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Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation
As the grandmaster who founded demonic cultivation, Wei WuXian roamed the world in his wanton ways, hated by millions for the chaos he created. In the end, he was backstabbed by his dearest shidi and killed by powerful clans that combined to overpower him.
He incarnates into the body of a lunatic who was abandoned by his clan and is later, unwillingly, taken away by a famous cultivator among the sects—Lan WangJi, his archenemy.
This marks the start of a thrilling yet hilarious journey of attacking monsters, solving mysteries, and raising children. From the mutual flirtation along the way, Wei WuXian slowly realizes that Lan WangJi, a seemingly haughty and indifferent poker-face, holds more feelings for Wei WuXian than he is letting on…
He incarnates into the body of a lunatic who was abandoned by his clan and is later, unwillingly, taken away by a famous cultivator among the sects—Lan WangJi, his archenemy.
This marks the start of a thrilling yet hilarious journey of attacking monsters, solving mysteries, and raising children. From the mutual flirtation along the way, Wei WuXian slowly realizes that Lan WangJi, a seemingly haughty and indifferent poker-face, holds more feelings for Wei WuXian than he is letting on…
1078 pages, Webnovel
First published October 31, 2015
1563 people are currently reading
14535 people want to read
About the author
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
159 books6,759 followersAssociated Names:
* 墨香铜臭 (Chinese)
* Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
* โม่เซียงถงซิ่ว (Thai)
* 묵향동후 (Korean)
* Мосян Тунсю (Russian)
* 墨香铜臭 (Chinese)
* Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
* โม่เซียงถงซิ่ว (Thai)
* 묵향동후 (Korean)
* Мосян Тунсю (Russian)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,399 reviews
March 7, 2021
Alcohol is cool, but have you ever had someone love you as much as WangXian love each other? Me neither, pass the bottle.
P.S. If you haven’t yet read this novel, or watched the live action adaptation on Netflix (The Untamed), or watched the donghua on YouTube...I’m begging you to please stop being your worst enemy, and let Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi into your life. You can find all the links you need: here.
P.S. If you haven’t yet read this novel, or watched the live action adaptation on Netflix (The Untamed), or watched the donghua on YouTube...I’m begging you to please stop being your worst enemy, and let Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi into your life. You can find all the links you need: here.
July 5, 2024
This is the longest review I have ever written i guess(its my fav too, especially the comment section)!💕
I can't express how much I like MDZS; yes, I'd sell my soul to read it for the first time; yes, I'd cry every time I spoke something about them; yes, I'm ready to talk about them all night; yes, I'm ready to embark on this adventure once more!
AN (UN) HELPFUL GUIDE TO BECOME A MDZS FAN:-
* keep reading the novel to the last , start with either manhua ( you can read it on my reading manga or mangago) or donghua( HERE) because there are so many characters and its really difficult to keep up with!
* The live adaptation is really beautiful , and if you dont wanna read the book watch it because its really one of the most beautiful dramas in the world! ( HERE/ NETFLIX/ WE TV APP)
* FINALLLLYYYYYY THE BOOK OMG, ITS NOT OFFICIALLY TRANSLATED BUT I READ IT FROM( HERE) , AND ITS THE BEST TRANSLATION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW!
I AM NOT READY TO LET THEM GO!
October 9,2020:- Its 2 am here and i just completed the book , and i am crying , meet you in morning!
October 8, 2020 :- 1400 pages in , and honestly I have no idea what am I gonna do with my life after I complete me ( jk , ik back to the donghua , then manhua, then Netflix adaptation)♥️
October 6, 2020 :- we are 1335 pages in and it's almost going to end and I want to say one thing , I will sell my soul to read this for first time again!
*I am not kidding*
Plus , it's time WWX and LWG should get married!
©Ctto
October 5, 2020 :- We are 1200 pages in the book and I think I can never get enough of it , like I won't regret my decision if I decide to rewatch the drama which is 50 hrs long after completing it !
PS:- Happy bday ge!( the character who played WWX)♥️✨
October 3, 2020 :- All these comments on my book review here , make my day , I am happy how people actually keep up with whatever I am doing here , I didn't planned to make a thread like this but I did it for myself , but all these people who constantly comment and share their experiences of reading this masterpiece , it's a blessing!
Yeah so we successfully completed 1020 pages yay! And I am in love with this book , and especially Wei Wuxian , who I knew died yesterday , but came back after 13 years , omg and lan Wangji , dude you are so in love with your husband , now marry please!♥️♥️
October 2, 2020 :- We sre 910 pages in and I had a full on breakdown yesterday because , Wei wuxian died, you hear me WEI WUXIAN DIED ! HOW AM I GONNA LIVE NOW!
brb crying!
September 30, 2020 :- Ik I didn't upload it in few days but you know IPL is going on , Indians understand ! But moving on I am 810 pages in it and I am in love with this book, wangxian own my heart and the side characters too, I love them all , the sisters , the brothers, the supporters , feels like this book gave me something to hold on to for a long time!♥️📚✨
September 27, 2020 I have no idea why I am making this thread , but I feel like making it so I am , well we are 600 pages in the book and I am in love especially with Wei wuxian and his dark character , I loved his dorky character too but idk I love dark characters more so yeah !
And a little note to Lan wangji , save your boyfriend !*uhh*
September 25,2020 :- 510 pages in , and *heavy breathing* I WILL FUCKING KILL EVERYONE WHO HURT MY BABY WEI WUXIAN , I SWEAR!
Okay *calming down* I rarely feel adrenaline rush while reading a book ( expect if it's really amazing) but this book is something else , I don't know how the story is gonna end but I know for sure I am giving it 5 stars!!!
September 24,2020 :- 360 pages in and *coughs* ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh are you kidding me?
Where the fuck have I been all my life ! Wangxian you own my heart , please I love all of them , the good the bad , everyone! It's like the best thing i am reading this month ❤️✨📚
Don't hate yourself and read this book asap!
September 23, 2020:- I am only 290 pages in the book and I feel like adding it to my favourite books shelf !
Meanwhile keeping up with all the 1000 characters that appeared so fast in the book ( literally I had to maintain a flow chart of all the clans and there members and their relations!*uff*).I advise you peeps watch the live adaptation on Netflix first to get the clear understanding of the characters.
September 22, 2020 :- Mark this date , I am finally gonna start this 1452 pages long novel after I successfully completed, donghua (S1) and live adaptation! and I don't know how long will it take me, but I am gonna update this every day!
Yess I am ready!✨❤️
I can't express how much I like MDZS; yes, I'd sell my soul to read it for the first time; yes, I'd cry every time I spoke something about them; yes, I'm ready to talk about them all night; yes, I'm ready to embark on this adventure once more!
AN (UN) HELPFUL GUIDE TO BECOME A MDZS FAN:-
* keep reading the novel to the last , start with either manhua ( you can read it on my reading manga or mangago) or donghua( HERE) because there are so many characters and its really difficult to keep up with!
* The live adaptation is really beautiful , and if you dont wanna read the book watch it because its really one of the most beautiful dramas in the world! ( HERE/ NETFLIX/ WE TV APP)
* FINALLLLYYYYYY THE BOOK OMG, ITS NOT OFFICIALLY TRANSLATED BUT I READ IT FROM( HERE) , AND ITS THE BEST TRANSLATION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW!
I AM NOT READY TO LET THEM GO!
October 9,2020:- Its 2 am here and i just completed the book , and i am crying , meet you in morning!
October 8, 2020 :- 1400 pages in , and honestly I have no idea what am I gonna do with my life after I complete me ( jk , ik back to the donghua , then manhua, then Netflix adaptation)♥️
October 6, 2020 :- we are 1335 pages in and it's almost going to end and I want to say one thing , I will sell my soul to read this for first time again!
*I am not kidding*
Plus , it's time WWX and LWG should get married!
©Ctto
October 5, 2020 :- We are 1200 pages in the book and I think I can never get enough of it , like I won't regret my decision if I decide to rewatch the drama which is 50 hrs long after completing it !
PS:- Happy bday ge!( the character who played WWX)♥️✨
October 3, 2020 :- All these comments on my book review here , make my day , I am happy how people actually keep up with whatever I am doing here , I didn't planned to make a thread like this but I did it for myself , but all these people who constantly comment and share their experiences of reading this masterpiece , it's a blessing!
Yeah so we successfully completed 1020 pages yay! And I am in love with this book , and especially Wei Wuxian , who I knew died yesterday , but came back after 13 years , omg and lan Wangji , dude you are so in love with your husband , now marry please!♥️♥️
October 2, 2020 :- We sre 910 pages in and I had a full on breakdown yesterday because , Wei wuxian died, you hear me WEI WUXIAN DIED ! HOW AM I GONNA LIVE NOW!
brb crying!
September 30, 2020 :- Ik I didn't upload it in few days but you know IPL is going on , Indians understand ! But moving on I am 810 pages in it and I am in love with this book, wangxian own my heart and the side characters too, I love them all , the sisters , the brothers, the supporters , feels like this book gave me something to hold on to for a long time!♥️📚✨
September 27, 2020 I have no idea why I am making this thread , but I feel like making it so I am , well we are 600 pages in the book and I am in love especially with Wei wuxian and his dark character , I loved his dorky character too but idk I love dark characters more so yeah !
And a little note to Lan wangji , save your boyfriend !*uhh*
September 25,2020 :- 510 pages in , and *heavy breathing* I WILL FUCKING KILL EVERYONE WHO HURT MY BABY WEI WUXIAN , I SWEAR!
Okay *calming down* I rarely feel adrenaline rush while reading a book ( expect if it's really amazing) but this book is something else , I don't know how the story is gonna end but I know for sure I am giving it 5 stars!!!
September 24,2020 :- 360 pages in and *coughs* ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh are you kidding me?
Where the fuck have I been all my life ! Wangxian you own my heart , please I love all of them , the good the bad , everyone! It's like the best thing i am reading this month ❤️✨📚
Don't hate yourself and read this book asap!
September 23, 2020:- I am only 290 pages in the book and I feel like adding it to my favourite books shelf !
Meanwhile keeping up with all the 1000 characters that appeared so fast in the book ( literally I had to maintain a flow chart of all the clans and there members and their relations!*uff*).I advise you peeps watch the live adaptation on Netflix first to get the clear understanding of the characters.
September 22, 2020 :- Mark this date , I am finally gonna start this 1452 pages long novel after I successfully completed, donghua (S1) and live adaptation! and I don't know how long will it take me, but I am gonna update this every day!
Yess I am ready!✨❤️
May 20, 2020
This is one of the best translated c-novels out there. Exiled Rebels' translation quality is excellent. And the book itself, is a holy wow.
Before anything, this novel is categorized as BL, or boy love. So yes there is a gay romance. But don't let that stop you from reading this masterpiece. This novel is 10% super slowly hinted romance (the best kind), 10% complex relationships with side characters, and 80% killing demons and solving mysteries. It's basically an epic adventure. The character development and pacing is extremely well done. I just finished reading 74 translated chapters, and I am now in book hangover territory. The novel is still being translated, one chapter a week.
The main character is Wei Wuxian. He is a troublemaker with good intentions. He is shameless, mischievous, reckless and an arrogant super genius. He single-handedly started demonic cultivation. During the sunshot campaign, he used his dark powers to fight against tyranny and oppression, thus earning him a legendary reputation. After the war, people feared and misunderstood him. Eventually, the dark path took a toll on his temperament. Wei Wuxian got out of control, was betrayed and was killed.
13 years later, Wei Wuxian is summoned into the body of a gay lunatic. The deal is that he gets to possess the lunatic's body for life, but he has to fulfill the original owner of the body's revenge wish. Along with that, he is also hiding his real identity because a lot of people hate/fear him for the demonic things he did in the past. Somewhere along the way, common goals align and he goes on a journey/adventure with Lan Wangji, an old friend from the past, who helps him hide his identity and stays by his side. Lan Wangji is very prim and proper, he is a stickler for rules, and the silent type. He has mastered the art of poker face and doesn’t show his emotions. Both men are badasses and there are a lot of hilarious interactions between the two of them.
I also liked reading about the flashbacks of the past, showing us how the characters met, Wei Wuxian's relationships with side characters (like the backstory with his sworn brother Jiang Cheng) and how Wei Wuxian turned to the dark arts and became the infamous grandmaster.
This book will take a while to get into. The first few chapters are really heavy with world building and character introduction. What's more, each character has three names - a birth name, a more formal name and a title. There are also a lot of different sects, with each character belonging to a certain sect. So that took a while to get used to. But once I got past all those important details, the story got better and better. Trust me.
If you like action and adventure, slow-burn romance, paranormal mysteries, humor, well-developed characters, ancient fantasy world settings, then this is for you.
The donghua (chinese anime) is also one of the best I’ve ever watched. I recommend everyone to watch the donghua after reading a few chapters of the novel. The donghua is on WeTV: https://wetv.vip/en/play/r8t02fkxr9jy...
UPDATE: Because a lot of people keep asking in the comments, the English translation is here: https://exiledrebelsscanlations.com/n...
Also, there is a now Netflix TV series based on this novel called The Untamed, and it rocked big time.
Before anything, this novel is categorized as BL, or boy love. So yes there is a gay romance. But don't let that stop you from reading this masterpiece. This novel is 10% super slowly hinted romance (the best kind), 10% complex relationships with side characters, and 80% killing demons and solving mysteries. It's basically an epic adventure. The character development and pacing is extremely well done. I just finished reading 74 translated chapters, and I am now in book hangover territory. The novel is still being translated, one chapter a week.
The main character is Wei Wuxian. He is a troublemaker with good intentions. He is shameless, mischievous, reckless and an arrogant super genius. He single-handedly started demonic cultivation. During the sunshot campaign, he used his dark powers to fight against tyranny and oppression, thus earning him a legendary reputation. After the war, people feared and misunderstood him. Eventually, the dark path took a toll on his temperament. Wei Wuxian got out of control, was betrayed and was killed.
13 years later, Wei Wuxian is summoned into the body of a gay lunatic. The deal is that he gets to possess the lunatic's body for life, but he has to fulfill the original owner of the body's revenge wish. Along with that, he is also hiding his real identity because a lot of people hate/fear him for the demonic things he did in the past. Somewhere along the way, common goals align and he goes on a journey/adventure with Lan Wangji, an old friend from the past, who helps him hide his identity and stays by his side. Lan Wangji is very prim and proper, he is a stickler for rules, and the silent type. He has mastered the art of poker face and doesn’t show his emotions. Both men are badasses and there are a lot of hilarious interactions between the two of them.
I also liked reading about the flashbacks of the past, showing us how the characters met, Wei Wuxian's relationships with side characters (like the backstory with his sworn brother Jiang Cheng) and how Wei Wuxian turned to the dark arts and became the infamous grandmaster.
This book will take a while to get into. The first few chapters are really heavy with world building and character introduction. What's more, each character has three names - a birth name, a more formal name and a title. There are also a lot of different sects, with each character belonging to a certain sect. So that took a while to get used to. But once I got past all those important details, the story got better and better. Trust me.
If you like action and adventure, slow-burn romance, paranormal mysteries, humor, well-developed characters, ancient fantasy world settings, then this is for you.
The donghua (chinese anime) is also one of the best I’ve ever watched. I recommend everyone to watch the donghua after reading a few chapters of the novel. The donghua is on WeTV: https://wetv.vip/en/play/r8t02fkxr9jy...
UPDATE: Because a lot of people keep asking in the comments, the English translation is here: https://exiledrebelsscanlations.com/n...
Also, there is a now Netflix TV series based on this novel called The Untamed, and it rocked big time.
August 20, 2021
finished rereading just before my two years modao anniversary...wangxian still slap
March 16, 2020
i have never met a character that has more crackhead energy than wei wuxian
July 6, 2019
Christine did you just reread a 570k novel that you are also currently experiencing as an animated series, a comic adaptation, and a live action?
YES. YES, THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. No regrets.
YES. YES, THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. No regrets.
August 24, 2021
an unhelpful character guide to mdzs, by yours truly:
✧ wei ying (wei wuxian): densest mc you will ever encounter
✧ lan zhan (lan wangji): ceo of rabbits
✧ jiang cheng: deserved better, probably needs therapy
✧ jiang yanli: *crying noises*
✧ lan xichen: the first wangxian shipper
✧ lan sizhui: mUST PROTECC
✧ lan jingyi: The Sassy One™
✧ jin ling: desperately needs a hug
✧ jin guangyao: burn the hat
✧ nie huaisang: ceo of hand held fans
✧ wen ning: t u r n i p
✧ wen qing: helth
✧ xue yang:if evil why hot
✧ xiao xingchen: *sad noises*
✧ song lan: *more sad noises*
✧ a qing: the bravest character
~~~~~~~~
I'M CRYING PLS I LOVE WANGXIAN AND THIS STORY SO MUCH
✧ wei ying (wei wuxian): densest mc you will ever encounter
✧ lan zhan (lan wangji): ceo of rabbits
✧ jiang cheng: deserved better, probably needs therapy
✧ jiang yanli: *crying noises*
✧ lan xichen: the first wangxian shipper
✧ lan sizhui: mUST PROTECC
✧ lan jingyi: The Sassy One™
✧ jin ling: desperately needs a hug
✧ jin guangyao: burn the hat
✧ nie huaisang: ceo of hand held fans
✧ wen ning: t u r n i p
✧ wen qing: helth
✧ xue yang:
✧ xiao xingchen: *sad noises*
✧ song lan: *more sad noises*
✧ a qing: the bravest character
~~~~~~~~
I'M CRYING PLS I LOVE WANGXIAN AND THIS STORY SO MUCH
July 25, 2021
5+ STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Song recommendation: Jab Se Mera Dil Tera Hua ♪♪
Oh my freaking God!! Is this what a three month reading slump results in? If so, then I got no complaints. None at all. Even though more than half of 2021 is still left, I declare this book right here MY TOP READ OF THIS YEAR 😌
Warning: This ain't a review, it's just me fangirling all over the place 💯
After devouring both The Untamed (highly recommend!) and the adorable donghua Q adaptation of this story, I was still craving more of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. So I looked up this book and decided to give it a try. But I was a bit hesitant cuz I'd never read a Cnovel before, and the word count alone is enough to make me wanna die (500k+). Moreover it was in third person POV sooooo... Y'all get the point. However, this book right here? It's an absolute masterpiece.
Mo Dao Zu Shi (the actual Chinese name if this book) is set in an ancient fantasy world. It has a brilliantly complex, and dark storyline that is full of twists and turns – aaaannd amazing villains. The angst, the plot, the fluff and the freaking superbness of it all blew my mind. I loved it so damn much! And when I say ✨Wangxian gave me life✨, I mean those words with all my heart cuz they really, REALLY did ♥♥♥
Read the beautiful English translation of the novel here
P.S.: If someone loved me even a tenth of how much Lan Zhan loved his Wei Ying, my life would be complete 😭
P.P.S.: Some Wangxian content to bless our eyes 👀
Song recommendation: Jab Se Mera Dil Tera Hua ♪♪
Oh my freaking God!! Is this what a three month reading slump results in? If so, then I got no complaints. None at all. Even though more than half of 2021 is still left, I declare this book right here MY TOP READ OF THIS YEAR 😌
Warning: This ain't a review, it's just me fangirling all over the place 💯
After devouring both The Untamed (highly recommend!) and the adorable donghua Q adaptation of this story, I was still craving more of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. So I looked up this book and decided to give it a try. But I was a bit hesitant cuz I'd never read a Cnovel before, and the word count alone is enough to make me wanna die (500k+). Moreover it was in third person POV sooooo... Y'all get the point. However, this book right here? It's an absolute masterpiece.
Mo Dao Zu Shi (the actual Chinese name if this book) is set in an ancient fantasy world. It has a brilliantly complex, and dark storyline that is full of twists and turns – aaaannd amazing villains. The angst, the plot, the fluff and the freaking superbness of it all blew my mind. I loved it so damn much! And when I say ✨Wangxian gave me life✨, I mean those words with all my heart cuz they really, REALLY did ♥♥♥
Read the beautiful English translation of the novel here
P.S.: If someone loved me even a tenth of how much Lan Zhan loved his Wei Ying, my life would be complete 😭
P.P.S.: Some Wangxian content to bless our eyes 👀
February 14, 2019
the last chapter (113) of the main story just got translated so i can officially give this all the stars and then cry
i would attempt to write a review but it's gonna be semi-coherent but i have SO MUCH LOVE TO GIVE rly love the story, rly love the characters, gays WON
blease read it (or at least watch the anime) i beg
this is what happens when one disaster gay who can't communicate falls in love with one disaster bisexual who can't take a hint (for 100 damn chapters across several YEARS)
also the plot is great
i would attempt to write a review but it's gonna be semi-coherent but i have SO MUCH LOVE TO GIVE rly love the story, rly love the characters, gays WON
blease read it (or at least watch the anime) i beg
this is what happens when one disaster gay who can't communicate falls in love with one disaster bisexual who can't take a hint (for 100 damn chapters across several YEARS)
also the plot is great
Read
August 22, 2020AFTER 520k WORDS, 113 CHAPTERS, 3 MONTHS AND THE LONGEST ANGSTY SLOWBURN EVER, I HAVE FINISHED MO DAO ZU SHIIIIIIIIII *cries*
what do I do now
It's been an experience, really. Watching the dongua adaption, watching live action adaption (would recommend watching an adaption before starting the book actually, as it helps one get a better sense of the characters/the character's multiple names and titles - the live action version 'the untamed' is on netflix), reading the manhua and then finally finishing the novel. The level of creativity the fans have in this fandom is also no joke - the art is incredible and the fanfic is top-tier.I have an entire dedicated internet folder, if you ever want recs just hmu >:)
I think I want to write an entire post/review with my thoughts later on (especially because I loved the themes/tropes, including 'doing what you think is right even if everyone is against you'/the antihero arc/the slowburn/the juniors with one shared braincell, but had some other quibbles - like the narrative voice and lack of female characters, which is fixed a bit in the live action adaption) but for now I'll leave it here.
but hey @ whoever recommended MDZS to me, you really introduced me to something awesome. I plan to float through the blissful land of the MDZS fandom for eternity. I only exist here now. Job? Friends? What are they. I only know wangxian.
what do I do now
It's been an experience, really. Watching the dongua adaption, watching live action adaption (would recommend watching an adaption before starting the book actually, as it helps one get a better sense of the characters/the character's multiple names and titles - the live action version 'the untamed' is on netflix), reading the manhua and then finally finishing the novel. The level of creativity the fans have in this fandom is also no joke - the art is incredible and the fanfic is top-tier.
I think I want to write an entire post/review with my thoughts later on (especially because I loved the themes/tropes, including 'doing what you think is right even if everyone is against you'/the antihero arc/the slowburn/the juniors with one shared braincell, but had some other quibbles - like the narrative voice and lack of female characters, which is fixed a bit in the live action adaption) but for now I'll leave it here.
but hey @ whoever recommended MDZS to me, you really introduced me to something awesome. I plan to float through the blissful land of the MDZS fandom for eternity. I only exist here now. Job? Friends? What are they. I only know wangxian.
June 20, 2021
5 'WangXian is everything! stars
I have so many things to say and so much to fangirl about, I don't know where to start. Right now I don't have enough time for such a longreview fangirl ramblings, so review to come soon-ish. Probably when I'll finish watching donghua or when I'll re-read MDZS. In the meantime, enjoy this gorgeous fanart 😊😊😊
I have so many things to say and so much to fangirl about, I don't know where to start. Right now I don't have enough time for such a long
May 25, 2020
Okay, let's face it.
I cannot possibility give MDZS 5 stars from a literary perspective and it breaks my heart I need to remove 1 star for the following:
1. Omniscient narrator with too much telling. I am being told the thoughts, emotions and characters' reasons for acting in one way or another
2. Too many flashbacks sneaking up on the reader at the wrong time e.g as the MCs are about to have sex.
3. An ending that was too subtle for my tastes (but the ending was compensated by the 14 extras available, so hey ho)
However!
This 520,000 words book has dominated my life for the past month.
It's one of the best xianxia (Chinese martial arts fantasy) I HAVE EVER READ.
Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian will forever hold a spot in my heart.
There is no official Chinese- English translation. The heroes are the voluntary fan translators that have spent 2 years of their lives to translate this book without requesting anything in return.
Worldbuilding - a thousand stars
Character development - The development of the MCs is just WOW! Also there is a huge array of supporting characters, each with impressive backgrounds and developmental arcs. I have fallen in love with all of them, even the villains.
Music, music, music!
Chinese Daoist Philosophy.
The hype over this book is real.
I don't know if this is a book for the MM Romance community. But if you love danmei or yaoi and are already familiar with the Chinese xianxia genre, I highly recommend it.
In my heart of hearts this book is 5 stars.
A low bow for our beautiful boys:
I cannot possibility give MDZS 5 stars from a literary perspective and it breaks my heart I need to remove 1 star for the following:
1. Omniscient narrator with too much telling. I am being told the thoughts, emotions and characters' reasons for acting in one way or another
2. Too many flashbacks sneaking up on the reader at the wrong time e.g as the MCs are about to have sex.
3. An ending that was too subtle for my tastes (but the ending was compensated by the 14 extras available, so hey ho)
However!
This 520,000 words book has dominated my life for the past month.
It's one of the best xianxia (Chinese martial arts fantasy) I HAVE EVER READ.
Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian will forever hold a spot in my heart.
There is no official Chinese- English translation. The heroes are the voluntary fan translators that have spent 2 years of their lives to translate this book without requesting anything in return.
Worldbuilding - a thousand stars
Character development - The development of the MCs is just WOW! Also there is a huge array of supporting characters, each with impressive backgrounds and developmental arcs. I have fallen in love with all of them, even the villains.
Music, music, music!
Chinese Daoist Philosophy.
The hype over this book is real.
I don't know if this is a book for the MM Romance community. But if you love danmei or yaoi and are already familiar with the Chinese xianxia genre, I highly recommend it.
In my heart of hearts this book is 5 stars.
A low bow for our beautiful boys:
April 4, 2021
Wow! Haven't loved anything this much in fantasy genre for so and I am glad I stumbled upon this one. Will write a review for this one, first let me calm down and gather myself.
January 18, 2023
Just like before, Wei WuXian called his name with a grin, and he looked over as well.
From then on, he could never move his eyes again.
YALL SAY HELLO TO MY LONGEST REVIEW TILL DATE AND NEWEST OBSESSION- WANGXIAN
I've watched the donghua, I've read the novel, I'm watching the live adaptation AND ITS STILL NOT ENOUGH THE LOVE I HAVE FOR MDZS AND LITERALLY EVERYONE IN IT DHJSJAJSKSK MDZS OWNS MY ASS
Before I start simping over WangXian, I just wanna say- Nie Huaisang, you're perfect and adorable and I love you and your fan and your manipulative brain and can you set me up with your older brother please? 🛐
Also, I've said this before and I'll say this again- Lan Xichen deserves the world and lots of hugs. I just love how he's the sweetest character unless you're so dense you don't realise his brother is in love with you and still flirt with the poor guy relentlessly WE STAN A PROTECTIVE BROTHER ✋🏻 He's also the biggest WangXian shipper so there's that too.
"You were the only mistake he made!"
shut up lxc hes in love
"But he said... that he could not say with certainty whether what you did was right or wrong, but no matter what, he was willing to be responsible for all of the consequences alongside you."
imnotcryingimnotcryingimnotcryingimnotcrying
I have conflicting feelings for (leaning more towards LOATHING) Jin Guangyao bcs I can't really see past what he did with all of my children but at the same time, if my backstory was as bad as his, I'd go all murderer on everyone's asses too. Plus he was also the one who got through WWX's thick skull so bonus points, you see. Also, what he said in the last to LXC, LIKE THATS A LOVE CONFESSION IF IVE EVER HEARD ONE. Idek why people ship him with Nie Mingjue, he's obviously mine there's a better ship right in front of y'all. No, but I actually don't even think he deserves LXC in the first place but moving on-
Wen Ning, my son, the joy of my life- why did MXTX have to do the sweetest (yes, even more than LXC) kid in the book like that but I love how OP he got after that so itsok. I'll protect him and LWJ's (and mine) ducklings with my life.
I'm a slut for Wen Qing. That's it.
Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli deserved better. fuck you JGY
Xue Yang, WHY SO FUCKING HOT LET ME LOVE MY ALREADY 36727281818 LOVES IN PEACE OK I DONT WANNA ADD ANOTHER MORALLY BLACK CHARACTER TO THE LIST.
I love love A-Qing, she's THE bitch.
Am I the only one who got Xie Lian vibes from Xiao Xingchen??? (he even looks like XL in the donghua) Also, Song Lan sounds so similar to San Lang and yes these two made me miss HuaLian like no other.
The ducklings need a special mention too bcs I've adopted them and I'm a proud mother. I wanna hug Jin Ling so bad pls he's so cute in the donghua I feel like pinching his cheeks whenever he pouts. 😭 Also, his character development is like nobody's business. Lan Sizhui or A-Yuan is literally WangXian's love child and the way Lan Zhan was with him on their lunch date is going to be ingrained in my brain forever. Lan Jingyi, he's the most like WWX AND IM ALL FOR IT. My kids. 🥺🧿
I saved my husband for the last. Now see, I agree Jiang Cheng is an absolute asshole to literally everyone in the whole book but he's fr the most real and most relatable man there is. ALSO HE'S HOT- I was a goner the first time I saw him in the donghua. I don't condone all that he did and honestly, I hated him too most of the times, especially the way he was with both WWX AND JL but he's trying okay. 😭 He also gives me major Bakugou Katsuki vibes and that boy is everything to me so there's that. He just needs a good therapist and good sex and good booze and good communication skills AND IM FOREVER GONNA BE A JIANG CHENG APOLOGIST.
"WangJi, what happened?"
"Wei Ying."
Show me a better ship than WangXian. YOU CANT. (I'm not counting HuaLian and Kanej and ToryDarius that would be blasphemy)
He wasn't scared of falling. All these years, he'd fallen many times. But falling on the ground still hurt, after all. If someone was there to catch him, it'd be more than wonderful.
If HuaLian invented love, WangXian is the reason love exists.
Wei Ying, my man, he exudes chaotic bi and I'm all for it. For a self-proclaimed flirt, he was so dense for most of the book it wasn't even funny. 😭
This dude actually could not stop talking about how handsome and pretty Lan Wangji is to anybody who would listen to him and then he has the audacity to say he's straight. YOURE NOT STRAIGHT MY LOVE YOURE JUST A DUMBASS.
"You're really great. I like you. Or in other words, I fancy you, I love you, I want you, I can't leave you, I whatever you. I want to night-hunt with you for the rest of my life."
But when AND how he confessed?? No shit I was jumping between giggling and screaming bcs these two retards were finally together and they were finally happy and LWJ finally got the love of his life in his arms and I finally got the inherent happiness I get whenever my ship sails.
His backstory hurt like no other. I cried so many times for how it ended for him. This man, he lost so much and the way he died, I'm never getting over it. And yes, he was never the same after all that happened. But, people who say he turned evil can go fuck off bcs he didn't. And even if he did, I would support him fully bcs the bastards who wronged this perfection deserve Evil Wei Ying.
Lan WangJi was now the only one who stood by his side. Luckily, Lan WangJi was also the only one he wished to have by his side.
Lan Zhan is one of the best LIs I've ever read about. The way he fights, in the most literal sense, every fucking one for Wei Ying ajskkakskk my heart couldn't handle it really.
But what he hadn't expected was that when everyone feared him and flattered him, Lan WangJi scolded him right in his face; when everyone spurned him and loathed him, Lan WangJi stood by his side.
SOBBING
"You saw it with your own eyes?"
"He saw with his own eyes."
"You believe in him?"
"I do."
The way he trusts WWX and is always there for him. 😭 They're both so stupid ughhh if only they'd just talked like normal people instead of whatever homoerotic rivalry/tension they had going on (even though that was a treat in itself), I would've been spared from so much pain. But they got their happy ending in the end and that's all that matters.
"Wrong. Not 'us', but 'me'. I think the only person he's watching is you."
It's the way everyone knows LWJ is in love with WWX except WWX. Also, drunk LWJ? Cute. Jealous LWJ? Cuter. Drunk AND jealous LWJ? CUTEST.
It's not even the romance. The plot, the world-building, all the characters, the plot twists- its all so fucking good and mind-boggling. I honestly can't recommend MDZS enough. Seriously ppl, do yourself and me a favour and read this masterpiece. 🛐
PS- I still have the extra chapters to read and I'm kinda scared bcs I've actually been told they're traumatizing but it's more WangXian so I'm gonna do it! 😤
PPS- I live for WangXian fluff and the extras served. Also, we got the children and I'm in heaven. 😩 The last two chapters were everything oml. 😭 Most of these reminded me of the chibi version (especially the lotus seeds one) Wangji was such a big simp and WWX was really stupid asf- he couldn't stop talking about LWJ. 😭 They have my whole fucking heart. 😩🫶🏻
From then on, he could never move his eyes again.
YALL SAY HELLO TO MY LONGEST REVIEW TILL DATE AND NEWEST OBSESSION- WANGXIAN
I've watched the donghua, I've read the novel, I'm watching the live adaptation AND ITS STILL NOT ENOUGH THE LOVE I HAVE FOR MDZS AND LITERALLY EVERYONE IN IT DHJSJAJSKSK MDZS OWNS MY ASS
Before I start simping over WangXian, I just wanna say- Nie Huaisang, you're perfect and adorable and I love you and your fan and your
Also, I've said this before and I'll say this again- Lan Xichen deserves the world and lots of hugs. I just love how he's the sweetest character
"You were the only mistake he made!"
shut up lxc hes in love
"But he said... that he could not say with certainty whether what you did was right or wrong, but no matter what, he was willing to be responsible for all of the consequences alongside you."
imnotcryingimnotcryingimnotcryingimnotcrying
I have conflicting feelings for (leaning more towards LOATHING) Jin Guangyao bcs I can't really see past what he did with all of my children but at the same time, if my backstory was as bad as his, I'd go all murderer on everyone's asses too. Plus he was also the one who got through WWX's thick skull so bonus points, you see. Also, what he said in the last to LXC, LIKE THATS A LOVE CONFESSION IF IVE EVER HEARD ONE. Idek why people ship him with Nie Mingjue,
Wen Ning, my son, the joy of my life- why did MXTX have to do the sweetest (yes, even more than LXC) kid in the book like that but I love how OP he got after that so itsok. I'll protect him and LWJ's (and mine) ducklings with my life.
I'm a slut for Wen Qing. That's it.
Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli deserved better. fuck you JGY
Xue Yang, WHY SO FUCKING HOT LET ME LOVE MY ALREADY 36727281818 LOVES IN PEACE OK I DONT WANNA ADD ANOTHER MORALLY BLACK CHARACTER TO THE LIST.
I love love A-Qing, she's THE bitch.
Am I the only one who got Xie Lian vibes from Xiao Xingchen??? (he even looks like XL in the donghua) Also, Song Lan sounds so similar to San Lang and yes these two made me miss HuaLian like no other.
The ducklings need a special mention too bcs I've adopted them and I'm a proud mother. I wanna hug Jin Ling so bad pls he's so cute in the donghua I feel like pinching his cheeks whenever he pouts. 😭 Also, his character development is like nobody's business. Lan Sizhui or A-Yuan is literally WangXian's love child and the way Lan Zhan was with him on their lunch date is going to be ingrained in my brain forever. Lan Jingyi, he's the most like WWX AND IM ALL FOR IT. My kids. 🥺🧿
I saved my husband for the last. Now see, I agree Jiang Cheng is an absolute asshole to literally everyone in the whole book but he's fr the most real and most relatable man there is. ALSO HE'S HOT- I was a goner the first time I saw him in the donghua. I don't condone all that he did and honestly, I hated him too most of the times, especially the way he was with both WWX AND JL but he's trying okay. 😭 He also gives me major Bakugou Katsuki vibes and that boy is everything to me so there's that. He just needs a good therapist and good sex and good booze and good communication skills AND IM FOREVER GONNA BE A JIANG CHENG APOLOGIST.
"WangJi, what happened?"
"Wei Ying."
Show me a better ship than WangXian. YOU CANT. (I'm not counting HuaLian and Kanej and ToryDarius that would be blasphemy)
He wasn't scared of falling. All these years, he'd fallen many times. But falling on the ground still hurt, after all. If someone was there to catch him, it'd be more than wonderful.
If HuaLian invented love, WangXian is the reason love exists.
Wei Ying, my man, he exudes chaotic bi and I'm all for it. For a self-proclaimed flirt, he was so dense for most of the book it wasn't even funny. 😭
This dude actually could not stop talking about how handsome and pretty Lan Wangji is to anybody who would listen to him and then he has the audacity to say he's straight. YOURE NOT STRAIGHT MY LOVE YOURE JUST A DUMBASS.
"You're really great. I like you. Or in other words, I fancy you, I love you, I want you, I can't leave you, I whatever you. I want to night-hunt with you for the rest of my life."
But when AND how he confessed?? No shit I was jumping between giggling and screaming bcs these two retards were finally together and they were finally happy and LWJ finally got the love of his life in his arms and I finally got the inherent happiness I get whenever my ship sails.
His backstory hurt like no other. I cried so many times for how it ended for him. This man, he lost so much and the way he died, I'm never getting over it. And yes, he was never the same after all that happened. But, people who say he turned evil can go fuck off bcs he didn't. And even if he did, I would support him fully bcs the bastards who wronged this perfection deserve Evil Wei Ying.
Lan WangJi was now the only one who stood by his side. Luckily, Lan WangJi was also the only one he wished to have by his side.
Lan Zhan is one of the best LIs I've ever read about. The way he fights, in the most literal sense, every fucking one for Wei Ying ajskkakskk my heart couldn't handle it really.
But what he hadn't expected was that when everyone feared him and flattered him, Lan WangJi scolded him right in his face; when everyone spurned him and loathed him, Lan WangJi stood by his side.
SOBBING
"You saw it with your own eyes?"
"He saw with his own eyes."
"You believe in him?"
"I do."
The way he trusts WWX and is always there for him. 😭 They're both so stupid ughhh if only they'd just talked like normal people instead of whatever homoerotic rivalry/tension they had going on (even though that was a treat in itself), I would've been spared from so much pain. But they got their happy ending in the end and that's all that matters.
"Wrong. Not 'us', but 'me'. I think the only person he's watching is you."
It's the way everyone knows LWJ is in love with WWX except WWX. Also, drunk LWJ? Cute. Jealous LWJ? Cuter. Drunk AND jealous LWJ? CUTEST.
It's not even the romance. The plot, the world-building, all the characters, the plot twists- its all so fucking good and mind-boggling. I honestly can't recommend MDZS enough. Seriously ppl, do yourself and me a favour and read this masterpiece. 🛐
PS- I still have the extra chapters to read and I'm kinda scared bcs I've actually been told they're traumatizing but it's more WangXian so I'm gonna do it! 😤
PPS- I live for WangXian fluff and the extras served. Also, we got the children and I'm in heaven. 😩 The last two chapters were everything oml. 😭 Most of these reminded me of the chibi version (especially the lotus seeds one) Wangji was such a big simp and WWX was really stupid asf- he couldn't stop talking about LWJ. 😭 They have my whole fucking heart. 😩🫶🏻
November 14, 2019
gonna quit my job so I can lie on the floor and cry about this all day without interruption!! thank you for supporting my life decisions
March 18, 2018
I ONLY GIVE 5 STARS BECAUSE GOODREADS DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO SCORE HIGHER!
TEN STARS EASY!!!!!!
TEN STARS EASY!!!!!!
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November 23, 2019
my entire life is Lan Zhan/Wei Ying now
July 28, 2021
me, cradling wei wuxian to my chest: he’s my emotional support goth anti-imperialist twink
May 31, 2020
No I had no idea I would get so emotionally wrecked over this wonderful, beautiful, heart-wrenching and inspiring story. Wei Ying and Lan Zhan own my entire heart, and I don’t even want it back because they deserve it. Please, if you haven’t already, check out this novel or the Netflix adaptation (The Untamed).
November 29, 2020
I realized how empty my life before i knew Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji and their love story!
I read this because i love the Netflix Chinese Drama “The Untamed” the show hit the most popular show in China on 2019.. originally this show is adapted from this book, because of the China censorship they cannot show the LGBT romance through the show and turned it into Bromance story instead so the show left me with this yearning feeling to see my ship officially sailing.
This is also the first time i read Chinese book written by Chinese author ( there is no official English translation but i read the Eng version through this website: https://exiledrebelsscanlations.com/n...)
Read this book was such an amazing experience, i love the mystery element and adventure (which is ussually a miss for me, i dislike Travelling story) but in this book... i truely enjoyed my journey, never a boring moment!! the character developments are amazing i love every single one of them even the villain! and the ROMANCE OOOOOHHHHH MY GOODNESSSSSS, i can declare this is one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful love story i have ever read!!! Romeo & Juliet can step a side and give a way to WangXian! i laughed, cried in repeat to the point i almost think i go insane, i love this couple so much!!! 🤣😂
I can see myself forever in the dark pit of this fandom, there is something so addictive about these characters!!
everyone need to meet Lan Zhan and Wei Ying! now i'm off to watch the animation & read the comic and listen to the audio drama
I read this because i love the Netflix Chinese Drama “The Untamed” the show hit the most popular show in China on 2019.. originally this show is adapted from this book, because of the China censorship they cannot show the LGBT romance through the show and turned it into Bromance story instead so the show left me with this yearning feeling to see my ship officially sailing.
This is also the first time i read Chinese book written by Chinese author ( there is no official English translation but i read the Eng version through this website: https://exiledrebelsscanlations.com/n...)
Read this book was such an amazing experience, i love the mystery element and adventure (which is ussually a miss for me, i dislike Travelling story) but in this book... i truely enjoyed my journey, never a boring moment!! the character developments are amazing i love every single one of them even the villain! and the ROMANCE OOOOOHHHHH MY GOODNESSSSSS, i can declare this is one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful love story i have ever read!!! Romeo & Juliet can step a side and give a way to WangXian! i laughed, cried in repeat to the point i almost think i go insane, i love this couple so much!!! 🤣😂
I can see myself forever in the dark pit of this fandom, there is something so addictive about these characters!!
everyone need to meet Lan Zhan and Wei Ying! now i'm off to watch the animation & read the comic and listen to the audio drama
March 2, 2020
A perfect example of gross fetishizing of gay couples by a straight woman. Author openly admitted to write the main character as a self-insert so she could fantasize about being "plowed" by another main character, and it shows. This is why we get completely unbacked love story where one falls for the other w/o any reason and the other magically turns not only gay but also "perpetual bottom" at a certain point. In addition we get a decent dose of hyperfeminization and imposing of gross heterosexual norms on the couple. We also get dub-con and downright rape scenes that are pitched as "romantic" because the said author has a certain fetish (direct quote from her interview).
The world setting is standard for Xianxia and nothing out of the ordinary (cultivation, sects, ghosts, evil clans), the plot is ok, and it would've been a good book if not for the sheer grossness of what she did to the "love story."
If you want to see the better version of this, watch the Untamed tv show- somehow the screen writers, directors and actors, despite censorship, managed not only to produce a compelling and interesting story, but also added much needed depth and background to most of the major characters. And the Tv show does a PERFECT job of showing the two main characters becoming allies, then friends, and then soulmates. It is not out of the blue, it is a natural development of their relationship, and while there is not even a kiss on screen, only a blind person will doubt that those two are in deep, encompassing love with each other.
The world setting is standard for Xianxia and nothing out of the ordinary (cultivation, sects, ghosts, evil clans), the plot is ok, and it would've been a good book if not for the sheer grossness of what she did to the "love story."
If you want to see the better version of this, watch the Untamed tv show- somehow the screen writers, directors and actors, despite censorship, managed not only to produce a compelling and interesting story, but also added much needed depth and background to most of the major characters. And the Tv show does a PERFECT job of showing the two main characters becoming allies, then friends, and then soulmates. It is not out of the blue, it is a natural development of their relationship, and while there is not even a kiss on screen, only a blind person will doubt that those two are in deep, encompassing love with each other.
May 8, 2021
I had been living an incomplete life before this.
5 stars.
5 stars.
August 27, 2022
OK, I totally cheated. I finished reading Vol 3 of the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation and I had to know what happened. I went to a translation site and read the rest of the story in 2 days. I mean I couldn't put this book down. It was a very decent English translation as well. There are a ton of extra chapters at the end I'm so grateful for.
So, the stuff left out of the show is a shame. I mean, the stuff in the book is amazing and it's way better than the show.
I love this story. Everything is so well done. The books keep saying this was for audience 17 and up and I was like, this is something teens could read until I got further into the story. Yeah, the 17 year old rating is warranted. Once the two get through their issues and the sex starts, it is not shy about it. MXTX delivers on all that stuff. Things you would expect Wei Wuxian to be shameless about, he totally is.
I will buy each English volume as they come out, but it was worth getting to read it all at once. I can't wait to read it again and I will for each volume.
It's too bad the show couldn't deliver more of the relationship to us than it did, it still comes across though, but I like this version better. I'm an MXTX fan for life. I hope she has a new book soon!!!
So, the stuff left out of the show is a shame. I mean, the stuff in the book is amazing and it's way better than the show.
I love this story. Everything is so well done. The books keep saying this was for audience 17 and up and I was like, this is something teens could read until I got further into the story. Yeah, the 17 year old rating is warranted. Once the two get through their issues and the sex starts, it is not shy about it. MXTX delivers on all that stuff. Things you would expect Wei Wuxian to be shameless about, he totally is.
I will buy each English volume as they come out, but it was worth getting to read it all at once. I can't wait to read it again and I will for each volume.
It's too bad the show couldn't deliver more of the relationship to us than it did, it still comes across though, but I like this version better. I'm an MXTX fan for life. I hope she has a new book soon!!!
July 29, 2021
Reread July 2021
Yes, I'm weak, LOL. I read this off & on whenever I had a few minutes free, and loved it just as much as the first time. 🥰
I've been unable to find another wuxia *in English* that I might like as much. Maybe I'll just bounce back and forth between WangXian and HuaLian. I'd be completely happy with that. 💕
****
First read March 2021
4.5 stars! I missed HuaLian so much that I had to read WangXian, and I loved them! 😍 I have always loved wuxia movies but this is only the second wuxia novel I've read and both made me wish badly that I could read in the original Chinese.
I loved Lan Wangji and Wei WuXian so much, and I love *as always* the humor and how subtle the romance is *until it isn't, LOL* while at the same time being so damn obvious to anyone who looks. But while there is humor in almost every part, the story also doesn't pull back on the parts that are dark and viciously painful.
In the end though, it was everything I could have wanted it to be. 🥰🥰 And the extras were...so not what I was expecting, LOL! *fans self* 😂😂😍💕 Loved it!
Yes, I'm weak, LOL. I read this off & on whenever I had a few minutes free, and loved it just as much as the first time. 🥰
I've been unable to find another wuxia *in English* that I might like as much. Maybe I'll just bounce back and forth between WangXian and HuaLian. I'd be completely happy with that. 💕
****
First read March 2021
4.5 stars! I missed HuaLian so much that I had to read WangXian, and I loved them! 😍 I have always loved wuxia movies but this is only the second wuxia novel I've read and both made me wish badly that I could read in the original Chinese.
I loved Lan Wangji and Wei WuXian so much, and I love *as always* the humor and how subtle the romance is *until it isn't, LOL* while at the same time being so damn obvious to anyone who looks. But while there is humor in almost every part, the story also doesn't pull back on the parts that are dark and viciously painful.
In the end though, it was everything I could have wanted it to be. 🥰🥰 And the extras were...so not what I was expecting, LOL! *fans self* 😂😂😍💕 Loved it!
May 2, 2020
5 completely addicted as fuck to this book for perhaps my entire fucking life at this point stars
Here’s a very short summary of why I adore this book so much:
1. Wei Ying and Lan Zhan: I just adore how on the surface you can’t get two people anymore different from each other, but then the moment you peel off the first cover you realize that they are the exact same person. They share the same morality, view and respect for people, one single brain cell, sense of sacrifice, and crazy ass love for the other. *cries at the sheer perfection*
2. An incredibly huge assortment of very well built characters: Ahh.. I think this just says it all. The character tray is crazy, and the way the author has taken care to give almost everyone at least some compelling backstory is to put it into one word- brilliant.
3. ANGST. Angst. and. A-N-G-S-T: Look guys, you have one person who died a horrible death due to political manipulation and misunderstandings, and the other who waited 13 years in a world that treated the love of his life like trash without knowing if he would ever see him again, and that is just the beginning.
4. Excellent depictions of political ideologies. Urgh, this post is long enough already, so I won’t say much more.
5. How every single character acts as a foil to another: Again another thing that you need to read the book to understand.
6. Look man, we have a guy who turned into a villain solely because Lan Zhan is too fucking pretty. Period. And I just love how every other villain has a really strong moral/circumstantial reason for their acts of villainy, and then there’s this guy.
7. The confession scene: *chefs kiss* ‘nough said.
8. WangXian and rabbits. You will get this if you read the book.
You can read my entire fangirling on my blog here .
Here’s a very short summary of why I adore this book so much:
1. Wei Ying and Lan Zhan: I just adore how on the surface you can’t get two people anymore different from each other, but then the moment you peel off the first cover you realize that they are the exact same person. They share the same morality, view and respect for people, one single brain cell, sense of sacrifice, and crazy ass love for the other. *cries at the sheer perfection*
2. An incredibly huge assortment of very well built characters: Ahh.. I think this just says it all. The character tray is crazy, and the way the author has taken care to give almost everyone at least some compelling backstory is to put it into one word- brilliant.
3. ANGST. Angst. and. A-N-G-S-T: Look guys, you have one person who died a horrible death due to political manipulation and misunderstandings, and the other who waited 13 years in a world that treated the love of his life like trash without knowing if he would ever see him again, and that is just the beginning.
4. Excellent depictions of political ideologies. Urgh, this post is long enough already, so I won’t say much more.
5. How every single character acts as a foil to another: Again another thing that you need to read the book to understand.
6. Look man, we have a guy who turned into a villain solely because Lan Zhan is too fucking pretty. Period. And I just love how every other villain has a really strong moral/circumstantial reason for their acts of villainy, and then there’s this guy.
7. The confession scene: *chefs kiss* ‘nough said.
8. WangXian and rabbits. You will get this if you read the book.
You can read my entire fangirling on my blog here .
Read
September 5, 2019Curious about the novel behind the series The Untamed, which series turns out is faithful to the novel, good and not so good.
The translation into English is full of errors in spelling, grammar, and proper use of actual English words, but it was done by an unpaid volunteer out of generosity, so readers who get poked out of the reading experience by that sort of thing should know that going in, be prepared, and be grateful at least there's a translation.
The plot is bent around BL, so don't look for rational logic behind character motivations; there are very few. Most of the plot decisions are manipulated toward maximum angst and hurt/comfort for the leads, whose emotional state often reads adolescent female-gaze. But given that framework, there are some interesting characters, some genuinely comic scenes, and plenty of action between long confessional and comfort scenes.
For English readers peering through the tiny keyhole at the vast world of female-written Chinese novels (some of which get millions of hits in their first week of publication) this appears to be a solid, entertaining example of BL--which is deeply subversive considering the government's attempt to control any hint of homoerotic material in the media world.
Go, girls, go!
The translation into English is full of errors in spelling, grammar, and proper use of actual English words, but it was done by an unpaid volunteer out of generosity, so readers who get poked out of the reading experience by that sort of thing should know that going in, be prepared, and be grateful at least there's a translation.
The plot is bent around BL, so don't look for rational logic behind character motivations; there are very few. Most of the plot decisions are manipulated toward maximum angst and hurt/comfort for the leads, whose emotional state often reads adolescent female-gaze. But given that framework, there are some interesting characters, some genuinely comic scenes, and plenty of action between long confessional and comfort scenes.
For English readers peering through the tiny keyhole at the vast world of female-written Chinese novels (some of which get millions of hits in their first week of publication) this appears to be a solid, entertaining example of BL--which is deeply subversive considering the government's attempt to control any hint of homoerotic material in the media world.
Go, girls, go!
April 25, 2021
4.5 stars
Okay, let me start this review by stating facts: 1) before reading this work I had watched The Untamed then 2) read the ongoing manhua. So, overall, by the time I came to the original source material, I was already fairly acquainted with the plot, characters, and some of the dramatic differences between The Untamed and all the other adaptations. (Note: I haven't watched the anime but I surely will!)
Anyhow, reading Mo Dao Zu Shi was 85% badass action/violence/adventure/plot twists, 10% flirtatious bromancing, 5% romance (including the gay erotic kinky stuff if we include the extra chapters that didn't make it into the canon books. ;) ) Overall, the work was solid. I read it in 3-4 days straight. Be prepared, because you WILL want to read it straight through in one sitting but it's very, very long (127 chapters.)
I will say, however, that I will NEVER rewatch The Untamed the same way again. Now that I know all the gay subtext and content that was watered down, edited, or skipped over--and believe me, the story is sooooooo much more reveiling if the novel is read before you watch the show; I was such a baffoon not to do so--my memory, queer heart and soul have been forever imprinted with the gayness of this book rather than whatever innocent conscience I had previously watched the live-action show with (aka I thought Wei Ying and Lan Zhan were just two best friends...O.O. My innocence is now wrecked.) It should be a crime WeTV had me thinking such things!!!
Overall, the plot was awesome! I kinda wished there was more showing instead of telling but I don't judge too harshly b/c this is a translated work available to read online like a really good Wattpad story. I don't know how to read Simplified Chinese so I don't know if the descriptions are detailed or not but, overall, the character development was amazing. No character was left behind. As I said before, Jiang Cheng in The Untamed was a docial performative piece of sh!t compared to the Jiang Cheng of Mo Dao Zu Shi, who was a homophobic, jealous, and gaslighting asshat who tended to be performative too--the changes might not have been significant to some people but they were enough for me to point them out. The only thing I wish we had gotten a bit more resolution on was Mo Xuanyu. I was always curious about Mo, in the back of my mind, so when nothing came about for him I felt like he was just one big plot device and deserved better especially when Wei Ying pointed out how Mo Xuanyu was known for being shy but was brave enough to sacrifice his body, mind, and soul to resurrect Wei Ying.
Mo Dao Zu Shi did a great job in giving a 360 view of what was going on in Wei Ying's world as where The Untamed did a great job giving us a 360 view of what was going on with the lives of ALL the characters. That being said, I would have loved for the book to have incorporated more of that "360 of all the characters" into the work. I think they were well rounded for the most part but some were definately better developed (in the novel) than others.
Wei Ying and Lan Zhan are just amazing in the book! Wei Ying is my favorite character (as he probably is for most readers.) He’s the “bad boy” everyone just wants to hug. The actor that portrayed him in The Untamed did an amazing job! I think that in the book Lan Zhan had a more emotion (and maybe talked a little more) than he did in the live-action series. I loved how the smallest details meant something really big and important (in the novel) and now it all makes sense to me in terms of probable “fan service” in the show.
Due to the fact that I read the book after watching the live-action series, I went into the book interpreting some of the BL content as almost fan fiction-like. The further in I got, however, the more I let my mind be open to the possibility of multiple interpretations of a work on screen. The Untamed and Mo Dao Zu Shi are really just that different. One can easily be confused as fan fiction for the other even though it’s not.
A note: whether watching or reading, these characters all have 2-4+ names/titles so you might want to keep track of it all somehow at the beginning b/c it can get very confusing very quickly and become overwhelming. Some suggestions I’ve read is to keep the Wiki page open until one has gotten the hang of all the names/titles; another is writing them down on a sticky note; and yet another could be having the character guide from the translations in one tap while watch or reading in another (if this is on a computer or phone.) Unfortunately, I didn’t use a character guide of any kind and just painfully figured it out as I went along...please save yourself that pain if you can.
———
One thing I will note is that the list of content warnings I will provide at the end are very important to bare in mind as you read since this isn't "YA" by any means. As a cognitively disabled and queer individual, I was taken a bit aback at times but there were far more times that I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt or crying or yelling at my phone screen because I couldn't throw my phone across the room like I would have with a book.
I have new ships btw! I always thought my favorite bromance ship would always be Sasuke and Naruto...but it looks like the canon ship of Wei Ying and Lan Zhan has sailed! But my hopeful new ships (Lan Sizhui x Jin Ling) still percists! I hope the author writes something about those two in the future as a spin-off somehow. I just really wish Chinese laws about not showing LGBTQ+ couples on TV didn't exist!!!!!
I took these content warnings from another reviewer but I do think they are important to add in b/c there are so many to be touched on. This is definitely an Adult Historical Chinese Fantasy work. I think the work is for mature audiences so read at your own risk. :)
❌ Content Warnings:
[Graphic: Sexual content (the sexually explicit scenes are in chapters chapter 95, chapter 111, and chapter 112 and those chapters can be easily skipped if you'd rather not read them), alcoholism, blood, body horror, child abuse, cursing, death, death of a parent, death of a sibling, death of a friend, emotional abuse, genocide, gore, grief, homophobia, kidnapping, medical content, medical trauma, murder, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, suicide, torture, and violence.
Moderate to minor: Sexual assault, self-harm, ableism, mentioned incest, rape, cannibalism, eating disorder, child death, work/death camp-like setting, very dubious consent, and corporal punishment.
Okay, let me start this review by stating facts: 1) before reading this work I had watched The Untamed then 2) read the ongoing manhua. So, overall, by the time I came to the original source material, I was already fairly acquainted with the plot, characters, and some of the dramatic differences between The Untamed and all the other adaptations. (Note: I haven't watched the anime but I surely will!)
Anyhow, reading Mo Dao Zu Shi was 85% badass action/violence/adventure/plot twists, 10% flirtatious bromancing, 5% romance (including the gay erotic kinky stuff if we include the extra chapters that didn't make it into the canon books. ;) ) Overall, the work was solid. I read it in 3-4 days straight. Be prepared, because you WILL want to read it straight through in one sitting but it's very, very long (127 chapters.)
I will say, however, that I will NEVER rewatch The Untamed the same way again. Now that I know all the gay subtext and content that was watered down, edited, or skipped over--and believe me, the story is sooooooo much more reveiling if the novel is read before you watch the show; I was such a baffoon not to do so--my memory, queer heart and soul have been forever imprinted with the gayness of this book rather than whatever innocent conscience I had previously watched the live-action show with (aka I thought Wei Ying and Lan Zhan were just two best friends...O.O. My innocence is now wrecked.) It should be a crime WeTV had me thinking such things!!!
Overall, the plot was awesome! I kinda wished there was more showing instead of telling but I don't judge too harshly b/c this is a translated work available to read online like a really good Wattpad story. I don't know how to read Simplified Chinese so I don't know if the descriptions are detailed or not but, overall, the character development was amazing. No character was left behind. As I said before, Jiang Cheng in The Untamed was a docial performative piece of sh!t compared to the Jiang Cheng of Mo Dao Zu Shi, who was a homophobic, jealous, and gaslighting asshat who tended to be performative too--the changes might not have been significant to some people but they were enough for me to point them out. The only thing I wish we had gotten a bit more resolution on was Mo Xuanyu. I was always curious about Mo, in the back of my mind, so when nothing came about for him I felt like he was just one big plot device and deserved better especially when Wei Ying pointed out how Mo Xuanyu was known for being shy but was brave enough to sacrifice his body, mind, and soul to resurrect Wei Ying.
Mo Dao Zu Shi did a great job in giving a 360 view of what was going on in Wei Ying's world as where The Untamed did a great job giving us a 360 view of what was going on with the lives of ALL the characters. That being said, I would have loved for the book to have incorporated more of that "360 of all the characters" into the work. I think they were well rounded for the most part but some were definately better developed (in the novel) than others.
Wei Ying and Lan Zhan are just amazing in the book! Wei Ying is my favorite character (as he probably is for most readers.) He’s the “bad boy” everyone just wants to hug. The actor that portrayed him in The Untamed did an amazing job! I think that in the book Lan Zhan had a more emotion (and maybe talked a little more) than he did in the live-action series. I loved how the smallest details meant something really big and important (in the novel) and now it all makes sense to me in terms of probable “fan service” in the show.
Due to the fact that I read the book after watching the live-action series, I went into the book interpreting some of the BL content as almost fan fiction-like. The further in I got, however, the more I let my mind be open to the possibility of multiple interpretations of a work on screen. The Untamed and Mo Dao Zu Shi are really just that different. One can easily be confused as fan fiction for the other even though it’s not.
A note: whether watching or reading, these characters all have 2-4+ names/titles so you might want to keep track of it all somehow at the beginning b/c it can get very confusing very quickly and become overwhelming. Some suggestions I’ve read is to keep the Wiki page open until one has gotten the hang of all the names/titles; another is writing them down on a sticky note; and yet another could be having the character guide from the translations in one tap while watch or reading in another (if this is on a computer or phone.) Unfortunately, I didn’t use a character guide of any kind and just painfully figured it out as I went along...please save yourself that pain if you can.
———
One thing I will note is that the list of content warnings I will provide at the end are very important to bare in mind as you read since this isn't "YA" by any means. As a cognitively disabled and queer individual, I was taken a bit aback at times but there were far more times that I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt or crying or yelling at my phone screen because I couldn't throw my phone across the room like I would have with a book.
I have new ships btw! I always thought my favorite bromance ship would always be Sasuke and Naruto...but it looks like the canon ship of Wei Ying and Lan Zhan has sailed! But my hopeful new ships (Lan Sizhui x Jin Ling) still percists! I hope the author writes something about those two in the future as a spin-off somehow. I just really wish Chinese laws about not showing LGBTQ+ couples on TV didn't exist!!!!!
I took these content warnings from another reviewer but I do think they are important to add in b/c there are so many to be touched on. This is definitely an Adult Historical Chinese Fantasy work. I think the work is for mature audiences so read at your own risk. :)
❌ Content Warnings:
[Graphic: Sexual content (the sexually explicit scenes are in chapters chapter 95, chapter 111, and chapter 112 and those chapters can be easily skipped if you'd rather not read them), alcoholism, blood, body horror, child abuse, cursing, death, death of a parent, death of a sibling, death of a friend, emotional abuse, genocide, gore, grief, homophobia, kidnapping, medical content, medical trauma, murder, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, suicide, torture, and violence.
Moderate to minor: Sexual assault, self-harm, ableism, mentioned incest, rape, cannibalism, eating disorder, child death, work/death camp-like setting, very dubious consent, and corporal punishment.
February 17, 2021
''Wei WuXian said, ''You're really great. I like you or in other words, I fancy you, I love you, I want you, I can't leave you, I whatever you, I want to night-hunt with you for the rest of my life'' Wei WuXian put there fingers together, pointing at the sky, the earth and finally his heart, ''And I want to sleep with you every day. I swear it's not the heat of the momento or joking around like I've done in the past. I'm not doing it out of gratitude either. Anyways, it's not because of anything else. I really just like you so much I want to sleep with you. I don't want anyone but you- it can't be anyone but you. You can do anything you want to me, however you like it. I'll accept everything, as long as you're willing to..''
Un millón de estrellas, creo que nunca superare esta historia. Se ha convertido en una de mis favoritas por toda la eternidad. 💛💛💛😍😍😍
Un millón de estrellas, creo que nunca superare esta historia. Se ha convertido en una de mis favoritas por toda la eternidad. 💛💛💛😍😍😍
December 22, 2022
Thank God, it's written from wwx pov, lz pov would have made me lose all my sanity and caused irreparable brain damage.
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