Zanxing

I absolutely love this book! It's my first time reading a cultivation novel by this author, and it's fantastic. I finished it in just three days. As a big fan of the author, while my favorite book is still "Malicious Empress," this one is a very close second. I really hope they make a movie out of this book!

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So, I picked up this novel because of the author. I’ve been reading her novels lately and got hooked on them. Her style, or what can be deduced from reading a translation, has improved once again.

As she mentioned in her notes, this is her first attempt at a cultivation genre, and she did a fantastic job.

Zanxing, our main character, transmigrated into a book as a minor character destined to die. However, knowing her fate, she decided to change it, along with the endings of other characters in the world.

The character development is excellent, the world-building is solid, the story flows steadily, and the pacing is good.

This novel has all the elements that a hero’s journey should have.

, it was a great read.

This novel stands out significantly from the author's other works in terms of setting, background, world-building, and even genre.

To me, this is a straightforward, enjoyable action-adventure story where the main character (MC) and her team embark on various quests together, unravel the world's mysteries, battle villains, and uncover hidden truths. The tone is light-hearted, but it also includes its share of both joyful and sorrowful moments (some of which might bring you to tears). It feels very much like a classic shonen story, but with a female MC. Unlike the author's other notable novels (with the exception of "Star General"), this one lacks the typical face-slapping scenes. It’s not a story of revenge; rather, it’s about a girl destined to be cannon fodder who strives to defy her fate.

The MC, Zanxing, embodies the traits of a typical shonen protagonist—optimistic, kind, hardworking, and, let’s not forget, lucky (haha). The male lead (ML), unlike the usually ‘cold’ MLs in the author's other works, is more on the arrogant, tsundere side. By chapter 165, he has just realized his feelings, and I'm eagerly anticipating how the romance will develop.

One aspect I particularly appreciate about this novel is the importance and depth of the side characters. They each have their own roles, personalities, and motivations, and the story involves teamwork, giving everyone a chance to stand out. It’s not just a story of two people against the world.

The narrative starts a bit slowly as the author takes time to establish Zanxing's position within her sect before the adventures truly begin. However, it remains engaging throughout, and I never found it dull. I will update my review once I finish the novel.

Edit:

I have now completed the novel. I was very satisfied with the ending, especially the unexpected twist at the very end—it took me by surprise.

Unlike most cultivation novels that often sideline romance, this one has a clear beginning and end, indicating that the author meticulously planned every detail from the start. It doesn’t follow the typical pattern of targeting smaller enemies before confronting the final boss, thus subverting many common action-story tropes while still staying true to its genre.

If you enjoy action-adventure stories with a female MC, a light-hearted tone, and a touch of romance, this novel is definitely worth checking out. Even if you’re new to the xianxia genre, this book serves as an excellent starting point.

I have so many mixed feelings about this novel. Some parts are good, while others I really hate. Here’s an overview:

**Pros:**
- Good storytelling. The main character's (MC) travels are interesting, and the plots she goes through are engaging. The adventuring aspects are very enjoyable.
- Some pretty solid worldbuilding, especially for the generation before the MC.
- She has a strong desire to get stronger and challenge fate.
- The female lead (FL) and male lead (ML) have great chemistry and a well-developed relationship.

**Cons:**
- The MC says she wants to get stronger and challenge fate, but she often fails to demonstrate any of that.
- Instead, due to fate, she gives up several important and highly valuable opportunities to gain power as if they mean nothing. She doesn’t even try to maximize their benefits.
- The misunderstandings are frustrating. I’m over 200 chapters in, and every single character still thinks that the FL has a crush on the original male lead (ogML), which isn’t true. The FL doesn’t even bother to correct them. It’s so painful to read when you know it’s all nonsense, and so many chapters revolve around this stupid misunderstanding. There are unnecessary plot points built on something that should have been clarified hundreds of chapters ago.
- The ML also has this misunderstanding and wants to confess to the FL, but he ends up giving the ogML another extremely valuable object to help his cultivation for free.
- To be honest, I’m just so frustrated because I had high expectations for her when I started, but she constantly gives away precious artifacts and other things she worked hard or risked her life to obtain, all to the ogML for free. No wonder everyone thinks she has a crush on him when she keeps doing things like this.

I love this author's works, so I have high hopes for this one. I’m currently on chapter 40 on MTL, and while my rating might change later, so far, it’s been great. I enjoy female-oriented cultivation novels with hardworking protagonists. This novel reminds me of the K-drama "Extraordinary You," where a side character tries to fight against "fate" (the plotline of the original story). In the novel's universe, the main character (MC) transmigrates into a world that sees her as a bug in the system—something that shouldn’t exist beyond its predetermined role (cannon fodder that dies early), and thus, it tries to eradicate her. Even if the MC achieves anything good, she doesn’t have the same luck as the original male lead. Her enemy is fate itself, which wants her existence gone, and I find that concept very intriguing.

Sure, here is the rewritten content:

"Okay, where do I even start? The book was a really good read. It has around 3-4 arcs that align with the description. The machine-translated version was okay and readable. The relationship between the main lead (ML) and the female lead (FL) doesn't really improve until the middle of the book. I finished reading it in a week, but the middle arc was a bit boring, so I just skipped some chapters in between. I really love this female lead; she's incredibly admirable. The author definitely knows how to write strong female characters, making the book quite enjoyable to read."

If your only reason for reading this novel is the author, please reconsider. I am a huge fan of the author's other works, and seeing a review that described this novel as a light-hearted read got me excited. My first thought was of "Yue Xia Die Ying," where the author successfully transitioned from a heavier style to a lighter one.

However, changing writing styles shouldn’t mean abandoning all the elements that made the previous works great. What I love about "Ill-Fated Consort" and "Malicious Empress" are the strategic elements—the scheming, the plotting, and the intelligence of the female lead (FL). So, why does Yang Zanxing not use her head? I made it to chapter 26 and couldn’t take it anymore. But wait, it’s not just the FL. Cultivation isn’t just about physical strength and flashy moves; it’s also about mental acuity. There’s no excuse for the other characters’ behavior. It feels like I’m reading about a group of middle schoolers.

Another issue I have is how the FL handles the chauvinistic setting of the novel. She has done nothing about it, even when she had the chance. For example, with her maid and coachman, she is their master. She had multiple opportunities to make them understand that she doesn’t want to depend on a man and that her life goal isn’t to get married. But she stayed silent and let her maid go on about finding a new husband. God forbid she doesn’t. The FL wouldn’t be out of character (no one has enough sense to notice), so there’s no excuse.

In conclusion, comparison is the root of all evil. I’m upset because I’ve read the author’s previous works. Dear reader, maybe you’ll have a different experience. Give it a try.

From the same author as "The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage," this novel takes a refreshing turn from the usual themes of rebirth, revenge, and face-slapping. Instead, it offers a more lighthearted cultivation story where the main character (MC) transmigrates into a novel as a cannon fodder character. Determined to alter her predetermined fate, the MC uses every resource at her disposal to change the course of her life.

There are only a few translated chapters available, but I managed to machine-translate the rest. The novel starts off a bit slow, and I must admit, I was initially wondering if this was really from the author we know and love, as it felt somewhat bland and inconsistent. However, it quickly picked up, and by the first half, I was thoroughly hooked. Despite some cliché elements, the writing is so engaging that it immerses you completely into the world. I found myself unable to put the novel down. It should carry a tragedy tag because the love between the leads and the emotional journeys of the characters are deeply moving. I even shed a few tears while reading.

The leads are portrayed as righteous and brave, and the romance is a significant part of the story. It begins subtly but gradually becomes all-encompassing. Their love for each other remains pure and unwavering. This novel is one I will fondly remember and reflect on. I hope a translator picks it up again because it has the potential to become very popular!