A review by kayaks
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Mo Dao Zu Shi has had me within its grip for years—I first devoured the live action adaptation and than the donghua & manhua that are out—that was years ago and I still have yet to escape the clutches of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji.

I did read The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation awhile back using fan translations but never added it to my GR because I honestly skimmed it. Now that I actually have the translated copies I’m taking my sweet time annotating and allowing myself to be fully immersed into the story.

The first volume was a bit slow moving but I liked how it took its time jumping between the past and present. Also, since this isn’t censored we are getting so many delicious scenes of wangxian being wangxian (that is: hopelessly pining idiots who are theoretically smart but absolute dummies when it comes to love). Lan Wangji is down bad, Wei Wuxian remains obvious as ever, and the shared trauma of Wei Wuxian dying & coming back alive paints the majority of their sweet moments with angst.

In this volume we have WWX returning from the dead, WWX putting his foot in his mouth (our guy really needs to stop pointing out when people are orphans…), WWX shamelessly flirting with LWJ, LWJ being just as shameless, drunk!LWJ which is by far my favorite LWJ, some Yunmeng Trio Angst, and finally the Juniors being chaotic sweethearts.

Plot related things happened which were interesting especially once you already know how the story ends but for me, the best thing about MDZS is the complex relationships and dynamics that exist (there is not a day that doesn’t go by that I’m not gutted by Jiang Cheng & Wei Wuxian…Twin Pride of Yunmeng my beloved) so just watching these character run around is more than enough, although I do appreciate the intricate plot.

Anyways, onto the next volume (and most likely another rewatch of the live action…donghua…manhua…endless amount of fics on ao3…I don’t care how you package these characters I will never not love them)

If you ever want to know what sums up the Wangxian dynamic it’s essentially this: one of them being a devoted and pining fool and the other being so dense & stupid it actually hurts. And that’s exactly why I love them.

Wei Wuxian pointed at himself with a wide, happy grin. “What about this one?” 

“Mine,” Lan Wangji answered. 

“…” Lan Wangji gazed intently at him and repeated, impeccably, clearly, emphasizing the word, “Mine.” Wei Wuxian suddenly got it. He took off Bichen and thought, I pointed at myself just now, but Lan Zhan probably misunderstood “this one” as Bichen on my back.
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