798 reviews for:

The Founder of Diabolism

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

4.53 AVERAGE

jennyjwilliams's review against another edition

5.0

medium-paced

vitniss's review against another edition

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harharetkeilija's review against another edition

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melreadsmaybe's review against another edition

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fudanyse's review against another edition

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nott_kot's review against another edition

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loveandpeace's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

ishvrse's review against another edition

challenging inspiring fast-paced

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corcoria's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective 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: Yes

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I have deeply mixed feelings on this book, which I came to with some trepidation after falling in love with the drama adaptaion. While the concept is absolutely incredible, the action scenes are intense, the humor is ever-present, the main character is fascinating and his arc is absolutely compelling to read, the sibling tragedy is heartwrenching, some of the side characters are truly incredible, the dysfunctional family dynamics are eerily realistic, the romance has a few very nice scenes, the ways trauma was touched on ached to read, and the dual timelines they jump between align in tense and extremely satisfying ways as they both barrel to their conclusions, I didn't have a great time reading this. the translation I read was a little clunky, the way the love interest was described was repetitive to the point of frustration, the constant boundary-crossing and light treatment of sexual assault felt shitty and juvenile, even the consensual sex scenes were either unreadably bad (or were full or full of rape jokes or rape fetish, or honestly just felt....weird, which may have been a translation thing idk), the plot dragged badly in many ways, most of the women were painfully underdeveloped, and the structure, while it had one strength mentioned above, seemed disorganized and chaotic in many ways. 

I couldn't get invested in any of the side characters, and I am left wondering if the reason the emotion hit me so hard in the intense scenes is because of my deep love of the drama adaptation of this book. Regardless, I appreciate it for being the original work, and for its own hard-hitting scenes like the blood pool, its own romantic moments like the tree falling scene, its own jokes, and its own teeth - this wei wuxian really Did All That. I don't think I'd ever be able to reread, but I'm glad I read it and I'm glad it exists as its own thing. Ultimately I think if you like the plot but want to skip the weird sex stuff, watch the donghua, and if you want a sweet, dramatic romance based on trust and loyalty and a longtime friendship, watch the drama. Both adaptations are censored, but I think convey the romance really well. They're soulmates....

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Genocide, Sexual assault, Cannibalism

Minor: Ableism, Incest

Main couple appear to have a rape fetish and pushing/breaking boundaries is a huge themes of their development. Non-consensual sexual activity and kissing is alternately downplayed, ignored, forgiven, and treated as a miscommunication even if ostensibly condemned by the text. Rape/CSA fantasies are explicit in the incense burner extras. (the other extras are nice, though) However they do end up in a happy and apparently healthy relationship so ig it works for them. WHATEVER.

withlovejanet's review against another edition

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