Reviews

魔道祖師四 [Mo Dao Zu Shi 4] by 墨香銅臭, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

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minervaperedhel's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-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

"He wasn't scared of falling. He had fallen many times over the years. But hitting the ground still hurt. How wonderful it would be if there was someone there to catch him"

It took me way too long to finish this fourth book, considering how incredible it is 😭

The first half of the book covers the events that lead Wei Wuxian to be considered an outlaw and rejected by the entire cultivation world, while the second half picks up in the present and slowly starts to repair his reputation and set things right. So much happens in this volume, both in the past and in the present timelines, and everything is an overwhelming (good) mess of emotions. Wei Wuxian is getting more and more aware of his feelings for Lan Wangji, and there's a clear shift from the past, when he was convinced LWJ hated him, to the present, when he hopes that LWJ likes him as much as he does. Lan Wangji, I want to say, spends this volume terrified for WWX. First, he's scared he will lose him to demonic cultivation, and he's caught between his duties to his clan and his love for WWX. In the present, he seems continuously afraid that WWX will disappear again, and it *hurts* to see him worried about that, understanding that he already went through that once.

Now, this volume is filled with the most wonderful moments, be they the sweetest thing or positively heartbreaking:

How is it that the first lines of this volumes is one of the most heartbreaking ones of the series: "I want to bring someone back to the Cloud Recesses... Bring him back... and hide him away". This is on page 1, for goodness sake!!!!
WWX rescuing Wen Ning and getting everyone safe on the Burial Mounds. We get all the pain from his decision to cut ties with everyone, including his family and LWJ. But we also get the most wholesome found family vibes, and Wen Yuan is the cutest. The reunion between LWJ and WWX at the restaurant is so sweet, every time, in all medium.
Every time the single-log bridge is mentioned. I can't get over how much WWX sacrificed for his principles, and to expose the hypocrisy of his society. I will say that his turnaround from his dark days killing everyone from the Wen clan to giving up everything to save them felt a little rushed, but it emphasises even more the fact that people will turn on anyone who's a little different the moment they can't find them any use. He finds comfort in the people around him and realises they care for him. "It wasn't all dark"
LWJ's pain and loneliness while he searches for a way to reach WWX. I'm specifically thinking at their fight at Nightless City, and his desperation to make him understand that he cares for him. Speaking of Nightless City, this whole scene was pure heartbreak...... Jiang Yanli deserved better 😭
The golden core reveal emotionally destroys me every time. I remember being stunned and in tears when I saw this scene in CQL, the moment is just as heartbreaking in the novel. But it's LWJ's reaction that takes it away for me. "'... All I knew was that his spiritual power had likely been damaged somehow', Lan Wangji rasped with some difficulty. But he had not known that this was the truth". This *hurts*
Drunk LWJ is something else funny, and I want to say, FINALLY!!!!! I'm glad it seems like LWJ was aware of what he was doing this time, even if it lead to miscommunication on both end. Here's to hoping they clear this out in volume 5.

Mo Dao Zu Shi, across all volumes so far, combines brilliantly heartwarming moment, wholesome humour, gut-wrenching pain, and the sweetest of romances. Despite some plot holes and some parts that feel rushed, MXTX's characterisation is simply brilliant. I couldn't recommend this series enough!

silverlan11's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

sendra's review against another edition

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5.0

Whichever the format, Wei Wuxian's downfall and descent into madness will never not be heartbreaking

scarletsky's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

estherbookster's review against another edition

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5.0

5 stars

“As the saying goes, better a good cup of wine today than a posthumous fame tomorrow.”

Why am I blushing at the end of this book?! Because unlike TGCF, MDZS is less censored, and yet after finishing that last chapter, I'm left experiencing secondhand embarrassment. This couple, these two dudes, they should probably stop teasing and just hit it on the head already if you know what I mean: use your words bro.

reading_bunny's review against another edition

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4.0

My Ratings:
Writing: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Overall: 4/5

Favourite Quote:
Jian shushu, Maddame Yu, it's me again, here to disturb your peace. I really wanted to bring this person here to show him to you. Please consider these two bows our weddings bows to the Heave, the Earth, the Father, and the Mother. so please - help me lock this guy down first. Let me owe you the third and final wedding bow for now. I'll find a time to make good on it in the future."
- Wei Wuxian

Review/My Thoughts:
This book was a ride form start to fucking finish. The flashbacks were very informative, even if they were a little long and didn't initially make much sense.

The progression of Wei Wuxian's personality through the books really shows itself here, as he is forced to accept his title and simply try to make a good life for himself and those he cares is refreshing and very realistic (as realistic as you can get within the confines of these types of books), and equally heartbreaking as you are

Spoiler

forced to watch him lose all of those thing she sacrificed so much of himself to protect.

The relationship progression was been so frustrating. A lot of things could be resolved if those two would just get over themselves and talk to each other, then again, they are both very clearly scared both of their own feelings, their intensity, ans the others possible reaction to them, but they have both already lost each other once before and they are afraid to mess up this second chance at a life together.
The amount of times that they fuck up around each other and take their relationship 3 steps backwards when they are so close to admitting their feelings is infuriating, but as a person who also loves to write torturous slow burn romance, I respect the hustle and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker every single time.

~~Discussion of the sex scene ~~

Spoiler

the sex scene was a surprise. I already knew that it was there (its literally in the blurb at the back of the book) but it was much more detailed than I was expecting from not only a published book (I'm aware its rated 17+) but also one that I thought reasonably feel into the censorship of the country it was written in. That being said I actually really enjoyed it, both because of the writing, and because unlike other books I've read with sex scenes, this one felt like it was not only well placed (both in the story but also in their relationship mapping) but also served the plot itself and their relationship in a (albeit frustratingly) good way.

Overall great continuation of the story and the writing style made it an easy read and let me devour the book in about a week or so of night time reading.