This was certainly the most bizarre story I've ever read. The pacing was
a bit slower than Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, but the plot
twists were gripping nonetheless.
It's largely a gay romance story set in the "Three Realms" in popular Chinese folk beliefs. They are the Immortal Realm, the Mortal Realm and the Ghost Realm, each with its own set of governing rules and social customs. A Mortal can normally "ascend" to the Immortal Realm or "descend" to the Ghost Realm according to his/her deeds in life.
But the story hinges on exceptions to the norm, and that's what makes it interesting to follow the trajectories of the two protagonists. One is a kindhearted Crown Prince in his mortal life who struggles to "ascend" and is three times banished from the Immortal Realm. The other is an all-powerful Ghost King who derides and flouts all rules and who falls for the beleaguered Crown Prince.
I think the key message embedded in the novel is that things done with good intent may well end up causing harm to oneself.
But for Western readers, this novel might present some difficulties in terms of the cultural nuances and belief systems. Perhaps they would find the appended notes and glossary/terminology useful.
I'm giving this novel (Vol. 1) 4.3 stars.
It's largely a gay romance story set in the "Three Realms" in popular Chinese folk beliefs. They are the Immortal Realm, the Mortal Realm and the Ghost Realm, each with its own set of governing rules and social customs. A Mortal can normally "ascend" to the Immortal Realm or "descend" to the Ghost Realm according to his/her deeds in life.
But the story hinges on exceptions to the norm, and that's what makes it interesting to follow the trajectories of the two protagonists. One is a kindhearted Crown Prince in his mortal life who struggles to "ascend" and is three times banished from the Immortal Realm. The other is an all-powerful Ghost King who derides and flouts all rules and who falls for the beleaguered Crown Prince.
I think the key message embedded in the novel is that things done with good intent may well end up causing harm to oneself.
But for Western readers, this novel might present some difficulties in terms of the cultural nuances and belief systems. Perhaps they would find the appended notes and glossary/terminology useful.
I'm giving this novel (Vol. 1) 4.3 stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment