#rosmei translations

[naughtynanzhu]

Kaleidoscope of Death Preorder

the first book translated by Rosmei is open for preorder until the 23rd of September! I reached out to them for suggestions on best buying options for fans outside of Singapore and they sent me to yiggybean

ordering from yiggybean, you'll pay the cost of the book and shipping from them to you, but when the book arrives at their place, they'll calculate the cost of the shipping from Singapore to them, and they'll send you another email about paying for that. I believe it comes out December 31st.

preordering before the 23rd will get you publisher extras, but after that you'll only receive the book.

preorder from yiggybean here

[veliseraptor]

finished reading faraway wanderers yesterday and while overall I really liked it I am very disappointed that gu xiang's death wasn't a change for the drama :(

[theyilinglaozus]

Trying to do research into the Rosmei danmei releases and learning that there was talk of a Canadian and UK distributor for them but finding nothing more to see if they had announced anything since is a pain.

There's a few novels I'm interested in but I am especially eyeing the preorder for volume one of How to Be a Villian in Real Life and the future release of Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire.

[theannypetite]

Nan Chan vol. 1

Time to Read: 5 minutes A carp in a bowl had gained consciousness as it lives with Jinglin, a recovering man who mostly slept. It had gotten into its head that it wanted to devour its caretaker. And when Cangji gained a human body as a result of nearly becoming fish feed himself, that’s the pledge he made… But it would have to wait because their lives were further flipped upside down when…

[dragonsandphoenix]

The Approach audio drama is almost over (if I put off listening to it can I pretend that it's not ending? 🥲) and man, what an amazing BL about two adults dealing with adult struggles from their careers to family and loss to learning to love and accept love.

Their conversations are so mature. And not just the ones with each other but with their friends too. Mature adults doing their best and engaging in introspective conversations about navigating life is like instant healing for me when done well. Fang Hao telling Chen Jiayu that the pain of his mother's passing will never really go away (just like the pain with his own dad) because regret and happiness go hand in hand, and the happier we are, the more regrets pile up. And that's fine.

Chen Jiayu's conversation with his ex was also nice. Looking back at their younger selves and how much they've grown since then.

On a lighter note commenters saying that Chen Jiayu and Fang Hao should go to Vegas and get married (since they're in the US and all 🤣). Yeah it does feel like they're the ones getting married instead of Chen Jiayu's ex. I wonder what their vows would be.

Which kind of makes me want to reread Zhou Qichen's vows in Tailhook. Which reminds me Tailhook is getting translated and I am once again on cloud nine.

[unforth]

Danmei and Baihe C Novels and Manhua Officially Licensed in English

Things are getting licensed fast enough that keeping a list like this up-to-date is basically impossible, but I saw someone asking in the tags so I figured I'd try. All titles are danmei unless otherwise noted (very little baihe is licensed so far). I've included Chinese titles, but sometimes publishers change the original titles so much that I can't track them down, apologies. I've hit the link limit on this post so I've had to remove NovelUpdate links, but they're still in the version of this post on Wordpress. Note that Taiwanese titles are not included on this list.

This is everything I know of as of December 11, 2024. There might be more. I tried. Resources used to compile this list: Danmeinews.com; this Carrd, last updated in March 2023; this other carrd last updated October 23 2024; list of danmei with official licenses on NovelUpdates; a similar list on Goodreads; danmei-specific list on Reddit that to my eye looks accurate for the larger publishers but isn't thorough for some of the smaller ones.

-

Seven Seas:

The full list of danmei novels licensed by Seven Seas is here. The full list of danmei manhua licensed by Seven Seas is here.

These titles are in various stages of publication, from "entire series released" to "license literally announced less than a week ago." As far as I know, all Seven Seas titles are available world-wide, through major distributors and libraries, and in e-book and print formats. Seven Seas translation quality varies but the editing is general strong and the editions are sturdy and nice. Note that Seven Seas isn't without controversy, especially for treating their contractors poorly resulting in them unionizing. Some people have also been unhappy with the fidelity of their translations compared to the original Chinese (I've been satisfied personally but ymmv).

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu titles:

The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System (Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong)

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi)

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi) manhua

Heaven Official's Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu)

Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat titles:

Case File Compendium (Bing an Ben)

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun (Erha he Ta de Bai Mao Shizun)

Remnants of Filth (Yuwu)

Meng Xi Shi titles:

Thousand Autumns (Qian Qiu)

Peerless (Wushuang)

priest titles:

Guardian (Zhenhun)

Silent Reading (Modu)

Stars of Chaos (Sha Po Lang)

Fei Tian Ye Xiang titles:

Astrolabe Rebirth (Xing Pan Chongqi), written under the pen name Arise Zhang

Dinghai Fusheng Records (Dinghai Fusheng Lu)

Dinghai Fusheng Records (Dinghai Fusheng Lu) manhua

Joyful Reunion (Xiang Jian Huan)

Legend of Exorcism (Tianbao Fuyao Lu)

Mu Su Li titles:

Copper Coins (Tong Qian Kan Shi)

The Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years (Bujian Shang Xian San Bai Nian)

Lv Ye Qian He titles:

The White Cat’s Divine Scratching Post (Shenmu Nao Bujin)

The Wife Comes First (Qi Wei Shang)

Other titles:

After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine (Canji Zhanshen Jia Wo Wei Qie Hou) by Liu Gou Hua

Ballad of Sword and Wine (Qiang Jin Jiu) by Tang Jiuqing

BAIHE: The Beauty’s Blade (Meiren Jian) by Feng Ren Zuo Zhu

The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish (Canji Baojun de Zhangxin Yu Chong) by Xue Shan Fei Hu

I Ship My Rival x Me (Wo Kele Duijia x Wo de CP) manhua by PEPA

HET: Love Between Fairy and Devil (Cang Lan Jue) by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang

Mistakenly Saving the Villain (Lun Jiu Cuo Fanpai de Xiachang) by Feng Yu Nie

My Husband and I Sleep in a Coffin (Wo he Laogong Shui Guancai) by Wu Shui Bu Du

Run Wild (Saye) by Wu Zhe

There’s Something Wrong with the Chief (Du Zhu You Bing) by Yang Su

Thrice Married to Salted Fish (San Jia Xianyu) by Bi Ka Bi

The Villain’s White Halo (Fanpai Baihua Guanghuan) by Hao Da Yi Juan Wei Sheng Zhi

You’ve Got Mail: The Perils of Pigeon Post (Fei Ge Jiao You Xu Jin Shen) by Blackegg

-

Rosmei:

Rosmei licenses are Singapore distribution rights only. There is a list of international partners organizing group orders here. I've personally placed my orders through Yiggybean, as discussed in reply to this ask. Most of these titles are only being released as print editions, tho titles that weren't originally on JJWXC (of which there are several here) WILL have e-book editions. My first book from Rosmei arrived, and I found the translation and editing to be very strong. I can't speak to how accurate it may be to the Chinese original, but it read smoothly and had very few errors. Overall, though they've made some mistakes, they've been communicative and responsive.

Huai Shang titles:

Breaking Through the Clouds (Po Yun)

Hunt for the Leviathan (Po Yun 2 Tun Hai)

Ning Yuan titles:

BAIHE: At the World's Mercy

BAIHE (I think???) The Creator's Grace

priest titles:

Coins of Destiny (Liu Yao)

The Defectives (Can Ci Pin)

Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire (Lie Huo Jiao Chou)

Other titles:

Albert, from Earth (Aerbote Laizi Diqiu) by Jie Mo Jun

Art Thou Ailing? (Jun You Ji Fou) by Ru Shi Wo Wen)

The Bat (Bian Fu) by Feng Nong

Beyond the Snowstorm: A Windborne Love (Wo Cheng Feng Xue) by Qi Wu Gou

Don't You Like Me (Ni Shi Bushi Xihuan Wo) by Lv Tian Yi

The Earth is Online (Diqiu Shangxian) by Mo Chen Huan

Everyone Loves the Cannon Fodder (Chuan Cheng Wan Ren Mi de Paohui Zhuma) by Qie Zai Shan Yang

Global Examination (Qianqiu Gao Kao) by Mu Su Li

Gold Class Enforcers (Jinpai Dashou) by Pao Pao Xue Er

How to Survive as a Villain (Chuanyue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ruhe Huming) by Yi Yi Yi Yi

Kaleidoscope of Death (Siwang Wanhuatong) by Xi Zi Xu

The Killer of Killers (Sha Qing) by Wu Yi

Love at First Thaw (Wang Chun Bing) by Fu Li

Nan Chan by Tang Jiuqing

Obsessed (Ki Ma) by Wu Chen Shui

Tailhook (O Gou) by La Rive Gauche

Tales of Zijin Temple (Zijin Si Ye Hua) by Yun Tun Tun

Wine and Gun (Jiu yu Qiang) by Mengye Mengye

You're Too OP! (Nimen Nansheng Da Youxi Hao Lihai O~) by Yi Xiu Luo

-

Peach Flower House:

Unfortunately, Peach Flower House has gone out of business. Peach Flower House titles were primarily for sale through their website and through some distributors, such as Amazon.com. Whether titles are e-book only, print only, or both varied by title. In my opinion, Peach Flower House has inconsistent inconsistent editing quality, but the books are very readable.

Da Feng Gua Guo:

The Imperial Uncle (Huang Shu)

Peach Blossom Debt (Taohua Zhai)

Other Titles:

Golden Terrace (Huang Jin Tai) by Cang Wu Bin Bai

In the Dark (Zai Hei An Zhong) by Jin Shisi Chai

Little Mushroom (Xiao Mogu) by Shisi

University of the Underworld (Yinjian Daxue) by Ziloi

-

Via Lactea:

The partial list of danmei novels licensed by Via Lactea is here, but there are titles I've seen them selling that aren't on this list.

Via Lactea titles are primarily for sale through their website and through some distributors, such as Amazon.com. All titles are either print-only or e-book + print. Only a handful have actually been released, the rest are licensed and presumably in progress. I've now read three titles published by Via Lactea and while the translations are decent I could wish the editing was more consistent. Everything reads as if it would have been improved by one more thorough proof read.

Jing Shui Bian Titles:

Salad Days (Jing Jiu)

Silent Hearts (Mo Mai)

Qing Lv Titles:

Painting Against the Natural Grain (Huahua Ben Shi Ni Tian Er Xing) by Qing Lv

Raising Myself in 2006 by Qing Lv

Other Titles:

Apocalypse (Quanqiu Jinhua Hou Wo Zhan Zai Shiwulian Dingduan) by Qi Liu

As I've Told You Before by Sheng Jiang Tai Lang

Dawning (Liming Zhihou) by ICE

Embrace You Till the End of the game by Hu Yu La Jiao

Euthanasia (Anlesi) by Feng Su Jun

The Fall of Summer (Ting Shuo Ni Hen Nan Zhui) by Jue Chu

Falling (Luo Chi) by Yu Cheng

I Can't and I Won't (Zhen Bu Xing, Zhen Bu Ke) by Yan Gui Kang

Psycho (Feng Zi) by Xiao Yao Zi

Limerence (Wo Xichen Ni Nan Pengyou Henjiule) by Jiang Zi Bei

Lingering Game (Chanmian Youxi) by Tao Bai Bai

Lip and Sword (Chun Qiang) by Jin Shisi Chai

May I Touch Your Spirit? by Qing Mei Jiang

The Missing Piece (Maoheshenli) by Kun Yi Wei Lou

The Omega Who Wants His Baby Back by Yao Yao Yi Yan

Rose and Renaissance (Wo Zhi Xihuan Ni de Renshe [Yule Quan]) by Zhi Chu

Killing Show (Sha Lu Xiu) by Fox

Soul Vibration (Linghun Saodong) by Dr.solo

To Rule in a Turbulent World (Luan Shi Wei Wang) by Gu Xuerou (pen name of Fei Tian Ye Xiang)

A Tyrant's Cover-up Plan by A Ci Gu Niang

Was I a Scummy Bottom? by Cheng Zi Yu

-

Aloha Comics:

A tiny, Hawaii-based press focusing on manhua. Titles are available through major retailers such as Amazon and Bookshop.org. I've purchased one of these titles - Nirvana in Fire - and was please with the quality despite a couple minor errors.

All these titles are manhua!

Day Off by Qing Cai

Heaven Official's Blessing Animation Manhua by Bilibili and Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (this is a manhua made based on the donghua, using donghua art)

Here U Are by DJUN

Link Click by Li Haoling and Haoliners (not technically danmei!)

Nirvana in Fire (Lang Ya Bang) by Hai Yan (not technically danmei!)

-

Monogatari Novels:

Monogatari Novels is based in Spain. These titles can also be ordered from at least some major retailers. Note that there has been some controversy about Monogatari Novels. I'm personally not ordering these works until more information is available.

Due to a lawsuit between Monogatari Novels and BLoved Publishing, How to Survive as a Villain and The Legendary Master's Wife are currently on hold.

BAIHE: A Clear and Muddy Loss of Love (Jing Wei Qing Shang) by Please Don't Laugh

BAIHE: Female General and Eldest Princess (NuJiangjun he Zhang Gongzhu) by Please Don't Laugh

How to Survive as a Villain (Chuan Yue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ru He Huo Ming) manhua by Yi Yi Yi Yi

The Legendary Master's Wife (Chuanshuo Zhi Zhu de Furen) by Yin Ya

The Silent Concubine (Ya Nu) by Qiang Tang

BAIHE: Soulmate manhua by Wenzhi Lizi

-

BLoved Publishing:

ngl I can't figure out exactly what is up with this, and there seems to be some controversy related to them and their relationship with Monogatari Novels. Their website is depressingly low on details. However, this list is for completeness, so here we are.

Due to a lawsuit between Monogatari Novels and BLoved Publishing, How to Survive as a Villain and The Legendary Master's Wife are currently on hold.

How to Survive as a Villain (Chuan Yue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ru He Huo Ming) manhua by Yi Yi Yi Yi

The Legendary Master's Wife (Chuanshuo Zhi Zhu de Furen) by Yin Ya

-

Chaleuria:

As far as I can tell, Chaleuria has not updated their webpage since April 2023, so the current status of in-progress titles is unknown. All titles are digital and/or e-book, and I'm not sure how to purchase them as I haven't tried.

The Complete Guide to the Use and Care of a Personal Assistant (Zhuli Shiyong Zhinan) by Why Radiance

Deep in the Act (Ru Xi) by Tongzi

Fake Slackers (Wei Zhuang Xue Zha) by Mu Gua Huang (no longer available)

From Body to Love (Leng Yan E Nan: Xian Shenhou Ai) by Wan Wan Yi Xia

Interstellar Power Couple (Xingji Qiangli Lianyin) by Kun Cheng Xiongmao (no longer available)

Intoxicated Friends (Zui Qing Zhi Pengyou) by Ye Shu Ying

The Long Chase for the President's Spouse (Zongcai Zhui Fu Lu Manman) by Three Thousand Crow Language

No Money No Divorce (Mei Qian Lihun) by Shou Chu

Reborn into a Hamster for 233 Days (Chong Shengcheng Cangshu de 233 Tian) by Yi Shu

Records of the Dragon Follower (Cong Long Ji) by Yueren Ge

Urban Tales of Demons and Spirits (Dushi Yaogui Lu) by Qie Er

World Hopping: Avenge Our Love (Ni Wufa Yuliao de Fenshou, Wo Du Neng Gei Ni Song Shang) by Xiaomao Bu Ai Jiao (no longer available)

-

Webnovel:

When I first made this list, I heard that Webnovel had a few titles but couldn't actually find them - but now I've found them, thanks to a list someone else put together. I'm including direct links to them, since I had so much trouble finding them at all.

Comrade: Almost a Cat-astrophic Love Story (Jintian ye Yao Nuli Dang Zhimao) by Demonic Fire (link)

My Boyfriend is a Dragon (Nanpiao Shi Tiaolong) by Chubby Strawberry Sauce (link)

The National Sweetheart Livestreamer is a Pro! (Quanmin Zhubo Shi Duiba) by Mo Shang Wang (link)

-

Honorable Mentions:

There are a handful of titles I know of that are official translations of C Novels. These are not books with contextual queerness, but for folks with an interest in Chinese history and culture, they are worth checking out anyway, especially because understanding these stories can help understand the above books. Also, some have active shipping fandoms (for example, I've written for Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Daomu Biji). I've included two above under the entry for titles from Aloha Comics (Link Click and Nirvana in Fire) and here are a couple others I currently know of:

Dream of the Red Chamber (Hong Lou Meng) by Cao Xueqin, available in translation for free from Project Gutenberg

The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles (Daomu Biji) by Nanpai Sanshu (six volumes are available in English from Things Asian Press)

Journey to the West (Xiyou Ji) by Wu Cheng-en, in four volumes from University of Chicago Press

The Legend of the Condor Heroes (She Diao Yingxiong Chuan) by Jin Yong, in four volumes from St. Martin’s Press

Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Yanyi), attributed to Luo Guanzhong, available in translations for free from Archive.org

The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants (Zonglie Xiayi Chuan), attributed to Shi Yukun, available in translation for free from Archive.org

Water Margin (Shuihu Zhuan) by Shi Nai’an, from Tuttle Publishing

RESOURCE: List of Chinese speculative fiction in English translation

RESOURCE: More Chinese speculative fiction in English translation

I will add to the "Honorable Mentions" list if I find any other more mainstream titles with official translations.

-

Rumored Licenses:

Sometimes, I hear rumors about titles being licensed before the license is announced - and thus before we know which publisher has licensed them (assuming the rumor is even true). I thought I should note these somewhere. Titles I know of rumors about currently are:

A Certain Someone (Moumou) by Mu Su Li

Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know (Mozun Ye Xiang Zhidao) by Cyan Wings (a Spanish edition of this has been formally announced, which might account for the rumor)

The Fourteenth Year of Chenghua (Chenghua Shisi Nian) by Meng Xi Shi

Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating (Wanglian Fanche Zhinan) by Jiang Zi Bei

Immortal Koi is Going to Debut (Jinli Daxian Yao Chudao) by Mo Xi Ke

Mist (Bowu) by Wei Feng Ji Xu

-

A handful of other licenses are mentioned on the Carrd I linked at the beginning of this post; I have no idea the status of those titles and wasn't able to find information on them while putting together this post other than what was listed on that Carrd, so I've omitted them.

Now go forth, and buy some books!

[shijiujun]

A Summary: The Spirealm | 致命游戏 (Kaleidoscope of Death 死亡万花筒 Live Action) & Why You Should (Eventually) Watch It

Talk about the most short-lived drama release ever, not even totalling two hours if I recall. Creating this summary as I've seen a handful of confused friends, so here it goes!

It's going to be a long review because I sped through all 78 episodes and only properly watched the first two doors, but I got you. You'll get both the brief book rundown and the drama parts!

If you just wanna see the bromance (LOVE) parts please skip to section 4!!!!

1. Overview

Title: The Spirealm (kinda awful I'm sorry it's a mouthful) or 致命游戏 which means fatal game

Adapted From: Danmei (BL) Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu

Novel Prints: There are GORGEOUS Thai, Vietnamese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese versions printed, AND Singapore publisher Rosmei has signed the license for the ENGLISH version, probably going on sale this year (preview is here). You can still access fan translations by Taida on I think wordpress and someone else on Tumblr sorry bad memory (they did half and half each) if you'd like to read it for context. It is one of my FAVE danmeis EVER and I am a die-hard OG book fan, check out my full danmei review here.

Total Episodes: 78 (20 minutes each with the exception of last episode which 10 minutes, with several BTS not that I think we will get to see all of them yet)

Where to Watch (LOL): Erm considering that iQIYI China AND International took the episodes down, there is no legal way to watch this, BUT thanks to some cnetz with super fast and great wifi, we managed to get ripped HD versions without subs. iQIYI is very hard on copyright though, they've taken down several subbed and unsubbed versions already on YouTube, but you should type the titles of show into Twitter and the top tags will tell you where to access the raws and very little subbed episodes, that may also be taken down at any point. I have the Chinese raws but as it's hosted on a cloud, I had to pay to access it.

Main Characters: Lin Qiushi & Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie (in the novel) and Ling Jiushi & Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie (in the drama)

Produced By: iQIYI so for SURE they won't film it fully BL even if the original is, but I've seen enough bromance cuts

Main Actors: Xia Zhiguang (Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie) + Huang Junjie (Ling Jiushi)

2. Summary

Book (drama follows closely if not removing the supernatural premises): Lin Qiushi, a designer, opens the door to his home one day from inside and sees 12 iron doors outside. Confused, he opens one of them and arrives at a snow covered village in the mid of winter, and meets Ruan Baijie, who's a pretty, unusually tall and whiny/timid woman. They realise that they're in a horrifying door game, and they'll have to find a door and a key to get out, while battling a long-haired, human-eating deity. They, along with a few others, have to survive day after day until they get out, and on the first night, two people have died in gory ways. Ruan Baijie and Lin Qiushi partner each other, and despite seemingly timid and crying all the time, she saves Lin Qiushi a few times mysteriously, and Lin Qiushi finds himself trusting in Ruan Baijie.

They get through the door together and when they leave successfully, Lin Qiushi realizes that the people who died in the door will die in real life by some freak accident too - car accidents, forced suicides, a robbery gone wrong, a lift trapped in the air and going ablaze, and more. That night, Lin Qiushi wakes up to see a super handsome and tall Ruan Nanzhu at his bedside and this man feels familiar to him, but he can't put a finger on it. All he can think of when Ruan Nanzhu says his name is Ruan Baijie (ahem he would later find out who it is of course). Ruan Nanzhu takes him to his mansion in the suburbs where he meets a group of other people just like them, who're forced to go through the doors for survival. Ruan Nanzhu then invites him to join Obsidian, his organization.

Through various doors, Lin Qiushi grows and supports a super intelligent and powerful Ruan Nanzhu, falls in love with him, gets through many many scary doors with him and some of their other team members, makes friends, loses them to the cruelty of the doors as they ponder over what the door means, and what being alive/dying means.

And at the end of it, at the end of of it all, when they're all good and living their life, Lin Qiushi also finds out what Ruan Nanzhu's secret is, and the lengths to which Ruan Nanzhu went to, just to be with him.

Drama: Ling Jiushi is a VR game designer who gets pulled into a game, and he meets Ruan Baijie (in his male form) right off the bat (SO NOT CROSSDRESSING I AM SAD). All the parts are actually the same as the novel, albeit with the game setting and Ling Jiushi and Ruan Nanzhu's identity adjustments to suit the game premise. Most of the other doors and their lines are the same, just that the ending is a bit more confusing than it could be. There's a big bad as well and they actually show the opposing organizations when in the novel, these other organizations aside from Obsidian didn't even actually have a face or goal to them.

3. Characters

^ Them in the book (based on manhua that never got to go live LOL) (RNZ/RBJ left, LQS right)

^ Them in the show (LJS left, RNZ right)

Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie: MY HANDSOME CROSSDRESSING INTELLIGENT ALOOF BUT WHINY (WHEN IT COMES TO LIN QIUSHI) SASSY BOSS!!!! He's super mysterious and super thick-skinned too, and all he wants is Lin Qiushi's attention the moment he meets him. He's intrigued by Lin Qiushi's calm and his brains and the way he handles things, and has a lot of trust for him right from the get-go. This is also shown in the drama itself. As the leader of Obsidian, he cares a lot for his team members and his friends even if he doesn't show it most of the time, and the last thing he wants to do is lose Lin Qiushi, and he would do ANYTHING for Lin Qiushi, ANYTHING!!! Just look at him whining:

Ling Jiushi (Lin Qiushi): In the novel he's super calm, has quite a lot of brains, a little bit of a blur in the beginning but he's super smart as well. Worries a lot for Ruan Nanzhu and is also a loyal friend to some of his only friends, and feels a lot when he loses them. Falls gradually in love with Ruan Nanzhu in the novel, like they just belong together. In this drama, Ling Jiushi holds that same trust for Ruan Nanzhu, but in demeanour he seems a bit more like a klutz and and not as cool as he was in the novel, but I guess it's acceptable. Literally like the only thing he loves more than RNZ (maybe) is his cat Chestnut LOL and RNZ is NOT really happy about that but Chestnut LOVES RNZ

Yixie and Qianli: CUTEST TWINS ;-; WHO TREAT RNZ and LQS as their big brothers LOOK AT THEM BOWING AND RNZ/LJS like parents LMAO

A handful of other characters who will keep turning up and get your hearts ;-;

4. ALL FAVE BROMANCE MOMENTS + TROPES

THEY TOUCH EACH OTHER A LOT LIKE HOLDING HANDS AND TOUCHING FACES, PIGGY BACKING?!?! DID I MENTION FACE TOUCHING

WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP THEY HELP EACH OTHER WHEN HURT OR GET HURT FOR EACH OTHER

AND WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN BED THE OTHER IS AT THEIR BEDSIDE

AND DID I MENTION HE FEEDS HIM IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

AND THAT THEY DATED UNDER THE FIREWORKS LIKE THE NOVEL DOES NOT EVEN HAVE THIS SHIT

AND THE KABEDONS

AND FINALLY RUAN NANZHU RIZZ OMG

5. Settings

They REALLY OUTDID THEMSELVES. THIS JUST FROM DOORS 1-6:

THEY LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE NOVEL DESCRIBED!!!!

6. Overall Thoughts

PROS: This was NOT a cheap production, I'm telling you, they followed the cases very well and there're a lot of super recognisable lines, if not ALL of them, even if they changed the cases a little. I think they did it because in the novel originally, the author DOES leave a lot of details hanging like someone dies and you know he had a background and there are some shady things happening but the author NEVER actually goes into detail. So the drama did their best to cover these loopholes, even if it felt a little awkward at times. Money went into settings and attires and every damn thing, this looks EXPENSIVE. And if you've ever imagined each door and the bosses inside in your head, you might have felt chills go down your spine because damn did they really colour the book's settings for me (despite its differences). DID I MENTION that Xia Zhiguang really got the damn memo and he was a passable Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie who knew how to turn on his BL eyes. PLUS they really did some of the character deaths really well - they're technically some of the biggest parts of this story so ;-; (not two main of course)

CONS (maybe): They did away with the supernatural/horror premise and replaced it with a GAME premise, which means that there's a scientific element to it and the try to explain away stuff with the game, including the ending. I don't 100% get the ending, but the feel/vibe is about the same. Might not be for hardcore reader fans tho! They skipped out on a couple of doors, some of which were my faves, but it's fine, it's long enough LOL. They give away/explain some of the clues and surprises super early which means you don't get that added boom at the back as well. Despite that, I have to say they tried to round up the loopholes from the book as much as they could and give it an explanation while tying elements/conspiracies across doors (probably also to save cast fees LOL). And as always it's not a solid ending, it's an open confusing one, and even more confusing than the book itself because THERE IS NO CERTAIN HAPPILY EVER AFTER WITH HUBBY for it (there is in the book tho, they live together happily every after). Secondl,y, I'd say HJJ's acting is a bit stiff and OOC compared to the novel, but Xia Zhiguang really made up for it.

-------

HOPE THIS HELPS YOU GUYS!!! But I guess if you need subs it's going to be a long LONGGGG ride, considering that iQIYI doesn't seem to be going to be able to put it up anytime soon CRIES.

[danhoemei]

Danmei with official Eng licenses

By publishers:

Seven Seas series list

Rosmei licences list

Peach Flower House shop

Chaleuria's complete novels

Via Lactea's shop

Other lists:

Comprehensive list on reddit

Official English Licensed Danmei Carrd

Goodread's list of Danmei Officially Translated to English

A list on NovelUpdates

[v-yours-truly]

Rosmei (A.K.A the official English translator for QQGK) posted QQGK'S second volume art in a tweet.

AND BOTH QJ AND YH ARE SO???

[yuziyou]

Global Examination (QQGK) | cover for the first volume of english translation | publisher Rosmei

[mxtxfanatic]

Spooky Book of the Week: Global Examination

Author: Mu Su Li (木苏里)

Genre: unlimited flow, horror, modern-day, danmei

Rating: T for test you wished you'd studied for

My Synopsis: Two of the greatest minds in the world use their combined intelligence to fuck over a test in every way they can possibly think of, and no matter how many times they're split apart like a pair of troublemakers put in (life-threatening) time-out, they always find their way back to each other.

My Review: All the other unlimited flow novels I've read so far have been about protagonists coming together to solve the puzzle of each world in order to eventually make it out of what's essentially a haunted house of horrors. This is the first one I've read where the protagonists are insistent in not only not wanting to leave as their end goal but also in just completely fucking up every single level they make it to. It's actually pretty amazing. I love each of the characters, their interactions, how the cast is so large but is able to utilize every character uniquely, and the romance is beautiful. I have some minor trigger warnings for gore and body horror, and a content warning for there being a whole arc (the Language test) that's based around Romani stereotypes. I read the fan translation which uses the ethnic slur, but I'm not sure how the licensed translator will handle that. Either way, the whole arc is kinda bad because of the stereotypes, whether that word is changed or not, so be aware of that going in. On a similar vein, would love to know what the fascination with fake European settings is about in unlimited flow novels, but I probably won't like the answer.

Translation: fan translation complete (still floating around somewhere), licensed translation on pre-order

[cnovelartreblogs]

this may not be the place for it - feel free to ignore! but do you know of any good guides for ordering English edition rosmei books in the USA? I've reached out to one group order place but I'm find everything about rosmei to be deeply confusing lol

Heya!

So as far as I know, the only way to do it (the way I'm doing it) is to join a group order/buy from a place that has partnered with Rosmei. There's a list of those places (all over the world) here: https://shop-b24ce1da57f643b5f45af2da645ab4c4.myallvalue.com/pages/partners

As far as I know, the only one in the US is Yiggybean:

What's been happening is, Rosmei announced that pre-orders are opening, and then Yiggybeans opens a pre-order listing. Those seem to run 2 to 4 weeks. They're only a first payment; there'll be a second for shipping. The books have been running $25 to $35 per book, and by pre-ordering they come with extras. They also charge the domestic part of the shipping, which is another $5 to $10. I'm expecting the second payments to be $20 to $30 per book but I don't know for sure yet because none of them have shipped.

How to Survive as a Villain vol. 1 had pre-orders open in January.

Nanchan and Don't You Like Me? The pre-orders for each vol. 1 ended about a week ago.

I found out about the more recent ones after the order had already ended, and I emailed Yiggybean to ask what could be done. They were very prompt and polite answering me, and they told me they'd pre-ordered a few extra and were able to sell me one of each of those, it was all settled very quickly and easily and I was impressed by their customer service.

I also asked if there was a way to get notification of when the next pre-orders go live; they said not yet but they were working on putting together an email blast for it, so I'm hoping for that so I don't accidentally miss any others.

I haven't actually received anything yet, so I can't speak to quality of the Rosmei editions, translation fidelity, shipping, etc., but the above is everything I do know. The tl:dr is the only way I've found to order the books from the US, legally and without like, knowing someone in Singapore, is through Yiggybean, and buying there is as easy as adding the pre-order to your cart and checking out like in any other online store.

A friend has also pre-order one through the place in Poland, so for European folks I may be able to report back on how that goes, too.

Hope this helps!

-unforth

[littlestpersimmon]

Have been reading this and I actually really like it. These days I only have 1 hour to read for myself as I currently work 12 hours every day. This book gives a lot of jrpg vibes I've been looking for in m♡m books. It's about a knight who has the memories of a different knight who died one day before he was born. And that different knight also happened to be the lover of the King's younger brother. Anyways. I'm looking for more m/m fantasy books to read. I love danmei but occasionally I get restless bc nearly all danmei are set in Chinese-inspired worlds, I want smth else. Been aching for one set in a South Asian or West Asian world, or like one set in the steppes cnkdkss. Anyway. Does anyone know more bl novels translated into English? Or Danmei at all? (I already read everything danmei to be published by seven seas and rosmei and peach blossom house btw)

[theyilinglaozus]

So I just came back from vacation yesterday, and to my delight a few hours after arriving home I recieved a surprise package -- which turned out to be my rosmei danmei (+ Nirvana in Fire) arriving a few months earlier than planned! This is my first order of any rosmei danmei releases, and I can honestly say that I will be buying them again! The quality is so good, and you can tell that there is so much love and effort put into these translations. I've been following rosmei's account a while for a few other titles they have lined up, and one thing I truly appreciate is how much they listen to their customer base and ask for feedback about things like cover design before coming to final decisions. Both Coins of Destiny (Liu Yao) and Nan Chan come with dust jackets - hents the two differing covers in the above photos - and although How to Survive as a Villain does not it does come with french flaps -- remember those from the earlier Seven Seas releases before they removed them in later licenses? Well, rosmei knows how much we love them too! I really struck lucky with my order, as I was aware when placing it that both Coins of Destiny and Nan Chan would come with the preorder bonuses. How to Survive as a Villain was not originally supposed to as I missed the deadline for that, however I was surprised to find when I opened my order that it came with the preorder bonuses anyway! I'm guessing there must have been spares left over since it was an earlier preorder, and I just got lucky that they sent a preorder version one out for me. I'm so happy though, as I was a little sad to miss out on that. I'll be posting pictures for the aloha comics release of the Nirvana in Fire manhua seperately, as I know there are a few people that are wanting to see what that's like since the english translation seemed to sneak past the radar for many of us, so that'll be posted shortly. But otherwise, enjoy these pictures of my latest little haul!

[veliseraptor]

rosmei's drowning sorrows in raging fire translation 35% done [vibrates intensely]

[tsukiyadori]

Reading+Listening(+Watching) Log 2024.10 - October

Previous: Reading+Listening Log 2024.09 - September

Just look at that cover. It's breathtaking. (And the chapters that are going to be in there had me gulp twice.) Coming out November 20th 2024!

——————————————————————————

Reading languages: German, English, French, Japanese, not listing which was what. (There’s also been some feeble attempts at Chinese, but that was more music.)

Titles are as I’ve read them either first or most and thus remember it for that title mostly

Not going to bother putting in the original titles of translated reads unless there is something worthy of note to it

Cursive titles have been completed

If it says a volume number, it may mean it has been finished or is still in progress

Some notes’ content may be subject to repetition here and there, as I also copied some older notes from casual conversations over and didn’t go through any rounds of cutting things down.

——————————————————————————

October

A fairly short month this time.

I completely fell off reading anything from Manga Apps again…

I wholly expected this month to be as good as a pure Kemutai Hanashi month for several reasons, and I did sit before it, some of it, all of it, a good deal of it, but still somehow I didn't quite get on to finish that plan. The reason could be best described as 'trepidation'. Like you know it is great, it's going to hit somewhere in between hard, home, compf and wholesome and then go on to inspire something new, unknown, hopeful, maybe. And the prospect was suddenly weirdly daunting in a way, which I noticed this month as being the same reason, I let even a number of those pixiv chapters that were behind comicnettai pile up. I think that's probably because all the reservations I held over this series have fallen off. I still remember how I started the series and knew immediately it was very good and beautiful, but also there was a vague, but persistent veil of skepticism. Because. It's just too good to be true, is it? Turns out, it actually is indeed true. Ever after that bomb-like chapter 12 dropped, I felt like this was one of those titles that, had it existed earlier, had I known it earlier, could have been a game changer to some of the turns my life have taken in the past. Turns out, it's probably still going to have this sort of role anyway in some other ways looking forward. Which is to say, I am really quite looking forward to things coming.

No (classfied) this month. Actually, I've been missing it a bit, as I wound up quite liking it...

Light Novels/Web Novels/Asian Novels:

A Certain Magical Index NT v1 Clockwork Clues: When Death Comes Ticking Contest sample Global Examination Rosmei Preview I Met You After the End of the World v3 Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? v10 Mein ruhiges Leben als Schmied in einer anderen Welt V1p1 Sasaki & Peeps v1 The Apothecary Diaries v3 The Boy Who Ruled the Monsters V1p1-6 The Isolator v5 The Saint's Magic Power is Omipotent LN v1 Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop You Like Me, Not My Daughter?! v1

Manga:

An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride ch64-65 Beastars v19-22 Burberry x Blue Period Dead Mount Death Play v8 Dekiru Neko wa Kyou mo Yuuutsu ch114-115 Domestic na Kanojo v21-23 Dr. Stone v9, v23-27, v3, v10 Flüster mir eine Liebeslied v2, v6-8 Fuwafuwa Therapist ch1-3, ch12, ch11 Haikyu v44 Hana to Kurage to Refrain ch1-2.1 Hell Mode v4, v5 I Parry Everything: What Do You Mean I’m the Strongest? I’m Not Even an Adventurer Yet! (Manga) Ch4-v2 Kemutai Hanashi ch1-4, reading and re-reading all over the place in between up to ch31 Knitter's High ch31.1-3 Koisuru (Otome) no Tsukurikata Ch88 Liebe ist (k)ein Wettkampf v3, v5 Loop 7-kaime no Akuyaku Reijou wa, Moto Tekikoku de Jiyuu Kimama na Hanayome Seikatsu wo Mankitsusuru ch35 Moriarty the Patriot v2ch7 Mr. Mallow Blue ch32 Natsume to Natsume ch1-4 Shinigami no Hanayome - Yomei 7-nichi kara no Koufuku ch1-3 Sonna Kazoku nara Sutechaeba? ch79-81 The Heroic Legend of Arslan v16 Watashi wo Tabetai, Hitodenashi ch41-42.2

Webtoons:

Silent Lover ch196-204(S2ch54-62) Taberare Usa ch123

Movie Recaps/Essays

Raise the Red Latern Moon Man

Music/Music Videos:

Zhou Shen - Shenself - 02 - 蜃楼 Mirage

Zhou Shen - Shenself - 08 - 缝合

Zhou Shen - Shenself - 11 - 没关系

Zhou Shen - 我的答案

Zhou Shen - 人是_ (电影《流浪地球2》定义主题曲)

Zhou Shen, Terry Zhong - 春雪

Zhou Shen - Endless Sailing（电视剧《三体》主题曲）

Zhou Shen - 永恒孤独（《三体》电视剧主题曲）

G.E.M. - 面壁者 (《三体》动画片尾主题曲)

谭维维 - 歌者 《三体》广播剧最终季主题曲

咻咻满 - 《歌者 Singer》 Cover 【三体 Three Body Problem】 广播剧最终季主题曲

咻咻满 - 《奇点》 三体 同人印象曲

Zhou Shen - 浮光

TommyMuzzic - Different Kind Of Beautiful

TommyMuzzic - Different Kind Of Beautiful (8D Audio)

Alec Benjamin - Different Kind Of Beautiful (Piano Version)

Alec Benjamin - Different Kind Of Beautiful

redrose - Isolated (feat. Ivri)

redrose - memories

redrose - Origins - 01 - Held on a Thread

redrose - serene moments

redrose - A World Gone Blue (feat. Elle)

Notes:

Kemutai Hanashi ch1-4, reading and re-reading snippets all over the place in between up to ch31: Chapter 30/31 sorts of kinda hit home, with how Arita is stuck with mulling over the question of "what would it change" and finding the answer, that... really doesn't solve anything, but still feels like a bucket of cold water thrown over. I had an episode of that in 2022 myself, (my version that question was pretty much an alternate translation of Arita's question, "What diffrence would it make?"), and after a few weeks to month brooding over it the answer was the same: What a dumb question. Of course it'd make a difference. A whole world's worth of it. And maybe at the same time it doesn't really. (For now anyway, however long "now" will last.) Now 2022 really isn't that long ago, and this series has even existed by then and I was even reading it, but darn did I wondern what would have been, if it had started serializing a bit more early.

I asked a stupid question. "What would it change" Of course it would change things. Other than that I begun my (very throughout) 're-read' up to ch4. And I did already know this series was very scenic and doing a lot of still life scenes that just showed literal slices of their life. But I think on my first read I completely underestimated just how much it was. Actually it's more like almost cinematic with all the little details that are just shown, the many little sounds that are there here and there at the sides, especially many of those still scenes with no dialogue. It may be still scenes and moments, but it's definitely not actually 'still' and in unmoving or still as in quiet or inanimate. It gives just a clear air of where they are living (and the series is very much certainly very Japanese in all those details.)

A Certain Magical Index NT v1: There is no Touma in this volume so far and that makes it (unsurprisingly) far more insteresting. Pretty much because it means there is no Index in action there. (She is quite obnoxious to me...) Hamazura himself is rather pathethic, but when it counts he quite shines with a strengh that has no foundation in any sort of OP-power trump card. Wverything around him tends to be far more interesting due to everything happening because things are interconnected and not because of some underdog special power. Accelerator by now is also much more like Mikasa, as in knows his high level powers, has some brains and sticks his nose into whatever he deems necessariy, but still knows his limits. While Mikasa is more limited in maturity, Accelerator's are more immediately tangible. (Plus he has no teleporting fangirl at his side.) The whole thing around this really varied (downright nuts) found family is also fairly compf. Maybe, finally, Index as a series is coming to a point to having the same strength of Railgun. (Index always struck me having more interesting cards in terms of all the wordbuilding, while Railgun was much more character driven, but the plotlines themselves tended to be somewhat not too exiting.)

I Met You After the End of the World v3: Oh well. That ending. Came sudden. And the situation is somewhat back to square one at where the volume began. Also a grave now popped out, but still no actual corpse or mention thereof, so who knows what is what. I'll say I am curious how it'll go on, and v4 is on the horizon soon, so probaly not long until finding out.

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? v10: It is a slog. A slooooog. 1/3 still to go. I am really tempted to just skip it, given I read v11 already anyway…

Sasaki & Peeps v1: Euh. This was. A slog to the end. Many plotlines, not really interconnecting much, the magical girl remains not enticing and the neighbour girl's questionable ideas only got much worse by the end. Maybe I'll continue it, if the vols just somehow drop into my hands, but in no hurry whatsoever.

The Apothecary Diaries v3: Maomao remains impressive, as in, she wholly can recognize how mind blowingly beautiful Jinshi apparantely is, can even loose a breather or two about it, and really not manage to not mention it, but other than that. It does nothing of relevance onto her. (Which together with previous comments still give me a whole aroace vibed air about her.) Nevertheless, there is a sort of connection building up between her and the folks around here. She does have a trusted place in the crowd and it's wholly earned by herself. Her torments are also funny to follow. Those poor mushrooms, indeed. Still have to finish the volume and see how the singular cases connect to each other. They were a bit fragmented, but this time also heavily lampshaded from the beginning to have something more overarching hanging over them.

The Boy Who Ruled the Monsters V1p1-6: Oh, it's another unfairly kicked out of the adventurer's party plot. Then it was followed by an Oh, it's another slave girl story. Eh. Do I even want to continue? Dunno, maybe someday.

The Isolator v5: So, it's been a few years I read v4. There were some more hints in this volume that sounded like buildups for later reveals and there's this whole new subplot around Stargazer. But really, the most eyecatching thing is that Liquidizer very much quite rocks. And the afterword's mention of that she'll be sticking around as a recurring character is promising. Not promising is the entire lack of a sign for a v6 however. ._.

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop: This was a weird read, something about it felt okayish narratively, but also strangely… shallow? Somehow lacking flourish. Maybe it's because, as the afterword states, this is an adaption of the anime movie? I don't know. As for the content it just really is. so. puberty. teenagers. Resonance or value seriously zero, as I never had any such experience like that.

You Like Me, Not My Daughter?! v1: The title definiely is clickbait. Not that it is wrong per se, but it very very fast lets the cat out of the sack, so that misunderstanding doesn't even really get past half a single chapter. But I was pleasantly surprised that Taku is actually an adult there and a colleage student, so there isn't that sorta iffyness Are You Okay with a Slightly Older Girlfriend? has. (Where it's like the guy is totally his age as in teeeenaaaagerrrr and the girl is kinda…. an extreme late or maybe even no bloomer in terms of mental maturity.) Everyone already feels surprisingly mature and down to earth, even Miu, the actual teenager character.

An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride ch64-65: Chastille, Chastille. Oh Chastille… Way to dig your grave.

Beastars v19-22: And to the series finished pile it goes. I think the series has lost me. Well not so much the content, but really…… what is it even trying to say? So many hoops, indeed actually interesting themes and whatnot, but in the end it doesn't feel like much has happened. (Especially not around the Beastars significance.) I will give it though, that this is one of the rarer series, where it starts in school and goes beyond to feature them growing out of it and as adults. It makes up about or slightly more than a third, which is kind of a lot of screentime. And this was funny, about lossing your wits over a disgruntled bun.

Burberry x Blue Period: This. uh. was okay? Maybe it'd be better if I actually read the main series. (Still stuck at v1.) Will maybe revisit later again.

Dead Mount Death Play v8: The volumes are pretty thick, but the plot still feels like progressing somewhat slow.

Domestic na Kanojo v21-23: Haaa. v21: As usual Hina is born to suffer. And just when you kinda feel bad about her, it does on to... v22: Oh Hina. Hina. Can you… just stop being so… @_@" And then we go off to another side quest to Natsuo's author senpai/mentor, and well, it's okay? But whyever does Natsuo have to get a crisis now.... v23: Unsprisingly that just feeds in more drama and Rui does probably the only good thing for her own mental health, put a line down. Too bad Natsuo himself is terrible with that (also, Hina where are you, why do you keep missing your best timing chances??) and so a new girl shows up. With... problems. A whole bunch of them... So are we gettign some Yakuza action now?

Dr. Stone v9, v23-27, v3, v10: Finshed that one now, and kinda all over the place with the gaps and filling them. But the last few volumes were definitely more interesting than the beginning. Probably not least because not so much annoying Taiju and Ryu has grown up. I think I quite am on board with it's concept. It's educational, while not forgetting to tell a plot that's for entertainment and the coolness factor to attact younger readers. There is never harm to charm people into the wonders of science. But darn is the beginning a read that requires patience, because everyone's so annoying. The ending with the time machine is even more of a stretch than the series is anyway, but it does feel like it does tie the string with Byakuya. It always felt somewhat off with that scene of him dying in the river full of sorrow and regret, despite everything else being rather hopeful and plot amory-they manage everything. In the end, they even pulled this teary emotional scene about that Whyman.

Flüster mir eine Liebeslied v2, v6-8: Ok. I will say the art is pretty. And those later volumes after the gap jump are ever so more enticing than the first volume manages to be. I always thought this was completely unlike Given, in tone, vibes and everything, but there is two things they have in common aside the band thing: Everyone's in pain and somehow just about everyone is revealed to be gay/lesbian. Just what are the odds of so many assembling in one place so coincidentially?

Fuwafuwa Therapist ch1-3, ch12, ch11: MC gets diagnosed with 'fluff illness' and gets send to 'fluff therapy' with a 'fluff specialist'…. who turns out to be a very uncannily propotioned bunny that can transform into a bunny-man. Soon it is revealed, he got sick with this illness because his rabbit (an actual rabbit-rabbit) he's been living together with for 10 years has died. Now there's been a bit too big of a gap to see the progression, but I definitely was checking the tags again for any BL tag in ch12. But anyway. While this doesn't have be hooked I subscribe to the premise. It's a bit like Hari to Hitsuji no Fune, but instead of a needlework course, you get a fluff therapy. Like. Right. I want to have a fluff therapy by a cute bun myself (without the rabbit death trigger tho). Just please an actually cute one, because this

is not convincingly looking like a fluff bun whatsoever.

Hana to Kurage to Refrain ch1: This is looking like a compfy series with a bittersweet tinge to it. Curious how it will go on. It definitely does a good job of feeling animated though its art.

MC Kafuu is also very much a scaredy cat mood.

That's whole gradient right there.

German initial impressions:

Plot ist: MC Kafuu, ist ziemlich schreckhaft in allen Angelegenheiten Horror. Sie ist Teil vom Occultic Club, praktisch dahin verschleppt worden von ihren Senpais, weil weil sie das "Spririted Away Child" ist. (Sie selbst meint nur, sie habe sich als Kind verlaufen.) Als Kind ist sie mal bei einem Fest alleine zum Tempel, verschwand spurlos, um dann später am gleichen Ort in gleicher Gestalt einfach so wieder aufzutauchen. Befragt zu was passiert sei, schüttelt sie nur den Kopf. Ihre Club Senpais rufen sie eines Tages wieder zu dem Tempel, da sie Gerüchte gehört haben und dem nachgehen wollen. Da treffen sie auf Nukumori (der Junge mit der Brille), der sie als Ursprung der Gerüchte entpuppt. Sie reden etwas, Kafuu merkt derweil, dass sie voll die weiche Knie bekommen hat so wie Nukumoro aus dem Gebüsch kam. Man bringt sie zu einer Bank beim Tempel, die Senpais holen was zu trinken und die MC unterhalten sich etwas. Nukumori macht einige mysteriöse Andeutungen scheint umherzuziehen und allen Spirited Away Vorfällen nachzugehen, weil er etwas/wen sucht. Sie frägt danach, da kommen die Senpais wieder. Tags drauf beim Essen meinen die Senpais, sie sollten Nukomori einladen, füttern sie aber noch mit einem grusligen Gerücht, weswegen sie dann ganz nervös ist, als sie sich zu Nukumori auf macht. Sie findet ihn dann (nicht ohne einen Schreck vorher, weill sich was hinterm Bücherregal bewegt), läd ihn ein zusammen Mittag zu essen, er sagt geht nicht, weil er kann nicht vor anderen Menschen essen, sie wundert sich in Gedanken über die Formulierung, läd ihn dann noch ein, dem Club beizutreten, und redet auf ihn ein. Er frägt, warum sie sich so Mühe gibt, sie meint, dass sie ihn für einen guten Menschen hält. Er verneint das und lehnt auch ihre Einladung ab. Sie stolzert dann fällt auf ihn und durch die Berührung fällt seine menschliche Gestalt ab. Es entschuldigt sich dafür, sie erschreckt zu haben, da erinnert sie sich wie ein Junge ihr als Kind in dem Fest-Yukata die Richtung gezeigt hat. Er meint noch, er hätte noch weiter mit ihr interagiert, aber jetzt da sie seine wahre Gestalt, muss er sie verschwinden lassen. Kapitel Ende. Tag/Logline nach ist das wohl eine RomCom Von den Zutaten her wirkt es jetzt nicht nach etwas furchtbar weltbewegendem, aber es hat hat Good Dork Faces und setzt sie auch gekonnt ein, dass aus den Figuren direkt Persönlichkeit spricht. Die Andeutungen und der Mystery Anteil speisen sich aktuell noch sehr à la Mystery Box Effekt, was auch gut für den Cliffhanger funktioniert. Hab aber den Eindruck es wird das Augenmerk nicht drauf legen. (Dafür ist bisschen sehr naheliegend, dass Nukumori und Kafuu sich früher schon getroffen haben und sie es ist, den er sucht.) Sonst ist es vermutlich trotz übernatürliche Wesen etwas das Richtung compf gehen wird, MCs erscheinen beide als viel zu liebe Wesen, die in allem das gute sehen und Nukumoris Name schreibt sich schon mit den Zeichen für warm und Wald und ist homophon zu Wärme. Was der Titel nun zu bedeuten hat erschließt sich mir aus Kapitel 1 bislang noch nicht so ganz. (Flower vermutlich weil das Ka in Kafuu Blume heißt. Vielleicht ist Nukumori eine Art Quallenwesen oder so fürs Jellyfish? 🤔 ) Intro der ersten Seiten hat so eine Rückblickende, bittersüße Note, die schon verrät, dass sie sich noch verlieben wird, aber klingt auch bisschen so an, als würde nichts draus werden, weil es nur eine Erinnerung ist.

Nach Kapitel 2.1.: Lag erstmal falsch, der hat gar nicht jemanden gesucht, sondern einen Weg nach Hause. Riecht auch etwas nach fluff, auch wenn es das noch nicht ist

Knitter's High ch31.1-3: I am somewhat amazed this series is so long and I'm sure 90% of it won't stay in my memory (actually more than half has already vanished). But it's probably reaching an end soon. School is ending after all. The ending note about feeling somewhat forlorn kinda looked pretty nice.

Koisuru (Otome) no Tsukurikata ch88: So after a cheese death it goes on to be compf and fluff, but then he worries about essential cheese deaths again.

Following them I really just circle back to what Yoimachi said about watching them and it's pretty on point to the sentiments I have watching those two. That being said. It's been a while with Yoimachi last showing up, I'd love to see more of her again, too.

Liebe ist (k)ein Wettkampf v3, v5: This is really…. not good. Way too much macho and rotten cheese nonsense.

Loop 7-kaime no Akuyaku Reijou wa, Moto Tekikoku de Jiyuu Kimama na Hanayome Seikatsu wo Mankitsusuru ch35:

Cat version of the grand jump of chapter 1? Still cool.

And darn is this hairdo pretty!!

Moriarty the Patriot v2: This was an accidential re-read I only noticed near the end of the volume. Ha. Ha. Brain? I did not permit vacation for you.

Mr. Mallow Blue ch32: Yikes. Yume is just yikes. That flashback of why she became Sakura's enemy is already yikes, but it's getting worse… Sakura already is one that gives off the impression that she direly needs some therapy to sort out her issues, but Yume is way way worse. Meanwhile at Aoi's camp:

Cute-compf by a supportive character probably just is the best medicine, if somehow professional help doesn't exist.

Shinigami no Hanayome - Yomei 7-nichi kara no Koufuku ch1-3: The cover is eyecatching. And that way of dying does supply a sorts of morbid, but beautiful imagery material. Her half-insane, but also kinda alluring smile only adds to it. That being said the plot seems to be a bit on the more edgy side, but it leaves that premise behind fairly soon already. Curious what will come now. Too bad it's probably going to be without the flowers, through.

Sonna Kazoku nara Sutechaeba? ch79-81: Euh. Okay. The teacher's detective arc is over apparantely? Or is it postponed? Anyway, the conclusion gotten is uh. Anticlimatic? Or beside the point, but still not very comfortable. Meanwhile it's going back to the family issues. Which really come back to that every single one of them are terrible communicators.

But it's definitely more lighthearted overall now with these little cute titbits inbetween.

Silent Lover ch196-204(S2ch54-62): This is completely ludicrous now and that prince deserves some serious slaps. The complete absence his birth father and the other adoptive father of the other MC is still puzzlingly suspicious. Maybe there will be a twist about, oh they knew about the illness so went to a trip to call upon that old royal dynasty's advanced wisdom to get a cure?

On Movie Recaps/Essays: The new category here... Recently Youtube has thrown me a number of movie recaps or film analysis video essays over, but this month probably for the first time, these was one that had a lasting impression and so I decided to list some of those titles off as well.

Raise the Red Latern: I've not watched the movie. Also I don't think I want to now. It's terribly uncomfortable. But what footage I did see went all across the whole movie and it definitely is a whole piece of art. Also adressing something you always see in royal court harem dramas, but here it's "just" a rich man and commoner mistresses. Yet the same sort of system applies and if court harems always do come off a bit like power hungry, here there are also power games, but it's looking more purely just desperate. The ending is also just really really gloom.

Moon Man: So, it's a bit of The Martian at first, except the premise happens because the guy is a cheese stricken idiot. Then it goes cringe, and then……… a kangaroo appears, when it has a few Wandering Earth vibes and the ending is also sounding like the same sort of Amageddon inspired heroic sacrifice blockbuster. Except it's also a comedy. Probably mostly a comedy. I'm not sure what to make of it. (Or if I actually want to watch the whole thing.)

Music/Music Videos: The second half of Septemer's playlist moved over, but somehow all that Three Body Problem/Wandering Earth part fizzled off somewhat soon. Diffrent Kind of Beautiful stuck around for a while, until it it lost effect and then I put the randomizer up again for a bunch of days. That had me hit upon Isolated and which then had me pull out some other redrose tracks again. (I've always liked serene moments, somehow it always makes me have a sort of Mono no Aware moment.) Isolation and A World Gone Blue otherwise were mainly the tracks that accompanied my Kemutai Hanashi trip (serene moment's previous associations kind of never managed to peel off and get dyed in this) and Held on a Thread was just forgotten to be taken out again. That's always been something of a "theme track" of a large middle portion of Higurashi ga Naku Koro ni for me, which ironically is probably as far off away from Kemutai Hanashi as it gets. Isolation and A World Gone Blue were also subjects to some habitual severe lyrics mishearing yet again. I'm not sure how I got "Undefined, sick and tired" out of "Can I say goodnight" (I was already going Hnnngh, another gloom song about sleepless nights??), but there we go… Same for A World in Blue, I misheard "poignant" as "pungent" and that paired with the "I didn't question it" tained the whole song with me thinking, oh no, not again another toxic relationship one. Turns out Isolation is indeed about sleepless nights, but there is a sort of determination in there to get through it all and A World in Blue doesn't actually have a trace of toxidity in it after all. (Altho it's still a bit gloom, because clearly it's mourning the absense of another person.) But Pfeeew. A half break from my curse of either finding cheese or questionable lyrics songs. That's nice.