Name: jana's review of Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
Item: Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 1
Rating: 5
Author: jana

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Born the crown prince of a prosperous kingdom, Xie Lian was renowned for his beauty, strength, and purity. His years of dedicated study and noble deeds allowed him to ascend to godhood. But those who rise may also fall, and fall he does--cast from the heavens and banished to the world below. Eight hundred years after his mortal life, Xie Lian has ascended to godhood for the third time, angering most of the gods in the process. To repay his debts, he is sent to the Mortal Realm to hunt down violent ghosts and troublemaking spirits who prey on the living. Along his travels, he meets the fascinating and brilliant San Lang, a young man with whom he feels an instant connection. Yet San Lang is clearly more than he appears... What mysteries lie behind that carefree smile?

Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 1

The blockbuster danmei/Boys' Love novels from China that inspired the animated series! This epic historical fantasy about a prince and the mysterious man by his side is now in English, for the very first time! Born the crown prince of a prosperous kingdom, Xie Lian was renowned for his beauty, strength, and purity. His years of dedication and noble deeds allowed him to ascend to godhood. But those who rise, can also fall...and fall he does, cast from the Heavens again and again and banished to the mortal realm. Eight hundred years after his mortal life, Xie Lian has ascended to godhood for the third time. Now only a lowly scrap collector, he is dispatched to wander the earthly realm to take on tasks appointed by the heavens to pay back debts and maintain his divinity. Aided by old friends and foes alike, and graced with the company of a mysterious young man with whom he feels an instant connection, Xie Lian must confront the horrors of his past in order to dispel the curse of his present. This xianxia fantasy tale built around the romanticized love between two men (danmei) has spawned an ongoing multimedia franchise that's beloved across the world. The Seven Seas English-language edition will include covers from 日出的小太陽 (tai3_3), and exclusive, all-new interior illustrations from ZeldaCW.

Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan CI Fu (Novel) Vol. 1

小燕

After a while, San Lang said quietly, “Something like saving the common people, it really doesn’t matter how you do it. But, although brave, it’s foolish.”

Hua Cheng continued, “Although foolish, it’s brave.”

Moira

"Let's just focus on the task at hand and stop sweating the small stuff."

Alas, it couldn't be helped, so whatever. He gave up, and became less depressed.

Fu Yao smiled without mirth. "This young master sure knows a lot."

San Lang smiled back. "Its nothing. You just don't know very much, that's all."

Fu Yao side-eyed San Lang, who was standing aside. "You two are sleeping next to each other?"

"Is there a problem?" Xie Lian asked pointedly.

Alas, the two couldn't squeeze out anything more to say, so no more problems.

Xie Lian felt a little depressed. He wasn't even that old, so how did he end up becoming the senior among the heavenly officials, who couldn't keep up with the trending topics of the youngsters? 

The cart was driving through a forest of flaming red maples, where maple leaves danced their way to the ground. A leaf playfully landed on the shoulder of the youth, and he blew it off softly, then looked up at Xie Lian, speaking with a shadow of a smile. "What do you want to know? Ask away."

If no one worships me, I'll worship myself!

Humans became gods when they ascend, ghosts when they fall.

Mu Qing responded coolly, "Your Highness walked the Mortal Realm for hundreds of years and yet you are still so ill-informed. I'm really curious to know what you've been doing all this time." 

Eating, sleeping, busking, collecting junk, duh?

"Gege, I can't believe you're a man with superpowers!"

Ling Wen: "I'll go start another topic of conversation, you'd best take the chance to leave."

Xie Lian: "Nah, it's okay. It's fine as long as we pretend nothing's happened. ... It's not that bad!"

The state preceptors were so distraught, they were losing hair as fast as the rain fell.

San Lang, having all the answers, replied...

Everything about this situation was eerie to the extreme, but that youth held him in one hand and the umbrella in the other as he walked leisurely on, appearing for no reason to be bewitchingly romantic and deeply affectionate.

For someone like Xie Lian, everything besides death really was okay; he didn't have a lot, and certainly not shame.

An auspicious start. The first answer was already incorrect.

After a while, he'd randomly join in the conversation:

"I read this pleasant verse in passing and thought I'd share with everyone."

"Here's an effective little cure for back and leg pains; thought I'd share with everyone."

Unfortunately, every time he'd share these mindfully selected, physically and mentally beneficial tips, the communication array would go silent.

Finally, Ling Wen couldn't take it anymore and told him privately: "Your Highness, what you're sharing in the communication array is nice, but even those who are hundreds of years older than you wouldn't share those kinds of things."

Seeing the youth up close, Xie Lian thought he was too handsome for words. But his beauty was like a deadly sword, sharp and mesmerizing, making it hard to stare head-on. Xie Lian only met his gaze for a moment, then lowered his eyes in defeat.

The man who had come grasped his hand but didn't squeeze too hard, as if he was afraid of hurting him, somehow, giving the impression of taking the utmost care.

"Does being contradictory give you the satisfaction of feeling unique and independent?"

San Lang clapped a couple of times in polite appreciation. "Amazing! Absolutely magical." It was truly the most insincere compliment.

He carried his bamboo hat on his back and stepped out the door - oh yeah, there was no door either.

"Fu Yao, you're not speaking as an immortal should. And can you fix that eye-rolling habit of yours? Why don't you set a small target for yourself first and roll only five times a day or something like that?"

Nan Feng snorted. "Set it at fifty times a day and it still won't be enough!" 

jana

I loved this. Xie Lian very much is a loveable if not goofy sort of character. He feels like someone who's optimism is born of sorrow. It was an easy read and I love every interaction with San Lang.

Alex Landau

My first book in this genre, loved it!! I really like the story and can’t wait to see how it progresses!! (≧∀≦)

Hoshi Lee

Sarah

Their chemistry was so subtle In the manga and the series so came to books for more🫡 it was the same as the series so it was nothing new for me but excited to read the rest of the books.

akynn 

The blockbuster danmei/Boys' Love novels from China that inspired the animated series! This epic historical fantasy about a prince and the mysterious man by his side is now in English, for the very first time. Born the crown prince of a prosperous kingdom, Xie Lian was renowned for his beauty, strength, and purity. His years of dedication and noble deeds allowed him to ascend to godhood. But those who rise, can also fall...and fall he does, cast from the Heavens again and again and banished to the mortal realm. Eight hundred years after his mortal life, Xie Lian has ascended to godhood for the third time. Now only a lowly scrap collector, he is dispatched to wander the earthly realm to take on tasks appointed by the heavens to pay back debts and maintain his divinity. Aided by old friends and foes alike, and graced with the company of a mysterious young man with whom he feels an instant connection, Xie Lian must confront the horrors of his past in order to dispel the curse of his present. This Chinese xianxia fantasy novel series built around the romanticized love between two men (danmei) is the newest work from author Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, and has spawned an ongoing multimedia franchise that's beloved across the world--including the animated series (donghua) that amassed 100+ million views in just its first month. The Seven Seas English-language edition will include covers from 日出的小太陽 (tai3_3), and exclusive, all-new interior illustrations from ZeldaCW.

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

Julia Moran 

Aislinn G.

i get the hype now........ this is truly life changing....

one of the biggest things that shocked me about this book was i thought xie lian would be a grumpy black cat type of character based on the cover and the fact that he's been banished but no..... he's just a silly little sweetheart... my darling dearest lovely loser (affectionate) baby girl... who also just so happens to be an extremely strong centuries old martial god :D

also i've been spoiled multiple times about this about things that won't happen until much much later in the novels kasi bobo akong naghanap ng fan art, tumambay sa tags, at nag-fic surfing na rin sa ao3

[four sisters and a wedding voice] oh my goodness... ungkatan ng past... (beefleaf ver. (tbh ling wen ver. rin near the end))

LISTEN i already knew some spoilers before i even started this fucking volume (he xuan is disguised as ming yi and shi qingxuan becoming mortal again and shi wudu dying etc etc) kasi gago akong tambay sa tgcf tags as if hindi sobrang lala ng spoilers dun but did it prepare me for this fucking volume????? HINDI POTANGINA ANG SAKET NIYA PARIN

tbh knowing the spoilers made things WORSE bc it felt like i was watching some tragic greek myth retelling knowing both knowing the tragic past and the fated doom of these characters (ESPECIALLY he xuan's and shi qingxuan's) BUT i will say.... now that i'm more Enlightened on beefleaf's characteristics... i can see the hype bc the angst of it all is so good they are so so tragic and are Very interesting as a result

tgcf chapter 65 (derogatory) especially !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! chapter 65 was SO!!!!!!! fuck that!!!!!! was wailing throughout the whole thing and had to stop and put the book down for a while once i finished it bc it HURT TOO MUCH SQX MY LOVE :((( as beefleaf's bitch AND a three tumors apologist, reading chapter 65 was just

ཐིཋྀ

i love nothing more than someone who is so devoted to someone & worshipping them for over 800 years

they’re so silly n dumb i love themmmmmmmmm

I loved every bit of this. The humor, fighting, pining—all of it was so well written, it was easy for me to get sucked in as I read. I can’t wait to continue their story in volume two! 

Floofyflower

kyra

Beautiful book. In my hands. With the beautiful art. Sign me up, take all my money. 
(actual review at the original edition)

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH HUHU although it was confusing trying to memorize thwir names considering sm characters has two of them and even got them in chinese but BAE THE STORY WAS FUCKING GOOD

Caryl A

book 4: 😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠
book cover of book 4: 😍😍😍😍

Absolutely adore heaven officials blessing, only four stars because the banyue arc took me months to get through lmao

Alice

dija

This one starts a bit slower than her other works. It's what I call a 'set the scene' sort of book. And it is not setup for the sake of filling pages with words, it's actually warranted. Xie Lian is easily the most complex of MXTX's main characters. Imagine if Xiao Xingchen had a much more fleshed out backstory with a lot more character development where he isn't allowed to remain naïve, but also doesn't lose that thing that makes him a fundamentally 'moral' character. Hua Cheng is even more of a mystery and not the kind of person that we would expect to hang around a Heavenly Official.

This installment is mostly world building and following the kind of work Xie Lian does, why he's an ascended god with so little power and by the end of the novel you are left with a sneaking suspicion about how righteous heaven actually is. If that is your kind of things, stick with it. Where Scum Saving focused on the demon realm a lot, this will be an introduction the world of hungry ghosts. And they are FUN. If this is your sort of thing, things pick up in novel 2 quite quickly and you won't be disappointed.

Claire

This one starts a bit slower than her other works. It's what I call a 'set the scene' sort of book. And it is not setup for the sake of filling pages with words, it's actually warranted. Xie Lian is easily the most complex of MXTX's main characters. Imagine if Xiao Xingchen had a much more fleshed out backstory with a lot more character development where he isn't allowed to remain naïve, but also doesn't lose that thing that makes him a fundamentally 'moral' character. Hua Cheng is even more of a mystery and not the kind of person that we would expect to hang around a Heavenly Official.

This installment is mostly world building and following the kind of work Xie Lian does, why he's an ascended god with so little power and by the end of the novel you are left with a sneaking suspicion about how righteous heaven actually is. If that is your kind of things, stick with it. Where Scum Saving focused on the demon realm a lot, this will be an introduction the world of hungry ghosts. And they are FUN. If this is your sort of thing, things pick up in novel 2 quite quickly and you won't be disappointed.

ℰ.

I can see why many say that mxtx "corrected" the mistakes she made in mo dao zu shi, but I don't necessarily agree. This book is much lighter and with a less subjective narrative. you can clearly see who can be considered good or virtuous and who cannot. everything is simpler, including the main couple.. but I don't say that as a demerit! I loved the book and the characters.I think this just proves that mxtx is an excellent writer and manages to please different groups with her work

sophie <3

DONT ASK ME WHY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO FINISH BUT THIS STARTED AN OBSESSION I WASNT PREPARED FOR

Sabrina Skou 

From watching the Donghua to adoring the Manhua (litterally the most beautiful art) and now FINALLY beginning the novel: I love this story so much

the amount of moments in this volume that absolutely eviscerated me upon a reread…..

Francesca

Mi piace molto l'ambientazione della storia e mi sono già affezionata a diversi personaggi, non vedo l'ora di scoprire come continua.
Il dialogo finale tra i protagonisti mi ha decisamente colpita e incuriosita.

Pamela Alvarado

4.5 JUST because it was so fucking long. But this novel is also so beautiful and I can't be TOO mad about the word count since the ending made up for all the time spent reading it!

jana &
Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

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Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu