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A review by esmeloa
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 5 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
4.0
So I finished MDZS... (Or well, the main story. I stopped after the second extra, and my rating doesn't encompass the extras.)
To me MDZS peaked at volume 4, and the beginning of vol 5 followed strong. But then the story wrapped up way too quickly. I wanted to see more of Lan Xichen, more of Jiang Cheng, more of what happens next between him and WWX, just more. There's many questions I have left, too.
What was really up with Mo Xuanyu? What really was the relationship between Jin Guangyao and Mo Xuanyu? Between Jin Guangyao and Lan Xichen? Who exactly were WWX's parents, especially his intriguing mother? How did WWX really die? What actually happened when he first arrived at the Burial Mounds? How did Jiang Cheng really feel throughout all of this?
Of course the author doesn't have to tell us everything and can leave some things up to our imagination, but I feel like we're missing some crucial information & interactions.
Overall I feel like the secondary characters were not explored enough despite all the potential they had. I'm glad at least Jin Guangyao's character was developed bc I found him to be sucha great villain . I really wanted more of him and Lan Xichen. More of Nie Huaisang, too.
And although I did love the Wangxian romance, I wish I never read the smut other than the very first one. I'm not judging what they do as consenting adults, but not gonna lie it did ruin my image of WWX and LWJ (aggressive LWJ is not canon to me). It felt so unnecessary, and so poorly written too. Exploring characters' kinks is not my thing in the first place so it felt quite jarring to me how book 5 suddenly became so sexual. It's a shame bc I actually liked the very first smut scene (rip the bathtub), since it felt so cathartic, rather realistic, and also really added to the plot (one of my favorite scenes has to beWWX, surrounded by Jin Guangyao and Lan Xichen and whomever else, screaming at the top of his lungs that he really wanted to sleep with LWJ ). But then... I guess I should have skipped the extras altogether.
So I'm very conflicted about volume 5. I might still go back to it to finish it later, but for now I need a break from the novels.
Overall I'll give the series a solid 4 though, cause I really enjoyed the ride. The main downsides for me were the undeveloped side characters and unpleasant smut. Other than that I thought the pace was actually better than in TGCF, though that's not to say it was perfect, and the gradual reveal of what LWJ actually went through all this time really worked for me. I really enjoyed the romance, and once I forget about the smut I'll gladly go back to it I think. I also loved what MXTX did with Lan Sizhui - I loved his character from the start, and finding outwho he actually is (which I really didn't see coming although it makes perfect sense) was one of the best parts of the story for me. Like for WWX to see that he actually saved him ... Anyway that was emotional. As was the general plot concerning this part of the Wen clan.
To me MDZS peaked at volume 4, and the beginning of vol 5 followed strong. But then the story wrapped up way too quickly. I wanted to see more of Lan Xichen, more of Jiang Cheng, more of what happens next between him and WWX, just more. There's many questions I have left, too.
Of course the author doesn't have to tell us everything and can leave some things up to our imagination, but I feel like we're missing some crucial information & interactions.
Overall I feel like the secondary characters were not explored enough despite all the potential they had. I'm glad at least Jin Guangyao's character was developed bc I found him to be such
And although I did love the Wangxian romance, I wish I never read the smut other than the very first one. I'm not judging what they do as consenting adults, but not gonna lie it did ruin my image of WWX and LWJ (aggressive LWJ is not canon to me). It felt so unnecessary, and so poorly written too. Exploring characters' kinks is not my thing in the first place so it felt quite jarring to me how book 5 suddenly became so sexual. It's a shame bc I actually liked the very first smut scene (rip the bathtub), since it felt so cathartic, rather realistic, and also really added to the plot (one of my favorite scenes has to be
So I'm very conflicted about volume 5. I might still go back to it to finish it later, but for now I need a break from the novels.
Overall I'll give the series a solid 4 though, cause I really enjoyed the ride. The main downsides for me were the undeveloped side characters and unpleasant smut. Other than that I thought the pace was actually better than in TGCF, though that's not to say it was perfect, and the gradual reveal of what LWJ actually went through all this time really worked for me. I really enjoyed the romance, and once I forget about the smut I'll gladly go back to it I think. I also loved what MXTX did with Lan Sizhui - I loved his character from the start, and finding out
Comparison with TGCF
I know not everyone likes to compare but to me it's quite unavoidable considering it's two works in the same genre from the same author so I will anyway, because I find it interesting. It's not about saying one is better than the other, but more about observing how some things are done better in TGCF and some better in MDZS.
Overall MDZS has the better pace: TGCF can honestly feel a bit all over the place (mostly because it spans such a long period), whereas MDZS feels more like a coherent whole, with the better villain too (I don't feel much for
On the other hand, the worldbuilding, romance, and characterization were stronger in TGCF (with the exception of
Then on a personal note, Xie Lian remains my favorite among all MDZS and TGCF characters, and the epic scale of TGCF and of its romance were more to my taste.
And now I need a break from danmei bc really it's too intense
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence