#Chinese and Taiwanese mythology

[desdasiwrites]

[chernobog13]

No, it's not Manda!

It's the Dragon That Just Appears To Fight Another Monster Then Disappears from The Fairy and the Devil (1982).

Although, as far as can tell, this footage is actually purloined from an earlier film, The Founding of the Ming Dynasty (1971).

[the-monkey-ruler]

Gado Fight (2020) 鬼斗

Date: January 9, 2020 Platform: PC / Android Developer: Leiting Games Publisher: Leiting Games Genre: Fighting Theme: Fantasy Also known as: 墨斗 Type: Rewrite

Summary:

Gado Fight (鬼斗) is a one-on-one fighting game by the Taiwanese company Leiting Games. It was released in January 2020 for Android and April of the same year for Steam. It is based on the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West, which in turn is also based heavily on Chinese mythology.

Source: https://www.giantbomb.com/gado-fight/3030-82478/

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaqtC9joPys

[scalproie]

Hey, sell me on this funny Nine Sols game you're posting all of a sudden? My curiosity is piqued.

DO YOU LIKE HOLLOW KNIGHT AND OTHER METROIDVANIA?

DO YOU LIKE THE PARRY-FOCUSED COMBAT SYSTEM OF SEKIRO?

DO YOU LIKE STORY, DIALOGUE AND LORE-HEAVY GAMES WITH AN ORIGINAL AESTHETIC?

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE STORY OF HOU YI, MYTHOLOGICAL CHINESE ARCHER THAT SHOT DOWN NINE OF THE TEN SUNS?

WELL NINE SOLS MIGHT BE THE GAME FOR YOU🫵

ok stopping with the theatrics, idk why I phrased it like that, but fr, Nine Sols is a game from Red Candle Games, a taiwanese indie game studio, that came out a month ago. It's only available on pc right now but I'm hoping for a console port at some point.

As for the general points:

You play as this little guy called Yi, who's on a quest for revenge against, well, the titular nine sols, the rulers of the land where this game's takes place: New Kunlun. But there's a twist.

The vibe of the game's style as been described as "taopunk": a lot of characters take inspiration from ancient eastern mythology, like the main character for starters, and it's mixed with some cyber-feel that makes it really slick and satisfying. It's also just a very pretty game to look at.

The game also has some disturbing science-fiction elements, if you like The Horrors™️ (The Horrors™️ are great).

As I said before, the combat really focuses on parrying but Yi has quite a few things up his arsenal to keep it interesting. He also has a little butterfly buddy. Im also told that there is a slightly bigger emphasis on platforming in general and Yi has the shmovement.

The bosses are really fun to fight and honestly? Pretty interesting as characters. The characters are all great overall. The story is nuanced overall and you can tell they really wanted to build a rich world with lore. And I wanna see people take it appart and analyse it bc there is A LOT to say about the everything.

The music owns too:

And I know it's like. Not a particularly important point but the sound design??? 👍👍👍👌👌👌 it's really good

I'm actually gonna finish the post by linking the trailer to just showcase the vibe of the game honestly, it might do a better job than me:

anyway play Nine Sols 👍

[richincolor]

We have five books on our radar this week that should help get you into the Halloween spirit! Which ones are you adding to your TBR list?

Aisle Nine by Ian X. Cho HarperCollins

It’s Black Friday—and the apocalypse is on sale! Ever since the world filled with portals to hell and bloodthirsty demons started popping out on the reg, Jasper’s life has gotten worse and worse. A teenage nobody with no friends or family, he is plagued by the life he can’t remember and the person he’s sure he’s supposed to be. Jasper spends his days working as a checkout clerk at the Here for You discount mart, where a hell portal in aisle nine means danger every shift. But at least at the mart he can be near his crush, Kyle Kuan, a junior member of the monster-fighting Vanguard, though Kyle really seems to hate Jasper for reasons he doesn’t remember or understand. But when Jasper and Kyle learn they both share a frightening vision of the impending apocalypse, they’re forced to team up and uncover the uncomfortable truth about the hell portals and the demons that haunt the world. Because the true monsters are not always what they seem, the past is not always what we wish, and like it or not, on Black Friday, all hell will break loose starting in aisle nine. Perfect for fans of Grasshopper Jungle or The Last of Us comes Aisle Nine, the debut young adult novel from rising YA star Ian X. Cho.

The Dark Becomes Her by Judy I. Lin Rick Riordan Presents

Ruby Chen has always played the part of the dutiful eldest daughter: excelling in school; excelling in piano lessons; excelling at keeping her younger sister, Tina, focused on extracurriculars meant to impress college admissions officers. But when a ghost from the spirit world attacks the sisters in the middle of Vancouver’s Chinatown neighborhood, Ruby’s life is plunged into a darkness that no amount of duty can free her from. Overnight, Ruby’s sister seems to change. There are strange noises coming from her bedroom at all hours; and the once sweet, funny Tina has been replaced by something dark and unnatural. As Ruby races to save her sister from demonic possession, she is thrown into an ancient battle over the gateway to the underworld. On one side, an evil traveling temple known for making dark wishes come true has returned to Chinatown after many years—intent on breaking down the gateway and unleashing the evil within. On the other side, the guardians who must stop them. And in order to survive, Ruby must not only face the horror taking over her community, but must also confront the horror within herself. Chinese and Taiwanese mythology get the Junji Ito treatment in this bone-chilling, propulsive story that takes the horrors of the Asian diaspora experience to a whole new level.

Killer House Party by Lily Anderson Henry Holt and Co.

Red Solo cups? Check. Snacks? Check. Abandoned mansion full of countless horrors that won’t let you leave? Check. The Deinhart Manor has been a looming shadow over town for as long as anyone can remember, and it's been abandoned for even longer. When the final Deinhart descendent passes, the huge gothic manor is up for sale for the first time ever. Which means Arden can steal the keys from her mom’s real estate office... It’s time for a graduation party that no one will ever forget. Arden and her best friends Maddy, Remi, and Shane, each have different reasons for wanting to throw the party to end all parties. But when the manor doors bar everyone inside and the walls begin to bleed, all anyone wants to do is make it out alive.

Rest in Peaches by Alex Brown Page Street YA

Quinn Marcelo wouldn't necessarily win the award for Most Popular Person at her school, but unbeknownst to her peers, Quinn entertains them at every football, basketball, and baseball game―as Peaches the Parrot, her high school's God-like mascot. When someone sabotages the legendary Peaches costume at the Homecoming Game, Quinn's left unmasked and humiliated. After all, Peaches' identity was a closely guarded secret and a point of pride for nearly everyone at Olivia Newton-John High. As if that wasn't enough, Little Peaches, a new, real parrot that the PTA got to enhance the Peaches Experience, is kidnapped right after Quinn's unmasking. Determined to uncover the culprit, Quinn publicly unravels the lives of everyone in her path―including Tessa Banks, the most popular girl in school―in a no-holds-barred conspiracy-fueled investigation. But when a killer starts going after the people implicated in Quinn's mascot disaster, she must race to uncover the truth behind her feathery faux-pas―before the truth kills her, too.

The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs Heartdrum

In this debut YA horror novel by Cheryl Isaacs (Mohawk), small-town athlete Avery is haunted by the black water and Unfinished beings of Kanyen’kehá:ka stories and must turn to the culture she hasn’t felt connected to in order to save her town. The black water has been waiting. Watching. Hungry for the souls it needs to survive. When small-town athlete Avery’s morning run leads her to a strange pond in the middle of the forest, she awakens a horror the townspeople of Crook’s Falls have long forgotten. Avery can smell the water, see it flooding everywhere; she thinks she’s losing her mind. And as the black water haunts Avery—taking a new form each time—people in town begin to go missing. Though Avery had heard whispers of monsters from her Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk) relatives, she’s never really connected to her Indigenous culture or understood the stories. But the Elders she has distanced herself from now may have the answers she needs. When Key, her best friend and longtime crush, is the next to disappear, Avery is faced with a choice: listen to the Kanyen’kehá:ka and save the town but lose her friend forever…or listen to her heart and risk everything to get Key back. In her stunning debut, Cheryl Isaacs pulls the reader down into an unsettling tale of monsters, mystery, and secrets that refuse to stay submerged.

[persephone-s-moon]

Asian Lost Boys Personal Names!

Personal names tend to vary from culture to culture in terms of usage, but essentially it's someones "Asian name" as opposed to their English name. They're typically used by family members and, on occasion, very close friends because (in my experience) using them is intimate. The characters will still HAVE their English names, but The Lost Boys and family members (the Emersons and the Frogs) will Mostly refer to each other by their personal names.

DISCLAIMER: I'm Taiwanese, therefore I'm more savvy to East Asian cultures, particularly Chinese and Japanese. If anyone who is more knowledgeable about Filipino, Hmong, Thai, Indian, or Vietnamese cultures sees something they want to critique/has more culturally accurate suggestions, I encourage messages/comments/replies!

David: Huang Zhao-Yi

Culture: Taiwanese, of Chinese descent Loose Pronunciation: Hw-ah-ng Sh-ow-yee Surname: Huang, meaning "yellow, to fall through" Personal name: Zhao-Yi, Zhao meaning "bright, luminous" and Yi meaning "happy, joyful, harmony" Notes: I was originally going to name David "Hou Yi" after a mythological Chinese archer because OG Hou Yi destroys 9/10 of the original suns (long story) and there's a version where he and his wife Chang'e become immortal/gods, but there are so many different versions of the story that I decided against it. I also decided that I wanted him to be a Farm Boy™ and naming him after a god seemed a little strange imo.

Paul: Paolo FACUNDO LIWANAG

Culture: Filipino Loose Pronunciation: Pow-low FAK-OON-DO LEE-WAN-AG Personal name: Paolo, meaning "small" Surnames: FACUNDO meaning "talkative", LIWANAG meaning "light" Notes: A lot of Filipino names are Spanish or Italian with biblical roots because of colonization in the 1500s, so I wanted to keep his personal name semi-similar to his English name since it was already biblical. Honestly I could've left it as "Paul" but what's the fun in that? I'm not too sold on his surnames so they might change later and I may try to find a Tagalog name instead for his personal name, we'll see.

Marko: YANG Vam Meej

Culture: White Hmong, from Laos Loose Pronunciation: YANG Va Mae Clan name: YANG, associated with the ram and bear Personal name: Vam Meej, meaning "to prosper, succeed" Notes: Hmong names in particular are a Struggle for me since most of the Hmong people I know are second generation like me and either don't really know their personal names or we're not close enough for me to ask. I am familiar with the concept of clan names though. Marko's name is definitely subject to change in the future (I might pick a clan name more associated with birds just for fun who knows).

Dwayne: Khemkhaeng LUANG

Culture: Thai Loose Pronunciation: Kehm-key-ng LOO-ANG Personal name: Khemkhaeng, meaning "strong" Old personal name: Kasem, meaning "happiness, pure joy" Surname: LUANG, meaning "royal, venerable" Notes: It's common for Thai people to change their names after something either significant or bad happens to them, hence Kasem. I'm only making note of it to alleviate confusion in the event that I decide to do some stuff regarding backstories, no one will refer to him as Kasem otherwise. Also, surnames are still relatively new to Thailand and they were only introduced in the 20th century, so Dwayne gets a shorter surname in comparison to modern Thai surnames (which are required to be unique, hence the longer modern surnames) since I have him and the other boys being born in the 1880s.

Star: Ruchika Chawla

Culture: Indian Loose Pronunciation: Roo-chee-ka Chow-la Personal name: Ruchika, meaning "shining, beautiful, desirous, brilliance" Surname: Chawla, meaning "rice" Notes: I found the name Ruchika and immediately thought of Star ngl, I didn't even consider other names for her. It was like love at first sight. I think a lot of stuff with Star just clicked when I was doing research for her name and design, it just suited her so well. I did have her surname written down wrong in my personal notes so I'm glad I didn't post her character sheet immediately lmao

Laddie: Nino HALILI DEL ROSARIO

Culture: Filipino Loose Pronunciation: Nee-no HA-LEE-LEE DAY ROSE-ARI-O Personal name: Nino, meaning "little boy" Surname: HALILI meaning "successor", DEL ROSARIO meaing "of the rosary" Notes: I went so back and forth on his surnames it's not even funny, but I think I'm happier with Laddie's surnames in comparison to Paul's. "Nino" felt really obvious and clicked really well just like Star's name did, though I did consider a few other names that I don't have written down anywhere. Nino was just superior because he's simply a little guy.

Michael: EMERSON Manh Tien

Culture: Vietnamese Loose Pronunciation: EMERSON Man Tee-en Surname: EMERSON, inherited from white father Middle name: Manh, meaning "first-born" Personal name: Tien, meaning "fairy, celestial being" Notes: I'll be honest, the main contibuting factor behind Michael's personal name was how he was almost named "Moonbeam" during his mom's hippie phase. I have this idea where their dad was white and insisted on using exclusively their English names, and Michael wouldn't initially like his personal name because it feels girly to him anyway, but he'd grow to cherish his name and culture after meeting the lost boys <3

Sam: EMERSON Trong Binh

Culture: Vietnamese Loose Pronunciation: EMERSON Ch-ung Bin Surname: EMERSON, inherited by white father Middle name: Trong, meaning "second-born" Personal name: Binh, meaning "peaceful" Notes: I think overall for the Emerson family I was most concerned with meanings, which wasn't necessarily the case for the boys. Sam is the most peaceful in the sense that he discouraged the Frog brothers from killing Marko, even though he failed. Like Michael, I think his personal name is something that he grows into when he starts making friends, but would use his English name when first coming to Santa Carla.

Lucy: VINH Lan Huong

Culture: Vietnamese Loose Pronunciation: VIN Surname: VINH, meaning "glory" Middle name: Lan, meaning "orchid" Personal name: Huong, meaning "pink rose" Notes: Naming Lucy after flowers just felt right. Let it be known that I have serious beef with hippies, but I feel like she still had a well-intentioned hippie phase and this just adds to it. In Vietnamese culture, women don't change their surnames after marriage (as far as I'm aware) which I think would be a contributing factor in her divorce with her white all-American husband.

Grandpa: VINH Mac Dieu

Culture: Vietnamese Loose Pronunciation: VIN Mac Dee-oo Surname: VINH, meaning "glory" Middle name: Mac, meaning "nothing, nonexistent" Personal name: Dieu, meaning "mysterious, subtle" Notes: Grandpa! Needed! A! Name! He doesn't have one in the original! I'm basically saying he's not subtle about his knowledge of vampires and he's not trying to be subtle, it's just that no one ever asked. I think I tried to pick older-sounding names for him but it's been a little while since I picked these and I don't remember if I'm honest.

Edgar: Kaeru Matsuo

Culture: Japanese Loose Pronunciation: Keh-roo Mat-soo-oh Surname: Kaeru, meaning "frog" Personal name: Matsuo, meaning "pine tree, life" Notes: I named the Frog brothers after the famous Japanese poet Matsuo Basho because their English names remind me of Edgar Allan Poe, so I thought it'd be kind of funny. Matsuo is the surname of the poet, but I felt that Matsuo suited Edgar more than Alan. The surname I picked for the Frogs was obvious, I don't think anything else other than some variation of "frog" would've worked.

Alan: Kaeru Basho

Culture: Japanese Loose Pronunciation: Keh-roo Ba-show Surname: Kaeru, meaning "frog" Personal name: Basho, meaning "banana tree" Notes: Alan got the pen name of Matsuo Basho, who also went by "Sobo" and "Tose". I debated on giving him Matsuo's true given name, which is Kinsaku meaning "to be happy" but Matsuo Basho is better known as Basho and it's much funnier for this very serious 15-16 year old to be named "banana tree".

Sorry if the formatting is weird, I'm trying to make it as reader friendly as possible on account of my own dyslexia. Please let me know if the blocks of text blend in with each other too much lmao

[fallloverfic]

Where to read ENNEAD by Mojito, the boy's love manhwa

"The once peaceful land of Egypt has been stained with blood under the tyrannical rule of Seth, the god of war. Horus, son of the god Isis but not yet one himself, rises to challenge the throne and put an end to the chaos and destruction. Although the confrontation between Seth and Horus began with hatred, in time it becomes blurred by obsession and desire... The ancient mythology of Egypt comes to life as you've never seen it before in this compelling fantasy BL." - Tappytoon summary There are a lot of places to read ENNEAD, the Korean boy's love comic about gods in ancient Egypt, particularly Seth and Horus! But it can be a little confusing, so I'll put some of the big ones in a list, including how to read in English, Korean, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Thai (and here's a carrd version). If you're seeing this reblogged somewhere, check the original to see if there's been any updates, because I'll try to keep this up to date.

There are two versions of ENNEAD available most places it is available: an uncensored/mature/19+ version and a censored/16+/15+ version. The numbers refer to ages.

There is benefit to reading both! Mojito often modifies the censored scenes to show more of different scenes, and some of it explores character thoughts in ways you don't get in the mature version.

Episodes with version differences:

Season 1: Episodes 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 42, 43, 44, 74-75 (75 doesn't exist in the censored release)

Season 2: Episodes 19, 45, 46, 47, 71, 107, 108

ENNEAD is currently two seasons long with an ongoing season 2, and a planned season 3. Mojito sporadically posts on twitter in Korean, sometimes sharing updates, writing/drawing commentary, and extras.

ENNEAD updates in Korean every 10 days, on the 9th, 19th, and 29th (barring holidays and hiatuses), and on the last day of February when it's updating in February, around 22:00 KST. It updates in English, French, and German every 10 days, on the 10th, 20th, and 30th (barring holidays and hiatuses), and on the last day of February when it's updating in February. When the English is updating near-simultaneously, it puts out its latest episode around 00:00 ET. The English translation is currently 8 episodes behind the Korean. The French and German are 12 behind the Korean. The Chinese translation updates on the 5th, 15th, and 25th of each month. The Thai translation updates every other Tuesday.

Mojito has announced that ENNEAD in Korean will go on hiatus after the release of Season 2, Episode 108 until it returns on 20 December 2024 with Season 2, Episode 109. As all translations are behind the Korean, they will likely keep going until they hit Season 2, Episode 108, and then take a break to mimic the Korean, as has happened in the past.

Korean Audio Drama

On 5 November 2023, ACO announced a Korean audio drama of season 1 (Episodes 1-73). It was available for purchase in physical and is now available to purchase digitally by episode. You need to make an account on the digital site to purchase it there, and the individual episode site seems to require ID verification before purchase. More information here.

Print Releases

ENNEAD season 1 is available in print in Korean and Taiwanese, which you can purchase through Harumio and Koonbooks (along with other merch). Apparently the physical editions are a little cheaper if you look for third party sellers. Mojito announced on March 18th, 2023, that season 2 would be getting a physical release after season 2 was fully released online, though Mojito didn't specify in what language(s).

Seven Seas began release of an English physical edition starting in November 2023. "Seven Seas [is releasing] two versions of the series, which were originally drawn for different audiences: a paperback version rated Older Teen, and a deluxe hardcover version rated Mature. (Each version is standalone but has alternate depictions of some adult material.)" Season 1 is at least 6 volumes, and, like all physical releases, is using the Korean book covers.

There are also ongoing physical releases in German and Italian, and a completed season 1 release in Japanese.

Current physical release schedule:

21 November 2023: English volume 1 physical release

24 January 2024: Italian volume 1 physical release

15 February 2024: Italian volume 2 physical release

19 March 2024: English volume 2 physical release, German volume 1 physical release

28 March 2024: Italian volume 3 physical release

24 April 2024: Japanese volumes 1-2 physical release

16 May 2024: Italian volume 4 physical release

20 May 2024: Japanese volume 3 physical release

21 May 2024: German volume 2 physical release

19 June 2024: Japanese volume 4 physical release

18 July 2024: Italian volume 5 physical release

20 July 2024: Japanese volume 5 physical release

23 July 2024: English volume 3 physical release

20 August 2024: Japanese volume 6 physical release, German volume 3 physical release

17 September 2024: German volume 4 physical release

26 September 2024: Italian volume 6 physical release

12 November 2024: English volume 4 physical release

19 November 2024: German volume 5 physical release

18 March 2025: English volume 5 physical release

22 July 2025: English volume 6 physical release

Series Length and Physical Volume Count

Season 1 is complete at 73 episodes with 2 AUs (one for the uncensored release and one for the censored release, covering 3 episodes total). As a physical release, it is 6 volumes long, in every translation (with extra booklets for the uncensored AU and extra art), averaging to about 13 episodes a volume. Assuming season 2 is printed similarly, if it were printed at this point in time where season 2 is (108 episodes), season 2 would be ~8 volumes long, bringing the total series volume count to ~14 volumes. As there is a planned season 3, and Mojito tweeted in July that there is a lot left for season 2, but there's been no clarification on how long "a lot" is, the series total volume count will likely be more than 14 volumes. It is currently assumed that season 3 is the end of the series, as the series was only intended to be 2 seasons for years. But there's been no clarification that season 3 is the end, and as Mojito is adding seasons still (at least as of 2022), it is possibly going to be longer than 3 seasons. The only planned comic releases we know of outside the existence of a season 3 is that Mojito has said that season 2 will begin printing when it is complete online, Mojito said there would be an FGSeth Extra story, which is presumed to be included with season 3, and there is a planned rerelease of The Cat with God as Butler, a collection of non-canon comics from ~2017 about Anubis getting a kitten, which takes to Seth.

English, French, German

Tappytoon is the only place to legally read ENNEAD in English online. There is currently no downloadable ebook copy in English. Tappytoon is available on browser and the app (for your phone and/or tablet). Tappytoon recently added the mature version to its app, but if you have any issues reading it, both are available and purchasable on the browser version, which you can read on your phone/tablet through your browser if you'd like. Any funds you add and any episodes you buy through the app will be there if you switch to browser. It also has a French translation and a German translation, both of which seem to be censored.

Each version, age-wise, is marked specifically: mature says "Mature" (twice), and has a red M, while the censored/16+ version is marked as 16+, and is missing the "Mature" markers.

Uncensored/mature version^^^ (Again, this should be available on the app now, but if you have any issues accessing it, it has been and still is fully accessible via a browser).

Censored/16+ version^^^

These are both available on and off mobile. You do not need your phone to access Tappytoon. But you can use your browser and the app on mobile.

Obtaining episodes: The first three episodes on Tappytoon are free to read and keep forever (in Korean, the first five episodes are free). The rest are paywalled, but there are two ways to read it free, legally, through Tappytoon:

Both versions of ENNEAD are part of Tappytoon's Time Till Free program, where you log in each day and read one episode for free. It means only one episode a day, but you don't have to do anything else. The newest 73 episodes must be purchased with points (the site currency), though. As of March 21st, 2024, this would mean you can get the entirety of season 1 for free, and 6 episodes of season 2.

If you download the app for Tappytoon (usable on phone or tablet), you can watch advertisements to earn points to buy episodes. It's around 30 ads for enough points to buy one episode. If you earn points this way, you can still use them for the mature version if you open it on browser (the points stay in your account), and the episodes will remain in your account even if you can't see the mature versions on the app.

3. You can just buy points. Most credit cards and PayPal should work.

4. Points do not expire, and Tappytoon does deals to get points for cheap every now and then.

Korean

ENNEAD is available in a number of places to legally read in the original Korean. The original Korean is ahead of the English translation currently by 8 episodes, so if you read the Korean, you will be ahead. If you're not using Chrome, I would recommend installing an extension on your browser that translates pages (Firefox has a number of them, just Google "Firefox translation extension"), which will make this part easier if you can't read Korean.

Witchcomics

Witchcomics carries both the censored and uncensored Korean version (uncensored has the red 19 symbol on the top right). It also has a phone app. You will need to verify your age with adult identification to access the uncensored version, and you can use international ID and payment methods for Witchcomics. Simply create an account and go to the customer care page, where they'll explain the process.

Witchcomics also typically provides a preview on their twitter a number of hours (usually no more than 24, sometimes under 10) before the new episode is released. And while Ridibooks uses the current series poster as a filler for episode "previews", Witchcomics puts a mini episode preview up for each episode on the buy/rent page itself (similar to Tappytoon).

Witchcomics is also the site that gives Mojito the biggest percentage of each episode's earnings, so if you're making a decision on where to best support Mojito, it's one of the better options, and Mojito has commented repeatedly she prefers people buy through Witchcomics.

Ridibooks

Ridibooks carries both the censored and uncensored Korean version. To find the uncensored version, type 엔네아드 in the search bar. The uncensored version has a 19 in a circle on the cover. There is also a version with a red cover, which is the complete season 1.

Ridibooks requires you to verify your age by submitting identification in order to read the uncensored/mature version. This guide is very helpful in signing up, getting 19+ access, and paying for episodes. Ridibooks accepts both international ID and international payments to access and read episodes for both the uncensored and censored versions of the story.

Naver

Naver carries both versions of the series in Korean. The uncensored version has the red 19 to the left of its name.

Kakao

Kakao carries both versions of the series in Korean. The censored version has a tiny gray 15 on the upper right corner, and the uncensored version has a 19 in the middle.

Bomtoon

Bomtoon carries both versions of the series in Korean. You need age verification to view the uncensored version, which requires submitting an adult ID to Bomtoon. The censored version is viewable without age verification.

Chinese

The simplified Chinese translation is available on bilibili, though it is censored. The Chinese translation releases on the 5th, 15th, and 25th of each month.

Taiwanese

The uncensored version of ENNEAD is available online on various Taiwanese websites, including Bookwalker, Readmoo, Renta, and Hyread. Season 1 is available in physical form in Traditional Chinese.

German

Besides the seemingly censored Tappytoon online release, Panini Manga is releasing an uncensored physical version of the series. Volumes 1-4 are out! Volume 5 will release on 19 November 2024, while volume 6 does not currently have a release date.

Italian

Planet Manga, a division of Panini Comics, announced on June 6, 2023 that they would be releasing an official Italian translation of ENNEAD! Volumes 1-6 have been released.

Japanese

The uncensored ENNEAD has also been translated into Japanese and is available on b-boy, renta, CMOA, Mecha Comic, and Piccoma. A translation of the censored release began on 20 May 2024.

The physical release of the Japanese translation began on 24 April 2024. Volumes 1-6 have been released. There are various bonuses depending on where you order from.

Thai

wecomics carries the Thai translation, which updates every other Tuesday.

Merch

At this point there have been a few non-book merch waves and collaborations (with Mofun, ACO, BNOW, Gratte, Goodsbee, Good Smile, and Primaniacs), mostly available through proxies. This includes posters, cards, a cup, pins, keychains, popcaps, standees, jewelry, plush dolls, and perfume. Remember to check when comparing prices how much goods are priced + how much it will cost to ship to you. Seoul Comics doesn't sell any of its merch for some reason (e.g., the blanket, tarot cards, magnets, crystal ball, and incense burner), it's just given away rarely in lotteries.

Stores + Proxies:

Mofun

Goodsmile: Global, Canada/USA

Primaniacs

Harumio

Koonbooks

Nemo IT

Amiami

Extra Comics and Art

Finding Community

Please support ENNEAD legally if at all possible. Manhwa artists have a habit of stopping translations or releases entirely when they learn about pirating, and Mojito has spoken out against pirating a number of times.

[onewhoturns]

A-Z Challenge GAME 4

A game is done. B game is short. C is getting voted on now, but I also have far too many options for this one.

(Seriously, this started with 9 options) (...I'm just a very indecisive person okay. ><)

As always, more info about the game options below the cut, including blurbs, tags, and trailers. DOTO I played once and will eventually play again, whether as part of this challenge or not, it's just a matter of getting around to it.

1. Dark Nights With Poe and Munro (2020)

"Guide local radio hosts Poe and Munro through six TV-like episodes of supernatural strangeness and sizzling on-screen chemistry. From the creators of The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker and The Shapeshifting Detective." Steam tags: choose your own adventure, fmv, detective, interactive fiction, multiple endings, point & click, dark comedy, horror, romance

2. Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today (2015)

"A dying reality, a universe that’s fading away. A merciless world thatgets sick and vanishes. No past, no present, no future; only the impending moment of “dead synchronicity” ahead. Will you be able to stop it?Because, otherwise… what will you do when Time dissolves itself?" Steam tags: adventure, point & click, indie, post-apocalyptic, story rich, atmospheric, mystery, horror

3. Detention (2017)

"Detention is an atmospheric horror game set in 1960s Taiwan under martial law. Incorporated religious elements based in Taiwanese/Chinese culture and mythology, the game provided players with unique graphics and gaming experience." Steam tags: horror, indie, psychological horror, atmospheric, puzzle, story rich, adventure, drama, dark, point & click

4. DIVINATION (2019)

""What if you're born into this world without your permission?" DIVINATION is a very short visual novel where you act as a fortune teller in a futuristic world. Talk and listen to people's stories, then foresee their future using the runes they had drawn." Steam tags: visual novel, cyberpunk, short, philosophical, experimental, point & click, noir, text-based, story rich, choices matter, sci-fi

5. Dry Drowning (2019)

"Dry Drowning is a psychological investigative visual novel set in a futuristic dystopian city. Follow the story of Mordred Foley, unscrupulous private detective haunted by his dark past, and look into a series of macabre serial killings inspired by Greek mythology." Steam tags: futuristic, adventure, visual novel, mystery, sci-fi, noir, horror, investigation, psychological, thriller, puzzle

6. Dishonored: Death of the Outsider (2017) (I have 17/30 achievements after 30hrs of play, hltb estimates an average 17hrs completionist so obviously I play slow lmao)

"Be a badass supernatural assassin and take on the role of notorious Billie Lurk as she reunites with her mentor Daud in order to pull off the greatest assassination ever conceived. Building upon Dishonored® 2’s signature gameplay and art style, Death of the Outsider features all the series hallmarks, including brutal combat systems, unique level design, and immersive storytelling that responds to your every choice." Steam tags: stealth, action, first-person, female protagonist, assassin, steampunk, atmospheric, story rich

[hellkeepers-if]

Random thought.. you are probably used to these from Me.. sorry 🙈

But your post made me really think about how excited I am to get into the IF. I love learning about different cultures as I come from a verryyy diverse African country. We really are a mix mash of everything and everyone. And I have both Korean and Japanese friends so I know like the barest of basic knowledge but I think both cultures are equally beautiful.

I am however obsessed with boths fantasy genres. More so any anime that's Yōkai related is like a treat to me.

So my question finally lol is how much is the culture gonna be present in the story? Or is gonna be more focused on a mix of myths from all over?

And will you touch on cultural pressures too? Cuz again african child here unrealistic pressure to be successful and also have a family from random aunties is real here too 🤣

Also would be happy to learn more about other asian cultures and their own creatures that scare lil kids. I don't know much about Taiwanese or Filipino cultures at all.

Haha no worries, I love answering questions!

A large portion of Hellkeepers will be based in the chinese underworld, so chinese mythology will take center stage in the worldbuilding.

However, I am also Southeast-Asian, and a Singaporean raised by Malaysian Chinese folks. Southeast-Asians are already underrepresented in fantasy, be in it culture or it's people. I would be remissed if I could not write about them in a story that's so fitting for it.

There will be the opportunity to learn about other asian cultures in the story, be it through the RO's, mythological folktales, and other spoilery stuff I can't quite mention yet 😜

The overarching theme of Hellkeepers is about family, hence you will definitely get to see the influence of an MC that is raised in an asian household 😂

[comehomet0myheart]

Just finished American Born Chinese and I knew it would be different from the graphic novel and I honestly respect the changes they made, however... I find it really funny that Gene Leun Yang was like "yeah we can't put this on tv". Which is fair! The graphic novel is A Lot. It seems so oversaid, but I remember feeling so raw and a little uncomfortable when I first read it. The show and the novel have the same overarching themes of racial otherness and insecurity but while the show has it as a thread they build with literally Jin's school life and metaphorically with the fantastical mythological plotline, the novel leaves it right out there for you to stare in the face. Like in the show, Jin is obviously out of sorts with his Taiwanese identity and faces a lot of microaggressions in his day-to-day life, but in the graphic novel he escapes his Chinese identity altogether. I don't think it's fair to say that the show completely sanitizes the themes, but for better or for worse it is much more easy for people to swallow!

[dialogues-across-centuries]

Thank you @becomingapoet for tagging me. 🙏 I've never done anything like this, so it should be fun! 😊

1. Are you named after anyone?

I'm named after two people, actually – my first name is my dad's (Tim/Timothy), and my middle name is my grandfather's (Michael).

2. When was the last time you cried?

Twice this morning. 😆 I'm a super watery person, so it doesn't take a whole lot to move me emotionally lol.

3. Do you have kids?

Not of my own (in the biological sense), but I do have a 12-year-old stepson who lives with my partner and I half the time, and his dad the other half. There aren't really any words I can say that will do him justice, but he's a wonderful guy, and we have a great relationship. He's helped me grow as a person more than pretty much anyone I've ever met.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Not in the traditional sense. My partner and I have a few semi-sarcastic inside jokes between us, but they're really quite light-hearted and silly — they're never at anyone's expense or anything like that. (I'm also on the autism spectrum, so I'm admittedly not very good at detecting sarcasm lol. Sometimes I even have to ask her whether she's joking about something or not.)

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

I notice different things about people at different times/in different situations, but one of the most common is how they treat others.

6. What’s your eye color?

My eyes are brown, but they also appear green at times.

7. Scary movie or happy ending?

I am a definite lover of happy endings, but I'm also a great lover of the macabre, so that's a tough one. I would say my natural preference for peaceful resolution comes out on top, though.

8. Any special talents?

Other than poetry, I'm pretty good at divination, especially via Tarot, astrology, geomancy, and dream interpretation.

Bonus secret talent — I used to be a decent rapper in my late teens/early 20s, which, in all honesty, is where I got my start in poetry.

9. Where were you born?

I was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, but I've lived in Niagara Falls for pretty much all my life, other than two brief periods in Toronto and Hamilton.

10. What are your hobbies?

As an autistic person, my "hobbies" are more like all-encompassing obsessions that I can neither live nor function without. 😆

That being said, I spend a great deal of time studying and practicing esoteric traditions like alchemy, astrology, Kabbalah/Qabalah, Tarot, & ritual magic — and my partner Julia and I also do a lot of teaching in this realm through a blog we run called Spiral Sea Tarot.

I also love studying a number of different world religions, comparative mythology, psychology, philosophy, art, & literature.

I am also a great lover of Chinese/Taiwanese tea and tea culture. I'm especially fond of puerh — a post-fermented tea that undergoes a gradual transformation over several years from a vibrant, yellowish brew to a complex, earthy red.

11. Do you have any pets?

We have a highly-strung, but always lovable muted tortie cat named Maeby.

12. What sports do/have you played?

Mostly baseball, but I've played a bit of hockey, football, and volleyball as well.

13. How tall are you?

6'1"

14. Favorite subject in school?

English and Psychology

15. Dream job?

I'd love for my partner and I to be able to do our work together on a larger scale, and in more of a full-time capacity than life currently allows. You can't really beat doing what you love with the person you love doing it with!

I haven't been here long enough to get to know anyone yet, so I tag anyone who is reading this. Thanks for your time! 🙏

[jack-bytez-genuine-corner]

In earnest I think gamers and people who engage with any art in general are just unwilling to try new things, so I'm going to do a quick recommendation list under the cut of indie games so many people probably overlooked due to it not being in THEIR preferred genre. Games aren't necessarily less fun at all, you just have to actually look now that you're an adult and not a kid who can play whatever and have fun. Even small things like thinking on the game can enhance the experience, like how I spent a lot of Elden Ring just looking around and admiring the scenery which was very fun honestly.

* Nine Sols: A relatively hard, parry based side scroller that combines scifi and ancient Chinese and Taiwanese mythology. Known secret but I'm a bit of a history and mythology buff so this game scratches a lot of itches. In particular the gameplay is very smooth and fair, with the reaction based parries feeling very natural after a bit with the game alongside it, at least as far as I've played, not being super mandatory with many enemies and attacks being possible to dodge or parry rather than only being presented with one option. The story gets pretty existential and emotional but I've been loving the journey, even if the gore gets real strong at a few points.

* Crypt Custodian: A fairly light hearted comedy game mixed with a tinge of sadness wrapped up in an old school Zelda shell. The art and writing are both very memorable and there's a part in the first real cutscene that gave me quite a good chuckle. Like most really well designed games you aren't pigeonholed into very set gameplay and fights which makes exploration very fun.

* Hi-Fi Rush: My game of the year last year. It's a very fun, hectic beat em up where everything moves to the beat, from you to the attacks. The best part is the inclusion of an easy mode in case you just want a chill ride. It introduced me to a couple great songs and I really resonated with its whole "It's OK to be a loser" message.

* Conscript: Final and obligatory horror game. This top down Resident Evil styled game is beyond lovely at bringing a retro feel to the horrors of trench warfare. Not to spoil like the other games, it has a strong opening with how your French protag both doesn't want to be in war but is forced to by his country and sense of duty to protect his brother and get them both out of the trenches alive.

* Bonus freebie is Werewolf Cleaner: A Street stealth janitorial game starring a cute werewolf. It's free, fun, cute and very tongue and cheek.

[shahananasrin-blog]

[ad_1] Taiwan revealed the island’s first domestically built submarine on Thursday, a major breakthrough in its defense capabilities as tensions with China continue to rise.Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen unveiled the submarine, named Hai Kun after a fish in Chinese mythology called kun, saying that "history will forever remember this day.""In the past, a domestic-made submarine was considered impossible, but today a submarine designed and built by our countrymen is in front of you," she said at the launch ceremony."Building a submarine is the concrete realization of our resolution to protect our country," Tsai continued. "Submarines are an important piece of equipment for the Taiwan navy to develop asymmetric combat power in terms of strategy and tactics."ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO GOVERNORS SEEK STRONGER BUSINESS TIES WITH TAIWAN The submarine, if successful in its tests, will be a major breakthrough for Taiwan in shipbuilding and design. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)Taiwan's CSBC Corp. led the construction of the submarine, which underwent seven years of design and construction.The U.S. has been pushing Taiwan to develop asymmetric warfare strategies by investing in smaller and lighter weapons such as the reduced-size submarine. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, center, during the naming and launching ceremony of domestically-made submarines at CSBC Corp's shipyards in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, on Thursday. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)The submarine will be launched at a port in Kaohsiung, where it will begin tests before heading into the ocean. If all the tests are successful, the submarine will be given to the island's military.China's Defense Ministry responded Thursday to the submarine’s unveiling, saying that Taiwan was "heading down the path of its own destruction." Taiwan's first-ever domestically-made submarine is named ''Haikun,'' or Narwhal. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)CHINA OFFERS TAIWAN PROMISES OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES WHILE RAMPING UP MILITARY DRILLS NEAR THE ISLAND"No matter how many weapons the Democratic Progressive Party buys, it will not obstruct the greater trend of reunification with the motherland," said Col. Wu Qian, a spokesperson in China's Ministry of National Defense.Beijing’s recent military exercises near Tawain have ratcheted tensions between the two governments.CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLast week, China flew 103 warplanes near and over the island in a 24-hour period in what the island’s defense ministry called a recent new high. A day later, an additional 55 PLA aircraft were detected near the island by Taiwan’s R.O.C. Armed Forces.Fox News' Lawrence Richard and The Associated Press contributed to this report. [ad_2]

[two-sapphics-reading]

Review: A Magic Steeped in Poison 🎀

Warning: Spoilers below, so proceed with caution!

Cover Art by Sija Hong

Final Score: ⭑⭑⭑✬✩ (3.5/5 Stars)

"I used to look at my hands with pride. Now, all I can think is, These are the hands that buried my mother."

WOW, what a way to open your debut novel. Not only did it immediately draw me in, but it also set up the emotional, familial stakes A Magic Steeped in Poison, by Judy I. Lin, offers. The novel follows Ning, a skilled yet inexperienced shénnóng-shi (a powerful magic user that channels their sorcery through the art of tea-brewing), as she desperately attempts to save her sister, Shu, from dying as a result of poison-laced tea that she unknowingly brewed. Furthermore, this tea killed the girls' mother, making Ning extremely guilt-ridden and frantic. Hence, when the call for a nationwide competition to become a court-appointed shénnóng-shi for the Princess of Dàxi, Ning leaps at the opportunity, falling into a world of political intrigue, corruption, magic, folklore, and old Gods.

While the plot structure is typical YA fare (even being distinctly reminiscent of Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone - a young girl goes to a city of wonder to learn about and train her new powers and gets wrapped up in political drama), Lin's prose gives it a different flavor, crafting Ning's internal strife and the opulent capital of Jia beautifully with well-placed descriptions and word choice all steeped in Chinese and Taiwanese folklore, history, and tradition. She even has glossaries in the endnotes to codify her linguistics, which satisfied my history-lover self.

However, these already astonishing elements pale compared to the passion she imbues into depicting the magic of the tea ceremony created by a shénnóng-shi. There is something so distinctly beautiful in how Lin chooses to blend emotion with mythology within these sections, and the magic has such a unique, quiet power. Rather than being explosive, this power is intimate and ancient, shared across a table rather than a battlefield. It's a refreshing retool of what supernatural powers can look like and were my favorite sections of the novel.

One thing to note is that Lin's pace can feel unforgiving, often rushing from one plot element to another. This is especially true at the beginning, where I was thrown from the inciting incident to arriving in the capitol 6 concise chapters later. I barely knew the names I needed to know, the vibes of the characters, and what the world was like. This made getting into the book more difficult. I often felt like I missed a memo about this world's general "rules" and then discovered that they would be explained later. It was definitely confusing. I hope that now that I have the general gist, the ladder half of the duology, A Venom Dark and Sweet, will suffer less from this.

I enjoy how much effort Lin places in creating dynamic femme friendships/relationships. Despite not being together for much of the novel, Ning and Shu are close through vignettes of the past provided by Ning. Ning also finds trust in Lian, another competitor, and Stewardess Yang, the jaded head of the Imperial Kitchen. These relationships feel genuine and vital and are often directly related to plot sequences.

Speaking of relationships, that is one of the main reasons this book struggled in spots for me. Kang, the male lead and love interest, is a fine character with intriguing enough struggles between choosing one's country and one's family, but he's a bore romantically. Like many other male YA love interests, he's got a sarcastic vocabulary, a mysterious past, and a lot of knowledge he probably shouldn't have, which is evidently in contrast to Ning's more naive, green, and stubborn disposition. However, while set up to be typical, their chemistry feels oddly paced. I believe they only met about 3 times before kissing? And of those, two times were much more about lore than their interest in each other. So while time was spent in page count, it needed to be utilized better plotwise. It felt like they liked each other because the plot needed them to like each other. After all, YA books always have romance. And although Ning and Kang are separated by circumstance and pining again by the novel's end, a longer, more slow-burn relationship would have served them better. I would have just been more interested in the payoff, that's for certain.

However, conversely, THERE ARE SAPPHICS. I REPEAT. THERE ARE SAPPHICS. While Lin makes it clear that Dàxi is a queer-friendly country (a male side character mentions his husband at one point), Princess Zhen and her bodyguard Ruyi were a surprising treat mid-way through. Raised together since birth, Ruyi was trained to always serve her sovereign while Zhen was meant to merely ignore her, but somewhere along the way, they ended up falling for each other. They are fiercely protective of each other, will call each other their beloved, and Zhen regularly goes against royal protocol to keep Ruyi safe and alive. It's all adorable, and I couldn't help but think I would KILL for their prequel book. However, I'm hopeful for more sapphic content in A Venom Dark and Sweet, as Zhen and Ruyi flee Jia with Ning.

Overall, A Magic Steeped in Poison is a fun, quick read that, while needing more pages to ease the reader in and taking overused tropes and structures to build the plotline's base, effectively utilizes folklore and beautiful prose to elevate the reading experience and engage the reader. When working within these original elements, it is most potent and impactful, creating a sensory experience that extends beyond the page. Additionally, Lin works well to make meaningful femme friendships/relationships if struggling with the central romance (mainly due to her reliance on those tropes mentioned above). I hope Lin will lean into these more original aspects in the sequel. Nevertheless, she should be incredibly proud that this is her debut novel, as she has exceptional skill and potential. I'm excited to see how she grows through both A Venom Dark and Sweet and her future work.

I'd suggest A Magic Steeped in Poison for a beach read or, obviously, with a cup of tea.

[annarellix]

Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai

In this inspired contemporary fantasy, a Chinese immortal and a French elf navigate romance, family loyalty, and workplace demands. In her debut novel, Mia Tsai has created a paranormal adventure that is full of humor, passion, and depth.

As a descendant of the Chinese god of medicine, ignored middle child Elle was destined to be a doctor. Instead, she is underemployed as a mediocre magical calligrapher at the fairy temp agency, paranoid that her murderous younger brother will find her and their elder brother. Using her full abilities will expose Elle’s location. Nevertheless, she challenges herself by covertly outfitting Luc, her client and crush, with high-powered glyphs. Half-elf Luc, the agency’s top security expert, has his own secret: he’s responsible for a curse laid on two children from an old assignment. To heal them, he’ll need to perform his job duties with unrelenting excellence and earn time off from his tyrannical boss. When Elle saves Luc’s life on a mission, he brings her a gift and a request for stronger magic to ensure success on the next job—except the next job is hunting down Elle’s younger brother. As Luc and Elle collaborate, their chemistry blooms. Happiness, for once, is an option for them both. But Elle is loyal to her family, and Luc is bound by his true name. To win freedom from duty, they must make unexpected sacrifices

Book page: https://tachyonpublications.com/product/bitter-medicine/

My Review: It's the first book i read by this author and won't surely be the last as it's a delightful and compelling story that made me smile and root for the characters. Once I started it I had to keep on reading as the characters were calling me. It also caused a bad case of book hangover. The author did an excellent job in mixing contemporary environment and mythological Chinese elements creating a fascinating world. Excellent world building, storytelling and character. The romance is sweet and made me smile. It's an excellent story and I would be happy to read other novels set in this universe. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

The Author: Mia Tsai is a Taiwanese American author of speculative fiction. She lives in Atlanta with her family and, when not writing, is a hype woman for her orchids and a devoted cat gopher. Her favorite things include music of all kinds (really, truly) and taking long trips with nothing but the open road and a saucy rhythm section. She has been quoted in Glamour once. In her other lives, she is a professional editor, photographer, and musician.

Twitter @itsamia Instagram @mia.tsai.books Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22525760.Mia_Tsai Website: http://www.miatsai.com

[whiskyaura]

Continue from the last post… This bottle is exclusively released for the Taiwanese horror movie called “The Rope Ritual”, and is the first edition of the series of 3 episodes. The entire movie series is focused on Zhong Kui, who is a deity in Chinese mythology, traditionally regarded as a vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings. He is depicted as a large man with a big black beard, bulging eyes, and a wrathful expression. He is able to command demons to do his bidding and is often associated with the five bats of fortune. Worship and iconography of Zhong Kui later spread to other East Asian countries, and he can also be found in the folklores and mythologies of Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. GlenAllachie Distilled: 2008/5/6 Bottled: 2022/5/8 Cask Type: First Fill Sherry Butt Cask No.: 900417 No. of Bottles: 594 64.7% ABV/700ML Cask Strength/ Natural Colour/ Non Chill Filtered https://www.instagram.com/p/CmDicrCSNQw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=