Scan barcode
A review by vigil
Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
such an improvement over the first volume. this actually feels more like the story we should've been getting from the start as it is actually a story. the pacing, plot lines, and character exploration is much better in this installment rather than the previous.
it (mostly) moves past the arduous set up of volume one, while still introducing new plot threads and character information in an organic matter. this one had an actual plot within it that felt like a main story, even when it traveled in different directions. we begin to fill in the outline of xie lian, though much of hua cheng is still left a mystery. i will say it was nice to see him in his element inhis domain, ghost city the side characters are also finally important to the narrative and one actually kicks off another portion of the plot, that is very illuminating for our protagonist, and previously unseen antagonist green ghost, qi rong.
the misogynistic undertones that are present in the first book are largely absent from this one thankfully, but that's only really because there's no women here.
the reason for it getting a 4.0 is the fact that for the last hundred pages of this book (and the next TWO hundred pages of volume three) we're relegated to a clumsily introduced flashback arc. my issue with mo xiang tong xiu's writing is that she will introduce concepts very early on, and when she suddenly decides its relevant to the plot, she shoves you backwards into at least around a hundred pages of flashback exposition, and then immediately tries to pick backup where she left off. this doesn't mean i don't enjoy the flashbacks themselves per se, just i don't enjoy their ham-fisted inclusion, and often unnecessary and odd length. too detailed on things that don't matter, and a paragraph of exposition on things that do.see the beginning conversation during arc two with the state preceptor that could have been cut back, along with the descriptions of xie lian's clothes vs mentioning how he ascended for the first time in a short paragraph at the very end of the volume.
the nature of most web novels is that when they move to trad publishing they could use professional editors. mxtx is absolutely no exception to that, and i'm really beginning to understand why this is eight books long.
as a final, seemingly everpresent disclaimer, translation and related issues abound. please stop saying xie lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry, i got it the first six times.
it (mostly) moves past the arduous set up of volume one, while still introducing new plot threads and character information in an organic matter. this one had an actual plot within it that felt like a main story, even when it traveled in different directions. we begin to fill in the outline of xie lian, though much of hua cheng is still left a mystery. i will say it was nice to see him in his element in
the misogynistic undertones that are present in the first book are largely absent from this one thankfully, but that's only really because there's no women here.
the reason for it getting a 4.0 is the fact that for the last hundred pages of this book (and the next TWO hundred pages of volume three) we're relegated to a clumsily introduced flashback arc. my issue with mo xiang tong xiu's writing is that she will introduce concepts very early on, and when she suddenly decides its relevant to the plot, she shoves you backwards into at least around a hundred pages of flashback exposition, and then immediately tries to pick backup where she left off. this doesn't mean i don't enjoy the flashbacks themselves per se, just i don't enjoy their ham-fisted inclusion, and often unnecessary and odd length. too detailed on things that don't matter, and a paragraph of exposition on things that do.
the nature of most web novels is that when they move to trad publishing they could use professional editors. mxtx is absolutely no exception to that, and i'm really beginning to understand why this is eight books long.
as a final, seemingly everpresent disclaimer, translation and related issues abound. please stop saying xie lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry, i got it the first six times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Xenophobia, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Torture, Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence