granbeck 's review for:

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

4.0

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I don't quite know how to start this review. Maybe by saying that I think this is the first novel I've ever read that's been translated from Mandarin, meaning I don't have a good frame of reference for a lot of cultural aspects within it. The fact that literature in different languages is written differently (duh) also meant that it took a little time for me to be used to the style, since the translation strives to be as true to the original whilst still being understandable to foreign eyes. Despite this, I think that the read was very entertaining and interesting. I dare say I shed som tears at the more emotional passages, and felt generally emotional through most of the story.

There's quite a lot of affection for this work, and I wish I could feel it deserved five stars from me too, but there's a bit too much discomfort, personally, when it comes to the handling of consent in the story.

Spoiler

Drunk people can't consent, even if they would have normally wanted what was "offered"; it is realised in the story that the action was wrong, but it's brushed over very quickly. I also think the usage/discussion of safe words would have been great for other scenes where noes are sort of overlooked by both parties.

This wasn't the worst I've seen when it comes to handling these issues, but it's not great... I'm still giving it four stars because weighing these issues I have against the values presented in the rest of the novel makes me feel like it might only be a lack of understanding these actions as highly problematic in the writer. That is my interpretation however, and if you feel differently that is absolutely fine.