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some_random_person_hi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Man, that first section was such a drag. It was so boring up till
First chinese novel I actually read from start to finish (skipping non-age appropriate sections) purely for enjoyment so it's a nice milestone for me.
Really really liked the
Moving on, when the angst hit it really hit.
Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Murder, Sexual content, Grief, Torture, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Self harm, Confinement, Incest, Infidelity, Sexism, Genocide, Child abuse, Death of parent, Homophobia, War, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Classism
Minor: Slavery and Sexual harassment
Self harm is to get blood to do magic things. Happened quite a few times. Also, technically not drug use so didn't warn for it but I feel like demonic cultivation has many many similarities to drug use.lightoferebus'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 and Grief
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Body horror, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Torture, War, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
rafacolog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Incest, Murder, Child death, Rape, Violence, Homophobia, Death, Torture, Sexual content, Gore, and Blood
46jjsg's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- 9/10 Worldbuilding
- 10/10 Main Characters
- 9/10 Side Characters
- 8/10 Pacing
In depth review will be added when I re-read this novel with the 7seas editions.
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Genocide, Gore, Sexual content, Child abuse, War, Self harm, Death, Blood, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual content
Minor: Rape and Incest
eauderat's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Biphobia, Child abuse, Incest, War, and Torture
Minor: Infidelity, Bullying, Grief, Self harm, and Confinement
peonydancer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Genocide, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, and War
Minor: Homophobia, Incest, and Infidelity
blingping's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Medical trauma, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Genocide, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Moderate: Biphobia, Body horror, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cursing, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Lots of subtle homophobia and misogyny. There's some dubious consent towards the very end, and the extras have some pretty risque nsfw scenes.teagstime'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
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Blood, Body horror, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Grief, Alcoholism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Incest, Medical trauma, and Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Child death
yoursam'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
4.0
Graphic: Torture and Death
Minor: Homophobia
streetlights's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Mo Dao Zu Shi is a fascinating tale about family, debts, the power of narratives, and ultimately, love. It follows the story of Wei Wuxian, a clever cultivator who gains fame by harnessing the powers of demonic cultivation to win a righteous war. However, that celebrated respect soon turns on him, resulting in his gruesome death as a villain of the cultivation world.
The novel starts 13 years later, where he is resurrected in the body of a young man. Although he is granted another chance at life, Wei Wuxian is immediately thrust into solving a decades-long murder mystery, all the while confronting the secrets and consequences of his own past. Yet this time, he has Lan Wangji by his side, an esteemed and righteous cultivator he knew from his youth, who somehow harbors affections for Wei Wuxian despite his "villainous" past.
Genre, Adaptations, Translations
MDZS is a (low) xianxia danmei novel that started out as a serialized webnovel. If this is your first xianxia novel, I suggest doing a quick research on the tropes and themes common in the genre to facilitate a better appreciation of the themes.
This novel has also been adapted as an audio drama, a manhua, a donghua, and a live action drama. The live action drama is called The Untamed (Chen Qing Ling). Note that if you are familiar with the donghua or live action drama, there have been deviations and plot changes from the novel due to censorship, so you may find that there are differences in characterizations, themes, and even story structure. For example, the novel does not tell the story in chronological order, unlike the adaptations.
The fan translation by Exiled Rebels is decent, and I am forever grateful for fan translators everywhere for taking the time to do what they do. It's not quite as polished, but it does the job of presenting this beautiful story to a wide audience.
Themes
MDZS is an excellent book that touches on a lot of heavy themes: revenge, classism, filial piety and debts, and the power of narratives. There are always truths that never come to light, and lies that are accepted into the public narrative. MDZS uses rumors, hearsays, and a somewhat unreliable narration to bring this to full effect. All the characters are multifaceted and end up having a sympathetic side, and everyone's stories serve as a foil for someone else. The side characters are well developed because of this. Ultimately, the story becomes less of a question of who is right or wrong, but rather, whose version of their story prevails in the end? Whose version do you accept? Or perhaps, it is up to the reader to make their own judgements, much like how it is up to society to decide who gets to be the hero and who gets to be the villain.
But it's also a story about second chances, family, and love. It's a fun murder mystery adventure with xianxia fantasy elements. There's found family, there's a love story that lasts decades. There is a dog, and no, it doesn't die. :D
The story focuses on Wei Wuxian, but it spans multiple generations of characters and how the previous generation affects the next. The actions of the past generation affects the future generation, with how they relate to the world in the best and worst ways. But, as part of the themes, there is also an effort by the main characters to not pass their trauma down to the next generation. You will find characters of different ages with different beliefs, and it's fascinating to see how society changes through each generation, and how that all affects Wei Wuxian and how he fits into the world.
The romance is good. MXTX wrote both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji as idealized characters, but they both go through their own character arcs. They are both hyper-competent people, and though their personalities are very different, they are drawn to each other because of those differences, and because they have the same core values. The romance is well-developed, spanning over many years. It is an important part of their story, but it is ultimately not the most important piece of the puzzle in solving the mysteries surrounding Wei Wuxian. MDZS also has one of the most entertaining confession scenes!
But beyond the romance, there is a lot of focus on family dynamics as well. How Wei Wuxian deals with his nephew, whose parents he inadvertently killed; the shaky family dynamics of the Jiangs and how Wei Wuxian factors in their lives as an adopted "son" and servant; the found family he finds with the Wen remnants, and later, the Lans; how, in his second life, he ends up caring for a gaggle of junior disciples who look up to him.
Finally, a note on story structure. The novel moves back and forth between the past and the present. This is a deliberate writing choice, since MXTX is conveying two stories and using the progression of each one to build the tension, emotions, and mystery/reveals in the other. Long flashback chapters might not be everyone's cup of tea, so be aware of it before diving into the book. Personally, I find this to be very rewarding as a reader.
Final Review
Overall, I really loved this book and ended up caring for all the characters. MXTX is a master of handling unreliable narration. This is something that she does in all her books, but it is especially pronounced in MDZS.
If the themes and story is something that interests you, please check this book out! You will not be disappointed.
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, and War
Minor: Incest and Suicide
There are two explicit sex scenes in the novel proper, and then many more in the extra chapters, which are optional to read. The main couple goes through some dubious consent issues before getting together, although for the most part, the offending party regrets it when it happens.