A review by rainbowbrarian
Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

adventurous funny medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

 This one has been on my TBR for ages and I finally read it.  WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG?  I read this one as a Buddy Read with my wife @elaby.  It was SO fun to do it that way.

Xie Lian has ascended to godhood and been banished back to earth a bunch of times because he is a giant doofus.  But in the sweetest way.  This time he rocketed up so HARD that he broke things on the way and a bunch of other gods are ticked at him so he has to go back to earth to earn enough merits to repair the damage.  

In order to earn it he has to investigate a mountain where brides have mysteriously gone missing.  He’s sent two reluctant minor gods, Fu Yao and Nan Feng, to help him.  They constantly roast him and bicker with each other.  It reminds me of anime in the very best ways.  

While trying to stop the supernatural being who is abducting the brides Xie Lian meets a strange beautiful youth who guides him away from danger by taking his hand and keeping him safe under an umbrella during a blood rain.  When Xie Lian is telling Fu Yao and Nan Feng about it they are terrified about who Xie Lian seems to be talking about.  But could this mysterious man be so bad when all he did was protect Xie Lian?

Favorite Parts - OMG everything.  How oblivious Xie Lian is, especially when he’s trying to be stealthy and figure out who San Lang really is.  How earnest he is even when everyone else is being shady to him.  Ling Weng, OMG she rocks.  Fu Yao and Nan Feng when they’re trying to expose San Lang and San Lang is all n___n about it.  Oh and the way the text uses old fashioned language right along side more modern phrases and it just WORKS.  Bravo to the translator!

Read This If You - like a naive innocent/dark and powerful romance dynamic, like to laugh, love Wuxia movies/stories, have heard about this series before and were tempted but just haven’t gotten to it yet.  READ IT!  You won’t regret it.  It’s so fun.