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Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
20 reviews
kamreadsandrecs's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
First, I have to admit: I clearly see why the fans of this series ship Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji so very, very hard. Their romantic connection really starts chugging along in this novel compared to the last one, and I have to say I’m enjoying the ride thus far. It’s hilarious reading about how Lan Wangji tries to hide his feelings from Wei Wuxian, while also expecting Wei Wuxian to remember things that he clearly does not. Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, is obviously on an emotional rollercoaster as he goes through the highs and lows of “Am I or aren’t I?” regarding his romantic feelings for Lan Wangji, and while it’s funny, it also makes me hope he gets over himself fast enough so that he can stop breaking Lan Wangji’s heart whenever he plays things off as a joke, or claims not to remember something (even if that last bit is often true).
They also actually develop as characters in this volume, as compared to the previous one, so it’s easier to be even more attached to them and want to see what happens to them as the story goes on. On top of that, the ending of this volume really drives home their romantic connection and sets it up for the next volume, which I’ll be reading as soon as I manage to get a copy.
And it’s not just Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji who are interesting characters in this novel; it’s the others as well. I wasn’t entirely fond of Jin Ling, for instance, in the first volume, but in this volume - especially during the events in Yi City - I’ve developed a soft spot for him, as well as for the Lan clan juniors who went through that whole harrowing mess. Lan Sizhui will always be my favorite, I think, but Lan Jingyi comes close too, now that it’s clear he’s just a really emotional kid and therefore does not fit the typical mold Lan disciples tend to fit into.
But what really stood out to me in this volume is the theme of truth, and how perception and power can alter what is considered truth, and what is considered false. I won’t go into it too much, since doing so would be spoiling the whole thing, but suffice to say that the Yi City story parallels the later Golden Carp Tower story, and it’s FASCINATING to see how knowing the first story (which reads like its own self-contained arc) affects how one reads the second story. To be fair, the groundwork for these themes was already laid in the first volume, but it’s here, in the second volume, that those themes really come to the fore and are highlighted - to heartbreaking and tragic effect. It’s also clear this is a theme that’ll run across the entirety of the series due to how it also applies to Wei Wuxian and his history as the Yiling Patriarch, so this is a thread that will clearly develop alongside others as the story progresses.
Another theme that I would like to make note of is the concept of orthodoxy vs. heresy - at least where it applies to cultivation techniques. It’s clear that there’s a line drawn between “proper” techniques and “improper” ones, and that application and development of the latter is what got Wei Wuxian in trouble. I’m not quite clear yet on why Wei Wuxian’s techniques were considered so terrible beyond how he was fond of using ghosts and the dead - but then, I guess that’s what the next volumes are for. Still, this theme ties in quite nicely with the whole “truth is what you perceive it to be” theme I mentioned earlier, so it’s going to be interesting to see how this works out further down the line.
Overall, this is a great continuation of the series, and I’m going to be diving right back into the third volume as soon as I get it because I really need to go know what happens next.
Graphic: Vomit, Death, Violence, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Emotional abuse
forcibly blinding and muting otherstomas_lw's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That being said, I absolutely love the characters. Especially Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, but the supporting cast is also great, Jin Ling, Jiang Cheng, Lan Yuan and many others are *great* foils for the main duo.
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Homophobia, Death, and Gore
Minor: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Alcohol
rtaire's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, Body horror, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child death
becah's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and War
ashlikes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Violence, Gore, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, Cursing, Suicide, Torture, Ableism, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Mental illness
Minor: Confinement, Gaslighting, Incest, Vomit, Chronic illness, Cursing, Infertility, and Homophobia
taroroot's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
tiredtori's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Death, Violence, Hate crime, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Blood, Gore, Torture, and Bullying
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicide, Classism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcohol, Child death, and Suicide attempt
samugranjo's review
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gaslighting, Violence, Suicide, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Body horror, and Sexual harassment
sylvestra's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Homophobia
4zura's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Ableism, Body horror, Murder, Gore, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, and Torture
Minor: Homophobia, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Sexism, and War