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4.53 AVERAGE
4.53 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-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:
Complicated
It's been one of the best novel I've ever read 🧎🏾‍♀️💕 I'm so in love with that I don't know how to move on... 🥲
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
okay i can totally see why this was the mxtx novel that caught on, it's such a FUN ride
wei wuxian is really out here being an extremely extra and annoying extrovert. i love him. i'm glad lan wangji loves him too. this former edgelord turned benign troll deserves happiness!
and while the romance is top tier the plot is also really engaging? i thought the flashback to present structure was written really effectively, like the way they paralleled each other highlighted so much about how the characters had developed over the years
also wei wuxian being like ...wow, i wish i could punch my teen self was hilarious. we've all regretted the things we did as teenagers wei wuxian! some of us wrote bad fanfiction, some made mortifying fashion choices, some developed an interest in raising corpses that ultimately led to their untimely demise...
4 stars
wei wuxian is really out here being an extremely extra and annoying extrovert. i love him. i'm glad lan wangji loves him too. this former edgelord turned benign troll deserves happiness!
and while the romance is top tier the plot is also really engaging? i thought the flashback to present structure was written really effectively, like the way they paralleled each other highlighted so much about how the characters had developed over the years
also wei wuxian being like ...wow, i wish i could punch my teen self was hilarious. we've all regretted the things we did as teenagers wei wuxian! some of us wrote bad fanfiction, some made mortifying fashion choices, some developed an interest in raising corpses that ultimately led to their untimely demise...
4 stars
*re-read 27 July 2021-29 July 2021*
Did I re-read for the cruel promise of a WangXian HEA? Yes. Yes I did. I re read the novel through the audio drama and damn, it’s so good that I forgot how good it is. The voice actors did such an incredible job with this story.
———
I'm going to begin my review by saying that this story has seriously changed the game amongst MM Asian romances, which have been saturated by overdone tropes and character clichés. I would also gladly argue that it has pioneered the Danmei genre and even set precedence in the literature space purely because it’s a web-novel.
Wei WuXian shouted, “If there’s been no precedent, then I’ll be the precedent!”
This story really stands apart due to its originality and aesthetics - and it is definitely deserving all the praise it has received.
What makes MXTX (the author’s name, abbreviated) outstanding is the complex and detailed storytelling of the world that our characters are set in. It takes a little longer to really understand what is going on since there are elements/traditions which are unfamiliar to us. But once you get into, wow do you get into it.
The attention to character development is fantastic, as well as the character motivations. I love the moral dilemma that Wei Wuxian undergoes throughout the novel. His understanding of the hypocrisy of human nature is explored through his own transition from seemingly good to seemingly evil. Lan Wangji’s understanding of what is black and white (good and evil) is also examined, and he asks questions of whether you can judge someone based on the rules and laws that the world expects, and even at times forces upon you. This is heavy since he is someone who is righteous and sincerely believes that rules can hold a person upright. However, his view ultimately changes when he meets, and develops a connection to Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian is an exceptional protagonist - from mischievous to menacing, his range as a character is very diverse and multi-faceted, standing apart out of everyone else. Lan Wangji, while you may have a negative impression of him at first, I really do believe his character is quite complex. It’s extremely difficult writing about an indifferent character with little to no lines in a way that is not arrogant or boring. We often associate characters with no emotion as a lack of character depth, but the writer manages to write his character in a way that is endearing and quite passionate. Each action is deliberate, and every word he says really matters and has a weight to it.
Their relationship throughout the novel is what really sustains the story because there’s A LOT that happens (100+ chapters and over 1,000 pagers). But their strong connection to one another remains endured throughout the novel, even when they are not together (where it really shines as well). Despite the possible backlash, the deep connection that these two men have (despite their genders) is actually quite important to the story and not added as a way to lure a specific audience in.
I want to delve into the rest of the characters (there are SO MANY GOOD ONES like Jiang Cheng, Lan SiZhui, Wen Qing (can we just get a round of applause for the amazing FEMALE CHARACTERS WOW WEN QING YOU ARE QUEEN), the god damn villain, the god damn villain behind the villain and the villain behind the villain behind the villain!), but then this would make this review longer than it already is. I do want to point out that even the evil characters have so many layers to them that it is hard not to empathise with them - a telltale sign of fantastic characterisation.
I am so glad that I was able to discover this story. If this sounds interesting to you, but you’re worried you might not like it - I would recommend watching the donghua first (same title) and maybe even giving the live-action version a go! This is one masterpiece I’ll always be re-reading and going back to no matter what.
Facing the wind, Wei WuXian squinted at Lan WangJi’s silhouette. As he criss-crossed his legs, he shockingly found that he could somehow manage to balance himself in such an odd position on the back of Lil’ Apple.
It was only something trivial, yet he looked as if he just discovered a new and interesting occurrence. He couldn’t hold himself back from sharing this with Lan WangJi, calling, “Lan Zhan, look at me, look at me now!”
Just like before, Wei WuXian called his name with a grin, and he looked over as well.
From then on, he could never move his eyes away again.
Did I re-read for the cruel promise of a WangXian HEA? Yes. Yes I did. I re read the novel through the audio drama and damn, it’s so good that I forgot how good it is. The voice actors did such an incredible job with this story.
———
I'm going to begin my review by saying that this story has seriously changed the game amongst MM Asian romances, which have been saturated by overdone tropes and character clichés. I would also gladly argue that it has pioneered the Danmei genre and even set precedence in the literature space purely because it’s a web-novel.
Wei WuXian shouted, “If there’s been no precedent, then I’ll be the precedent!”
This story really stands apart due to its originality and aesthetics - and it is definitely deserving all the praise it has received.
What makes MXTX (the author’s name, abbreviated) outstanding is the complex and detailed storytelling of the world that our characters are set in. It takes a little longer to really understand what is going on since there are elements/traditions which are unfamiliar to us. But once you get into, wow do you get into it.
The attention to character development is fantastic, as well as the character motivations. I love the moral dilemma that Wei Wuxian undergoes throughout the novel. His understanding of the hypocrisy of human nature is explored through his own transition from seemingly good to seemingly evil. Lan Wangji’s understanding of what is black and white (good and evil) is also examined, and he asks questions of whether you can judge someone based on the rules and laws that the world expects, and even at times forces upon you. This is heavy since he is someone who is righteous and sincerely believes that rules can hold a person upright. However, his view ultimately changes when he meets, and develops a connection to Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian is an exceptional protagonist - from mischievous to menacing, his range as a character is very diverse and multi-faceted, standing apart out of everyone else. Lan Wangji, while you may have a negative impression of him at first, I really do believe his character is quite complex. It’s extremely difficult writing about an indifferent character with little to no lines in a way that is not arrogant or boring. We often associate characters with no emotion as a lack of character depth, but the writer manages to write his character in a way that is endearing and quite passionate. Each action is deliberate, and every word he says really matters and has a weight to it.
Their relationship throughout the novel is what really sustains the story because there’s A LOT that happens (100+ chapters and over 1,000 pagers). But their strong connection to one another remains endured throughout the novel, even when they are not together (where it really shines as well). Despite the possible backlash, the deep connection that these two men have (despite their genders) is actually quite important to the story and not added as a way to lure a specific audience in.
I want to delve into the rest of the characters (there are SO MANY GOOD ONES like Jiang Cheng, Lan SiZhui, Wen Qing (can we just get a round of applause for the amazing FEMALE CHARACTERS WOW WEN QING YOU ARE QUEEN), the god damn villain, the god damn villain behind the villain and the villain behind the villain behind the villain!), but then this would make this review longer than it already is. I do want to point out that even the evil characters have so many layers to them that it is hard not to empathise with them - a telltale sign of fantastic characterisation.
I am so glad that I was able to discover this story. If this sounds interesting to you, but you’re worried you might not like it - I would recommend watching the donghua first (same title) and maybe even giving the live-action version a go! This is one masterpiece I’ll always be re-reading and going back to no matter what.
Facing the wind, Wei WuXian squinted at Lan WangJi’s silhouette. As he criss-crossed his legs, he shockingly found that he could somehow manage to balance himself in such an odd position on the back of Lil’ Apple.
It was only something trivial, yet he looked as if he just discovered a new and interesting occurrence. He couldn’t hold himself back from sharing this with Lan WangJi, calling, “Lan Zhan, look at me, look at me now!”
Just like before, Wei WuXian called his name with a grin, and he looked over as well.
From then on, he could never move his eyes away again.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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:
Yes