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Guardian: Zhen Hun (Novel) #1
Guardian: Zhen Hun (Novel) Vol. 1
Zhao Yunlan is Chief of the Special Investigations Department: a secret group of uniquely skilled individuals who investigate strange happenings in modern-day Dragon City. Although laid-back and cheeky to those who don't know him, this tenacious and cunning man fits well into his role of the Guardian.
While investigating a mysterious death at a local university, Zhao Yunlan meets Shen Wei, a calm and cold professor who proves as intriguing as the case itself. Something about this reserved man feels strangely familiar. Zhao Yunlan can't help but notice the intensity of the professor's gaze, and wonders why their lives begin to intertwine—as if by fate.
While investigating a mysterious death at a local university, Zhao Yunlan meets Shen Wei, a calm and cold professor who proves as intriguing as the case itself. Something about this reserved man feels strangely familiar. Zhao Yunlan can't help but notice the intensity of the professor's gaze, and wonders why their lives begin to intertwine—as if by fate.
412 pages, Paperback
Published August 29, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 557 reviews
October 13, 2023
✦ i loved the main characters and their dynamic, but i couldn't really get into the overall plot. i honestly pushed through it just to get more glimpses of the mcs. this also has some great side characters that make the story more fun. i will definitely try the next books once they officially come out, hopefully the plot itself picks up.
December 12, 2024
If you are horny and looking for ‘spice’ then it’s not the time for you to pick up this amazing book. If you are the type to hate on a book because you’re not in the mood for some heavy lore and mythology, don’t be that guy and just leave it, it has an amazing plot otherwise.
The one thing I dislike about it was the narrative, it’s 3rd person but focuses on different characters in every other paragraph, which had me confused at first. As well as the translation, but they both get better thankfully and I cannot wait to continue with this wonderful series.
In a few words, it’s about a Special Investigation Department team called the ‘Soul Guarding Order’ in Dragon city that deals with supernatural cases; and the case in each arc is connected to the four ‘Hallowed Artifacts’ of the Netherworld, so we get a mysterious character that comes to help from there. The main characters are a badass cheeky director who starts pursuing a gentle, well mannered professor that looks at him longingly but keeps turning him down. I just love his confidence and how he’s described😆 after getting ready for their date and adding cologne: “Satisfied that he was a feast for all the senses, he strode off to inflict himself on the world.” OHMYGOD LMFAO!!!! It’s a GLACIAL LOW SIMMERING SLOW BURN🔥🔥🔥 The secondary characters are just as awesome and hilarious as their boss, they’re a mix of creatures, animals, fake monks and mysterious people. This encounter with a half snake employee cracked me up, her tail can’t be hidden for a few days each month:
The art that is added after every other chapter was such a beautiful idea and I loved it, just don’t get too excited and look for fanart that will spoil some plot points like I did😭💔
The Appendix of characters, name guide, pronunciation and terminology was much appreciated. And if you’re like me and confuse Chinese names, here’s my own cheat sheet lol, it’s in order of character appearance and I hope it helps:
The one thing I dislike about it was the narrative, it’s 3rd person but focuses on different characters in every other paragraph, which had me confused at first. As well as the translation, but they both get better thankfully and I cannot wait to continue with this wonderful series.
In a few words, it’s about a Special Investigation Department team called the ‘Soul Guarding Order’ in Dragon city that deals with supernatural cases; and the case in each arc is connected to the four ‘Hallowed Artifacts’ of the Netherworld, so we get a mysterious character that comes to help from there. The main characters are a badass cheeky director who starts pursuing a gentle, well mannered professor that looks at him longingly but keeps turning him down. I just love his confidence and how he’s described😆 after getting ready for their date and adding cologne: “Satisfied that he was a feast for all the senses, he strode off to inflict himself on the world.” OHMYGOD LMFAO!!!! It’s a GLACIAL LOW SIMMERING SLOW BURN🔥🔥🔥 The secondary characters are just as awesome and hilarious as their boss, they’re a mix of creatures, animals, fake monks and mysterious people. This encounter with a half snake employee cracked me up, her tail can’t be hidden for a few days each month:
“Zhu Hong patted her lap—what would have been a human woman’s thigh. “That would take at least two or three years, and I’m like this once a month. How exactly would I explain being absent so often?”
Without hesitation or batting an eye, Zhao Yunlan said, “You’d tell them it was menstrual cramps, dumbass.”
She absorbed this in brief silence, then said, “You’re always destroying my romanticized fantasy of you, boss.”
“You’re the one who has the nerve to fantasize about your boss.” Zhao Yunlan lightly pushed down on her head. “Are you trying to lose your bonus?”
The art that is added after every other chapter was such a beautiful idea and I loved it, just don’t get too excited and look for fanart that will spoil some plot points like I did😭💔
The Appendix of characters, name guide, pronunciation and terminology was much appreciated. And if you’re like me and confuse Chinese names, here’s my own cheat sheet lol, it’s in order of character appearance and I hope it helps:
Guo Changcheng ‘intern’
Zhao Yunlan 🚬 ‘guardian’
Wang Zheng 👻 ‘HR woman’
Lao-Wu 👻 ‘security guard’
Daqing🐈⬛
Shen Wei 👓 ‘professor’
Zhu Hong 🐍
Lin Jing📿 ‘fake monk’
Chu Shuzhi ‘mysterious agent’
Reading Updates:
OMG I NEED ANSWERS ASAP
I’m starting the second arc soon but please if you have read this book, tell me: is Shen Wei ‘The Soul Executing Emissary’?! I have a feeling it’s him?!!!!! Yay or nay?
-
I watched a few episodes of the drama but decided to stop spoiling it for myself and read the book, because they changed a few themes I was interested in originally!
April 24, 2024
This was just so good. I mean, the premise meant it wasn’t a hard sell as it had so many elements that are things that make a book an auto read for me- supernatural investigations and murder mysteries, sassy bisexual MC (who’s a bit of a mess yet highly competent at what they do), talking cat companion, ghosts and spirits, yearning love stories. All the good stuff, and no one does yearning and undying devotion like a danmei novel.
I think that this series would be an easy and accessible starting point for people who are interested in getting into Danmei as a genre given it’s modern day setting makes it a little less content dense than some others feel initially.
I laughed out loud several times throughout this but had also forgotten how emotionally brutal danmei story elements can be, I am eagerly awaiting the next installments to be emotionally devastated and then given a little kiss on the forehead as a consolation for the pain.
I will also be perfectly honest, as someone who is a die hard Lan Zhan/ Wei Ying girlie, the character dynamics between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan, literally read like a modern day au of them. I mean this as a highest compliment but if that’s a vibe that does it for you this is so worthwhile as a read.
Bless Seven Seas for producing all these danmei translations. I’ll be marking the calendar for book 2.
Guardian: Zhen Hun (Novel) Vol. 2 4 ⭐️
I think that this series would be an easy and accessible starting point for people who are interested in getting into Danmei as a genre given it’s modern day setting makes it a little less content dense than some others feel initially.
I laughed out loud several times throughout this but had also forgotten how emotionally brutal danmei story elements can be, I am eagerly awaiting the next installments to be emotionally devastated and then given a little kiss on the forehead as a consolation for the pain.
I will also be perfectly honest, as someone who is a die hard Lan Zhan/ Wei Ying girlie, the character dynamics between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan, literally read like a modern day au of them. I mean this as a highest compliment but if that’s a vibe that does it for you this is so worthwhile as a read.
Bless Seven Seas for producing all these danmei translations. I’ll be marking the calendar for book 2.
Guardian: Zhen Hun (Novel) Vol. 2 4 ⭐️
December 3, 2023
“Some people believe reincarnation is an endless cycle of killing, the old replaced by the new. What’s lost will be lost forever, and what has passed will never return. With a turn of the clock, one can look back, but not go back. With a turn of the reincarnation cycle, though, even if one tried to look back, they wouldn’t know which way to look.”
Guo Changcheng is in need of a job and his beloved uncle was able to use the power of nepotism to get him one at S.I.D. When Guo Changcheng arrives he meets a ghost, a half-snake lady and promptly passes out. Turns out S.I.D means Special Investigations Department and they deal with the supernatural end of criminal investigations. But Guo Changcheng isn’t our main character, he’s the beloved intern.
Zhao Yunlan is the director or S.I.D and it is his responsibility to sign off on possible cases that deal with the people from Dixing but when a case leads to him meeting the elusive professor Shen Wei, he can’t help but be intrigued by the man. Who is he? And why is he rejecting his advances?!!
Guys, I feel a favourite new series coming up. I loved this. I loved the mystery elements, I loved the fantasy plot, I loved everything about this. I just know my heart is going to be broken. There’s already an adaptation of this series and I want to watch it so badly but I also don’t want to spoil it for myself.
Also Guo Changcheng is baby.
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August 20, 2024
It occurred to Zhao Yunlan that he could try making another move. He reached over to gently smooth out a caught corner of Shen Wei’s collar. When his curled finger grazed the tender skin just below Shen Wei’s earlobe, it could have been unintentional.
“Just fixing your collar,” he said, straightening back up and adjusting the rearview mirror.
This time, Shen Wei’s blush reached his ears.
NOT THEM LITERALLY MAKING ME GIGGLE AND SCREAM THE MOST I'VE EVER WHEN HE'S ONLY FIXING HIS COLLAR 🦋 the scene almost made me faint.
zhao yunlan's heart fluttered so much when he was around shen wei and i totally could understand. shen wei was so freaking dreamy omg. and then zhao yunlan with his cocky arrogant self making shen wei blush like crazy UGHHHHHHHHHHHHJFSHFSKHF 🫠
this is my first danmei and definitely won't be my last. i feel like this was really out of my comfort zone of what i'm used to reading. i'm a romance girl at heart through and through. and when romance is only a subplot i tend to lose interest but that was not the case here! especially when this was like 20% romance and 80% plot. the plot may have gone over my head a few times not going to lie 😅 because so much was going on, but i had a great time. this is the type of book where it's very much on the lower level of romance but when you do get the scenes, it pays off!! i pretty much thought they were in love from the first moment they met.
i adored both main characters. i loved zhao yunlan's cocky attitude and how much of a know at all he was. normally, i hate characters like this but he made it charming and he wasnt an asshole about it. i loved shen wei’s mysterious vibes and his protective and caretaker side with zhao yunlan. the moment he lost control and couldn't hold himself back from touching zhao yunlan…. i could feel his longing throughout the whole book even though he was denying that he didn’t like zhao yunlan. also i loved guo changcheng. he was a whole ass mood and if i was in this world, i'd definitely be him 😂
some quotes that had me swooning.
🖤 “Good night, sleeping beauty. When I’m done with the case, I’ll ask you out properly.”
~ zhao yunlan talking to shen wei 🥹 also dude was so obsessed with pursuing shen wei!!! we love this energy
💙 Shen Wei’s expression darkened. “Enough nonsense. Hurry up.”
Zhao Yunlan peeled off his jacket and pants with no further hesitation, leaving him lounging casually in front of Shen Wei in pajamas that revealed most of his chest and chiseled abs. Shen Wei’s face changed color as if it had been boiled.
~ ahhhhkdhfkdhgkshgsidghdjkghsjhgsdgb
🖤 Shen Wei’s brow creased. Zhao Yunlan grabbed his hand and was shocked by how cold it was. That one touch gave him the feeling that Shen Wei was desperately drinking in his body heat. His heart ached faintly in response.
“Don’t frown,” Zhao Yunlan said. “It’ll be okay.”
~ just taking care of his baby 🥰
💙 For some time, Shen Wei couldn’t look away. He watched Zhao Yunlan quietly for a while, expression softening. He carefully removed Zhao Yunlan’s earbuds, rolled them up, and set them aside. Then he took the coat Zhao Yunlan had thrown aside and spread it over him.
~ when he looks at you and his expression softens>>>>>>
🖤 “I was planning to keep my hands to myself, but then you went and threw yourself at me.”
~ SIRRRRRRRR- to say I was speechless is an understatement. I did NOT expect this scene at all 😳
the last 25% of the book had me on the edge of my seat. i flew through it like 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
THE ART THOUGH? imagine when i opened up this book and there was art. MULTIPLE!!!!!!!!! fucking beautiful art too. i should have epxetced that with how pretty the cover it.
AND THE CAT😭😭😭😭 the most main character energy ever 😌
anyway, i'm excited for the second volume because i have a lot of questions.
preread:
THIS HAS A SERIES TOO AHHHHHHHHDHDHDGSHSJD AND THE MCS MATCH SO PERFECTLY LIKE WOW 😍😭🫠 i will definitely be watching after i finish this.
this is also my first danmei novel so i'm so excited 🥰
“Just fixing your collar,” he said, straightening back up and adjusting the rearview mirror.
This time, Shen Wei’s blush reached his ears.
NOT THEM LITERALLY MAKING ME GIGGLE AND SCREAM THE MOST I'VE EVER WHEN HE'S ONLY FIXING HIS COLLAR 🦋 the scene almost made me faint.
zhao yunlan's heart fluttered so much when he was around shen wei and i totally could understand. shen wei was so freaking dreamy omg. and then zhao yunlan with his cocky arrogant self making shen wei blush like crazy UGHHHHHHHHHHHHJFSHFSKHF 🫠
this is my first danmei and definitely won't be my last. i feel like this was really out of my comfort zone of what i'm used to reading. i'm a romance girl at heart through and through. and when romance is only a subplot i tend to lose interest but that was not the case here! especially when this was like 20% romance and 80% plot. the plot may have gone over my head a few times not going to lie 😅 because so much was going on, but i had a great time. this is the type of book where it's very much on the lower level of romance but when you do get the scenes, it pays off!! i pretty much thought they were in love from the first moment they met.
i adored both main characters. i loved zhao yunlan's cocky attitude and how much of a know at all he was. normally, i hate characters like this but he made it charming and he wasnt an asshole about it. i loved shen wei’s mysterious vibes and his protective and caretaker side with zhao yunlan. the moment he lost control and couldn't hold himself back from touching zhao yunlan…. i could feel his longing throughout the whole book even though he was denying that he didn’t like zhao yunlan. also i loved guo changcheng. he was a whole ass mood and if i was in this world, i'd definitely be him 😂
some quotes that had me swooning.
🖤 “Good night, sleeping beauty. When I’m done with the case, I’ll ask you out properly.”
~ zhao yunlan talking to shen wei 🥹 also dude was so obsessed with pursuing shen wei!!! we love this energy
💙 Shen Wei’s expression darkened. “Enough nonsense. Hurry up.”
Zhao Yunlan peeled off his jacket and pants with no further hesitation, leaving him lounging casually in front of Shen Wei in pajamas that revealed most of his chest and chiseled abs. Shen Wei’s face changed color as if it had been boiled.
~ ahhhhkdhfkdhgkshgsidghdjkghsjhgsdgb
🖤 Shen Wei’s brow creased. Zhao Yunlan grabbed his hand and was shocked by how cold it was. That one touch gave him the feeling that Shen Wei was desperately drinking in his body heat. His heart ached faintly in response.
“Don’t frown,” Zhao Yunlan said. “It’ll be okay.”
~ just taking care of his baby 🥰
💙 For some time, Shen Wei couldn’t look away. He watched Zhao Yunlan quietly for a while, expression softening. He carefully removed Zhao Yunlan’s earbuds, rolled them up, and set them aside. Then he took the coat Zhao Yunlan had thrown aside and spread it over him.
~ when he looks at you and his expression softens>>>>>>
🖤 “I was planning to keep my hands to myself, but then you went and threw yourself at me.”
~ SIRRRRRRRR- to say I was speechless is an understatement. I did NOT expect this scene at all 😳
the last 25% of the book had me on the edge of my seat. i flew through it like 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
THE ART THOUGH? imagine when i opened up this book and there was art. MULTIPLE!!!!!!!!! fucking beautiful art too. i should have epxetced that with how pretty the cover it.
AND THE CAT😭😭😭😭 the most main character energy ever 😌
anyway, i'm excited for the second volume because i have a lot of questions.
preread:
THIS HAS A SERIES TOO AHHHHHHHHDHDHDGSHSJD AND THE MCS MATCH SO PERFECTLY LIKE WOW 😍😭🫠 i will definitely be watching after i finish this.
this is also my first danmei novel so i'm so excited 🥰
May 24, 2024
Reading this book was like a breath of fresh air. It was a simple and fast read but that did not stop it from being so beautifully intriguing (I mean this is priest we’re talking about so what else would one expect). The romance is being built up so satisfyingly, and while it seems it’s ‘fast-paced,’ think again! Because there is so much more complexity to our main couple, and I for one cannot wait to delve deeper into their layers in the coming volumes (and I’m proud to say that my theories about Shen Wei’s identity were correct, thank you very much)
Zhao Yunlan, our flirty main character and a total heartthrob sure to have all the men and women swooning, I feel is going to be in for a hell of a ride in the next volume. And I cannot wait to find out more of his backstory, or rather his past life’s backstory. Shen Wei, our quiet little scholar, or the fucking Soul-Executing Emissary (basically a god), I feel is going to be flipping our Yunlan’s world on its head.
Zhao Yunlan, our flirty main character and a total heartthrob sure to have all the men and women swooning, I feel is going to be in for a hell of a ride in the next volume. And I cannot wait to find out more of his backstory, or rather his past life’s backstory. Shen Wei, our quiet little scholar, or the fucking Soul-Executing Emissary (basically a god), I feel is going to be flipping our Yunlan’s world on its head.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2024
When I decided to pick this book up, I thought that it's gonna be something in a shape of all the reincarnation fanfics that I used to stumble upon in AO3, but, you know, in a novel version. I didn't quite got what I expected.
Let's start with the writing. First of all, the story lacks the balance between the serious stuff and the unserious stuff. This book's writing feels a little bit too unserious for my liking and I couldn't help, but cringe a little wherever the sentences ended with !. It destroyed the ominous atmosphere that the author (sometimes) tried to build. The story has some of horror-like type moments that normally would frighten me, but I couldn't bring myself to feel anything. I also got the impression that the 'show, don't tell' rule was forgotten by the author and, even worse, there was no depth in most of the characters. It was like the author immersed himself in the action and forgot to give life to his characters. I couldn't bring myself to care about anyone, except for Guo Changcheng.
Honestly, Guo Changcheng, despite not being a main character of the story, is one of the most relatable characters (if not the most relatable one!) I have ever encountered in a book. I felt like I have been reading about myself wherever he showed up in a scene. Just look at these:
But Guo Changcheng had always been terrified of social interactions, and staying home for more than half a year had given him a severe case of telephone phobia. As soon as he even thought about having to call someone, he felt so stressed that he couldn't sleep for nights on end.
He loved people like this, warm and brimming with enthusiasm. As long as the other person's mouth was moving, he only had to nod or shake his head. No need to string words together.
He didn't feel lucky at all - father, he felt a puff of misfortune float up from his head like a ghost.
Once again, Guo Changcheng didn't understand, but he was still afraid of seeming stupid, and embarrassment kept him silent.
Guo Changcheng, who had been pretending not to exist, suddenly butted in.
It's like I was reading about myself. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry, really, especially because of the way this character was treated by others through most of the story. He's supposed to be a comedic relief, I guess, but I didn't felt the need to laugh. In the contrary.
Now let's talk a little bit about the plot. To be quite honest, most of the time I didn't know what is happening. I didn't understand how the events tied together until the very end of the story. I thought that the main center of the story will be the past and the present of the relationship between the main heroes: Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei, but most of the story's time is taken by the action. I know that Zhao Yunlan is a detective-like hero, so there had to be some kind of mystery going on, but I needed the balance between the action and the romance, but the story didn't gave me that.
I thought that Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's story will be one of the soulmates kind and I was excited to read about the reincarnation and how their past looked like, but this book didn't deliver it. If they are soulmates, I didn't felt it. There were multiple foreshadowing moments of the reincarnation and the sacrifice, so I thought that it's gonna bring me somewhere I needed to be, but nah. It will either be the plot of the next books or will be completely ignored *sigh* Even without the soulmates part, the romance should stay strong on it's own, but it didn't. These two didn't felt like they were falling in love or were already in love with one another. All it seems to come from both the characters was lust and that's it. There was a couple of moments that gave me hope when it comes to Shen Wei (when he looked longingly at Zhao Yunlan), but on the end it all came to the lust. It's not what I am here for.
But hey, I found the worldbuilding very interesting. I didn't quite understand everything. So many things were mentioned with only a little bit of description that made me feel lost and confused, but that's all right. It means that I have many things to learn and many things to uncover, so I'm excited. Anyways, I really like the various types of species that this world has and I hope to see more.
Now, the Shen Wei's mystery plot point. I did NOT expect him to be who he ended up to be. It was obvious that he wasn't just a human, but I didn't realize who he actually is, so I need to give a big point for the author for the great plot twist. Now I wonder how it ties up to the reincarnation part, if the reincarnation part is indeed a plot point of the next books. I will know when I will pick the next books up, I guess! I hope that I will enjoy them more than book one, I genuinely hope so :)
Let's start with the writing. First of all, the story lacks the balance between the serious stuff and the unserious stuff. This book's writing feels a little bit too unserious for my liking and I couldn't help, but cringe a little wherever the sentences ended with !. It destroyed the ominous atmosphere that the author (sometimes) tried to build. The story has some of horror-like type moments that normally would frighten me, but I couldn't bring myself to feel anything. I also got the impression that the 'show, don't tell' rule was forgotten by the author and, even worse, there was no depth in most of the characters. It was like the author immersed himself in the action and forgot to give life to his characters. I couldn't bring myself to care about anyone, except for Guo Changcheng.
Honestly, Guo Changcheng, despite not being a main character of the story, is one of the most relatable characters (if not the most relatable one!) I have ever encountered in a book. I felt like I have been reading about myself wherever he showed up in a scene. Just look at these:
But Guo Changcheng had always been terrified of social interactions, and staying home for more than half a year had given him a severe case of telephone phobia. As soon as he even thought about having to call someone, he felt so stressed that he couldn't sleep for nights on end.
He loved people like this, warm and brimming with enthusiasm. As long as the other person's mouth was moving, he only had to nod or shake his head. No need to string words together.
He didn't feel lucky at all - father, he felt a puff of misfortune float up from his head like a ghost.
Once again, Guo Changcheng didn't understand, but he was still afraid of seeming stupid, and embarrassment kept him silent.
Guo Changcheng, who had been pretending not to exist, suddenly butted in.
It's like I was reading about myself. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry, really, especially because of the way this character was treated by others through most of the story. He's supposed to be a comedic relief, I guess, but I didn't felt the need to laugh. In the contrary.
Now let's talk a little bit about the plot. To be quite honest, most of the time I didn't know what is happening. I didn't understand how the events tied together until the very end of the story. I thought that the main center of the story will be the past and the present of the relationship between the main heroes: Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei, but most of the story's time is taken by the action. I know that Zhao Yunlan is a detective-like hero, so there had to be some kind of mystery going on, but I needed the balance between the action and the romance, but the story didn't gave me that.
I thought that Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's story will be one of the soulmates kind and I was excited to read about the reincarnation and how their past looked like, but this book didn't deliver it. If they are soulmates, I didn't felt it. There were multiple foreshadowing moments of the reincarnation and the sacrifice, so I thought that it's gonna bring me somewhere I needed to be, but nah. It will either be the plot of the next books or will be completely ignored *sigh* Even without the soulmates part, the romance should stay strong on it's own, but it didn't. These two didn't felt like they were falling in love or were already in love with one another. All it seems to come from both the characters was lust and that's it. There was a couple of moments that gave me hope when it comes to Shen Wei (when he looked longingly at Zhao Yunlan), but on the end it all came to the lust. It's not what I am here for.
But hey, I found the worldbuilding very interesting. I didn't quite understand everything. So many things were mentioned with only a little bit of description that made me feel lost and confused, but that's all right. It means that I have many things to learn and many things to uncover, so I'm excited. Anyways, I really like the various types of species that this world has and I hope to see more.
Now, the Shen Wei's mystery plot point. I did NOT expect him to be who he ended up to be. It was obvious that he wasn't just a human, but I didn't realize who he actually is, so I need to give a big point for the author for the great plot twist. Now I wonder how it ties up to the reincarnation part, if the reincarnation part is indeed a plot point of the next books. I will know when I will pick the next books up, I guess! I hope that I will enjoy them more than book one, I genuinely hope so :)
September 13, 2023
1 star of shame for terrible translation. I'm giving it 3* overall because the story deserves way better than the translation 7S punished it with. 3 translators and a host of editors and proofreaders are credited in this one, and yet it manages to be riddled with grammar mistakes, not to mention the abysmal, middle-grade translation style that did not even preserve the humor in the novel. This is by far the worst translation 7S churned out yet (granted, I haven't read their MDZS, it might be worse or about the same level of bad). I sincerely hope nobody picks it up as their first Priest novel because they'd be fooled into thinking the author can't write.
September 26, 2023
Having read this right after Stars of Chaos, I'm amazed at Priest's range. From steampunk to supernatural detective noir, she can do everything! I enjoyed the cast of misfits working for Zhao Yunlan, and the detective's funny banter was everything. Also both him and Shen Wei are so smitten with each other, I can't wait to see where it goes next!
Rep: bi/pan mc, mlm love interest
Rep: bi/pan mc, mlm love interest
September 8, 2023
I watched the show and I only got a little past where this volume ends, and already I can see just how different they are. I knew that already of course (thanks censorship), but even in the characterization, everyone feels totally different, but in a refreshing way, not like a rehash of things I already knew about.
Looking at the book on its own merits, I really love the way the book drops you into the world, never leaving you too confused as to the way things work, but also not holding your hand to explain every single little detail of how the realms and the different government bureaus work.
And unsurprisingly, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan are gold. I just want good things to happen to them, and this is only book 1 so I know good things are gonna take a little while, but I'm HERE FOR IT.
Last but not least, I have to say it cause if you follow my different danmei reviews you know I can never help myself, Shen Wei continues to be my favorite little snarky man(?) of mystery.
Looking at the book on its own merits, I really love the way the book drops you into the world, never leaving you too confused as to the way things work, but also not holding your hand to explain every single little detail of how the realms and the different government bureaus work.
And unsurprisingly, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan are gold. I just want good things to happen to them, and this is only book 1 so I know good things are gonna take a little while, but I'm HERE FOR IT.
Last but not least, I have to say it cause if you follow my different danmei reviews you know I can never help myself, Shen Wei continues to be my favorite little snarky man(?) of mystery.
May 18, 2024
Do they accept a third ? 🥹
August 19, 2024
To be honest, I don't understand the hype this story receives. I thought it was just okay, but since this is the first book in a three book series, there is a possibility that book two will hook me. I didn't get invested in Heaven Official's Blessing (my current favorite danmei) until book two, so maybe that'll be the case here.
I tried - and I mean I reeeally tried - to get into the overall plot, but I just couldn't find it in me to care about what was happening. Arc one felt like a chore to get through, and arc two wasn't much better. I didn't care enough about Wang Zheng to want to spend that much time learning about her past but because her story concerned the Mountain River Awl it was unavoidable. Halfway through, I found myself wishing it would hurridly wrap up so I could just focus on what was happening between Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei.
Another problem I had was that for the majority of the story, I didn't feel any connection to Zhao Yunlan. Even though I liked him, I felt like I was mostly following around a stranger. This was probably due to the very matter-of-fact, non-emotional way in which he carried himself. If I were in his head and privy to his memories and internal thoughts, this wouldn't have been an issue.
This was especially a problem when it came to his feelings for Shen Wei. Aside from knowing he kept in touch with him after wrapping up his case at the university (arc 1), I could only infer the intensity of his feelings based on comments he or his employees made. The problem with this is that a lot of those things were said in passing with no real emphasis on how remarkable his actions were. It wasn't until the very end of this nearly 400 page story that I felt like I truly understood how they felt about each other. Finally, I saw some real emotions from both characters!
I'm interested in seeing where the story goes from here so I will be reading book 2. I'll just need to temper my expectations and not allow that gorgeous to throw me off. 2.5 stars, rounded up
I tried - and I mean I reeeally tried - to get into the overall plot, but I just couldn't find it in me to care about what was happening. Arc one felt like a chore to get through, and arc two wasn't much better. I didn't care enough about Wang Zheng to want to spend that much time learning about her past but because her story concerned the Mountain River Awl it was unavoidable. Halfway through, I found myself wishing it would hurridly wrap up so I could just focus on what was happening between Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei.
Another problem I had was that for the majority of the story, I didn't feel any connection to Zhao Yunlan. Even though I liked him, I felt like I was mostly following around a stranger. This was probably due to the very matter-of-fact, non-emotional way in which he carried himself. If I were in his head and privy to his memories and internal thoughts, this wouldn't have been an issue.
This was especially a problem when it came to his feelings for Shen Wei. Aside from knowing he kept in touch with him after wrapping up his case at the university (arc 1), I could only infer the intensity of his feelings based on comments he or his employees made. The problem with this is that a lot of those things were said in passing with no real emphasis on how remarkable his actions were. It wasn't until the very end of this nearly 400 page story that I felt like I truly understood how they felt about each other. Finally, I saw some real emotions from both characters!
I'm interested in seeing where the story goes from here so I will be reading book 2. I'll just need to temper my expectations and not allow that gorgeous to throw me off. 2.5 stars, rounded up
October 4, 2024
3.75 stars, rounded up
This was a lot of fun. I wasn't sure how I'd like this genre set in modern day, but I liked it. Priest makes it interesting and keeps the story flowing, and I like trying to figure out what exactly is going on before the story tells me. Some things were pretty obvious , but there are still plenty of other mysteries to figure out, though I have theories about those too.
I liked Guo Changcheng immediately and wish he'd had a larger role in this first volume. I'd read a whole story of Guo and Daqing just doing random stuff, lol. I can't say I've warmed up to the romance aspect of the story. I hadn't read any blurbs and went into this with no idea who the romantic pairing would be, so it took me awhile to figure it out. It is what it is, I guess. There are still two more volumes for me to get on board with it, lol. (Is it my fault that during most of their interactions, I couldn't help but compare it to WangXian? Is it my fault they fell way short of the mark? No, no it's not. 😊)
The illustrations, while lovely, haven't really done much for me. They seem kind of random, like the illustrator couldn't figure out which moments were significant enough to merit them. And the moments I would have liked to see illustrations for didn't have them. 🤷🏻♀️
This was a lot of fun. I wasn't sure how I'd like this genre set in modern day, but I liked it. Priest makes it interesting and keeps the story flowing, and I like trying to figure out what exactly is going on before the story tells me. Some things were pretty obvious , but there are still plenty of other mysteries to figure out, though I have theories about those too.
I liked Guo Changcheng immediately and wish he'd had a larger role in this first volume. I'd read a whole story of Guo and Daqing just doing random stuff, lol. I can't say I've warmed up to the romance aspect of the story. I hadn't read any blurbs and went into this with no idea who the romantic pairing would be, so it took me awhile to figure it out. It is what it is, I guess. There are still two more volumes for me to get on board with it, lol. (Is it my fault that during most of their interactions, I couldn't help but compare it to WangXian? Is it my fault they fell way short of the mark? No, no it's not. 😊)
The illustrations, while lovely, haven't really done much for me. They seem kind of random, like the illustrator couldn't figure out which moments were significant enough to merit them. And the moments I would have liked to see illustrations for didn't have them. 🤷🏻♀️
October 17, 2024
Knew I was going to like this, but oh my god I loved it. If you’ve ever watched the show Lucifer, it’s that kind of vibe, but with Chinese folklore. The plot is great, I had to highlight multiple quotes solely because of how funny they were, and I am already obsessed with the dynamic between Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei. Literally the only negative is that I found Shen Wei’s true identity to…almost immediately be very obvious. I don’t really feel it cheapened anything and actually had me excited for Zhao Yunlan to figure it out as well, but I wouldn’t go into it expecting that to be the big mystery—you’re probably going to work it out as well within the first half of the book.
September 5, 2023
4.5 stars
I adored this! I've been wanting to try danmei for a while now, but have worried that it'd be a bit dense. Since Guardian is contemporary fantasy rather than historical, I started with this one, and it was wonderful. It was funny, creepy, and filled with amazing characters (including a talking cat). The central romance, while very much a slow burn, was filled with so much mystery, all leading to a reveal promising nothing short of an epic romance. I need to see more of the past connections between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan in order to fully obsess over them, but I can definitely see myself getting there. While their time together in this volume is often limited (sort of...no spoilers!), they are constantly on each other's minds. Shen Wei is filled with so much painful yearning when he sees Zhao Yunlan, and when Zhao Yunlan sees Shen Wei, it's nothing but joy. The ending, while answering some questions, also opens up many more, and I want more now. Too bad volume two doesn't release until January. :(
I adored this! I've been wanting to try danmei for a while now, but have worried that it'd be a bit dense. Since Guardian is contemporary fantasy rather than historical, I started with this one, and it was wonderful. It was funny, creepy, and filled with amazing characters (including a talking cat). The central romance, while very much a slow burn, was filled with so much mystery, all leading to a reveal promising nothing short of an epic romance. I need to see more of the past connections between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan in order to fully obsess over them, but I can definitely see myself getting there. While their time together in this volume is often limited (sort of...no spoilers!), they are constantly on each other's minds. Shen Wei is filled with so much painful yearning when he sees Zhao Yunlan, and when Zhao Yunlan sees Shen Wei, it's nothing but joy. The ending, while answering some questions, also opens up many more, and I want more now. Too bad volume two doesn't release until January. :(
November 23, 2023
Detectives + fantasy + gay romance... This book catered to all my interests! I thought I had given up on danmei due to the tiring lengths of each book but since Guardian is just a trilogy, I decided to collect it. It's action-packed, occasionally creepy, occasionally funny, and just so cool... It felt like an anime in the best way possible.
Admittedly, I didn't get much of a read on Shen Wei's personality yet in volume 1, though I delightfully guessed the plot twist. Zhao Yunlan is the perfect hero: handsome, charming and intelligent yet a total manslut sleaze, hotheaded and messy, contradictory yet very lovable. I really appreciated how we have a strong fantasy plot alongside the relationship. Really looking forward to see how their romance develops!
Admittedly, I didn't get much of a read on Shen Wei's personality yet in volume 1, though I delightfully guessed the plot twist. Zhao Yunlan is the perfect hero: handsome, charming and intelligent yet a total manslut sleaze, hotheaded and messy, contradictory yet very lovable. I really appreciated how we have a strong fantasy plot alongside the relationship. Really looking forward to see how their romance develops!
February 3, 2024
❤️ Guardian - Priest ❤️
🪭 danmei
🌌 supernatural
💫 soulmates
🔎 detective/police
🦋 mysterious
Let me start off by saying that I started reading Guardian bc of one quote and honestly... I did not expect to adore ots characters as well as this danmei as much as I do 😭😭😭 I just LOVE the whole mystery around Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan regarding their connection 💞 I do not want to spoil too much but the way in which these two gravitate towards each other is EVERYTHING 💗 (especially knowing the fact they do have an actual past together) Although the book does have an actual plot, it seems to effortlessly be connected to both Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's relationship 🥰 I love when this kind of thing happens in a book!! Definitely gonna read more Priest books soon!!
🪭 danmei
🌌 supernatural
💫 soulmates
🔎 detective/police
🦋 mysterious
Let me start off by saying that I started reading Guardian bc of one quote and honestly... I did not expect to adore ots characters as well as this danmei as much as I do 😭😭😭 I just LOVE the whole mystery around Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan regarding their connection 💞 I do not want to spoil too much but the way in which these two gravitate towards each other is EVERYTHING 💗 (especially knowing the fact they do have an actual past together) Although the book does have an actual plot, it seems to effortlessly be connected to both Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's relationship 🥰 I love when this kind of thing happens in a book!! Definitely gonna read more Priest books soon!!
May 5, 2024
*прочитала вся новелла целиком*
Финальная арка была скучная, хотя до этого все было отлично. Но вот эти флэшбеки и попытки докопаться до сути происходящего меня вообще не впечатлили, да еще и порядком запутали, поэтому поставила всей истории 4, а не 5. Новелла все таки держалась на ярких персонажах, а не на сюжете.
Финальная арка была скучная, хотя до этого все было отлично. Но вот эти флэшбеки и попытки докопаться до сути происходящего меня вообще не впечатлили, да еще и порядком запутали, поэтому поставила всей истории 4, а не 5. Новелла все таки держалась на ярких персонажах, а не на сюжете.
September 3, 2023
Guardian: Zhen Hun is urban fantasy set in an imaginary Dragon City in modern China, with references to party politics and complete with a nepo hire, when a nephew of a high-up party official is given a job at the Special Investigations Department, the supernatural division of the Ministry of Public Security.
Guo Changcheng is a recent college graduate and a shut-in who has no idea what he has been signed for. Learning that some of his coworkers aren’t human, or even alive, is a bit too much for him, but after the initial blackout, he promptly (timidly) sets out to work, only to spend most of the book fainting, screaming, and crying. But he has an empathic nature and isn’t quite as hopeless as his boss originally feared. And after encountering some really bad ghosts, his coworkers don’t seem so scary anymore either. The only one who frightens him is his perfectly human boss, Zhao Yunlan.
Zhao Yunlan is the Director of the Special Investigations and in charge of investigating supernatural crimes. He’s in his early thirties, a handsome and temperamental chain-smoker and a bit of a player. He’s also the Guardian to the Soul-Guarding Order, which allows him to freely move in all three realms (heaven, mortal realm and the netherworld) and hobnob with the people there, like the Soul-Executing Emissary feared by everyone but him.
The book consists of two stories. In the first, Guo Changcheng and Zhao Yunlan investigate a murder of a university student that’s supernatural in origin. At the university, they encounter Shen Wei, a handsome, mild-mannered young professor whom they end up pulling into their investigation, mostly because Zhao Yunlan is attracted to him at first sight. But the professor isn’t what he seems, as the readers are soon shown.
The second story takes place in the mountains after an earthquake. Wang Zheng, a ghost employee at the SID, is from that region and she wants to return to rebury her bones. By coincidence, Shen Wei is going there with his students too, and the two parties travel together. But things aren’t how Wang Zheng has let them believe, and Zhao Yunlan ends up needing the help of the Soul-Executing Emissary to get everyone home safely. And once there, it’s finally time for Zhao Yunlan to confront Shen Wei to find out who he truly is and if he’s as indifferent to Zhao Yunlan as he pretends to be.
This was an excellent book. The mysteries weren’t complicated but they were suitably scary. Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei were interesting characters, and even though there wasn’t as much interaction between them as I wanted, theirs is clearly a romance larger than life. Side characters were fun, especially Daqing, a talking black cat who is thousands of years old. There was a lot of information about Chinese mythology, but I would’ve wanted more about the everyday Chinese life too. The book ends at a natural point with a promise of interesting things to come. I will definitely read more.
Guo Changcheng is a recent college graduate and a shut-in who has no idea what he has been signed for. Learning that some of his coworkers aren’t human, or even alive, is a bit too much for him, but after the initial blackout, he promptly (timidly) sets out to work, only to spend most of the book fainting, screaming, and crying. But he has an empathic nature and isn’t quite as hopeless as his boss originally feared. And after encountering some really bad ghosts, his coworkers don’t seem so scary anymore either. The only one who frightens him is his perfectly human boss, Zhao Yunlan.
Zhao Yunlan is the Director of the Special Investigations and in charge of investigating supernatural crimes. He’s in his early thirties, a handsome and temperamental chain-smoker and a bit of a player. He’s also the Guardian to the Soul-Guarding Order, which allows him to freely move in all three realms (heaven, mortal realm and the netherworld) and hobnob with the people there, like the Soul-Executing Emissary feared by everyone but him.
The book consists of two stories. In the first, Guo Changcheng and Zhao Yunlan investigate a murder of a university student that’s supernatural in origin. At the university, they encounter Shen Wei, a handsome, mild-mannered young professor whom they end up pulling into their investigation, mostly because Zhao Yunlan is attracted to him at first sight. But the professor isn’t what he seems, as the readers are soon shown.
The second story takes place in the mountains after an earthquake. Wang Zheng, a ghost employee at the SID, is from that region and she wants to return to rebury her bones. By coincidence, Shen Wei is going there with his students too, and the two parties travel together. But things aren’t how Wang Zheng has let them believe, and Zhao Yunlan ends up needing the help of the Soul-Executing Emissary to get everyone home safely. And once there, it’s finally time for Zhao Yunlan to confront Shen Wei to find out who he truly is and if he’s as indifferent to Zhao Yunlan as he pretends to be.
This was an excellent book. The mysteries weren’t complicated but they were suitably scary. Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei were interesting characters, and even though there wasn’t as much interaction between them as I wanted, theirs is clearly a romance larger than life. Side characters were fun, especially Daqing, a talking black cat who is thousands of years old. There was a lot of information about Chinese mythology, but I would’ve wanted more about the everyday Chinese life too. The book ends at a natural point with a promise of interesting things to come. I will definitely read more.
October 5, 2024
This first book in Guardian was amazing, but beware, this isn't exactly a series, this is more like a book cut in three. There's no cliffhanger, the two cases that are told in this book are solved, but the "big plot" isn't solved, in fact we only scratch the surface in here. Anyway, I loved any minute of this. I wasn't expecting this to be horror, nor paranormal... well, I don't know what was expecting from this because I went into it blind, I decided to give it a try because I loved the cover, but I liked the characters and the story a lot. The narrative style is different from the other danmei I've read (not that I've read a lot), but I suppose being this contemporary is what make this a bit different, still, it has a distinctive style. I loved all the cultural references we got through the book. I'm not very familiar with Chinese culture and I loved to learn a lot of interesting things while reading, but what I loved most were the characters. Those are who are carring the story for me. I loved Daquin, the chubby black cat. He is so funny, he is a mix between my Frodo and my dear old Coco (I miss you my boy!), demanding but adorable. . I also liked Zhao Yunlan, he is cheeky, fun and a bit of a slob (that appartmet description had me itching to take a mop), and absolutely loved the mysterious Shen Wei
In this first book we met all the SID employees and we're faced with two paranormal cases which involves mysterious artifacts. I enjoyed the little clues the author leaves and I loved thinking about crazy theories. Not for solving the cases, I'm not familiar enough with Chinese folkclore so I can't even give an approximation of what's happening, I go with the flow in that, but I like to try to anticipate what's happening with the overreaching plot of the books. I think we might be faced with enemies among the ones we thought friends.
In this first book we met all the SID employees and we're faced with two paranormal cases which involves mysterious artifacts. I enjoyed the little clues the author leaves and I loved thinking about crazy theories. Not for solving the cases, I'm not familiar enough with Chinese folkclore so I can't even give an approximation of what's happening, I go with the flow in that, but I like to try to anticipate what's happening with the overreaching plot of the books. I think we might be faced with enemies among the ones we thought friends.
October 13, 2024
I wasn’t sure what to expect because I didn’t even read the blurb, my friends Rosa and Linda were going to BR the first book, I tried the sample and got hooked.
Unlike the only other book in this genre that I’ve read (GMDC, even though that one wasn't contemporary), it was easier to keep track of the characters names here, maybe because there weren’t as many.
I find difficult to review this first volume because it feels like reviewing the first few chapters of a book. Although there were two different arcs/cases that were solved, there are still a lot of open matters and so far the only thing I can say is that I’m definitely interested in the characters and learning the answers to the many questions raised so far. The few revelations in this volume were a mix of surprises and confirmation of my suspicions ().
The only thing I can add for now is that I like the cast of characters, the Special Investigations Department is an interesting workplace. 🤭
Unlike the only other book in this genre that I’ve read (GMDC, even though that one wasn't contemporary), it was easier to keep track of the characters names here, maybe because there weren’t as many.
I find difficult to review this first volume because it feels like reviewing the first few chapters of a book. Although there were two different arcs/cases that were solved, there are still a lot of open matters and so far the only thing I can say is that I’m definitely interested in the characters and learning the answers to the many questions raised so far. The few revelations in this volume were a mix of surprises and confirmation of my suspicions ().
The only thing I can add for now is that I like the cast of characters, the Special Investigations Department is an interesting workplace. 🤭
June 29, 2024
This novel is PACKED with a plot. I guarantee you difficulty in finding this boring.
I love how the book has a plot outside of just romance. These two you see in the cover are new to each other, yet you can see their relationship developing nicely. There's more to this, as we later find out, but I'll keep that away from this review for the sake of avoiding spoling this. But I can say one thing; these two are incredibly adorable. Be rest assured; no toxicity can be found within these two. (Yet)
There are many mysteries surrounding the characters and the world itself. There's a lot of mysteries we don't get the answer to, but they are interesting. I can't wait to read the next volume of this series and the many more to come. I'm sure many could say the same.
10/10, would most definitely do again.
I love how the book has a plot outside of just romance. These two you see in the cover are new to each other, yet you can see their relationship developing nicely. There's more to this, as we later find out, but I'll keep that away from this review for the sake of avoiding spoling this. But I can say one thing; these two are incredibly adorable. Be rest assured; no toxicity can be found within these two. (Yet)
There are many mysteries surrounding the characters and the world itself. There's a lot of mysteries we don't get the answer to, but they are interesting. I can't wait to read the next volume of this series and the many more to come. I'm sure many could say the same.
10/10, would most definitely do again.
September 8, 2023
Priest is so good at reveals. Even when I know, I’m still shocked
October 24, 2024
I started it at midnight and did not stop until I finished it
August 12, 2024
If you hear screeching in the distance, don't worry thats just me. This book had me g e e k i n g. There's so many questions i had and so far they're unraveling just how i wanted them to. I still have more but this book was addicting and i already know I'm binging these books this week so i can also watch the TV show. Im just soooo curious to see where this g o e s
March 15, 2024
RTC because this book did me in!!
January 12, 2024
i had so much fun reading this book, i went in with low expectations, not super low bc i love priest, but just wasn’t expecting to love the story. to be fair i never read the synopsis because i thought i already knew the premise but i completely did not. this novel being set in an urban fantasy type world makes it so interesting to read, and had i known that this was how the book was i would have read it way earlier.
this book is set up in a way where all the characters are important to the story, and it makes you wanna understand everyone. priest does a really good job writing characters and this novel is no different. and the skill in writing characters doesnt diminish from the plot, we are still following fun and interesting cases.
if you like police/investigation novels i definitely recommend reading this. so far this is similar to a toned down version of priests novel mo du, which is one of my favorite danmeis.
that being said there was issues with the translation (obviously since its published by s7) but im not gonna fault the book for that as i still enjoyed it a lot. i do have a feeling that if it was translated better the jokes would have come across better but even then i still was laughing quite a bit at the book.
overall im excited to continue the novel!
this book is set up in a way where all the characters are important to the story, and it makes you wanna understand everyone. priest does a really good job writing characters and this novel is no different. and the skill in writing characters doesnt diminish from the plot, we are still following fun and interesting cases.
if you like police/investigation novels i definitely recommend reading this. so far this is similar to a toned down version of priests novel mo du, which is one of my favorite danmeis.
that being said there was issues with the translation (obviously since its published by s7) but im not gonna fault the book for that as i still enjoyed it a lot. i do have a feeling that if it was translated better the jokes would have come across better but even then i still was laughing quite a bit at the book.
overall im excited to continue the novel!
Want to read
June 30, 2023The cover 😫👏🏻 I remember reading this ages ago but I never got to finish it (I also watched the series adaptation but didn't finish that as well even though I remember enjoying it lmao I was just so easily distracted).
Anyway, I think this is a sign for me to finish reading this series this time, especially given how this was my first foray into Priest's works.
Anyway, I think this is a sign for me to finish reading this series this time, especially given how this was my first foray into Priest's works.
July 9, 2024
I was not expecting supernatural detective noir when I picked this book from my shelves on a whim. The breadth of themes here is insane; urban fantasy mixed with whodunit elements, supernatural elements rooted in Chinese mythology and folklore and compelling characters who are rarely human.
At the end of the day, this is still danmei so on top of all that excitement, we are given the most intriguing romance subplot overflowing with pining and tension between the loud and sassy Zhao Yunlan and the prim and proper Shen Wei.
At the end of the day, this is still danmei so on top of all that excitement, we are given the most intriguing romance subplot overflowing with pining and tension between the loud and sassy Zhao Yunlan and the prim and proper Shen Wei.
April 21, 2024
Shen Wei the actual loml. <3
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