#also xishi is here now

[fortune-maiden]

NOT LING GUFU! 😭😭😭

[thewritingsofdreamers]

ARC Book review: A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

⭐️: 3.8

At 3.8 (stars rounded up for Goodreads), this book was fantastically written with characters I liked and a well thought out plot. As always, I will discuss the three main components that make up a story for me: The writing, plot, and characters.

Writing style:

The book was understandably written, and I mean this in a good way. Although I am unfamiliar with what the story is based off of, I have read many retellings that fall flat and don’t give the story the depth it needs to flourish. With the writing style, you get the idea that the author has taken this take and truly fleshed it out. I really appreciate that the writing was well put out and not in a intricately complicated format that I have seen some works do.

The plot:

This story was really fun to read, you get morally grey characters, “who did this to you” vibes and (a hot love interest). Which honestly does it for me XD. Secondly, although I’ll refrain from spoiling, the ending of this book absolutely shocked me to my core and honestly I loved it. I’m all for twists in a book. (Did I predict it? Maybe a bit lol, but I loved it nonetheless.) The story kept me engaged and saying ‘just one more chapter’ at midnight so I certainly loved this novel.

Also, I’d say it’s perfect for anyone looking for a shorter read because not only is it a novel, which already has a low commitment level, but it’s short and reads very well!

The characters:

We have one main character, Xishi, (the person who has the primary POV), and two other major side characters. Fanli, the main love interest and Fuchai, who is the enemy character. I’ll mention Fuchai last because I have something interesting to note on him.

Xishi: Our beautiful, morally driven badass character who is as beautiful as she is deadly, really manages to capture the perspective of how to seduce a man. Reading her pov resonated with me because she made notes and had certain realizations about men (at least the sleezy ones, I’m not bashing men I swear, just the bad ones). Fuchai is a really interesting character study on the art of manipulating a guy into loving you and idk, I just really thought that Xishi really hit the nail on the head for how to get into a man’s mind.

Fanli: I love this man. Hands down he’s so cool. I don’t want to say much cause I’m afraid I’ll spoil but he’s as awesome as you think he is.

Fuchai: Ok, so this guy is the ‘big bad’ the one we hate, but, his character is, in my opinion, the best written. Why? Because oftentimes in book, you have evil characters, who do evil things, and we hate them. The difference here is that we see him as a person (albeit a messed up one) when he’s with Xishi. We see the side of him that loves and is kind, and we see the side that has been utterly smitten with Xishi. Now, let me clarify, this man is evil and commits morally depraved acts, and there is no excuse for such actions. What I’m saying is, is that this is the first book where I have read an evil character where it was difficult not to feel at least a bit of sympathy for him because we understand and learn of his circumstances for how he came to be. Lastly, I enjoyed how his character type was written. He was the picturesque version of a man who believes he is immortal because of his accomplishments. Because of that, he commits heinous acts, and enjoys them. Overall, Fuchai is a favorite character of mine in this book, even because of his actions.

Final thoughts: Good book, short read, I liked the retelling aspect and it’s an easy 3.8 stars (rounded up for Goodreads.

[cytharat]

9 books I intend to read in 2022

I was tagged by the lovely @danhoemei thank you!!

I don’t really make plans or keep To Read lists because there’s so much to read and so little time so I usually just pick up whatever I’m in the mood for at that moment, but here's at least some of the stuff I am either currently reading or want to read at some point, hopefully this year :’D

1) maybe? possibly?? re-read Tian Ya Ke (Faraway Wanderers, by Priest) because it’s been a while and it’s probably even better the second time around since there’s bound to be stuff that I’ve missed before, especially now after reading Qi Ye too

2) continue reading Tai Sui, also by Priest

3) Yu Wu (Remnants of Filth) by Meatbun. A while ago people on twitter were all over this one so I’m curious what the fuss is about haha

4) re-read at least parts of Zhen Hun (Guardian, Priest) simply because I feel like revisiting them idk

5) continue reading Lie Huo Jiao Chou (Drowning sorrows in raging fire, Priest again), but since the translation is still in progress I can only gobble up each new chapter as they come out and hope for the best

6) Qian Qiu (Thousand Autumns) by Meng Xishi. I just see it everywhere and the fanart is so good??

7) How to read Chinese Poetry: A guided anthology by Cai Zong-qi. I’m 100% serious lmao but the book isn’t exactly cheap so I’m thinking of gifting it to myself for my birthday next month, as a treat

8) almost forgot! but I also still need to finish Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong (SVSSS) by mxtx. Am enjoying it a lot though, probably even the most out of the three? Maybe because it’s a bit more light-hearted ... well. until it isn’t, of course, lol

9) I honestly don’t know. Suggestions? Then again I’m not even sure I’ll manage to get through those other eight so maybe I shouldn’t be overambitious lmao

tagging uhhh @pharawee @hudsini @sugarbabywenkexing @trashwarden and idk, anyone else who wants to do it? Feel free to ignore ofc, as always <3

[unforth]

I have started reading Danmei at your recommendation and I am IN SO DEEP. I was wondering if you could make a list of the ones you have read and recommend.

I AM SO GLAD ANON!! Both that I'm the reason you got into danmei, and also that you sent me this ask (I always wish I got more asks like this, lol. <3 )

Better yet, I can answer this pretty easily, because I've already compiled a stupidly complete list of what I've read, am reading, and plan to read, and it's on Tumblr even! And it's recent, so fingers crossed that the links all still work (with stuff going on with JJWXC - the website where most danmei is initially published - a lot of authors have locked, removed, or otherwise made it harder to access their works, so links have been changing often and things that used to be available often aren't).

Anyway, here's my FULL list! As you'll see if you click through, it's actually kinda short? because I'm a slow reader, and these books are so so so SO long. But, I'm plugging away, and reading more all the time (I'm like...almost 20% through The Fourteenth Year of Chenghua rn...).

As to recommendations...so, I've read, start to finish, 10 danmei novels so far, and I haven't yet read something I didn't like. I don't know what you've already read and liked, so it's hard for me to make specific recommendations and/or explain these books in a way that might help you decide which would interest you, but I can say that my personal top 5 are:

1. Tian Guan Ci Fu/Heaven Official's Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. Fantranslations are no longer available for it, because it's being published by Seven Seas Danmei. I honestly don't even know where to begin with TGCF because I love it just that much. Like, it's my number 1 danmei, and it's ALSO in my top 5 books ever.

2. The Husky and His White Cat Shizun by Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat. This has also been licensed by Seven Seas Danmei; if you're at all interested in reading it grab it now because the main translations are going down at the end of the month. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS AND TAGS 2ha is heavy angst with a happy ending, and all AO3 major archives apply to it, and then some.

3. Thousand Autumns by Meng Xishi. The one I'm hoping Seven Seas will license next. They are such a strange couple with a very unusual dynamic and I love that for them.

4. Qiye by Priest. This is the first book in the 'verse where the c-drama Word of Honor takes place, and is the book I finished most recently, and I really, really liked it. It was especially cool to read it and then watch some Word of Honor again because viewing the show through the lens of what I now know from Qiye is fascinating (I haven't read Tian Ya Ke yet, which is the book Word of Honor is based on, but it's on my list).

5. Golden Stage by Cang Wu Bin Bai. Peach Flower House Publishing announced yesterday that they've licensed this one under the name Golden Terrace, for a November release. I'm not sure yet what that means for the translation I linked, but I'd say, if you want to read a fantranslation this is probably the moment to do it.

Honorable Mention: Daomu Biji by Xu Lei isn't danmei, and it's honestly like...kinda terrible? The plot is so full of holes that it's sometimes incomprehensible, the official English translation is mediocre, the shows range from hilariously bad through genuinely good yet still full of huge plot holes and major plot holes...and yet somehow DMBJ has become one of my fandom happy places? I think it's because it's a trial by fire; the people who can get through the mess of canon have to be chill, there's no way to enjoy it otherwise (and I do, truly, genuinely, absolutely enjoy it) and so it's just...a really nice fandom to be in, and canon has a large cast with a lot of excellent supporting characters who often get the spotlight, which means it's a multishippers delight. But enter at your own risk. You WILL want to throw things at the author, on the regular, lmao.

I hope this helps a little? If I knew more what you'd read and liked, I could probably do a more tailored rec list. <3

[baoshan-sanren]

hi! love your blog :) you seem like a danmei connoisseur so i decided to ask you for some recs if that's okay :)) i've discovered mxtx last year and now i've almost finished all of her books and i'm wondering what to read next. what are other cnovels similar to hers that have readable english translations?? thank you in advance :))

Hi hi thank you!!! My media page is right here, if you filter just the novels, you’ll find everything I’ve read/am currently reading/plan to read in near future (at the bottom of the description it will say whether it’s 100% translated)

Tbh I would rec anything by Priest off the bat, especially if flawed heroes and detailed worldbuilding is your thing. I would also def rec 2ha (dumb husky) and yuwu (stains of filth) by Meatbun, with an obligatory disclaimer that both novels have a content warning list that’s probably longer than most religious texts. 

I’m in the process of reading The Wife is First by Lu Ye Qian He (the best feel-good historical aside from Golden Stage I’ve found so far), Thousand Autumns by Meng XiShi (wuxia with like 85% whump), and Faraway Wanderers by Priest (wuxia - the drama based on the novel, Word of Honor, is airing right now), and I would wholeheartedly rec all three except that the reason I’m reading three at once is bc none of the translations are complete 😂

Next on my reading list is Nan Chan by Tang JiuQing and Lord Seventh by Priest (translations complete) because an obnoxious number of people have recommended them to me at different times, so I feel comfortable reccing them even tho I haven’t read them. 

+ I would take a look at @leonzhng’s book rec list and @minmoyu’s novel recs too (although they don’t need translations so it’s not guaranteed the novels will have them)

If anyone else wants to add their own danmei recs, feel free :) I’m always looking to add to my reading list too 

[vallonde-laid-bare]

Ok, this one is kinda high concept and complicated, but bear with me here.

I had the idea that I wanted some sort of race of inanimate objects, and this is the end result. My original idea was puppets, which turned into something like the final fantasy quan, which eventually became this. It also gave me a way to add some more character to the events surrounding the loss of Xishi, so it’s a double win! 

Now, I know this shifts a lot of the basic rules surrounding how characters work, and it definitely isn’t a race I’d recommend for inexperienced players OR dungeon masters, but I like the concept enough try to refine it and make it more streamlined and understandable without taking away it’s unique flavor. As is, the idea is that the character can shift their functionality by possessing different armors, and when they die while possessing a suit of armor they just get shunted out. Healing spells may not work on them, but the fact that they don’t die when reduced to 0 hit points makes dying less problematic so I’m trying to create a balance that flips how player’s manage their characters on its head. This is obviously a rough draft that will be edited and refined, but the theme and mechanics are there and I think they have potential.

As always, questions and comments are welcome. I’d love to hear your thoughts! (EDIT: Clarifications and mechanical tweaks)

(Content PDF) (Patreon)

[unforth]

I am finishing The Untamed and am IN. LOVE. I thought I remembered you posting a thread on where to go next in this journey but can't find it! Do I want to read the English fan translation of the novel? Do I want to read the (I don't know the word for the Chinese version) Manga? Watch the animated version? What comes after The Untamed? Help, Unforth! You're my only hope! (If you have the time/spoons/energy, of course.) Thank you!!

Ack I’m so sorry I didn’t answer this sooner, I’ve kinda been a mess this week. Anyway! You have a lot of places you can go next!

The Untamed is adapted from Mo Dao Zu Shi, a novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. It’s explicit, the ship is canon, warnings for dub con (acknowledged, which at least for me makes a difference) and homophobia. There are multiple adaptations of MDZS, all of which are more similar to each other than any of them are to Untamed - Untamed made some major changes in the plot (for example, changed the entire timeline for when Xue Yang, Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan are introduced, and completely invented the Yin Iron and everything related to it) and those changes aren’t present in any of the other versions. That said, they’re different, but still enjoyable. (personal disclaimer: I *far* prefer the Untamed to the others, but that’s just me, some people love the others far more.)

Exiled Rebels Scanalations English translation

Mo Dao Zu Shi Donghua by Tencent (Chinese equivalent of anime)

I think there’s some other version people read but I’ve read the Exiled Rebs translation of the manhua (Chinese equivalent of manga)

Suibian Subs has the main version of the radio drama that I know of; I hear good things about it but haven’t listened personally

Those are all options if you want more of Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, and all the rest of our wonderful cast. Now, if instead you want some new characters to fall in love with, by the same author...

My favorite of the danmei novels I’ve read so far is Tian Guan Ci Fu. It’s also by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, and I adore it. The translation done by @yummysuika and others is phenomenal, and you can learn more about where to access it here. There’s also a manhua. It’s currently on hiatus, but you can read translations on TGCFMissy’s account on Twitter. (the first chapter is missing a few of the sections and I don’t know why but all the rest is there). The donghua has one season out, and recently came to Netflix.

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s third novel (well, actually her first - the order she wrote them in was this one, then MDZS, then TGCF) is Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong, usually translated to “The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System.” There’s a website with the whole thing translated but I personally read the first half-or-so of the chapters here, and the rest here. A manhua exists but it only had a couple issues come out before it vanished, and the first season of the donghua aired last year and is available on Youtube.

...and finally, some works by others...

Guardian, or Zhenhun, by Priest, is one of the early danmei works to get really popular. The show and the novel are VERY different. The show is available on Youtube. I don’t have time to hunt down the novel translation rn, sorry.

Word of Honor, also based on a novel by Priest, is a break out hit right now. I’ve only seen the first three episodes so far, but they’re great and I can’t wait to watch more. It’s on Youtube Afaik there is not an official translation yet of the entire series, even though it’s all aired. The novel it’s based on is “Faraway Wanderers”

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun, usually called Erha or 2ha, is by Meatbun Doesn’t Eat Meat. There’s a show adaptation filmed, but it hasn’t aired yet, and I believe there’s a manhua and a radio drama, though I’ve not listened to each. Warning for a LOT of dark themes, especially non-con stuff.

I’m currently reading Thousand Autumns, by Meng Xishi, and I’m enjoying it a lot. There’s also a donghua; the first season is on Youtube.

There’s loads more, and in a lot of ways I’m a terrible person to ask because I have so little time for watching and reading right now.

My personal “to watch” list right now is...

Word of Honor

The Lost Tomb Reboot (I’m almost done, but it’s not on the above list cause it’s not canonically queer)

Thousand Autumns donghua

Sleuth of Ming Dynasty

Probably about six other things I’m not remembering right now

My personal “to read” list includes...

Sha Po Lang (also by Priest)

The Wife is First

Those Years in Quest of Honor Mine

How to Survive as a Villain

Faraway Wanderers (by Priest)

And I’ve got some others stashed away in my Tumblr drafts - that’s where I save danmei rec posts when I see them on my dash.

So...that’s a lot. If you want one single rec? Tian Guan Ci Fu is so far my favorite, I’d personally say go there next. :D