2.78k reviews for:

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 1

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

4.41 AVERAGE

kkayla113's review

2.75

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 Some thoughts: the translation seems a little… juvenile? It falls into some weird language conventions like using “Dunno” a lot or using “Ain’t” and other more Southern vernacular to kinda denote someone as lower class or less educated which… is weird. I never know how to criticize the prose in translated works because I wouldn’t know if the fault lies in the authors writing style or the work of the translators but in this case I’m leaning towards the translators. The YA quality? Unsure who to blame…
However this is a nice way for me to relax and destress lol. Reading it kinda reminds me of watching Supernatural or Buffy. The dynamic between WWX and LWJ really reminds me of some of my favorite Supernatural episodes… I really enjoy the mystery element both in terms of what happened in the past and figuring out and tracking the current hunt. 

bitawiri's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

babybatash's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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

peter1001r's review against another edition

5.0

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Que livro maravilhoso de ler.

Sem dúvidas, Wei Wuxian e Lan Wangji são meus cabeludinhos favoritos hehehehe. Eu pensei em ler essa novel chinesa muito pelas artes que eu via e por uns amigos e amigas que comentavam sobre. E foi uma ótima escolha ter lido, porque é o tipo de literatura que eu gosto, mas em um outro ambiente cultural que me deixou completamente vidrado e fascinado. Só me resta ficar ansioso até ter o próximo volume para ler. A escrita do livro é muito fluída e logo eu já estava lendo muitas páginas e não queria parar. E como se não bastasse, só atiçou minha curiosidade pela cultura e língua chinesa (o que talvez vire um problema para o meu eu do futuro que vai apanhar aprendendo mandarim). Se você quer ter uma experiência envolvendo seres espirituais, uma outra cultura diferente da ocidental e com reviravoltas (e pitadas de romance), leiam esse livro. (Isso também se você for maior de 16 anos, que é a classificação indicativa).

m_tarta's review against another edition

3.75

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

Loveable characters: Yes

historyfreak's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous funny mysterious medium-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

clockworkqueen's review

4.5

adventurous funny mysterious 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

cveenks's review

3.0

adventurous challenging fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

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Removing a couple of stars, because while I enjoyed it, the translation is really rough.  

ally_ducky's review against another edition

5.0

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“No one could be worshipped on divine alter forever. Legends were merely legends”

lutawolf's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense 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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Set in a richly imagined xianxia world of cultivation sects, spiritual arts, and political intrigue, Volume 1 introduces Wei Wuxian—brilliant, irreverent, and destined to walk an unorthodox path. The novel opens after his mysterious death and sudden resurrection, then alternates between present‑day investigation and flashbacks to his youth, friendships, and the choices that shaped his reputation as the feared “Yiling Patriarch.” 

• Dual Timeline Structure
  The back‑and‑forth between past and present builds intrigue while slowly revealing the emotional core of the story, particularly the bond between Wei Wuxian and the reserved, principled Lan Wangji.
• Moral Ambiguity & Survivor Resonance
  The narrative refuses to flatten characters into “good” or “evil.” Instead, it explores how loyalty, trauma, and societal pressure shape choices, a dynamic that invites survivor‑informed reading without demanding moral purity.
• Worldbuilding with Texture
  Sect politics, cultivation techniques, and supernatural threats are woven into the plot without overwhelming it. The result is a setting that feels lived‑in, with cultural rituals and interpersonal etiquette adding depth.
• Humor as Lifeline
  Wei Wuxian’s wit and irreverence act as both charm and shield, balancing darker plot elements with moments of levity that keep the emotional load manageable.

While Volume 1 contains violence, betrayal, and grief, it’s framed within a narrative arc that promises, and eventually delivers, deep connection, loyalty, and hard‑earned joy. The romance is a slow burn, with emotional beats that reward patience rather than shock.