I set myself a pile of books to read before I will let myself buy more books… (Don’t laugh, I swear I mean it this time.)
This is the danmei pile… I’m been on the cdrama-vibe kick for awhile now and, while I like danmei, I would really like to read some not-danmei, you know, just for variety. Alas, there’s not a lot of choice for English translations of Chinese fantasy and historical fiction novels in paperback* so… this is what I got.
On the pile:
Peerless by Meng Xi Shi
I liked the author’s previous work, Thousand Autumns, mostly because the main characters weren’t morons, but the writing style left something to be desired. Here’s hoping Peerless, a later work, improves.
Remnants of Filth by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou (aka Meatbun)
This one I bought along with Meatbun’s flagship work, Husky & His White Cat Shinzun, which I read first and dropped due to content I found questionable. I liked Meatbun’s style though (a lot more descriptive and less telly that Peerless) so I started reading Remnantsand… I probably won’t continue this one either, again due to content.
Heaven Offical’s Blessing by Tian Guan Ci Fu
I’m scared to start this. It’s really, really popular in the genre but at eight volumes it’s a long series and… (spoiler)… I hear it’s not a HEA 😕. Someone tell me I heard wrong?
Guardian by Priest
This is one of those ones where I watched the TV series before I picked up the book. The TV adaptation is cool, although a little slow (such is cdrama), but it’s another with a sad ending (because censorship), but the book is meant to be HEA so… Yay! I just wish I hadn’t watched quite so much of the series though, because it’s spoiled some of the mystery.
Also, Priest is meant to be the shit comes to modern Chinese fiction, so I have expectations. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Ballad of Sword & Wine by Qian Jin Jiu
I don’t know why I picked this title in particular, other than it was new and it didn’t feature young, stupid characters, at least according to the blurb.
Got a recommendation?
If you know any English-translated Chinese fantasy or historical fiction that isn’t danmei, please tell me. I’ll love you forever… or at least until I finish the book 😉
