Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation

I am a great fan of the sensational xianxia drama The Untamed, which is why I love this novel from which the drama is adapted.

One thing that I really like about the novel is the character Wen Qing. My heart is captured by her quiet ways of going about her practice of medicine, her deep but understated affection for her brother Wen Ning, and her unwavering loyalty to her good friend Wei Wuxian after facing adversities together with him. She actually saves him twice, the second time with her own life.

What also strikes me as outstanding is the… show more.

I read this after inhaling the Netflix adaptation, The Untamed (which my boyfriend sped through just to have something to talk about on our second date).

It’s such a beautiful story. When Wei Wuxian is brought back to life, he must work to understand the mystery surrounding his revival. Wei Wuxian is irreverent where Lan Wangji is reserved, which is already a wonderful dynamic, but they also have a history and I couldn’t get enough of it. Very fun story. 

This is the first book in the Mó Dào Zǔ Shī series, which inspired the television series The Untamed as well as two animated series. For an English language reader, like myself, the book was a fabulous introduction to the vast world of Chinese Xianxia and Danmei novels. I loved the fact that it’s not only illustrated but includes a glossary and guides that explain any unfamiliar terms. (For example, the term cultivation in the book title doesn’t refer to farming but martial arts and spiritual practices. Thank you awesome glossary!)

When the story kicked off with the protagonist —… show more.

This book was my introduction to Chinese danmei (AKA boy’s love) novels and also my introduction to Xianxia (fantasy/cultivation) novels. I hunted down a fan translation after watching its live-action adaptation, The Untamed, on Netflix. I cannot recommend it enough to readers who want to sample a fantasy romance set in a non-Western setting. Ultra-romantic, gripping, and full of relevant present-day social commentary. An excellent introduction to this rich and amazing genre and with a brand-new New York Times bestselling official English translation.