megs_booknook's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

it will take a while to recover from this book.... 

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chrisljm's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-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? Yes

3.0


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moodreaderhan's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

4 ‘Rolling Dice With Heated Stares And Soft Touches’ Stars! *fans myself again*

My Brief Summary:

Off to the Ghost City we go! Xie Lian is given a task by the heavenly officials, which he is more than happy to go on if it means the chance to possibly see his new/old friend San Lang aka Hua Cheng, who rules over the city and is one of the four calamities and a supreme ghost. The Ghost City (as its name suggests) holds all kinds of ghosts with trouble that may come in between him completing his mission.

Xie Lian has been warned of Hua Cheng, but when the two are together, no one can deny how different Crimson Rain Sought Flower is to our prince than to anyone else. Will Xie Lian be able to complete his mission? What happens when a familiar boy with bandages appears again? What other difficulties will arise? What lies between Hua Cheng’s and Xie Lian’s chemistry and connection?

Thoughts:

Oh my! Our slow burn continues on, and I am obsessed with HuaLian! Just when I thought Hua Cheng would take awhile to come back, he didn’t leave us or Xie Lian waiting for long! Can’t keep these two apart, and I am grateful for it.

Let’s dive into the good stuff.

What we get:
-GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS ART!
-Wacky ghosts
-Sensual gambling (with adorable half eaten buns as a prize for one fine gentleman in particular)
-Oblivious companions
-Interior design conversations (iykyk - just live together!!)
-The reverse Ariana Grande ‘You want it, you got it!’ from Hua Cheng to Xie Lian
-The introduction to a scimitar named Eming
-Low-key High-key innuendos everywhere
-Side character shenanigans
-Fighting scenes
-Shoulder touches/massage
-A heartbreaking and lovely bandaged boy that is basically adopted by Xie Lian and us (readers)
-Moments where those who have a degradation kink might really enjoy :):)
-Tomfoolery everywhere
-Painful scenes
-HuaLian moments too pure for words that are just enough, but never enough!

Characters
>Xie Lian: An angel and a badass rolled into one being! He either doesn’t give an f*ck what others think, will fight his beliefs, is self-sacrificing, or just shooting (unknown to himself) heart-eyes at Hua Cheng. There is no in betweens for me when it comes to him.
>Hua Cheng: The ‘I hate everyone but you’ energy is so strong with him, and I eat up every moment of it. HC is a simp in the purest sense, and I hope you never change! Also I am, respectfully, in love with you.

This story is primarily adventure based, but gets really emotional, funny, dark, mysterious and inspiring! I can’t wait to see what lies in store for our main characters, and for the readers!

P.s. If you can’t find me, it’s because I’m still rolling around laughing on the ground after Xie Lian said he can’t get erect to a random stranger. BYEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Would I recommend this and to who:
Yes!! For those who loveeee a good slow burn!
And you better love it or fear the wrath of us HuaLian simps (primarily maya and anmol will bring the hellfire)!
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
Paperback
How did I discover this:
anmol!! maya, lila and I get to tagalong for the adventure and fall in love with the volumes more and more as we go!
Pace:
Medium
POV:
Xie Lian

Quotes:
”Hua Cheng chuckled lighting” … “Xie Lian’s heart skipped a beat”

“Whether you’re here to see me or not, I’m happy either way.”

“A home has a family. A place where someone lives alone is not a home … if it’s home, then even a small place like Puqi Shrine is a million times better than my Paradise Manor.”

“If you ask, I’ll deliver”

“fight me and you will surely die.”

“Does that mean everytime I roll a two, I can see you?” … “If you want to see me, it won’t matter what you roll. I will appear.”

“The moment Hua Cheng left, Xie Lian immediately sense the void behind him and turned around in a rush, running a few steps after him.”

“Those who are destined to shine, I must let them shine.”

“If one day I ascend, I will surely do all that I said today and become a power to behold!”


Triggers:
Violence, Gore, Blood, Injury, Body Horror, Death, Abuse, Torture, Murder, Grief, Kidnapping, Swearing, War/Battles, Abandonment, Cannibalism, Illness, Bullying, Toxic Relationships, etc.


_______________________________


Here for the “plot” and “story-building” 🤭 yup that's what I'm invested in!

BR with the babes - anmol, maya and lila
 

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cammaleahh's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny fast-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? No

5.0


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iellv's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Holy shit

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jackbifrost's review against another edition

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  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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mxpringle's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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dragon_s_hoard's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0


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ssyx's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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squinnittowinit's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Xiè Lián continues to be a wonderful main character, kind and thoughtful no matter what's happening around him. His unlucky nature leads to quite a bit of hilarity even in the midst of the very serious situations he finds himself in. 

Huā Chéng is funny and entertaining in his own way as he casually meddles once again in the affairs of the heavenly realm.

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