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akira_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sahkitsune's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
nicolealanna's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
good start to the series. wei wuxian is very funny
shirleys's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
MXTX is such a good writer. Her storylines are so well and deeply thought of. You got everything you need in her books. If you doubt starting it, stop now and start reading!
kandra's review against another edition
5.0
If this book was a rabbit I would be Lan Zhan - that's how much I love it.
arina25's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
ashction's review against another edition
5.0
crying until March
I loved this drama in 2020, and I'm so excited to be reading the US published translation of the original novel! MDZS was the single thread getting me through the early months of the pandemic and going back to work. I'm really enjoying seeing how well this was adapted despite Chinese censorship. And it's fun to see what they modified to make it work for screen! I love these characters and their relationship, and I can't wait to read volume two soon.
I loved this drama in 2020, and I'm so excited to be reading the US published translation of the original novel! MDZS was the single thread getting me through the early months of the pandemic and going back to work. I'm really enjoying seeing how well this was adapted despite Chinese censorship. And it's fun to see what they modified to make it work for screen! I love these characters and their relationship, and I can't wait to read volume two soon.
cammaleahh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sashapasha's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars.
Started reading this because I’ve recently become hugely obsessed with the show The Untamed.
So far I think I like the show better. Wei Wuxian’s character in the show is more likable—he’s usually either being charmingly adorable or kind of badass—whereas in the novel he strikes me as rather obnoxious. I’m particularly not super into with how he seems to mess with the feelings of Lan Wangji, who has a rather obvious and largely unrequited crush on him. The show depicts WWX’s teasing, but without the willful ignorance and mindfuckery.
My current impression is that the friendship between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji (and Lan Wangji’s crush) is more subtle and nuanced in the show, and while I know that that is partially an outcome of the censorship laws, I think the creators of the show did an excellent job of translating the relationship without losing any of the impact on the viewer and also making their friendship seem more equitable. The show makes it so obvious why Lan Zhan overcomes his internal struggle and his sect’s disapproval and remains loyal to Wei Ying, and also how much Wei Ying needs the support of someone who believes in him. And in particular, the show makes it painfully clear how innately selfless, well-intentioned, and courageous Wei Ying is, which makes everything that happens all the more heartbreaking.
Still, I’m enjoying the novel nonetheless. It’s nice to have additional background and clarification on certain events, and it’s interesting to see where the show tweaked things and where they decided to stay true almost word for word to the source material. Not all of it is related to censorship. For example, the sequence of events in the show vs the novel is entirely different. With the show, we get the introduction and contextualization in the “present day” for the first couple episodes and then switch to a sequential retelling of the events sixteen years prior, whereas the novel switches back and forth, spending more time in the present than in the past. I think some of the impact of the present day events is actually lost by this, since we don’t have all of the backstory.
Highly recommend the show, supplementarily recommend the novel.
Started reading this because I’ve recently become hugely obsessed with the show The Untamed.
So far I think I like the show better. Wei Wuxian’s character in the show is more likable—he’s usually either being charmingly adorable or kind of badass—whereas in the novel he strikes me as rather obnoxious. I’m particularly not super into with how he seems to mess with the feelings of Lan Wangji, who has a rather obvious and largely unrequited crush on him. The show depicts WWX’s teasing, but without the willful ignorance and mindfuckery.
My current impression is that the friendship between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji (and Lan Wangji’s crush) is more subtle and nuanced in the show, and while I know that that is partially an outcome of the censorship laws, I think the creators of the show did an excellent job of translating the relationship without losing any of the impact on the viewer and also making their friendship seem more equitable. The show makes it so obvious why Lan Zhan overcomes his internal struggle and his sect’s disapproval and remains loyal to Wei Ying, and also how much Wei Ying needs the support of someone who believes in him. And in particular, the show makes it painfully clear how innately selfless, well-intentioned, and courageous Wei Ying is, which makes everything that happens all the more heartbreaking.
Still, I’m enjoying the novel nonetheless. It’s nice to have additional background and clarification on certain events, and it’s interesting to see where the show tweaked things and where they decided to stay true almost word for word to the source material. Not all of it is related to censorship. For example, the sequence of events in the show vs the novel is entirely different. With the show, we get the introduction and contextualization in the “present day” for the first couple episodes and then switch to a sequential retelling of the events sixteen years prior, whereas the novel switches back and forth, spending more time in the present than in the past. I think some of the impact of the present day events is actually lost by this, since we don’t have all of the backstory.
Highly recommend the show, supplementarily recommend the novel.