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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
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
I love the relationships in this series. The established dynamic by book three is so cozy if you appreciate friends/colleagues who can rag on each other but will always show up for one another. I have a special place in my heart for Xiao Guo - I mean, our Corpse King even gets softened up by him. I appreciate his role in the story. Book one opens with him, and Zhao Yunlan is trying to figure out how he ended up with him in Book 2, and I feel like this last book does him right without handing the whole show over the him.
And Zhao Yunlan, our petty queen. He won’t let us or Shen Wei have a break from his avoidance, confrontation, and shamelessness. I love him.
It wraps up quickly and pretty succinctly by the end, but not all dressed in ribbons. That’s not a bad thing to me personally, but definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. Some things were hinted at the whole series, but if you missed the hints it can feel out of nowhere and very fast of a resolution, but I appreciate that it wasn’t dragged out.
The second book is probably my favorite, and the first was so charming that I had immediately bought the next ones, and this one holds up in my opinion! Some reviews on Reddit said the series “fell off” with 3, but honestly I love that Priest gives us a STORY and love just happens to be a part of it, not the complete focus. It feels very real to me, and I enjoyed the plot very much.
And Zhao Yunlan, our petty queen. He won’t let us or Shen Wei have a break from his avoidance, confrontation, and shamelessness. I love him.
It wraps up quickly and pretty succinctly by the end, but not all dressed in ribbons. That’s not a bad thing to me personally, but definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. Some things were hinted at the whole series, but if you missed the hints it can feel out of nowhere and very fast of a resolution, but I appreciate that it wasn’t dragged out.
The second book is probably my favorite, and the first was so charming that I had immediately bought the next ones, and this one holds up in my opinion! Some reviews on Reddit said the series “fell off” with 3, but honestly I love that Priest gives us a STORY and love just happens to be a part of it, not the complete focus. It feels very real to me, and I enjoyed the plot very much.
emotional
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:
Yes
I adore this series with all my heart. At this point, I have never disliked anything written by Priest.... I'm eager to read another one of her books!!!
Some of my fav quotes
"“I hold all the world’s famous mountains and rivers in my hand, but what of it? They’re nothing but a bunch of rocks and wild waters. Of all that I am, the only part worth anything may be my heart. If you want it, it’s yours.” With that, everything fell into place for the young King of the Gui. For the first time, he knew that there was a way to refer to the thing he yearned for so deeply but had been unable to voice. Its name was “heart”—a single word with the power to doom someone forever."
"Daqing: "Now I can take human form again. Even though transforming makes me hairless, and thus, hideous, (...). "
Guo Changcheng and Chu Shuzi, who were both hairless and, apparently, uglier than "hideous," wore the same peculiar expression." (Daqing best character? Yes!)
"In the end, he himself pushed away the one he had struggled so hard to hold; it was he who broke their oath to die together, after all his meticulous scheaming to extract that promise.
If one doesn't die, doesn't perish, then one cannot become a god... He had truly been born a fool. Only now, as his road came to its end, in this moment between life and death, did understanding arrive like a bolt of lightning.
Somehow, in that instant, peace flooded Shen Wei's heart. At last, he felt worthy of the one he loved...
It was a shame that he would never see him again."
I knew it was a HE and I still cried like a baby T_T But I loooved the ending with them together, safe and happy. Too much yearning for my poor heart!
Note to one self: the last bonus story (pocket dimension) is apparently a fix-it pseudo fic of the TV drama. Since I have yet to watch the drama (I don't know if I will though), I have not read it yet. So I'll have to come back later! (Maybe in a reread hehe).
Some of my fav quotes
"Daqing: "Now I can take human form again. Even though transforming makes me hairless, and thus, hideous, (...). "
Guo Changcheng and Chu Shuzi, who were both hairless and, apparently, uglier than "hideous," wore the same peculiar expression." (Daqing best character? Yes!)
"In the end, he himself pushed away the one he had struggled so hard to hold; it was he who broke their oath to die together, after all his meticulous scheaming to extract that promise.
If one doesn't die, doesn't perish, then one cannot become a god... He had truly been born a fool. Only now, as his road came to its end, in this moment between life and death, did understanding arrive like a bolt of lightning.
Somehow, in that instant, peace flooded Shen Wei's heart. At last, he felt worthy of the one he loved...
It was a shame that he would never see him again."
I knew it was a HE and I still cried like a baby T_T But I loooved the ending with them together, safe and happy. Too much yearning for my poor heart!
Note to one self: the last bonus story (pocket dimension) is apparently a fix-it pseudo fic of the TV drama. Since I have yet to watch the drama (I don't know if I will though), I have not read it yet. So I'll have to come back later! (Maybe in a reread hehe).
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
ZY and SW’s relationship was SO fun, the mythology was fascinating, and the side characters were such a joy (especially GC and CS). I am so sad leaving these characters behind but happy to have finished this series.
I can see why people might be put off with parts of this story (lots of info dumping and sometimes in a convoluted way). I decided to just go with the flow and enjoy the novel instead of stressing over understanding every detail (like I normally would). The relationships and characters are what carried the book for me 👻
I love Priest so much so I do wonder if I am biased when reading her books. I would put this ahead of Stars of Chaos (which I have not completed) but definitely not ahead of my beloved Can Ci Pin 🥰
A few things I didn't love (Spoiler)
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1) Zhu Hong's character development. I despise the “why not me?” when someone finds out their crush likes someone else and doesn’t like them back.
2) Daqing and Lao-Li ending. Feels unresolved.
3) Guo Changcheng- I needed so much more about him after the revelation of what/who he was! I love him to pieces.
I can see why people might be put off with parts of this story (lots of info dumping and sometimes in a convoluted way). I decided to just go with the flow and enjoy the novel instead of stressing over understanding every detail (like I normally would). The relationships and characters are what carried the book for me 👻
I love Priest so much so I do wonder if I am biased when reading her books. I would put this ahead of Stars of Chaos (which I have not completed) but definitely not ahead of my beloved Can Ci Pin 🥰
A few things I didn't love (Spoiler)
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1) Zhu Hong's character development. I despise the “why not me?” when someone finds out their crush likes someone else and doesn’t like them back.
2) Daqing and Lao-Li ending. Feels unresolved.
3) Guo Changcheng- I needed so much more about him after the revelation of what/who he was! I love him to pieces.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
