part of the narrative, giving the story real depth. The supernatural elements added even more layers to the action and drama, making the whole experience unforgettable.
One of the things I appreciated most was how the author handled time skips. Instead of lazily jumping forward with a “10 years later” trope, the story takes you through the ML’s (Shen Changze—the gong) entire journey of growing up—from a boy to a teenager and finally to an adult. You get to see his evolution in such a natural, gradual way, which makes his feelings for the MC (Shan Ming—the shou) feel completely authentic. It’s a slow burn done right. When the ML finally confesses his feelings, the emotional weight is intense, especially because the MC is torn—how could his “adopted son” possibly be in love with him? That inner conflict was so well-written and added so much depth to the story.
As much as I loved the main couple, I have to say my favorite pairing was the side couple: Ayer Mauri (gong) and Tang Tingzhi (shou). Their dynamic is electrifying, and you can tell the author knew how much readers would adore them because their extras are chef’s kiss. I’ve re-read those extras multiple times—they’re that good.
For those who worry about heavy angst, don’t! This story is pretty light in that department. There’s maybe one or two brief separation arcs, but they’re handled well and don’t drag on unnecessarily.
If you’re into stories with supernatural elements, action-packed scenes, amazing smut, and a cast of complex, well-written characters, this novel is an absolute must-read. It’s a perfect mix of thrilling plotlines, emotional depth, and heartfelt romance. Highly, highly recommend!
You ever read a novel, and find yourself being unable to put it down because everything just hits? This novel is that for me. An early novel written by author Shui Qian Cheng, who is known for her 188 boy group series, Dragon Blood or Adoptive Father may just be the most fun I've had reading a novel this year. It has action, hot mercenary men, angst, dragon boys, hot smut and more. I rarely read BL with this much action but the action scenes in this novel are so exciting, listening to the audio drama is also recommended as it manages to bring the excitement of the novel to life.
The only criticism I have is the ending, which felt a bit anti-climactic. Also, while I find the interactions between the side couple funny sometimes, I think the author goes a bit overboard with indulging a particular type of fetish which put me off somewhat. With that said, I was pretty accepting of the pseudo-incest so what do I know.
Highly recommended for those who may want to get into Shui Qian Cheng but cannot stomach her more dog blood works. There were some moments where it came close to crossing the line, but the angst always felt reasonable and not too overbearing (this is speaking as someone who adores some of the 188 novels).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
3.5 This was the first novel I read by this author, and I knew it would have some toxic elements. So yes, there are many problematic things. If you manage to look past them, it's a good read though.