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Nirvana in Fire [琅琊榜]
The East River Alliance is the world’s biggest clan. Its chief, Mei Changsu, arrived at the royal capital Jinling under the alias of Su Zhe. He brought with him storms of disturbances and fogs of mysteries.
A noble young master with dual identities, a Crown Prince and Prince Yu battling for the crown, the empire’s greatest warrior with the Royal Guards in his grasp, a beautiful princess who commands over the border’s cavalry…
Amongst these distinguished and powerful people, how did the inconspicuous Su Zhe become the heart of everything?
Could the hand behind the scenes of the whirlwind be the remnants of a previous storm?
Is he the young general who pursues enemies in snowy nights, or the shadowy tactician with a sickly body who won’t see old age?
He returns to the old place and reunites with old friends. He plots and schemes. What is he trying to achieve?
This is a story of dark conspiracies and brotherly bonds. Before this story reaches its end, perhaps you can change its course…
A noble young master with dual identities, a Crown Prince and Prince Yu battling for the crown, the empire’s greatest warrior with the Royal Guards in his grasp, a beautiful princess who commands over the border’s cavalry…
Amongst these distinguished and powerful people, how did the inconspicuous Su Zhe become the heart of everything?
Could the hand behind the scenes of the whirlwind be the remnants of a previous storm?
Is he the young general who pursues enemies in snowy nights, or the shadowy tactician with a sickly body who won’t see old age?
He returns to the old place and reunites with old friends. He plots and schemes. What is he trying to achieve?
This is a story of dark conspiracies and brotherly bonds. Before this story reaches its end, perhaps you can change its course…
1487 pages, Webnovel
First published November 25, 2006
60 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
海宴
20 books11 followers普通女子，胸无大志，只愿昨日可忆，未来可期，有山水可游，有奇事可闻，有朋友可交，有家人可依，文字之乐不改，童稚之心不灭，已是完满一生。
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
December 15, 2021
WOW... I need some alone time now. I am done reading this but am not ready to leave these memorable characters yet. I know I will be reliving this book by watching and reading favorite parts of this in coming days. This just hit differently.
June 28, 2021
I have to review both the show and book together because after finishing the two, it’s hard to separate them in my head. So hope you all reading won’t mind 😊😊
Nirvana in Fire doesn’t have any of the flash I loved in Untamed or WoH - there are not too many flying in the air like gods kind of sword fights, nor are there beautiful looking idol actors with crackling chemistry. NiF is more like perfect traditional storytelling - tight knit plot with every small throwaway subplot being important somewhere down the line; every character, however small, makes an important contribution to the story, and all the actors are perfectly cast and their terrific acting makes you feel every single emotion that they want to convey; the production design is well done and the cinematography is breathtaking at many moments; and whole melancholic vibe permeating the story lingers in your heart a long time after you are done watching.
After being affected so much by the show and absolutely loving the roles played by all of them, but particularly Hu Ge and Wang Kai, I knew I had to read the book as well. And this translation was so well done. The book is even better in terms of evoking emotion because we get to experience the characters’ innermost thoughts, and I teared up so many times, and probably spent most of the the last 10 chapters crying. The themes of long lasting friendship, loyalty, love, loss, grief, and duty are so profound in this story that there is no way anyone won’t deeply feel it. And even someone like me who searches and searches for books and shows which have happy endings, couldn’t not totally adore this tragic story.
Nirvana in Fire doesn’t have any of the flash I loved in Untamed or WoH - there are not too many flying in the air like gods kind of sword fights, nor are there beautiful looking idol actors with crackling chemistry. NiF is more like perfect traditional storytelling - tight knit plot with every small throwaway subplot being important somewhere down the line; every character, however small, makes an important contribution to the story, and all the actors are perfectly cast and their terrific acting makes you feel every single emotion that they want to convey; the production design is well done and the cinematography is breathtaking at many moments; and whole melancholic vibe permeating the story lingers in your heart a long time after you are done watching.
After being affected so much by the show and absolutely loving the roles played by all of them, but particularly Hu Ge and Wang Kai, I knew I had to read the book as well. And this translation was so well done. The book is even better in terms of evoking emotion because we get to experience the characters’ innermost thoughts, and I teared up so many times, and probably spent most of the the last 10 chapters crying. The themes of long lasting friendship, loyalty, love, loss, grief, and duty are so profound in this story that there is no way anyone won’t deeply feel it. And even someone like me who searches and searches for books and shows which have happy endings, couldn’t not totally adore this tragic story.
October 10, 2023
➺
5/5 🌟
i just literally finished the last chapter and here i am, writing this review without waiting for my emotions to settle down. my feelings are still fresh, my emotions are still raw, my eyes are still swollen, my heart is still aching.
i've started watching the chinese drama adaptation of this novel a few years ago and i clearly remember how much i loved it, but life got in the way and i didn't manage to finish it. just a few days ago, i was looking for a novel with court intrigues and i suddenly remember this. without hesitation, i picked this up right away.
reading this novel is painful. undoubtedly a masterpiece, but a painful masterpiece. this is not just a story about fighting for the throne, revenge, betrayals, scheming, plotting and court politics that will make your blood boil, but also a story of a poignant reunion, a strong and deep friendship and loyalty and the sacrifices that will make you feel the warmth and the heartbreak at the same time.
i'm always attracted to clever characters, no matter what genre i read, and i especially look forward to seeing them in this setting. and mei changsu as the main character is what i'm looking for. he's now definitely one of my most favorite 'sexy brain' characters that i've ever come across in my life. he's very smart and he backs it up in 1001 different ways. mei changsu isn't described as a genius just for the charisma factor, and then do the most idiotic things very uncharacteristically in the most simple situation, or because emotions got in the way. he's legitimately and consistently rational, shrewd and calculating while still being realistic. he always has a plan and ten more backup plans whenever he attacks. he's not called a strategist for nothing and i wholeheartedly loved his character so much.
the way this story just hit right in the feels is not something i remember from the episode that i started. reading the novel is quite different, more elaborate i think. reading how much unspoken words of grief, sorrow and heartache the characters have in their minds that weren't fully captured in the drama, this novel impacted me so much more.
the ending can be considered as bittersweet but i would like to categorize it more as sad and heartbreaking. the amount of tears i've spent in this novel is unreal. i didn't just shed a tear, i literally sob a couple of times. i actually don't want to go through the pain again but i think i would start watching the drama again and finish it this time.
i just literally finished the last chapter and here i am, writing this review without waiting for my emotions to settle down. my feelings are still fresh, my emotions are still raw, my eyes are still swollen, my heart is still aching.
i've started watching the chinese drama adaptation of this novel a few years ago and i clearly remember how much i loved it, but life got in the way and i didn't manage to finish it. just a few days ago, i was looking for a novel with court intrigues and i suddenly remember this. without hesitation, i picked this up right away.
reading this novel is painful. undoubtedly a masterpiece, but a painful masterpiece. this is not just a story about fighting for the throne, revenge, betrayals, scheming, plotting and court politics that will make your blood boil, but also a story of a poignant reunion, a strong and deep friendship and loyalty and the sacrifices that will make you feel the warmth and the heartbreak at the same time.
i'm always attracted to clever characters, no matter what genre i read, and i especially look forward to seeing them in this setting. and mei changsu as the main character is what i'm looking for. he's now definitely one of my most favorite 'sexy brain' characters that i've ever come across in my life. he's very smart and he backs it up in 1001 different ways. mei changsu isn't described as a genius just for the charisma factor, and then do the most idiotic things very uncharacteristically in the most simple situation, or because emotions got in the way. he's legitimately and consistently rational, shrewd and calculating while still being realistic. he always has a plan and ten more backup plans whenever he attacks. he's not called a strategist for nothing and i wholeheartedly loved his character so much.
the way this story just hit right in the feels is not something i remember from the episode that i started. reading the novel is quite different, more elaborate i think. reading how much unspoken words of grief, sorrow and heartache the characters have in their minds that weren't fully captured in the drama, this novel impacted me so much more.
the ending can be considered as bittersweet but i would like to categorize it more as sad and heartbreaking. the amount of tears i've spent in this novel is unreal. i didn't just shed a tear, i literally sob a couple of times. i actually don't want to go through the pain again but i think i would start watching the drama again and finish it this time.
February 14, 2016
告诉自己没为一本有能力让我仰天长啸辗转难眠又哭又笑疯疯癫癫了几个礼拜的书写几个字真的是太太对不起读时的笑声和眼泪。
“那场大喜大落大悲大哀的浮生梦终于到了尽头”，我也呆呆麻木不堪的过了大半天。我只想说这是我心中当之无愧的第一。近几年来虽然真的读得不多，可是碰到一种书就是有这种预感，这就是了，这就是我心中第一。说实话很难想象在未来我会为第二本书如此费心费力如此心如刀绞哭得如此稀里哗啦。
琅琊榜首，江左梅郎，短短八个字，背后隐含着江湖惊涛骇浪的风云变化。
梅长苏，三个字，道不尽的风姿凛然。
林殊，两个字，又是藏着怎样的坚韧，怎样的辛酸。
十三年的未雨绸缪，力挽狂澜，翻云覆雨，原来煎熬了自己的心血拼回了昭雪，却拼不过所谓的宿命。
说虐，实在很难找到另一本和《琅琊榜》一样虐的书。简直从第一本虐到最后一本最后一个字。梅长苏是智计无双的谋士，深沉的眸色，拖着病躯残体，煎熬心血，为的是十三年前的真相，为的是巍巍兄弟情谊，为的是七万条被冤枉的英魂。即使大志未酬之前他无法和故人相认，即使要被曾经并肩成长，以及在战场上背靠背杀出一条血路的兄弟误会。当真相终于水落石出，又何尝不让人辛酸流泪的。当梅长苏身上一点点剥出另一个面目，那个已被时间湮没的林殊，那个曾经英气凌云的天之骄子，那个十三岁即上战场，十六岁即有自己的赤羽营、纵横往来有不败之名的少帅的时候，那段过程，岂不是步步虐身虐心。
如今，已经没有人再提起林殊是谁。那个曾经是金陵帝都最耀眼最明亮的少年将军，他飞扬、他骄傲，英才纵纵，那个天生的战神，那个大梁的骄傲。可他死了。和赤焰军七万战士，背着谋逆的罪名，被自己兄弟剁杀，死在苍茫的梅岭大雪中。
这是一本很大气磅礴的书。虽然标签着的是什么什么“战场”什么什么“权谋”，的确，套别人的话说，全文惊心动魄，构思精妙，情节之波澜起伏，谋略之层出不穷，可它又不缺那一份温煦的阳光。那么多的黑暗、算计、手段、苍凉，可背后永远有一道光，隐隐述说着灭不掉的希望，还有很多很多的感动。有淋漓豪情、壮怀激烈、悲苦残伤，也有最真挚的情义、最真心的托付、最明亮的成长。
从小就是一个爱书者，可真正有能力让我哭出声来的出这以外也只有一本。已经说不清究竟爱的是什么，也说不清这本书对我的影响力和震撼力有多强。缓缓读下来，给我最鲜明的感觉便是痛。 上面说过，这本书很虐。结局虐，虐死我，虐到我要跑上楼来锁上房间好好哭一场，而过程，过程更虐。最惨的不是这个，最惨的是作者一边虐一边还可以逗我笑。笑得越大声，心里就越是荒凉。究竟是何方神圣可以让我上一秒笑得没心没肺，下一秒哭得撕心裂肺。第三本过了一半后简直是边笑边哭，在狼狈到不行的情况下看完的。
如今看完了电视剧，对琅琊榜的爱更是很不可置信的深了很多层。不愧那“良心剧”的称号。为啥，不就是为它的环环相扣，爱它兄弟情谊的肝胆照人，国事的冲荡激烈，爱它随时随地让我胆颤心惊。
为它人物的刻画，那么的立体，那么的丰满，那么得叫人怜惜。萧景睿的仁恕，萧景琰的浩气，言豫津的豁达，霓凰的荣光，蔺晨的疏狂，飞流的纯粹......和林殊的那颗赤子之心。
我对它，有很大很深的爱。
因为没有矫揉造作的无病呻吟，因为纵使故事很虐人，作者却没有特意煽情，过分去渲染，却让整个故事更加的悲怆，反而加重了其悲剧色彩。
因为故事里没有儿女情长，没有烂俗的爱情桥段,没有争风吃醋鸡毛蒜皮的争斗，而尽是男儿间的较量，男儿间的情义。传达的是那永远不淡的兄弟豪气、热血；传达的是故事里头传达的那一股清泉，那份温暖而美好的力量。
因为虽百折不可磨其志的赤胆枭魂，因为一段雪夜薄甲逐敌千里的传说。
因为唤醒了我心深处的怦然心动，因为给予我一个永远无法忘怀的梦幻之旅。
书里他说的最后一句话如是：
那么令人唏嘘感慨，那么痛彻心扉。是怎样的地狱可以把一个从无败绩的赤焰少帅变成到如今的瘦弱书生；把曾经跃马扬鞭强而有力的手腕化成现在的凉冰冰又虚而无力的苍白的手。
无法我有多么爱那结局，虽然它让我失声痛哭，到现在都酸楚无比，泪眼茫茫。本该落幕了，他大可放下一切，和良朋知己淡看尘世，慢慢从他人的视线里褪出来，作回那个云淡风轻的梅长苏，留一段江湖传奇。但他没有，因为他是梅长苏，他也是那个雪夜薄甲逐敌千里的少年将军。十三年的光阴摧残，毁不掉他林氏的风骨，它仍然是那个林殊，那个世上没人拗得过的那个最任性的林殊。
于是当邻国统一侵犯，最心爱的江河处破碎边缘，战况危及，他不能不管，也不会不管，因为即使容貌已异，当初年少轻狂不再，他还是那个林殊。结局很完美，我心知不可能有另外一个比这个完美的结局，可是还是深深感受到那种令人无法呼吸的痛。
最后，林殊终于回到了那魂牵梦系的地方，那般的依恋，那般的寄托。奔驰的骏马上，唇边抹起明亮熟悉的笑容，眉间的战义豪情，叫人如何热血沸腾，却又为他那么心如刀割。奔驰的骏马上，林殊之魂被赐予重生，那十三年权谋计诡、十三年病体支离都好像没有发生过一样。虽然说，作回林殊才是他最纯粹最灿烂的快乐，虽然说，他牺牲在自己奏响的那最璀璨的铿锵，可心，还是好痛。
为他狂傲不羁，为他赤子情怀，毅然奔向他选择的未来，把最后的辉煌留给那百梦千回的战场，亦是他选择的结局。
评论里有一句：
凡尘俗世自始至终都配不上他，死了，也是一种节约。
以一瞬韶华，驻万世永生。
梅岭英魂，壮志长苏。
已是无懈可击的完美结局，可想起林殊，怎能不分分钟掉泪。
“那场大喜大落大悲大哀的浮生梦终于到了尽头”，我也呆呆麻木不堪的过了大半天。我只想说这是我心中当之无愧的第一。近几年来虽然真的读得不多，可是碰到一种书就是有这种预感，这就是了，这就是我心中第一。说实话很难想象在未来我会为第二本书如此费心费力如此心如刀绞哭得如此稀里哗啦。
想当日束发从军，想当日霜角辕门。想当日挟剑惊风，想当日横桀凌云……
琅琊榜首，江左梅郎，短短八个字，背后隐含着江湖惊涛骇浪的风云变化。
梅长苏，三个字，道不尽的风姿凛然。
林殊，两个字，又是藏着怎样的坚韧，怎样的辛酸。
十三年的未雨绸缪，力挽狂澜，翻云覆雨，原来煎熬了自己的心血拼回了昭雪，却拼不过所谓的宿命。
说虐，实在很难找到另一本和《琅琊榜》一样虐的书。简直从第一本虐到最后一本最后一个字。梅长苏是智计无双的谋士，深沉的眸色，拖着病躯残体，煎熬心血，为的是十三年前的真相，为的是巍巍兄弟情谊，为的是七万条被冤枉的英魂。即使大志未酬之前他无法和故人相认，即使要被曾经并肩成长，以及在战场上背靠背杀出一条血路的兄弟误会。当真相终于水落石出，又何尝不让人辛酸流泪的。当梅长苏身上一点点剥出另一个面目，那个已被时间湮没的林殊，那个曾经英气凌云的天之骄子，那个十三岁即上战场，十六岁即有自己的赤羽营、纵横往来有不败之名的少帅的时候，那段过程，岂不是步步虐身虐心。
如今，已经没有人再提起林殊是谁。那个曾经是金陵帝都最耀眼最明亮的少年将军，他飞扬、他骄傲，英才纵纵，那个天生的战神，那个大梁的骄傲。可他死了。和赤焰军七万战士，背着谋逆的罪名，被自己兄弟剁杀，死在苍茫的梅岭大雪中。
这是一本很大气磅礴的书。虽然标签着的是什么什么“战场”什么什么“权谋”，的确，套别人的话说，全文惊心动魄，构思精妙，情节之波澜起伏，谋略之层出不穷，可它又不缺那一份温煦的阳光。那么多的黑暗、算计、手段、苍凉，可背后永远有一道光，隐隐述说着灭不掉的希望，还有很多很多的感动。有淋漓豪情、壮怀激烈、悲苦残伤，也有最真挚的情义、最真心的托付、最明亮的成长。
从小就是一个爱书者，可真正有能力让我哭出声来的出这以外也只有一本。已经说不清究竟爱的是什么，也说不清这本书对我的影响力和震撼力有多强。缓缓读下来，给我最鲜明的感觉便是痛。 上面说过，这本书很虐。结局虐，虐死我，虐到我要跑上楼来锁上房间好好哭一场，而过程，过程更虐。最惨的不是这个，最惨的是作者一边虐一边还可以逗我笑。笑得越大声，心里就越是荒凉。究竟是何方神圣可以让我上一秒笑得没心没肺，下一秒哭得撕心裂肺。第三本过了一半后简直是边笑边哭，在狼狈到不行的情况下看完的。
如今看完了电视剧，对琅琊榜的爱更是很不可置信的深了很多层。不愧那“良心剧”的称号。为啥，不就是为它的环环相扣，爱它兄弟情谊的肝胆照人，国事的冲荡激烈，爱它随时随地让我胆颤心惊。
为它人物的刻画，那么的立体，那么的丰满，那么得叫人怜惜。萧景睿的仁恕，萧景琰的浩气，言豫津的豁达，霓凰的荣光，蔺晨的疏狂，飞流的纯粹......和林殊的那颗赤子之心。
我对它，有很大很深的爱。
因为没有矫揉造作的无病呻吟，因为纵使故事很虐人，作者却没有特意煽情，过分去渲染，却让整个故事更加的悲怆，反而加重了其悲剧色彩。
因为故事里没有儿女情长，没有烂俗的爱情桥段,没有争风吃醋鸡毛蒜皮的争斗，而尽是男儿间的较量，男儿间的情义。传达的是那永远不淡的兄弟豪气、热血；传达的是故事里头传达的那一股清泉，那份温暖而美好的力量。
因为虽百折不可磨其志的赤胆枭魂，因为一段雪夜薄甲逐敌千里的传说。
因为唤醒了我心深处的怦然心动，因为给予我一个永远无法忘怀的梦幻之旅。
书里他说的最后一句话如是：
“你总归不认识林殊，但我相信，认识他之后，你不会失望。”
那么令人唏嘘感慨，那么痛彻心扉。是怎样的地狱可以把一个从无败绩的赤焰少帅变成到如今的瘦弱书生；把曾经跃马扬鞭强而有力的手腕化成现在的凉冰冰又虚而无力的苍白的手。
无法我有多么爱那结局，虽然它让我失声痛哭，到现在都酸楚无比，泪眼茫茫。本该落幕了，他大可放下一切，和良朋知己淡看尘世，慢慢从他人的视线里褪出来，作回那个云淡风轻的梅长苏，留一段江湖传奇。但他没有，因为他是梅长苏，他也是那个雪夜薄甲逐敌千里的少年将军。十三年的光阴摧残，毁不掉他林氏的风骨，它仍然是那个林殊，那个世上没人拗得过的那个最任性的林殊。
于是当邻国统一侵犯，最心爱的江河处破碎边缘，战况危及，他不能不管，也不会不管，因为即使容貌已异，当初年少轻狂不再，他还是那个林殊。结局很完美，我心知不可能有另外一个比这个完美的结局，可是还是深深感受到那种令人无法呼吸的痛。
放眼十万男儿，奔腾如虎，环顾爱将挚友，倾心相持。当年梅岭寒雪中所失去的那个世界，似乎又隐隐回到了面前。
最后，林殊终于回到了那魂牵梦系的地方，那般的依恋，那般的寄托。奔驰的骏马上，唇边抹起明亮熟悉的笑容，眉间的战义豪情，叫人如何热血沸腾，却又为他那么心如刀割。奔驰的骏马上，林殊之魂被赐予重生，那十三年权谋计诡、十三年病体支离都好像没有发生过一样。虽然说，作回林殊才是他最纯粹最灿烂的快乐，虽然说，他牺牲在自己奏响的那最璀璨的铿锵，可心，还是好痛。
两年的翻云覆雨，似已换了江山，唯一不变的是一颗赤子之心，永生不死。
为他狂傲不羁，为他赤子情怀，毅然奔向他选择的未来，把最后的辉煌留给那百梦千回的战场，亦是他选择的结局。
评论里有一句：
凡尘俗世自始至终都配不上他，死了，也是一种节约。
以一瞬韶华，驻万世永生。
梅岭英魂，壮志长苏。
已是无懈可击的完美结局，可想起林殊，怎能不分分钟掉泪。
November 20, 2021
.
Lang Ya Bang / Nirvana in Fire
(Author: 海宴 / Hai Yan)
Lin Shu / Mei Changsu / Su Zhe is the most intelligent, brilliant and clever fictional character I know. He's also kind, humble, loyal, sincere.. I only have good things to say about him! 😌
Gen. Lin Xie along with his 19 yr old son Lin Shu and thousands of soldiers, walked into a death trap, a pre-planned battle/massacre more than a decade ago. Everyone died except for Lin Shu and a few comrades.
He may have narrowly escaped death but not before he contracted the Poison of the Bitter Flame. A deadly poison that altered his physical appearance and weaken his body continuously. With its cure more deadly than the poison itself, he knew that his race against time has begun.
Driven by the need to avenge the lives of his loved ones and thousands of soldiers, he returned to the capital city with a new identity, and it was only a matter of time until justice is served.
With mind as a weapon, he covertly, meticulously, and strategically aided his close cousin, the least favored Prince Xiao Jingyan, on his quest for the throne.
The curtain was raised, a skinny young man in the moon white clothing stepped down the carriage, walked up to the gate, raised up his head, and gazed the two characters on top of the city wall:
Jinling (金陵).
“Su Xiong (Brother Su), are you tired?” the other young man stepped forward, kindly asked, “We are almost there. We can have a good rest today.”
“Jingrui, Xie Bi” a slight smile appeared on Mei Changsu’s lip, “ I want to stay here for a bit longer… Jinling hasn’t changed much. Behind this gate, the city is probably still as busy and grand…”
😊
〰️
Lang Ya Bang / Nirvana in Fire
(Author: 海宴 / Hai Yan)
Lin Shu / Mei Changsu / Su Zhe is the most intelligent, brilliant and clever fictional character I know. He's also kind, humble, loyal, sincere.. I only have good things to say about him! 😌
Gen. Lin Xie along with his 19 yr old son Lin Shu and thousands of soldiers, walked into a death trap, a pre-planned battle/massacre more than a decade ago. Everyone died except for Lin Shu and a few comrades.
He may have narrowly escaped death but not before he contracted the Poison of the Bitter Flame. A deadly poison that altered his physical appearance and weaken his body continuously. With its cure more deadly than the poison itself, he knew that his race against time has begun.
Driven by the need to avenge the lives of his loved ones and thousands of soldiers, he returned to the capital city with a new identity, and it was only a matter of time until justice is served.
With mind as a weapon, he covertly, meticulously, and strategically aided his close cousin, the least favored Prince Xiao Jingyan, on his quest for the throne.
The curtain was raised, a skinny young man in the moon white clothing stepped down the carriage, walked up to the gate, raised up his head, and gazed the two characters on top of the city wall:
Jinling (金陵).
“Su Xiong (Brother Su), are you tired?” the other young man stepped forward, kindly asked, “We are almost there. We can have a good rest today.”
“Jingrui, Xie Bi” a slight smile appeared on Mei Changsu’s lip, “ I want to stay here for a bit longer… Jinling hasn’t changed much. Behind this gate, the city is probably still as busy and grand…”
😊
〰️
July 14, 2024
i feel it’s rather unfair for the rating of this this book to include the author’s writing because i only read via fan translations (sorry my chinese is not good enough. i hear her writing is excellent though.) in the end the themes and the plot more than compensate for this.
there are some BANGER quotes which i’m too lazy to go back and look for but just trust me. and just. so much affection and brotherhood and loyalty and justice and doing what is Right and such deep anger/sorrow at the horrible events of 13 years ago and auuuuggghhhh
it’s always hard to go from a beloved show to its novel — what if there are Key Differences, and i find out i didn’t actually like the author’s original intent? luckily! the show was pretty faithful and was an excellent adaptation; the differing plot points added to the brilliance of the show… so maybe the book would’ve been better if it were more like that? but i think you get a different kind of depth with the characters when you read the book. i do wish the book built up the supporting characters more, as in the show (Nihuang disappeared, Prince Yu and his wife’s fate was never addressed…)
moreover i think the infamous breakup between XJY and MCS/LS was soooooooooo good in the show but also it caused so much heartache so i’m glad i didn’t have to read it? also MCS/LS confrontation with the Emperor in the show is *chef’s kiss* and Prince Yu’s ending was excellently portrayed in the show AND BETTER CONSORT JING SCENES I LOVE HER
okay so it looks like i’m just pointing out areas where the show was better but i promise the book was solid too. anyway i didn’t actually expect to finish this because i only picked it up because i was so heartbroken after rewatching the show.
one day i would like to read this in chinese to really appreciate Hai Yan’s writing, but i fear it will be many years before i find the time.
there are some BANGER quotes which i’m too lazy to go back and look for but just trust me. and just. so much affection and brotherhood and loyalty and justice and doing what is Right and such deep anger/sorrow at the horrible events of 13 years ago and auuuuggghhhh
it’s always hard to go from a beloved show to its novel — what if there are Key Differences, and i find out i didn’t actually like the author’s original intent? luckily! the show was pretty faithful and was an excellent adaptation; the differing plot points added to the brilliance of the show… so maybe the book would’ve been better if it were more like that? but i think you get a different kind of depth with the characters when you read the book. i do wish the book built up the supporting characters more, as in the show (Nihuang disappeared, Prince Yu and his wife’s fate was never addressed…)
moreover i think the infamous breakup between XJY and MCS/LS was soooooooooo good in the show but also it caused so much heartache so i’m glad i didn’t have to read it? also MCS/LS confrontation with the Emperor in the show is *chef’s kiss* and Prince Yu’s ending was excellently portrayed in the show AND BETTER CONSORT JING SCENES I LOVE HER
okay so it looks like i’m just pointing out areas where the show was better but i promise the book was solid too. anyway i didn’t actually expect to finish this because i only picked it up because i was so heartbroken after rewatching the show.
one day i would like to read this in chinese to really appreciate Hai Yan’s writing, but i fear it will be many years before i find the time.
January 5, 2016
Omg! The drama of this book is soooo good!!! I really wanted there to be more about Lin Chen though! He's so awesome, cute and funny!! I didn't read much of the book but I know the differences between the drama and the book :) I hope there's a prequel about how Lin Chen met Lin Shu! That'd be really interesting! I loved the drama and the book seems nice :3
March 21, 2016
若琅琊阁有个对小说的排名，这本琅琊榜定能成为琅琊榜首。感谢林殊，景琰，飞流，霓凰郡主 等人物陪我过个这么美好的假期
Read
February 22, 2022That's gotta be the longest book I've ever read, and it felt even longer doing it in a book club. Overall, I appreciated that the book version got rid of a lot of the scenes that I thought were a bit silly in the show and felt like they were just added for the drama (turns out they were!). On the other hand, this is way more closely focused on Mei Changsu himself and so that means you have to sign up to 1000 pages of men doing politics and very little time with women doing things. That's a hard sell for me, and I got through it by skimming through the sections that were exactly the same as the show. Overall, the show and book are very similar, with the book being a more reasonable story in terms of character choices. However, I don't know that I would care as much about the character choices without the acting from the show, so I would still prefer the show over the book. Finally, having said all that about the book being more reasonable, I thought it was very funny that the super abrupt shift in the ending of the show is beat for beat the same as the last chapter of the book. Seems like somone was just fucking done writing and was going to end it ASAP.
December 2, 2023
Список Лан`я це надзвичайно складна книга.
Я не думала, що політичні інтриги а Древньому Китаї без чіткої любовної лінії будуть настільки цікавими. Мені сподобалось, наскільки вміло та доречно авторка розкривала героїв, особливо побічних. Їх історій натяками та цілими абзацами вплітались в основний юсжет та робили світ обємним. Зрозуміло, чого прагнули, чим керувались різні герої. Всі вони були живі, зі своїми проблемами, травмами, бажаннями, прагненнями, слабкими та сильними сторонами. Кожен герой по-своєму цікавий.
Починалось все невинно, як завжди у китайських романах. Втім, з кожною главою, з кожним розділом сюжето накручувався все більше та більше. Ми пізнали всі відтінки болю та страждань, побачили становлення героя. Головний герой не мріє ні про що більше, окрім як про помсту. Він колись вмів дружити та бути щирим, але через неймовірні страждання розгубив цю навичку. Єдине в що я не повірила, так це в хворобу головного героя та методи її лікування. Авторка могла б і пошуками реальну хворобу, але тим не менш, навіть це не завадило насолодитися історією до кінця.
Звичайно, тут хеппі енд для головних героїв, але позаяк вони політики в Древньому Китаї при імператорові, то їх щасливий кінець може здатися не таким вже й щасливим.
Я насолоджувалась історією, прожила її всю з героями, виросла морально (або ні) та запамятала всі імена, звязки та причини. Не можу сказати, що це було легко, але якщо запамятати імената родинні/дружні звязки, то стає легше та краще розуміються деякі інтриги
Я не думала, що політичні інтриги а Древньому Китаї без чіткої любовної лінії будуть настільки цікавими. Мені сподобалось, наскільки вміло та доречно авторка розкривала героїв, особливо побічних. Їх історій натяками та цілими абзацами вплітались в основний юсжет та робили світ обємним. Зрозуміло, чого прагнули, чим керувались різні герої. Всі вони були живі, зі своїми проблемами, травмами, бажаннями, прагненнями, слабкими та сильними сторонами. Кожен герой по-своєму цікавий.
Починалось все невинно, як завжди у китайських романах. Втім, з кожною главою, з кожним розділом сюжето накручувався все більше та більше. Ми пізнали всі відтінки болю та страждань, побачили становлення героя. Головний герой не мріє ні про що більше, окрім як про помсту. Він колись вмів дружити та бути щирим, але через неймовірні страждання розгубив цю навичку. Єдине в що я не повірила, так це в хворобу головного героя та методи її лікування. Авторка могла б і пошуками реальну хворобу, але тим не менш, навіть це не завадило насолодитися історією до кінця.
Звичайно, тут хеппі енд для головних героїв, але позаяк вони політики в Древньому Китаї при імператорові, то їх щасливий кінець може здатися не таким вже й щасливим.
Я насолоджувалась історією, прожила її всю з героями, виросла морально (або ні) та запамятала всі імена, звязки та причини. Не можу сказати, що це було легко, але якщо запамятати імената родинні/дружні звязки, то стає легше та краще розуміються деякі інтриги
June 23, 2022
I am so impressed by this! It’s so good! The plot and the way it weaves pieces of the puzzle together. I dare say it’s probably the best Chinese novel I’ve read till now. The TV show does this justice too.
June 23, 2024
This review is for the fan translation.
This is more a comparison of the book and the drama than a mere book review.
The novel is divided into seven books, each depicting a certain dramatic arc:
From the get-go, there’s one clear difference to the drama: the characters are more extreme in every way. If someone is gentle in the drama (Jingrui), they are soft and innocent in the book. If someone is sharp and intelligent (Mei Changsu), they’re almost mean in the book. That’s obviously also a style and/or translation issue but, everything is way more Extra™️ in the novel.
Now, obviously since the novel was translated by several people, the language changes accordingly. In the beginning, I was slightly annoyed by that translator’s tendency to use only the family name instead of full name. I mean, that’s a translator choice, obviously, but it was jarring to read “They could not keep Su company as a result,” or “Meng sat down and huffed.” Because if I’ve understood correctly, the names usually need to have two syllables/characters to be used alone and, considering this is a historical and political drama, I’d bet my hat the original had some version of “Sir Su” and “Commander Meng” or “Su-laoshi” and “Meng-ge” going on. This changed with the translator. There were also a couple of instances where Mei Changsu was referred to as Lin Shu very early on which threw me because to me, it seemed like there was no logical reason to use that name in that context. I mean, sure, I knew who he was and happened because I'd already seen the drama but to someone who doesn’t know, adding one more name into the mix that early would probably be pretty damn confusing. Or perhaps I’m overthinking with my Western brain.
The overall plot is very similar to the drama--or should I say the drama was faithful to the novel. The biggest differences (IMO):
Some additional thoughts on characters (written as the story progresses):
Apparently, the book was written for a competition where the readers voted for the best books and I’m just slow clapping here because to keep the story coherent while trying to keep the audience interested and voting takes a strong author with strong views and good writing. And also, she offers interesting peeks into the minds of her characters and especially Mei Changsu’s reactions to, say, when Jingyan pleads with him to help Jingning to avoid her arranged marriage. It would’ve been so interesting for the other translators to do this too because it adds to the story but alas.
All in all, an enjoyable book! It’s massively long (the Chinese version is 860 pages which… I have no idea how that translates into English) but considering it was apparently written for a competition where the readers could vote(?), it holds together surprisingly well (side-eyeing Clockwork Looking Glass). I’m very grateful to the friend who strongly recommended I watch the drama first because I feel like I was able to enjoy the book more like this. Some sites say Hai Yan was the scriptwriter for the drama which also explains a lot as some of the most emotional scenes (XJY telling his mom he wants Lin Shu alive this world and not the next, Consort Jing confirming MCS’s identity and health at the spring hunt) were exactly as I remembered from the drama. (And apparently LYB started as BL but she scrubbed it clean later? Don’t know for sure.)
This is more a comparison of the book and the drama than a mere book review.
The novel is divided into seven books, each depicting a certain dramatic arc:
From the get-go, there’s one clear difference to the drama: the characters are more extreme in every way. If someone is gentle in the drama (Jingrui), they are soft and innocent in the book. If someone is sharp and intelligent (Mei Changsu), they’re almost mean in the book. That’s obviously also a style and/or translation issue but, everything is way more Extra™️ in the novel.
Now, obviously since the novel was translated by several people, the language changes accordingly. In the beginning, I was slightly annoyed by that translator’s tendency to use only the family name instead of full name. I mean, that’s a translator choice, obviously, but it was jarring to read “They could not keep Su company as a result,” or “Meng sat down and huffed.” Because if I’ve understood correctly, the names usually need to have two syllables/characters to be used alone and, considering this is a historical and political drama, I’d bet my hat the original had some version of “Sir Su” and “Commander Meng” or “Su-laoshi” and “Meng-ge” going on. This changed with the translator. There were also a couple of instances where Mei Changsu was referred to as Lin Shu very early on which threw me because to me, it seemed like there was no logical reason to use that name in that context. I mean, sure, I knew who he was and happened because I'd already seen the drama but to someone who doesn’t know, adding one more name into the mix that early would probably be pretty damn confusing. Or perhaps I’m overthinking with my Western brain.
The overall plot is very similar to the drama--or should I say the drama was faithful to the novel. The biggest differences (IMO):
Some additional thoughts on characters (written as the story progresses):
Apparently, the book was written for a competition where the readers voted for the best books and I’m just slow clapping here because to keep the story coherent while trying to keep the audience interested and voting takes a strong author with strong views and good writing. And also, she offers interesting peeks into the minds of her characters and especially Mei Changsu’s reactions to, say, when Jingyan pleads with him to help Jingning to avoid her arranged marriage. It would’ve been so interesting for the other translators to do this too because it adds to the story but alas.
All in all, an enjoyable book! It’s massively long (the Chinese version is 860 pages which… I have no idea how that translates into English) but considering it was apparently written for a competition where the readers could vote(?), it holds together surprisingly well (side-eyeing Clockwork Looking Glass). I’m very grateful to the friend who strongly recommended I watch the drama first because I feel like I was able to enjoy the book more like this. Some sites say Hai Yan was the scriptwriter for the drama which also explains a lot as some of the most emotional scenes (XJY telling his mom he wants Lin Shu alive this world and not the next, Consort Jing confirming MCS’s identity and health at the spring hunt) were exactly as I remembered from the drama. (And apparently LYB started as BL but she scrubbed it clean later? Don’t know for sure.)
October 5, 2016
สารภาพว่าอ่าน เพราะดูซี่รี่ย์แล้วจำตัวละครไม่ได้
คนนั้นลูกคนโน้น คนนี้แค้นคนนั้น ชื่อไรไม่รุ้. เยอะไปหมด เลยมาอ่านแทน อย่างน้อยมันยังเปิดกลับไป-มาได้
อ่านแล้วก็รู้เรื่องขึ้นมาอีกนิดนึง แต่เพราะว่าเคยดูมาแล้วนั่นเอง. .. ฮาา
ซี่รี่ย์ทำได้สนุกมาก หนังสือก็สนุกมากเช่นกัน..
เพราะรักตัวละครจากซี่รี่ย์มาก่อน พออ่านเลยลำเอียงสุดๆนั่นเอง
ให้ 5 ดาว
คนนั้นลูกคนโน้น คนนี้แค้นคนนั้น ชื่อไรไม่รุ้. เยอะไปหมด เลยมาอ่านแทน อย่างน้อยมันยังเปิดกลับไป-มาได้
อ่านแล้วก็รู้เรื่องขึ้นมาอีกนิดนึง แต่เพราะว่าเคยดูมาแล้วนั่นเอง. .. ฮาา
ซี่รี่ย์ทำได้สนุกมาก หนังสือก็สนุกมากเช่นกัน..
เพราะรักตัวละครจากซี่รี่ย์มาก่อน พออ่านเลยลำเอียงสุดๆนั่นเอง
ให้ 5 ดาว
November 23, 2015
好久没有读那么长篇的中文小说了，文笔流畅，故事人物都十分立体。
作者在里面大量埋伏了伏笔，让剧情非常紧凑。
很少看宫廷斗争的戏，但或许会破例去追一追
作者在里面大量埋伏了伏笔，让剧情非常紧凑。
很少看宫廷斗争的戏，但或许会破例去追一追
September 1, 2024
i started drafting this review far before i finished my second full read of this book. but i’m still not nearly satisfied by it.
but first, a disclaimer: i don’t know if there’s an official english translation for nirvana in fire but i’ve tried my best to do the quotes from the book justice, which was so difficult because it’s hard to capture the essence of writing when you go from one language to another. i picked some of the easier good quotes to translate though. i’ve also left the chinese version there as well, for any that can read it.
if you asked me for a concrete reason like a trope, genre, character, etc. about why i liked this book so much, i wouldn’t be able to come up with a great answer for you, maybe besides it being about bromance and friendship and justice. this book does not, by most means, have found family or romance or glorious fight scenes or dashing youthful heroes (well, a bit, but in a slightly sickening and depressing way), which are things that many people, including me, typically look for. its ending can be either happy or sad, depending on how you look at it (when i was younger, i hated it, but now as i’ve gotten older, i’m starting to accept and appreciate the way that the author finished it more and more). it isn’t a typical “powerless main character figures out they are super special and trains to become the best in the world” sort of book, like most other wuxia/jianghu books. in fact, it’s quite the opposite, because mei changsu is a fallen version of his previous, glorious self:
but somehow, through its loophole-less-plot and painfully moving characters, it is uplifting and heartbreaking and just so, so MUCH. i cannot even begin to describe the wide spectrum of emotions i felt while reading this book (both times). at times, i loved mei changsu for all that he sacrificed, and at times i hated him so much for what he was doing to himself. at times, i screamed inwardly at xiao jingyan for his stubbornness and stupidity, not recognizing his best friend right there in front of him, but most times i sympathized with and understood him. even lin chen, who doesn’t appear until around halfway through the final book, came so quickly to me in the flesh. he had maybe like, 15 pieces of dialogue, but it revealed so much of his feelings and inner thoughts and motives. i knew these characters, and i belonged with them.
rereading this, something about the characters dawned on me. now that i think about it, maybe the reason i liked kaz brekker in six of crows so much is bc i can see the shadows of changsu on him, and why i liked matthias helvar nearly as much is bc i can see shadows of jingyan on him. it all makes sense, and this is also an easier way for me to talk about these characters by using a more well-known book in the english community. but kaz rietveld’s entire life changed when he floated in a barrage of bodies in the middle of a freezing river, prompting him to become kaz brekker to seek his justice and revenge, and lin shu’s entire life changed when his army got annihilated by their own allies so he watched all his men die in a sea of fire, prompting him to become mei changsu to seek his justice and revenge. now, matthias and jingyan have vastly different backgrounds as compared to mcs/kb, but their sort of ox-like, grim-faced, loyal, quick-to-anger, only-one-weakness (nina/lin she) vibe is also stunningly similar.
yeah, sounds about right.
(also lin chen gives off slightly jesper vibes but i might just be hallucinating that?? and maybe nihuang for inej too!! my strong female fighting queens who have a thing for that traumatized revengeful main character to varying degrees. love them.)
anyways, i’m definitely not saying that they’re the exact same, because that would kinda ruin the whole point of reading different books?. but given that we can all agree that six of crows has, like, one of the best casts of characters to ever exist (do not try to argue with me on this), i’m just going to say that i like these characters just as much, if not even more. because if the perfection of the crew in 6oc relies somewhat on the found family dynamics, in this book, it’s just. pure characterization. and it’s executed so wonderfully i could die.
don’t even mention the prose to me. this is what i hate the most about translations and why i wish so badly to know every language in the world. it’s so hard to properly and thoroughly capture the essence of beautiful writing from english to chinese, and vice versa. there’s always something lost in translation (unintentional taylor swift all too well reference ?! i am a die hard red stan by the way if you wanted to know). but the way hai yan writes, incorporating so many chengyu in there with phrases and grammar akin to 20th century prose?? there are reasons why people read this book 10 times, because every single time you reread it, you get stabbed again and again by the way she describes mei changsu’s emotions and pain. i guess we like to torture ourselves.
but since this is a website for english readers, i probably wouldn’t recommend reading the english translation because i’ve tried translating it myself for fun (which was not fun, barely got past the first chapter) and i know just how difficult it would be to execute it well. like the following quote — no matter how i try to translate it, it always comes out somewhat wrong-sounding.
instead i would recommend the drama, which lives up to the book. acting is much easier to understand across different languages and cultures when compared to words. usually i like book or drama, one or another, so i’m glad to say that this was probably (?) the second time in my life where i liked the drama/movie just as much as the book, the first being the harry potter series and films (i liked lord of the rings movies more than the books, so that doesn’t count, either). of course, the drama adaption did change some seemingly significant things, especially regarding nihuang/changsu’s relationship and the events toward the end, but those proved to be insignificant with regards to the entire theme and message of the book. i especially loved the cast they picked — all great actors/actresses, unlike so many chinese dramas nowadays that just cast popular, gorgeous idols with zero acting skills. yeah, mid 2010s were amazing. nirvana in fire has a whopping 9.4 on douban (chinese version of imdb), ranking it at no. 15 out of all dramas (where the ones above it are all older classics), which is just insane. so definitely go watch the drama with eng subs and throw yourself into mei changsu’s brilliant, scheming, broken mind.
i’ll end this ramble here — i was far too emotional and in a daze while writing this to call it a review. essentially, this book and its characters took my heart and shattered it and put it back together again. i will reread it again and again and i doubt i will ever get sick of it.
on that note. enjoy a quote that i think i actually translated fairly well, a quote that can tell you something about who mei changsu — or lin shu — was, and what the story was like…
but first, a disclaimer: i don’t know if there’s an official english translation for nirvana in fire but i’ve tried my best to do the quotes from the book justice, which was so difficult because it’s hard to capture the essence of writing when you go from one language to another. i picked some of the easier good quotes to translate though. i’ve also left the chinese version there as well, for any that can read it.
if you asked me for a concrete reason like a trope, genre, character, etc. about why i liked this book so much, i wouldn’t be able to come up with a great answer for you, maybe besides it being about bromance and friendship and justice. this book does not, by most means, have found family or romance or glorious fight scenes or dashing youthful heroes (well, a bit, but in a slightly sickening and depressing way), which are things that many people, including me, typically look for. its ending can be either happy or sad, depending on how you look at it (when i was younger, i hated it, but now as i’ve gotten older, i’m starting to accept and appreciate the way that the author finished it more and more). it isn’t a typical “powerless main character figures out they are super special and trains to become the best in the world” sort of book, like most other wuxia/jianghu books. in fact, it’s quite the opposite, because mei changsu is a fallen version of his previous, glorious self:
他就像是一团熊熊烈火被扑灭后余下的那一抹灰烬，虽然会让人联想到曾经存在过的那团火焰，却再也没有火焰的灼灼热量和舞动的姿态。
He was like a raging fire that had been put out, leaving only a pile of ashes. Although the cinders would remind people of the flames that had once been, they would never have the same burning heat or leaping appearance.
but somehow, through its loophole-less-plot and painfully moving characters, it is uplifting and heartbreaking and just so, so MUCH. i cannot even begin to describe the wide spectrum of emotions i felt while reading this book (both times). at times, i loved mei changsu for all that he sacrificed, and at times i hated him so much for what he was doing to himself. at times, i screamed inwardly at xiao jingyan for his stubbornness and stupidity, not recognizing his best friend right there in front of him, but most times i sympathized with and understood him. even lin chen, who doesn’t appear until around halfway through the final book, came so quickly to me in the flesh. he had maybe like, 15 pieces of dialogue, but it revealed so much of his feelings and inner thoughts and motives. i knew these characters, and i belonged with them.
rereading this, something about the characters dawned on me. now that i think about it, maybe the reason i liked kaz brekker in six of crows so much is bc i can see the shadows of changsu on him, and why i liked matthias helvar nearly as much is bc i can see shadows of jingyan on him. it all makes sense, and this is also an easier way for me to talk about these characters by using a more well-known book in the english community. but kaz rietveld’s entire life changed when he floated in a barrage of bodies in the middle of a freezing river, prompting him to become kaz brekker to seek his justice and revenge, and lin shu’s entire life changed when his army got annihilated by their own allies so he watched all his men die in a sea of fire, prompting him to become mei changsu to seek his justice and revenge. now, matthias and jingyan have vastly different backgrounds as compared to mcs/kb, but their sort of ox-like, grim-faced, loyal, quick-to-anger, only-one-weakness (nina/lin she) vibe is also stunningly similar.
yeah, sounds about right.
(also lin chen gives off slightly jesper vibes but i might just be hallucinating that?? and maybe nihuang for inej too!! my strong female fighting queens who have a thing for that traumatized revengeful main character to varying degrees. love them.)
anyways, i’m definitely not saying that they’re the exact same, because that would kinda ruin the whole point of reading different books?. but given that we can all agree that six of crows has, like, one of the best casts of characters to ever exist (do not try to argue with me on this), i’m just going to say that i like these characters just as much, if not even more. because if the perfection of the crew in 6oc relies somewhat on the found family dynamics, in this book, it’s just. pure characterization. and it’s executed so wonderfully i could die.
无论曾经是怎样一个天真无邪的朋友，从地狱归来的人都会变成恶鬼，不仅他认不出来，连我自己，都已经认不出我自己了。
No matter how innocent or carefree of a friend there once was will still become a demon after returning from hell. He’s not the only one who cannot recognize me, for even I can no longer recognize myself.
don’t even mention the prose to me. this is what i hate the most about translations and why i wish so badly to know every language in the world. it’s so hard to properly and thoroughly capture the essence of beautiful writing from english to chinese, and vice versa. there’s always something lost in translation (unintentional taylor swift all too well reference ?! i am a die hard red stan by the way if you wanted to know). but the way hai yan writes, incorporating so many chengyu in there with phrases and grammar akin to 20th century prose?? there are reasons why people read this book 10 times, because every single time you reread it, you get stabbed again and again by the way she describes mei changsu’s emotions and pain. i guess we like to torture ourselves.
but since this is a website for english readers, i probably wouldn’t recommend reading the english translation because i’ve tried translating it myself for fun (which was not fun, barely got past the first chapter) and i know just how difficult it would be to execute it well. like the following quote — no matter how i try to translate it, it always comes out somewhat wrong-sounding.
他天性不善权谋，这又有何妨，不是还有我吗？那些阴暗的，沾满血腥的事我来做好了，为了让恶贯满盈的人倒下，即使让我去朝无辜者的心上扎刀也没有关系，虽然我也会因此而难过，但当一个人的痛苦曾经超越过极限的时候，这种程度的难过就是可以忍耐的了。“
“So what if he’s not innately talented at tactics, at trickery, at politics? After all, I’m here. Let me do the dark, bloodstained things. To bring down those that are full of evil, it’ll be alright even if I must pierce the hearts of the innocent. I will be pained because of this, but when someone’s agony has exceeded a limit before, this level of pain can be tolerated.
instead i would recommend the drama, which lives up to the book. acting is much easier to understand across different languages and cultures when compared to words. usually i like book or drama, one or another, so i’m glad to say that this was probably (?) the second time in my life where i liked the drama/movie just as much as the book, the first being the harry potter series and films (i liked lord of the rings movies more than the books, so that doesn’t count, either). of course, the drama adaption did change some seemingly significant things, especially regarding nihuang/changsu’s relationship and the events toward the end, but those proved to be insignificant with regards to the entire theme and message of the book. i especially loved the cast they picked — all great actors/actresses, unlike so many chinese dramas nowadays that just cast popular, gorgeous idols with zero acting skills. yeah, mid 2010s were amazing. nirvana in fire has a whopping 9.4 on douban (chinese version of imdb), ranking it at no. 15 out of all dramas (where the ones above it are all older classics), which is just insane. so definitely go watch the drama with eng subs and throw yourself into mei changsu’s brilliant, scheming, broken mind.
i’ll end this ramble here — i was far too emotional and in a daze while writing this to call it a review. essentially, this book and its characters took my heart and shattered it and put it back together again. i will reread it again and again and i doubt i will ever get sick of it.
on that note. enjoy a quote that i think i actually translated fairly well, a quote that can tell you something about who mei changsu — or lin shu — was, and what the story was like…
梅长苏的心头涌起一股热潮，唇边也露出了一丝惨然的笑，不知道什么是军人，什么是战场么？也许在十二年前那场寒冬的雪中，心凉了，血也凉了，但那些烙入骨髓里的东西呢，是不是也凉了？
Mei Changsu’s heart surged with a wave of emotion, a faint, sorrowful smile appearing on his lips. Didn’t he know what being a soldier meant, what the battlefield was like? Perhaps in the snow of that bitter winter twelve years ago, his heart had turned cold, his blood had turned cold, but what about the things branded into his bones? Had they, too, turned cold?
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January 19, 2022Did Hai-jiejie get a big payday for this book? I could easily believe she got shafted early Motown style.
Being extremely familiar with the tv series, the best bits of this book for me were the author notes, from which I learned that Hai-jiejie knows a lot about flowers, reads too many of her fan comments, has an old illness that requires checkups (cancer? sounds like cancer), and was still working her day job 100 chapters into this hit serialized webnovel for which she had some kind of book deal. Was she writing new chapters nightly and posting once a day for months?? This is unfathomable to me, a feat of inhuman virtuosity, also the most abysmally un-proofread thing I have ever read.
You can really start to see the seams in the second half of the book, 天衣many缝, which is so fascinating to me. It gives the tv series the feel of an editing pass rather than adaptation -- tightening up the structure and character arcs, fleshing out sketched out plot points. The thing that feels most adaptation-y about the adaptation to me is making Lin Chen likeable; the Lin Chen / Changsu scenes are so good (我知道我可以!). Xia Dong is not so much airbrushed as airblasted; on the page she is, shall we say, problematic with Chinese characteristics, in her approach to gender identity and beating puppies and children with sticks. The Nihuang change was begging to be made -- did Hai-jiejie not want to get romance on her political drama? In the book Nihuang is shoved off-page so summarily it feels like disposing of a female love interest to make way for a slash pairing, but in the notes Hai-jiejie asks for her fans not to allude to homosexuality in a public forum. There's a bit about Nihuang's conception of love as someone who can take care of her, an attitude I find particularly Chinese.
Being extremely familiar with the tv series, the best bits of this book for me were the author notes, from which I learned that Hai-jiejie knows a lot about flowers, reads too many of her fan comments, has an old illness that requires checkups (cancer? sounds like cancer), and was still working her day job 100 chapters into this hit serialized webnovel for which she had some kind of book deal. Was she writing new chapters nightly and posting once a day for months?? This is unfathomable to me, a feat of inhuman virtuosity, also the most abysmally un-proofread thing I have ever read.
You can really start to see the seams in the second half of the book, 天衣many缝, which is so fascinating to me. It gives the tv series the feel of an editing pass rather than adaptation -- tightening up the structure and character arcs, fleshing out sketched out plot points. The thing that feels most adaptation-y about the adaptation to me is making Lin Chen likeable; the Lin Chen / Changsu scenes are so good (我知道我可以!). Xia Dong is not so much airbrushed as airblasted; on the page she is, shall we say, problematic with Chinese characteristics, in her approach to gender identity and beating puppies and children with sticks. The Nihuang change was begging to be made -- did Hai-jiejie not want to get romance on her political drama? In the book Nihuang is shoved off-page so summarily it feels like disposing of a female love interest to make way for a slash pairing, but in the notes Hai-jiejie asks for her fans not to allude to homosexuality in a public forum. There's a bit about Nihuang's conception of love as someone who can take care of her, an attitude I find particularly Chinese.
September 1, 2022
I mean what can I say, it was perfect just as I expected.
I haven’t watched the tv show yet but that’s my next endeavour.
Books set in the historical Chinese royal family are always a treat to read, there is huge opportunities for schemes and vast plots that can span the entire country. This book was no different. The way the author can write a book this plot driven but also make us feel extremely attached with the main characters is a talent not many people have.
Yes it is a very long book, but it’s probably the same length as a longer fantasy trilogy. The reason why I prefer it in one book, is because the continuity is a lot more fluid. Also it doesn’t feel as if it was dragging at all.
The relationship between Lin shu, jingyan and the rest of the military brothers were my favourite. The way they care for each other made me cry multiple times.
I loved the yan yejin and xiao jingrui storyline even though the climax was horrible for them. It was still a lovely dynamic.
The way lin shu handled all the plot so effortlessly he is really so smart, and Fei liu I really want to know what happened to him at the end.
The ending, I’m still crying. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I was expecting it to happen from the moment I realised he wasn’t Ni Huangs love interest, that he didn’t have one at all. I still wasn’t prepared.
Yes this novel isn’t a romance, but the other forms of love and devotion more than make up for it. It helps it has a plot line that no one can guess what happens next.
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel, couldn’t recommend it more.
I haven’t watched the tv show yet but that’s my next endeavour.
Books set in the historical Chinese royal family are always a treat to read, there is huge opportunities for schemes and vast plots that can span the entire country. This book was no different. The way the author can write a book this plot driven but also make us feel extremely attached with the main characters is a talent not many people have.
Yes it is a very long book, but it’s probably the same length as a longer fantasy trilogy. The reason why I prefer it in one book, is because the continuity is a lot more fluid. Also it doesn’t feel as if it was dragging at all.
The relationship between Lin shu, jingyan and the rest of the military brothers were my favourite. The way they care for each other made me cry multiple times.
I loved the yan yejin and xiao jingrui storyline even though the climax was horrible for them. It was still a lovely dynamic.
The way lin shu handled all the plot so effortlessly he is really so smart, and Fei liu I really want to know what happened to him at the end.
The ending, I’m still crying. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I was expecting it to happen from the moment I realised he wasn’t Ni Huangs love interest, that he didn’t have one at all. I still wasn’t prepared.
Yes this novel isn’t a romance, but the other forms of love and devotion more than make up for it. It helps it has a plot line that no one can guess what happens next.
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel, couldn’t recommend it more.
May 3, 2022
เพราะว่าได้ดูซีรี่ส์มาก่อนแล้ว จึงจะมีความลำเอียงอยู่บ้างเวลาที่อ่าน บางครั้งรู้สึกว่าการดำเนินเรื่องไม่ได้มีการอธิบายลำดับเหตุการณ์หรือเหตุผลที่มาได้ชัดเจนเท่าไร อาจเป็นเพราะเมื่อเทียบกับในซีรี่ส์แล้ว หนังสือตัดไปให้ดูตัวละครอื่นนอกจากเหมยฉางซูไม่บ่อยเท่าไร ตัวร้ายกำลังคิดแผนร้ายอะไรอยู่ก็ไม่ค่อยได้รู้ แต่เพราะดูซีรี่ส์มาแล้วจึงเข้าใจได้ง่าย หรือในฉากที่มีการต่อสู้อาจจะจินตนาการจากตัวอักษรค่อนข้างยาก แต่เพราะเคยดูซีรี่ส์มาแล้วเลยคิดภาพตัวละครและสถานที่ตามได้ทั้งหมด
แต่หนังสือก็มีส่วนที่ได้เปรียบเลยเมื่อเทียบกับซีรี่ส์ ตัวละครบางตัวมีบุคลิกที่น่าสนใจมากขึ้นในหนังสือ โดยเฉพาะเหยียนอวี้จิน ที่ฉลาดและมีเหตุผลมากจนน่าประทับใจในหนังสือ ผู้เขียนบรรยายความคิดของเหมยฉางซูบางจุดมากกว่าในซีรี่ส์ ทำให้เข้าใจว่าทำไมเขาจึงตัดสินใจทำบางอย่างที่รู้สึกขัดใจเล็กน้อยตอนดูซีรี่ส์ แต่พอมาอ่านจึงได้เข้าใจภาพรวมของเหตุผล พล็อตบางจุดในหนังสือก็ไม่เหมือนในซีรี่ส์ และส่วนตัวแล้วเราชอบเวอร์ชั่นในหนังสือมากกว่า
แต่หนังสือก็มีส่วนที่ได้เปรียบเลยเมื่อเทียบกับซีรี่ส์ ตัวละครบางตัวมีบุคลิกที่น่าสนใจมากขึ้นในหนังสือ โดยเฉพาะเหยียนอวี้จิน ที่ฉลาดและมีเหตุผลมากจนน่าประทับใจในหนังสือ ผู้เขียนบรรยายความคิดของเหมยฉางซูบางจุดมากกว่าในซีรี่ส์ ทำให้เข้าใจว่าทำไมเขาจึงตัดสินใจทำบางอย่างที่รู้สึกขัดใจเล็กน้อยตอนดูซีรี่ส์ แต่พอมาอ่านจึงได้เข้าใจภาพรวมของเหตุผล พล็อตบางจุดในหนังสือก็ไม่เหมือนในซีรี่ส์ และส่วนตัวแล้วเราชอบเวอร์ชั่นในหนังสือมากกว่า
September 11, 2020
This book will always hold a special place in my heart. It is the true OG, on par with Harry Potter (if you insult any of these novels I will feel personally attacked). The true God-tier novel.
I read it 7 (6?) years ago but the emotions are still very raw.
I cried, laughed and felt heartache that I never thought fiction was capable of inducing. I fell so deeply platonically in love with almost every character - they are so well crafted, three-dimensional people with their own struggles and side stories. I devoured 800 something pages over 2 days and was left with the most intense existential crisis after.
There’s something about the written Chinese word that makes me feel things that English literature is simply incapable of.
If you can read Chinese, this is a must-read.
Oh and there is absolutely ZERO romance in this book. Which I love and am there for. Not every book needs romance, and some things are better left unsaid.
I read it 7 (6?) years ago but the emotions are still very raw.
I cried, laughed and felt heartache that I never thought fiction was capable of inducing. I fell so deeply platonically in love with almost every character - they are so well crafted, three-dimensional people with their own struggles and side stories. I devoured 800 something pages over 2 days and was left with the most intense existential crisis after.
There’s something about the written Chinese word that makes me feel things that English literature is simply incapable of.
If you can read Chinese, this is a must-read.
Oh and there is absolutely ZERO romance in this book. Which I love and am there for. Not every book needs romance, and some things are better left unsaid.
April 6, 2023
I really appreciate this novel for its bones, but vastly prefer the storytelling of the cdrama adaptation. The novel ending does feel more right to me in terms of how it ends for Lin Shu, so I'm glad I read it all the way to the end! I also liked how much more quiet the final showdown was, how the shadow of .
I'm a bit sad that the drama lost some of Liyang's backstory, and Yujin's more obvious deftness (his scenes carried the first volume for me too, as it was otherwise very slow), but their opaqueness in the drama made them interesting, still.
Overall, a good read (with lots of really, really great lines and details), but not one I would have read without being familiar with the cdrama first.
I'm a bit sad that the drama lost some of Liyang's backstory, and Yujin's more obvious deftness (his scenes carried the first volume for me too, as it was otherwise very slow), but their opaqueness in the drama made them interesting, still.
Overall, a good read (with lots of really, really great lines and details), but not one I would have read without being familiar with the cdrama first.
June 5, 2017
It has roughly the same strengths and weaknesses as the show, with the show handling a few things better than the book and vice versa; some things handled poorly by both…… IMO. 8')
Some mysterious choices made by the show became less mysterious when I saw how the stories (slightly) diverged in the book, but I don't know if I agree with any!!! of the writer's decisions!!! on those points!!! I have very mixed feelings about LYB in general, really good at the things it's really good at, mysteriously bad and lacking in self-restraint in other places, but I forgive on account of Fei Liu being cute.
Some mysterious choices made by the show became less mysterious when I saw how the stories (slightly) diverged in the book, but I don't know if I agree with any!!! of the writer's decisions!!! on those points!!! I have very mixed feelings about LYB in general, really good at the things it's really good at, mysteriously bad and lacking in self-restraint in other places, but I forgive on account of Fei Liu being cute.
March 2, 2021
The TV show adapted from this book was probably the single fictional piece that has made the biggest impact on me as a person. I will remember and love Changsu until my last day; that is not an exaggeration.
I'm afraid that I will never encounter another character as profound as Changsu or another love as beautiful and heartbreaking as the one he had with Jingyan. This book (or rather, the TV show) left an abyss in the place my heart used to be.
Maybe one day I will recover from the heartwrenching pain and actually be able to pick up this book. But not now. I could not bear it for the past three years and I still cannot bear it now.
I'm afraid that I will never encounter another character as profound as Changsu or another love as beautiful and heartbreaking as the one he had with Jingyan. This book (or rather, the TV show) left an abyss in the place my heart used to be.
Maybe one day I will recover from the heartwrenching pain and actually be able to pick up this book. But not now. I could not bear it for the past three years and I still cannot bear it now.
April 9, 2021
This book was so great! I watched the drama first and I read the book after I stumbled by accident on the complete translation. It was a great book. The plot was well written, the characters' behaviour was consistent with who and what they were supposed to be. It also beautifully portrayed the relationships between characters, the love, the survivor's guilt, the loyalty even in the face of death. Mei Changsu or Lin Su or Su Zhe was an extremely intelligent person easily being able to orchestrate events and accurately predict his enemies' reactions to those events. Several of my favourite schemes from the drama weren't in the book, but oh well. The book was still perfect
April 21, 2022
Being a hardcore historical fiction fan, Nirvana In Fire (the official English name of 琅琊榜) has set the bar unforgivably high (at least within the circle of Chinese dynasty-themed novels) with its adept use of literary devices and historical settings.
With a timeline stretched across multiple decades, the book started off by narrating the arrival of a sickly-yet-charismatic young man (Mei Chang Shu / Su Zhe) into the city. As his encounters with the royal family and political figures grew, the reader was gradually given glimpses into his background; ultimately revealing his inextricably linked past with the royal family.
Having read this book (split into 3 volumes) in my teens, 琅琊榜 holds a special place in my heart. It is one of the select few that I will revisit every so and then (and probably will pass down as a heirloom to my children lols).
With a timeline stretched across multiple decades, the book started off by narrating the arrival of a sickly-yet-charismatic young man (Mei Chang Shu / Su Zhe) into the city. As his encounters with the royal family and political figures grew, the reader was gradually given glimpses into his background; ultimately revealing his inextricably linked past with the royal family.
Having read this book (split into 3 volumes) in my teens, 琅琊榜 holds a special place in my heart. It is one of the select few that I will revisit every so and then (and probably will pass down as a heirloom to my children lols).
February 4, 2018
This books needs a translator and the first 1/2 of it needs a bit of an edit but it's got all the properties for a NY Times best seller. The characters are fascinating and the plot is amazing. There were slight uneven patches but the writing noticeably got better and better as the story went on and together with the plot, created a book that was really hard to put down.
I look forward to future works from this author.
I look forward to future works from this author.
April 28, 2022
A masterpiece, just like the tv show. It is like, 85% the same. It is amazing, but even the things that are not the same I loved it so much. Like how Jingyan realizes Mei Changsu is Lin Shu. Or NiHuang being engaged to someone else... either version I like.
I watched the tv show twice. Twice I cried watching the scene with Consort Jing checking MCS's pulse. Again I cried reading the novel 😭 Or MCS realizing Nie Dage was alive 😭 not to mention the ending 😭
I watched the tv show twice. Twice I cried watching the scene with Consort Jing checking MCS's pulse. Again I cried reading the novel 😭 Or MCS realizing Nie Dage was alive 😭 not to mention the ending 😭
February 9, 2022
Me at ch. 174: i do not see 🙂
Note, i have not yet watched the drama version so this is purely based on the book, but it was a fantastic revenge story, very intricately plotted with delicious knives. I do not know if i can reread this anytime soon tho.... Need to recover from all this bleeding out......
Note, i have not yet watched the drama version so this is purely based on the book, but it was a fantastic revenge story, very intricately plotted with delicious knives. I do not know if i can reread this anytime soon tho.... Need to recover from all this bleeding out......
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2018
也太好看了吧！！看完忍不住感慨电视剧改编的忠实原著而且演员演技经得起推敲。
喜欢每一个女性角色：隐忍智慧的静妃 英姿飒爽的霓凰 为爱默默奉献的宫羽 聪明缜密却不以色侍人的般若 哪怕是配角都是个性鲜明 敢爱敢恨 不是一生只在乎儿女情长的扭捏做派。
也喜欢书里对于明君的设想 源清则流清
但还是觉得权力的制衡必不可少 寄希望于一个理想国中才有的德行兼备的君上本就不可能啊
这说明什么？说明一个稳固的政权还是要党指挥枪而不是枪指挥党 一个有发展潜力的国家还是要依法治国🤓
喜欢每一个女性角色：隐忍智慧的静妃 英姿飒爽的霓凰 为爱默默奉献的宫羽 聪明缜密却不以色侍人的般若 哪怕是配角都是个性鲜明 敢爱敢恨 不是一生只在乎儿女情长的扭捏做派。
也喜欢书里对于明君的设想 源清则流清
但还是觉得权力的制衡必不可少 寄希望于一个理想国中才有的德行兼备的君上本就不可能啊
这说明什么？说明一个稳固的政权还是要党指挥枪而不是枪指挥党 一个有发展潜力的国家还是要依法治国🤓
January 16, 2018
真的是好看 文笔好 故事好 好喜欢飞流 脑海中会有一个可爱倔强的少年的形象出来 梅长苏也是
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