Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 4

The top review on goodreads says they put the sluttiest cover of the series on the most depressing book of the series, and I am hoping that most depressing part is accurate. Because the time in Black Water Demon's domain started to drag enough that I almost put this down for a while, but then MXTX dragged me back in with THERE WAS ONLY ONE COFFIN, which was so ridiculous I fell right back in love.

(It is a feature of this domain that only coffin wood will float, so Xie Lian and Hua Cheng build a coffin to escape the island in, which of course forces them into compromising positions. When it was later pointed out that there was PLENTY OF WOOD around and they could have just BUILT A BIGGER COFFIN, it is obvious that the thought never show more occurred to them. Which is one of the many things I love about MXTX. So many of her characters are hyper-competent in so many areas, dumb as bricks when it comes to each other.)

There is also SO MUCH MAKING OUT under pretext in this volume. Xie Lian attempting to "give breath" to Hua Cheng when he thinks he has drowned, even though he doesn't know what he is doing. So much passing of spiritual powers through kissing, even though there are other ways to do it. Even though they are JUST BROS. Hua Cheng has some TRUE LOVE HE PINES FOR AND I (XIE LIAN) HAVE WEIRD JEALOUS FEELINGS ABOUT THAT, BUT WE WILL NOT BE EXAMINING THAT AT THIS TIME.

It is a good thing these guys are immortal.

Anyway, we've got more ghosts, more revenge, more philosophizing on justice and fate and luck, more gay pining, more ridiculousness, more secret plots discovered and mysteries unraveled and innocent humans rescued. More gods exposed as assholes/corrupt/shady. More disguises. More bloodshed. More unending devotion.

I still want Seven Seas to get their shit together (re: respecting their translators) so I can consider picking up some of their other translated danmei coming out that looks amazing, but I don't know how much hope there is of that. show less

Another great volume and a wonderful reread! The cover by tai3_3 is absolutely gorgeous and I'm so happy to finally have a copy of it!! ZeldaCW's interiors are also still lovely and cute and I liked them a lot!

This volume continues to be funny and angsty and a lot of fun. There's a good amount of Quan Yizhen in here and I absolutely love it! He's so hilarious and wonderful. And Yin Yu must be going through so much while Quan Yizhen is just There. Xie Lian is so sweet and kind of really self-defeating honestly. Though it's funny he at one point says he's the only sane person and yet will say he needs money for repairs and then focus on returning all the money he's received from other gods, which admittedly mostly aligns with his ethics, show more but still. He's also so in love with Hua Cheng and doesn't know how to handle it, poor guy. I also feel so bad for Shi Qingxuan, poor guy. He just wanted to support people and everything came crashing down around him.

Overall, another great entry in this wonderful, wonderful book. Looking forward to volume 5! show less

Everything that's happening in this book makes me go "Yes, please" softly, under my breath.

I have no intelligent thoughts just WOOO.

TBC