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justinenoon82 's review for:
Beware of Chicken
by Casualfarmer
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Sometimes the best literary discoveries come from the most unexpected places. I picked up Beware of Chicken with genuine skepticism—cultivation fantasy isn't typically my genre, and honestly, the title made me wonder if I was diving into some kind of agricultural parody. What I found instead was something far more sophisticated: a remarkably thoughtful deconstruction of power fantasy tropes wrapped in the most disarmingly charming slice-of-life storytelling.
The premise—a modern soul inhabiting a cultivation sect disciple's body, then immediately rejecting the entire violent power structure to become a farmer—sounds almost absurdly simple. Yet there's profound wisdom in that simplicity. Jin's decisive "nope" to the traditional xianxia path feels like a meditation on what actually constitutes a meaningful life.
The humour operates on multiple levels. Surface-level, it's delicious genre satire—every cultivation trope gets lovingly skewered. But underneath, there's this deeper comedic truth about how we often complicate our lives unnecessarily. Jin's bewilderment at his spirit-herb-enhanced rooster practicing martial arts becomes a perfect metaphor for how extraordinary the ordinary can be when we actually pay attention.
Bi De the rooster's evolution from simple farm bird to sentient guardian creates this wonderful parallel to Jin's own journey. Both are discovering their place in a world that doesn't quite fit their expectations. The way different characters perceive the same events—Jin seeing domestic tranquility, Bi De seeing sacred duty to protect, the Lord Magistrate seeing blessed normalcy—creates these beautifully layered perspectives that add genuine depth to what could have been a simple comedy.
The premise—a modern soul inhabiting a cultivation sect disciple's body, then immediately rejecting the entire violent power structure to become a farmer—sounds almost absurdly simple. Yet there's profound wisdom in that simplicity. Jin's decisive "nope" to the traditional xianxia path feels like a meditation on what actually constitutes a meaningful life.
The humour operates on multiple levels. Surface-level, it's delicious genre satire—every cultivation trope gets lovingly skewered. But underneath, there's this deeper comedic truth about how we often complicate our lives unnecessarily. Jin's bewilderment at his spirit-herb-enhanced rooster practicing martial arts becomes a perfect metaphor for how extraordinary the ordinary can be when we actually pay attention.
Bi De the rooster's evolution from simple farm bird to sentient guardian creates this wonderful parallel to Jin's own journey. Both are discovering their place in a world that doesn't quite fit their expectations. The way different characters perceive the same events—Jin seeing domestic tranquility, Bi De seeing sacred duty to protect, the Lord Magistrate seeing blessed normalcy—creates these beautifully layered perspectives that add genuine depth to what could have been a simple comedy.
The romance subplot with Meiling deserves special mention. It's refreshingly mature—two people genuinely enjoying each other's company without manufactured drama. Their courtship feels organic, built on shared laughter and compatible values rather than narrative convenience.
Where the book occasionally stumbles is in its commitment to the pastoral pace. While the slice-of-life elements are generally charming, some farming sequences feel overly detailed for their narrative weight. The book's greatest strength—its rejection of constant action—sometimes tips into actual sluggishness.
The worldbuilding strikes an interesting balance. It's clearly rooted in Chinese cultivation fantasy traditions, but filtered through a decidedly Western sensibility about what constitutes a good life. This cultural blending mostly works, though keeping track of names occasionally proved challenging.
In a genre obsessed with ascending to godhood through violence, Beware of Chicken suggests that true cultivation might be about growing vegetables, caring for animals, and building genuine relationships. It's a surprisingly profound message delivered with such gentle humourXian that you almost miss how revolutionary it is.
In a genre obsessed with ascending to godhood through violence, Beware of Chicken suggests that true cultivation might be about growing vegetables, caring for animals, and building genuine relationships. It's a surprisingly profound message delivered with such gentle humourXian that you almost miss how revolutionary it is.
This is comfort reading with unexpected substance—a book that makes you laugh while quietly questioning what we really value in our power fantasies.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
The book features anthropomorphic/sentient animals as major characters, which adds both humor and heart to the story. The rooster Bi De develops martial arts abilities and becomes fiercely protective of the farm, leading to some genuinely touching moments about loyalty and purpose. While this is technically the first book in a series, it stands well on its own with a satisfying character arc and resolution. Perfect for readers looking to dip their toes into cultivation fantasy without the usual violence and power-scaling typical of the genre.