802 reviews for:

The Founder of Diabolism

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

4.53 AVERAGE

ana_kp's review against another edition

4.0

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Wei WuXian is dead. But even death doesn't give him peace.

Hailed as the most powerful and renowned demonic cultivator, his spirit is called back by a particularly desperate Mo XuanYu, who sacrifices his body in exchange for revenge against the family that abuses him.

Different face, different name, but even so Wei WuXian is a genius and his talents slowly bring him to the spotlight of two people he would never want to meet again - his sworn brother Jiang Cheng who led the battle to kill him, and his old rival Lan WangJi who surprisingly doesn't resent him as much as he assumed.

I loved the entire mystery that tied this story together - the plot slowly picking up clues and piecing together a terrible truth. And as each small battle Wei WuXuian encounters, his talent and skill come into play, working seamlessly with that of his partner Lan WangJi.

Honestly, their slowly developing relationship was a wonder to read, and every flashback that helped flesh out WuXian's character and his relationships with his friends was brilliantly done.

Mostly, it was the wonder of reading such flawed and realistic characters, with strengths and weaknesses and traits that made them simply human - their choices and the consequences that follow, how picking between what is right and what is easy is not always simple - it just shows humanity at it's best.

And for that, I shall forever cherish this story.

radioking's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-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: Yes

capitalizm's review against another edition

5.0

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oh to be loved by hanguan-jun

sheishoney's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

hbbw's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-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

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I love this book so much, I could go on and on and write essays and never shut up about this book. One of the best stories ever written.

cameras's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

dani2906's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring sad tense slow-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: Complicated

saramdeuri's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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this was SO much fun to read I can't possibly give it less than top rating. I know, I know, the writing isn't that fantastic, but how could I give anything less to something I devoured this happily? the plot was pretty stellar, too - maybe it was just me, but I didn't see half of those plot twists coming. were they foreshadowed? some of them, yeah. but I still gagged at all of them regardless! 

nie huaisang............ I will think of you forever

veenax's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense 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: Complicated

granbeck's review against another edition

4.0

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I don't quite know how to start this review. Maybe by saying that I think this is the first novel I've ever read that's been translated from Mandarin, meaning I don't have a good frame of reference for a lot of cultural aspects within it. The fact that literature in different languages is written differently (duh) also meant that it took a little time for me to be used to the style, since the translation strives to be as true to the original whilst still being understandable to foreign eyes. Despite this, I think that the read was very entertaining and interesting. I dare say I shed som tears at the more emotional passages, and felt generally emotional through most of the story.

There's quite a lot of affection for this work, and I wish I could feel it deserved five stars from me too, but there's a bit too much discomfort, personally, when it comes to the handling of consent in the story.

Spoiler

Drunk people can't consent, even if they would have normally wanted what was "offered"; it is realised in the story that the action was wrong, but it's brushed over very quickly. I also think the usage/discussion of safe words would have been great for other scenes where noes are sort of overlooked by both parties.

This wasn't the worst I've seen when it comes to handling these issues, but it's not great... I'm still giving it four stars because weighing these issues I have against the values presented in the rest of the novel makes me feel like it might only be a lack of understanding these actions as highly problematic in the writer. That is my interpretation however, and if you feel differently that is absolutely fine.