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4.67 AVERAGE
4.67 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i started drafting this review far before i finished my second full read of this book. but i’m still not nearly satisfied by it.
but first, a disclaimer: i don’t know if there’s an official english translation for nirvana in fire but i’ve tried my best to do the quotes from the book justice, which was so difficult because it’s hard to capture the essence of writing when you go from one language to another. i picked some of the easier good quotes to translate though. i’ve also left the chinese version there as well, for any that can read it.
if you asked me for a concrete reason like a trope, genre, character, etc. about why i liked this book so much, i wouldn’t be able to come up with a great answer for you, maybe besides it being about bromance and friendship and justice. this book does not, by most means, have found family or romance or glorious fight scenes or dashing youthful heroes (well, a bit, but in a slightly sickening and depressing way), which are things that many people, including me, typically look for. its ending can be either happy or sad, depending on how you look at it (when i was younger, i hated it, but now as i’ve gotten older, i’m starting to accept and appreciate the way that the author finished it more and more). it isn’t a typical “powerless main character figures out they are super special and trains to become the best in the world” sort of book, like most other wuxia/jianghu books. in fact, it’s quite the opposite, because mei changsu is a fallen version of his previous, glorious self:
but somehow, through its loophole-less-plot and painfully moving characters, it is uplifting and heartbreaking and just so, so MUCH. i cannot even begin to describe the wide spectrum of emotions i felt while reading this book (both times). at times, i loved mei changsu for all that he sacrificed, and at times i hated him so much for what he was doing to himself. at times, i screamed inwardly at xiao jingyan for his stubbornness and stupidity, not recognizing his best friend right there in front of him, but most times i sympathized with and understood him. even lin chen, who doesn’t appear until around halfway through the final book, came so quickly to me in the flesh. he had maybe like, 15 pieces of dialogue, but it revealed so much of his feelings and inner thoughts and motives. i knew these characters, and i belonged with them.
rereading this, something about the characters dawned on me. now that i think about it, maybe the reason i liked kaz brekker in six of crows so much is bc i can see the shadows of changsu on him, and why i liked matthias helvar nearly as much is bc i can see shadows of jingyan on him. it all makes sense, and this is also an easier way for me to talk about these characters by using a more well-known book in the english community. but kaz rietveld’s entire life changed when he floated in a barrage of bodies in the middle of a freezing river, prompting him to become kaz brekker to seek his justice and revenge, and lin shu’s entire life changed when his army got annihilated by their own allies so he watched all his men die in a sea of fire, prompting him to become mei changsu to seek his justice and revenge. now, matthias and jingyan have vastly different backgrounds as compared to mcs/kb, but their sort of ox-like, grim-faced, loyal, quick-to-anger, only-one-weakness (nina/lin she) vibe is also stunningly similar.
yeah, sounds about right.
(also lin chen gives off slightly jesper vibes but i might just be hallucinating that?? and maybe nihuang for inej too!! my strong female fighting queens who have a thing for that traumatized revengeful main character to varying degrees. love them.)
anyways, i’m definitely not saying that they’re the exact same, because that would kinda ruin the whole point of reading different books?. but given that we can all agree that six of crows has, like, one of the best casts of characters to ever exist (do not try to argue with me on this), i’m just going to say that i like these characters just as much, if not even more. because if the perfection of the crew in 6oc relies somewhat on the found family dynamics, in this book, it’s just. pure characterization. and it’s executed so wonderfully i could die.
don’t even mention the prose to me. this is what i hate the most about translations and why i wish so badly to know every language in the world. it’s so hard to properly and thoroughly capture the essence of beautiful writing from english to chinese, and vice versa. there’s always something lost in translation (unintentional taylor swift all too well reference ?! i am a die hard red stan by the way if you wanted to know). but the way hai yan writes, incorporating so many chengyu in there with phrases and grammar akin to 20th century prose?? there are reasons why people read this book 10 times, because every single time you reread it, you get stabbed again and again by the way she describes mei changsu’s emotions and pain. i guess we like to torture ourselves.
but since this is a website for english readers, i probably wouldn’t recommend reading the english translation because i’ve tried translating it myself for fun (which was not fun, barely got past the first chapter) and i know just how difficult it would be to execute it well. like the following quote — no matter how i try to translate it, it always comes out somewhat wrong-sounding.
instead i would recommend the drama, which lives up to the book. acting is much easier to understand across different languages and cultures when compared to words. usually i like book or drama, one or another, so i’m glad to say that this was probably (?) the second time in my life where i liked the drama/movie just as much as the book, the first being the harry potter series and films (i liked lord of the rings movies more than the books, so that doesn’t count, either). of course, the drama adaption did change some seemingly significant things, especially regarding nihuang/changsu’s relationship and the events toward the end, but those proved to be insignificant with regards to the entire theme and message of the book. i especially loved the cast they picked — all great actors/actresses, unlike so many chinese dramas nowadays that just cast popular, gorgeous idols with zero acting skills. yeah, mid 2010s were amazing. nirvana in fire has a whopping 9.4 on douban (chinese version of imdb), ranking it at no. 15 out of all dramas (where the ones above it are all older classics), which is just insane. so definitely go watch the drama with eng subs and throw yourself into mei changsu’s brilliant, scheming, broken mind.
i’ll end this ramble here — i was far too emotional and in a daze while writing this to call it a review. essentially, this book and its characters took my heart and shattered it and put it back together again. i will reread it again and again and i doubt i will ever get sick of it.
on that note. enjoy a quote that i think i actually translated fairly well, a quote that can tell you something about who mei changsu — or lin shu — was, and what the story was like…
but first, a disclaimer: i don’t know if there’s an official english translation for nirvana in fire but i’ve tried my best to do the quotes from the book justice, which was so difficult because it’s hard to capture the essence of writing when you go from one language to another. i picked some of the easier good quotes to translate though. i’ve also left the chinese version there as well, for any that can read it.
if you asked me for a concrete reason like a trope, genre, character, etc. about why i liked this book so much, i wouldn’t be able to come up with a great answer for you, maybe besides it being about bromance and friendship and justice. this book does not, by most means, have found family or romance or glorious fight scenes or dashing youthful heroes (well, a bit, but in a slightly sickening and depressing way), which are things that many people, including me, typically look for. its ending can be either happy or sad, depending on how you look at it (when i was younger, i hated it, but now as i’ve gotten older, i’m starting to accept and appreciate the way that the author finished it more and more). it isn’t a typical “powerless main character figures out they are super special and trains to become the best in the world” sort of book, like most other wuxia/jianghu books. in fact, it’s quite the opposite, because mei changsu is a fallen version of his previous, glorious self:
他就像是一团熊熊烈火被扑灭后余下的那一抹灰烬，虽然会让人联想到曾经存在过的那团火焰，却再也没有火焰的灼灼热量和舞动的姿态。
He was like a raging fire that had been put out, leaving only a pile of ashes. Although the cinders would remind people of the flames that had once been, they would never have the same burning heat or leaping appearance.
but somehow, through its loophole-less-plot and painfully moving characters, it is uplifting and heartbreaking and just so, so MUCH. i cannot even begin to describe the wide spectrum of emotions i felt while reading this book (both times). at times, i loved mei changsu for all that he sacrificed, and at times i hated him so much for what he was doing to himself. at times, i screamed inwardly at xiao jingyan for his stubbornness and stupidity, not recognizing his best friend right there in front of him, but most times i sympathized with and understood him. even lin chen, who doesn’t appear until around halfway through the final book, came so quickly to me in the flesh. he had maybe like, 15 pieces of dialogue, but it revealed so much of his feelings and inner thoughts and motives. i knew these characters, and i belonged with them.
rereading this, something about the characters dawned on me. now that i think about it, maybe the reason i liked kaz brekker in six of crows so much is bc i can see the shadows of changsu on him, and why i liked matthias helvar nearly as much is bc i can see shadows of jingyan on him. it all makes sense, and this is also an easier way for me to talk about these characters by using a more well-known book in the english community. but kaz rietveld’s entire life changed when he floated in a barrage of bodies in the middle of a freezing river, prompting him to become kaz brekker to seek his justice and revenge, and lin shu’s entire life changed when his army got annihilated by their own allies so he watched all his men die in a sea of fire, prompting him to become mei changsu to seek his justice and revenge. now, matthias and jingyan have vastly different backgrounds as compared to mcs/kb, but their sort of ox-like, grim-faced, loyal, quick-to-anger, only-one-weakness (nina/lin she) vibe is also stunningly similar.
yeah, sounds about right.
(also lin chen gives off slightly jesper vibes but i might just be hallucinating that?? and maybe nihuang for inej too!! my strong female fighting queens who have a thing for that traumatized revengeful main character to varying degrees. love them.)
anyways, i’m definitely not saying that they’re the exact same, because that would kinda ruin the whole point of reading different books?. but given that we can all agree that six of crows has, like, one of the best casts of characters to ever exist (do not try to argue with me on this), i’m just going to say that i like these characters just as much, if not even more. because if the perfection of the crew in 6oc relies somewhat on the found family dynamics, in this book, it’s just. pure characterization. and it’s executed so wonderfully i could die.
无论曾经是怎样一个天真无邪的朋友，从地狱归来的人都会变成恶鬼，不仅他认不出来，连我自己，都已经认不出我自己了。
No matter how innocent or carefree of a friend there once was will still become a demon after returning from hell. He’s not the only one who cannot recognize me, for even I can no longer recognize myself.
don’t even mention the prose to me. this is what i hate the most about translations and why i wish so badly to know every language in the world. it’s so hard to properly and thoroughly capture the essence of beautiful writing from english to chinese, and vice versa. there’s always something lost in translation (unintentional taylor swift all too well reference ?! i am a die hard red stan by the way if you wanted to know). but the way hai yan writes, incorporating so many chengyu in there with phrases and grammar akin to 20th century prose?? there are reasons why people read this book 10 times, because every single time you reread it, you get stabbed again and again by the way she describes mei changsu’s emotions and pain. i guess we like to torture ourselves.
but since this is a website for english readers, i probably wouldn’t recommend reading the english translation because i’ve tried translating it myself for fun (which was not fun, barely got past the first chapter) and i know just how difficult it would be to execute it well. like the following quote — no matter how i try to translate it, it always comes out somewhat wrong-sounding.
他天性不善权谋，这又有何妨，不是还有我吗？那些阴暗的，沾满血腥的事我来做好了，为了让恶贯满盈的人倒下，即使让我去朝无辜者的心上扎刀也没有关系，虽然我也会因此而难过，但当一个人的痛苦曾经超越过极限的时候，这种程度的难过就是可以忍耐的了。“
“So what if he’s not innately talented at tactics, at trickery, at politics? After all, I’m here. Let me do the dark, bloodstained things. To bring down those that are full of evil, it’ll be alright even if I must pierce the hearts of the innocent. I will be pained because of this, but when someone’s agony has exceeded a limit before, this level of pain can be tolerated.
instead i would recommend the drama, which lives up to the book. acting is much easier to understand across different languages and cultures when compared to words. usually i like book or drama, one or another, so i’m glad to say that this was probably (?) the second time in my life where i liked the drama/movie just as much as the book, the first being the harry potter series and films (i liked lord of the rings movies more than the books, so that doesn’t count, either). of course, the drama adaption did change some seemingly significant things, especially regarding nihuang/changsu’s relationship and the events toward the end, but those proved to be insignificant with regards to the entire theme and message of the book. i especially loved the cast they picked — all great actors/actresses, unlike so many chinese dramas nowadays that just cast popular, gorgeous idols with zero acting skills. yeah, mid 2010s were amazing. nirvana in fire has a whopping 9.4 on douban (chinese version of imdb), ranking it at no. 15 out of all dramas (where the ones above it are all older classics), which is just insane. so definitely go watch the drama with eng subs and throw yourself into mei changsu’s brilliant, scheming, broken mind.
i’ll end this ramble here — i was far too emotional and in a daze while writing this to call it a review. essentially, this book and its characters took my heart and shattered it and put it back together again. i will reread it again and again and i doubt i will ever get sick of it.
on that note. enjoy a quote that i think i actually translated fairly well, a quote that can tell you something about who mei changsu — or lin shu — was, and what the story was like…
梅长苏的心头涌起一股热潮，唇边也露出了一丝惨然的笑，不知道什么是军人，什么是战场么？也许在十二年前那场寒冬的雪中，心凉了，血也凉了，但那些烙入骨髓里的东西呢，是不是也凉了？
Mei Changsu’s heart surged with a wave of emotion, a faint, sorrowful smile appearing on his lips. Didn’t he know what being a soldier meant, what the battlefield was like? Perhaps in the snow of that bitter winter twelve years ago, his heart had turned cold, his blood had turned cold, but what about the things branded into his bones? Had they, too, turned cold?
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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:
No
This review is for the fan translation.
This is more a comparison of the book and the drama than a mere book review.
The novel is divided into seven books, each depicting a certain dramatic arc:
Mei Changsu arrives at Jinling, immediately raises suspicion and curiosity due to both his status as the leader of the East River Alliance (Jiangzuo Alliance, as it’s named in the Viki subs) and because of his childish yet insanely skilled bodyguard (Fei Liu, ma boi!). Both the Crown Prince and prince Yu try to get Mei Changsu’s attention but he pledges himself to Jingyan (the “I choose you” scene). Tingshen’s identity reveal. The fight for Nihuang’s hand in marriage begins.
Book 2, The Wind Begins to Stir
The fight for Nihuang’s hand in marriage continues, the roofie incident, Noble Consort Yue’s downfall. Yan Yujin warns Xiao Jingrui of Mei Changsu’s character (a bit of foreshadowing here). Xia Dong arrives and interrogates Mei Changsu. The corpse well house. The brothel murder. Prince Jing gets the land infringement case mission. The skirmish with Tuoba Hao from Northern Yan.
Book 3, Wind and Rain
Attempt on Mei Changsu’s life at Xie Yu’s residence, Mei Changsu moves houses. The land infringement case is dealt with and Prince Yu tries to suck up to Jingyan (with little to no success). Plotting and deal making left and right. The first mention of the mountain beast. Noble Consort Yue is reinstated which leads to the New Year Ceremony debate. Mo Nihuang confronts Mei Changsu on his identity. The case of the illegal fireworks factory. Yan Yujin learns his dad wasn’t always a boring daoist as Mei Changsu intercepts Marquis Yan’s plan to assassinate the Emperor.
Book 4, The Calm Before the Storm
Murders on New Year’s Eve which gets Meng Zhi punished. Marquis Yan comes clean to Yan Yujin. Tianquan Manor’s involvement is made clear. (Also, apparently Xiao Jingrui has two little brothers, Xie Bie and Xie Xu.) The hunt for the mountain beast begins. The fireworks factory blows up, Prince Jing deals with the clean-up and gets praised. Shen Zhui gets a proper introduction as the voice of the people. The brothel murder cover-up is revealed. Cai Quan gets appointed to a (temporary) Minister of Justice. Mei Changsu renovates his garden and has a party with a scavenger hunt (read: subjecting his house to being searched). The speech of how Mei Changsu will poison his heart to guard Prince Jing’s “pure and innocent heart.” First meeting in the secret chamber (which is BTW a LOT more elaborate than in the drama). Meng Zhi befriends Prince Jing. The Emperor visits Concubine Jing and raises her rank to Consort. Xiao Jingrui’s fight with Da Chu’s Nian Nian at the city gates. Nihuang returns home and the Emperor keeps Mo Qing in Jinling. Foreshadowing of what’s going to happen to Jingrui.
Book 5, Grudges and Grievances
Jingrui’s birthday party: the jianghu challenge, Jingrui’s parentage/murdered babies reveal, fight at the Xie manor, Xie Yu’s downfall. Mei Changsu catches a cold, Li Gang oversteps, and Zhen Ping gets summoned. Xie Qi’s gives birth (baby is in breech position) and dies, but Mei Changsu’s cook(?) saves the baby. Xia Jiang returns to the Capital. Mei Changsu visits Xie Yu in prison and draws out the confession that Xia Dong and prince Jing hear. Grand Empress Dowager dies. Xie Yu’s departure for exile and the written confession letter (which he writes not right at the gates but an hour’s walk away). The Emperor gives Jingyan the Capitol Patrol and free visiting hours to his mother. Jingyan takes Mei Chagsu’s poetry book. Banruo meets her Hua sister and recruits her.
Book 6, The Shadow of the Sword
Banruo’s plan to seduce Tong Lu set into motion. Jingrui leaves to Da Chu. The Emperor catches the Crown Prince partying and orders the Eastern Palace lockdown. Jingyan starts to question Mei Changsu’s identity. Jingyan is promoted, prince Yu throws a fit, and realizes Mei Changsu has betrayed him. Mei Changsu recruits Marquis Yan (by proxy unlike in the drama). Wei Zheng’s failed rescue attempt (Xia Dong’s brother was disguised as her, curious). Tong Lu’s ”betrayal” comes out. Mei Changsu gets seriously ill. Jingyan learns about Wei Zheng’s capture and wants to rescue him, Mei Changsu finally agrees. Hence, the complicated plot with Capital Patrols on the streets chasing ”robbers,” Yan Yujin taking prince Ji to see Gong Yu, Marquis Yan inviting Xia Jiang to the temple outside the city for a heart-to-heart, and the Jianghu men doing the fake attack to reveal Wei Zhang’s real whereabouts. Dual attack against Jingyan and Consort Jing (the memorial tablet incident and the Wei Zhang rescue after which the Emperor kicks Jingyan). Xia Jiang brings Mei Changsu in for questioning and forces him to swallow the poison pill (or did he??). Prince Ji tells the Emperor about seeing Xia Dong rescue Wei Zhang. Xuanjing Bureau’s lockdown and Prince Jing’s house arrest.
Book 7, Brotherhood Eternal
The old illegal firework factory case is reopened with new evidence. Cai Quan and Shen Zhui commiserate. Prince Jing invites Mei Changsu to the spring hunt to meet his mom. Xuanjing Bureau dismantled. Prince Yu demoted and under house arrest, Consort Jing promoted to Imperial Consort. Prince Jing starts his government reform. Jingyan meets Wei Zheng and learns the truth of what really happened 13 years ago. The spring hunt starts. Consort Jing meets Mei Changsu and confirms his identity. Tong Lu arrives, tells his side of the betrayal, and says Prince Yu is planning a rebellion. Jingyan, Mei Changsu, and Meng Zhi start to plan (the scene where MCS draws Jingyan’s sword). The siege of the Hunting Palace. The mountain beast is found and Mei Changsu asks Consort Jing’s help with treating him.Mei Changsu collapses and Jingyan keeps having more and more doubts about his identity. Xia Jiang escapes. The return to the capital, Prince Yu and his family are imprisoned. Xie Yu dies. Lin Chen arrives and the truth about the poison of the bitter flame is revealed. Jingyan’s Crown Prince ceremony. Jingyan finally realizes/admits to himself who Mei Changsu is and confronts both Meng Zhi and Consort Jing. The prisoner exchange between Xia Dong and Gong Yu is revealed. Xia Jiang plots. The Emperor transfers administrative power and authority to Jingyan. Hua tribe gets more attention. Jingyan decides to reopen the Chiyan case. Nie Duo arrives with the miracle herb that would require 10 men sacrificing their lives to save Mei Changsu. Attempt on Grand Princess Liyang’s life/to steal Xie Yu’s confession, Jingrui returns in time to prevent it. Jingrui and his mother read the letter and bring it to Jingyan. Xia Jiang is caught. Grand Princess Liyang presents the letter to the Emperor and the court joins in on her petition to reinvestigate. The old case is reversed. Mei Changsu makes plans to leave the Capital. Da Yu attacks. Mei Changsu, Meng Zhi, Fei Liu, and Lin Chen ride to war.
The epilogue wraps up the victorious war. Nie Duo and Nihuang get married (Jingyan gives his consent only after a letter from Mei Changsu). The old Emperor dies, Jingyan and his wife get a son, he ascends as the Emperor, and adopts Tingsheng. No explicit mention of Mei Changsu’s death.
From the get-go, there’s one clear difference to the drama: the characters are more extreme in every way. If someone is gentle in the drama (Jingrui), they are soft and innocent in the book. If someone is sharp and intelligent (Mei Changsu), they’re almost mean in the book. That’s obviously also a style and/or translation issue but, everything is way more Extra™️ in the novel.
Now, obviously since the novel was translated by several people, the language changes accordingly. In the beginning, I was slightly annoyed by that translator’s tendency to use only the family name instead of full name. I mean, that’s a translator choice, obviously, but it was jarring to read “They could not keep Su company as a result,” or “Meng sat down and huffed.” Because if I’ve understood correctly, the names usually need to have two syllables/characters to be used alone and, considering this is a historical and political drama, I’d bet my hat the original had some version of “Sir Su” and “Commander Meng” or “Su-laoshi” and “Meng-ge” going on. This changed with the translator. There were also a couple of instances where Mei Changsu was referred to as Lin Shu very early on which threw me because to me, it seemed like there was no logical reason to use that name in that context. I mean, sure, I knew who he was and happened because I'd already seen the drama but to someone who doesn’t know, adding one more name into the mix that early would probably be pretty damn confusing. Or perhaps I’m overthinking with my Western brain.
The overall plot is very similar to the drama--or should I say the drama was faithful to the novel. The biggest differences (IMO):
Also, since Princess Jingning is in the novel but not in the drama, the whole convo of her impending marriage (and, consequently, speculation of Jingyan’s own marriage) takes place in the secret chamber…I honestly don’t remember what they talked about in the drama but I DO remember their first secret chamber meeting was Dramatic AF with Prince Jing waiting right behind the sekrit door like an impatient lover.
This is more a comparison of the book and the drama than a mere book review.
The novel is divided into seven books, each depicting a certain dramatic arc:
Spoiler
Book 1, Mr. Mei from East RiverMei Changsu arrives at Jinling, immediately raises suspicion and curiosity due to both his status as the leader of the East River Alliance (Jiangzuo Alliance, as it’s named in the Viki subs) and because of his childish yet insanely skilled bodyguard (Fei Liu, ma boi!). Both the Crown Prince and prince Yu try to get Mei Changsu’s attention but he pledges himself to Jingyan (the “I choose you” scene). Tingshen’s identity reveal. The fight for Nihuang’s hand in marriage begins.
Book 2, The Wind Begins to Stir
The fight for Nihuang’s hand in marriage continues, the roofie incident, Noble Consort Yue’s downfall. Yan Yujin warns Xiao Jingrui of Mei Changsu’s character (a bit of foreshadowing here). Xia Dong arrives and interrogates Mei Changsu. The corpse well house. The brothel murder. Prince Jing gets the land infringement case mission. The skirmish with Tuoba Hao from Northern Yan.
Book 3, Wind and Rain
Attempt on Mei Changsu’s life at Xie Yu’s residence, Mei Changsu moves houses. The land infringement case is dealt with and Prince Yu tries to suck up to Jingyan (with little to no success). Plotting and deal making left and right. The first mention of the mountain beast. Noble Consort Yue is reinstated which leads to the New Year Ceremony debate. Mo Nihuang confronts Mei Changsu on his identity. The case of the illegal fireworks factory. Yan Yujin learns his dad wasn’t always a boring daoist as Mei Changsu intercepts Marquis Yan’s plan to assassinate the Emperor.
Book 4, The Calm Before the Storm
Murders on New Year’s Eve which gets Meng Zhi punished. Marquis Yan comes clean to Yan Yujin. Tianquan Manor’s involvement is made clear. (Also, apparently Xiao Jingrui has two little brothers, Xie Bie and Xie Xu.) The hunt for the mountain beast begins. The fireworks factory blows up, Prince Jing deals with the clean-up and gets praised. Shen Zhui gets a proper introduction as the voice of the people. The brothel murder cover-up is revealed. Cai Quan gets appointed to a (temporary) Minister of Justice. Mei Changsu renovates his garden and has a party with a scavenger hunt (read: subjecting his house to being searched). The speech of how Mei Changsu will poison his heart to guard Prince Jing’s “pure and innocent heart.” First meeting in the secret chamber (which is BTW a LOT more elaborate than in the drama). Meng Zhi befriends Prince Jing. The Emperor visits Concubine Jing and raises her rank to Consort. Xiao Jingrui’s fight with Da Chu’s Nian Nian at the city gates. Nihuang returns home and the Emperor keeps Mo Qing in Jinling. Foreshadowing of what’s going to happen to Jingrui.
Book 5, Grudges and Grievances
Jingrui’s birthday party: the jianghu challenge, Jingrui’s parentage/murdered babies reveal, fight at the Xie manor, Xie Yu’s downfall. Mei Changsu catches a cold, Li Gang oversteps, and Zhen Ping gets summoned. Xie Qi’s gives birth (baby is in breech position) and dies, but Mei Changsu’s cook(?) saves the baby. Xia Jiang returns to the Capital. Mei Changsu visits Xie Yu in prison and draws out the confession that Xia Dong and prince Jing hear. Grand Empress Dowager dies. Xie Yu’s departure for exile and the written confession letter (which he writes not right at the gates but an hour’s walk away). The Emperor gives Jingyan the Capitol Patrol and free visiting hours to his mother. Jingyan takes Mei Chagsu’s poetry book. Banruo meets her Hua sister and recruits her.
Book 6, The Shadow of the Sword
Banruo’s plan to seduce Tong Lu set into motion. Jingrui leaves to Da Chu. The Emperor catches the Crown Prince partying and orders the Eastern Palace lockdown. Jingyan starts to question Mei Changsu’s identity. Jingyan is promoted, prince Yu throws a fit, and realizes Mei Changsu has betrayed him. Mei Changsu recruits Marquis Yan (by proxy unlike in the drama). Wei Zheng’s failed rescue attempt (Xia Dong’s brother was disguised as her, curious). Tong Lu’s ”betrayal” comes out. Mei Changsu gets seriously ill. Jingyan learns about Wei Zheng’s capture and wants to rescue him, Mei Changsu finally agrees. Hence, the complicated plot with Capital Patrols on the streets chasing ”robbers,” Yan Yujin taking prince Ji to see Gong Yu, Marquis Yan inviting Xia Jiang to the temple outside the city for a heart-to-heart, and the Jianghu men doing the fake attack to reveal Wei Zhang’s real whereabouts. Dual attack against Jingyan and Consort Jing (the memorial tablet incident and the Wei Zhang rescue after which the Emperor kicks Jingyan). Xia Jiang brings Mei Changsu in for questioning and forces him to swallow the poison pill (or did he??). Prince Ji tells the Emperor about seeing Xia Dong rescue Wei Zhang. Xuanjing Bureau’s lockdown and Prince Jing’s house arrest.
Book 7, Brotherhood Eternal
The old illegal firework factory case is reopened with new evidence. Cai Quan and Shen Zhui commiserate. Prince Jing invites Mei Changsu to the spring hunt to meet his mom. Xuanjing Bureau dismantled. Prince Yu demoted and under house arrest, Consort Jing promoted to Imperial Consort. Prince Jing starts his government reform. Jingyan meets Wei Zheng and learns the truth of what really happened 13 years ago. The spring hunt starts. Consort Jing meets Mei Changsu and confirms his identity. Tong Lu arrives, tells his side of the betrayal, and says Prince Yu is planning a rebellion. Jingyan, Mei Changsu, and Meng Zhi start to plan (the scene where MCS draws Jingyan’s sword). The siege of the Hunting Palace. The mountain beast is found and Mei Changsu asks Consort Jing’s help with treating him.Mei Changsu collapses and Jingyan keeps having more and more doubts about his identity. Xia Jiang escapes. The return to the capital, Prince Yu and his family are imprisoned. Xie Yu dies. Lin Chen arrives and the truth about the poison of the bitter flame is revealed. Jingyan’s Crown Prince ceremony. Jingyan finally realizes/admits to himself who Mei Changsu is and confronts both Meng Zhi and Consort Jing. The prisoner exchange between Xia Dong and Gong Yu is revealed. Xia Jiang plots. The Emperor transfers administrative power and authority to Jingyan. Hua tribe gets more attention. Jingyan decides to reopen the Chiyan case. Nie Duo arrives with the miracle herb that would require 10 men sacrificing their lives to save Mei Changsu. Attempt on Grand Princess Liyang’s life/to steal Xie Yu’s confession, Jingrui returns in time to prevent it. Jingrui and his mother read the letter and bring it to Jingyan. Xia Jiang is caught. Grand Princess Liyang presents the letter to the Emperor and the court joins in on her petition to reinvestigate. The old case is reversed. Mei Changsu makes plans to leave the Capital. Da Yu attacks. Mei Changsu, Meng Zhi, Fei Liu, and Lin Chen ride to war.
The epilogue wraps up the victorious war. Nie Duo and Nihuang get married (Jingyan gives his consent only after a letter from Mei Changsu). The old Emperor dies, Jingyan and his wife get a son, he ascends as the Emperor, and adopts Tingsheng. No explicit mention of Mei Changsu’s death.
From the get-go, there’s one clear difference to the drama: the characters are more extreme in every way. If someone is gentle in the drama (Jingrui), they are soft and innocent in the book. If someone is sharp and intelligent (Mei Changsu), they’re almost mean in the book. That’s obviously also a style and/or translation issue but, everything is way more Extra™️ in the novel.
Now, obviously since the novel was translated by several people, the language changes accordingly. In the beginning, I was slightly annoyed by that translator’s tendency to use only the family name instead of full name. I mean, that’s a translator choice, obviously, but it was jarring to read “They could not keep Su company as a result,” or “Meng sat down and huffed.” Because if I’ve understood correctly, the names usually need to have two syllables/characters to be used alone and, considering this is a historical and political drama, I’d bet my hat the original had some version of “Sir Su” and “Commander Meng” or “Su-laoshi” and “Meng-ge” going on. This changed with the translator. There were also a couple of instances where Mei Changsu was referred to as Lin Shu very early on which threw me because to me, it seemed like there was no logical reason to use that name in that context. I mean, sure, I knew who he was and happened because I'd already seen the drama but to someone who doesn’t know, adding one more name into the mix that early would probably be pretty damn confusing. Or perhaps I’m overthinking with my Western brain.
The overall plot is very similar to the drama--or should I say the drama was faithful to the novel. The biggest differences (IMO):
Spoiler
• Mo Nihuang is’t in love with Mei Changsu but with a former Chiyan Army member, and even though she cares about Mei Changsu a lot, her interests clearly lie in another direction.Also, since Princess Jingning is in the novel but not in the drama, the whole convo of her impending marriage (and, consequently, speculation of Jingyan’s own marriage) takes place in the secret chamber…I honestly don’t remember what they talked about in the drama but I DO remember their first secret chamber meeting was Dramatic AF with Prince Jing waiting right behind the sekrit door like an impatient lover.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes