Reviews with content warning for Torture - Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 1

I read some of the TGCF unofficial tl (p much just the contents of this volume), and already loved the story as it was... The translation team rly did a great job here bc this tl breathes so much life into it! It feels like a brand new story! ^^

The main characters are absolutely incredible. I found myself endlessly charmed by everything Xie Lian does (´◡`ʃƪ) ! I'm alr a huge fan of San Lang, Fu Yao, & Nan Feng too... Truly couldn't ask for a better group of MCs. The dynamics & hidden feelings... It's all so juicy!! 😩

As for the story... What can I say! It's off to such a great start, with just enough hints to keep me intrigued as to just what Xie Lian's been up to all this time / what awaits him in the future ! Yet also dreading finding out haha...

looks directly at the story of General Hua... T_T

I did take off half a star bc I feel like the Banyue arc drags just a bit... But other than that, really enjoyed!
As TGCF is the only MXTX novel I didn't get to finish before Seven Seas picked them up, I'm very excited to see where this story goes !

Content Warnings

cait's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

"'Crimson Rain Sought Flower' evokes quite the imagery. Do you know where it came from, my friend?"

"Nothing major, really. Just that, there was once an incident where he cleaned out the nest of another ghost, and a shower of blood rain poured down from the skies. He saw a flower was getting battered by the bloody rain, so he tilted his umbrella and shielded it."

I don't think I'll ever be capable of writing a coherent review for an MXTX novel, because I genuinely love every single one of them so damn much. Her ability to write such charming characters and compelling relationships is unparalleled and Heaven Official's Blessing is no exception.

In this novel, we follow Xie Lian, a former crown prince, who ascended to godhood at 17, only to botch a war effort and be cast from the heavens in disgrace. Years later, he ascended again, for just under 15 minutes, during which he went on a murderous rampage before being expelled once again. So imagine everyone's shock when, seemingly out of the blue, Xie Lian suddently ascends a third time! However, with his past failure still haunting him, Xie Lian is only barely a god - very little spiritual power, no worshippers, and no money to his name - so finds himself accepting any and every task sent his way. But when he meets a mysterious stranger trailed by silver butterflies whom the other gods seem to fear, Xie Lian starts to wonder what exactly it is he's missing and why such a dangerous creature could have been so cordial to him.

I had previously read this section of the story as translated by fans of the story and struggled to truly connect with it due to the clunkiness of the interpretation. (This is in no way a criticism of the translators, just a comment on the difference the resources afforded to professional translators can make in official translations vs. fan translations.) I fell absolutely head over heels with this story this read. Although I still struggle to differentiate between Fu Yao and Nan Feng's masters, I have learned to deeply love and understand the two martial gods in their own rights.

So happy I read this and so excited for book two to come out in a couple of weeks!

Content Warnings

yuuzel's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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