Tian Guan Cifu
Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu

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Spoiler free review (besides mentioning arcs if that counts for you)
Preface: Before I start, I read this book in my first year of having chronic pain and it really helped me with the hardest months. So it’s going to be a fairly rose tinted review.

Story:
It’s a character focused story, which I do have a liking for. But even I could see in retrospect, worldbuilding was lacking. I funnily liked the lack of any character development (maybe if you count the flashback arcs). Because it reads like you’re being put at the end of their whole life journeys even though they’re immortals. Romance takes a BIG ... center place over a lot and I’m not that ashamed to admit that I liked it. I’ve seen too many sad, short lived and out of focuse gay romance. It’s a enormous book, luckily I like big books but that has a lot of drawbacks for this particular story. Because there where many chances to make place for more established worldbuilding, unresolved character journeys. Looking at YOU black water arc! We were this close to perfection but no, we just got a impactful scene and none of the characters got a single moment to even reflect or process? Still one of the best arcs which stands out because the side characters and their journeys are a great selling point for this novel.

But you may ask me if have so many gripes with the story; why give it such a high score? Mainly because I like spending time with idealized depictions of romance and men in love with each other. The setting in ancient fantasy China. Their fluff and domestic moments are just so sweet and over top weird in an endearing way. I just couldn’t stop giggling. So hence the big score

Characters:
I touched upon this one in the story part. XL and HC are not the best main characters, let’s be honest. XL is, sometimes, a bumbling buffoon who is ‘written’ as sharp, badly executed. I still kind of related with him, especially during book 2 & 4. Having that talented good (and privileged) start in life and beautiful ideals, only to fall miserably and try and fail a lot to get on the good path again and be a more humble person. And HC is annoying to everyone except XL for some reason, you can be neutral and have friends at least it. That doesn’t help him with seeming obsessed in a weird way, when you read it outside of context. But in my view the story makes it so it’s mostly justified. XL and HC are kind of overpowered, which is fine, but please have them struggle or have some flaws that get really in the way. Not just ‘haha I’m so bad at cooking look at me!’.

However, I love the insights in the second, 4th book and side stories we get. They have enough dept for a blooming romance and being cute together. But for a novel like this drags it down in the other departments of MXTX’s storytelling here. The side characters are better written and fleshed out. Which is great! But when romance time is upon us, they get booted out. Shout out to Ling Wen and the Wind master. Just exceptional, we got some depth over here. Which XL and HC really need. Especially HC, I love the dude and his romantic gestures and quips. But… who are you and what do you contribute to the story besides being handsome and knowing really specific things when XL gets send on a mission. Would have loved some POV or even the man explaining himself some more.

Overall:

Despite many gripes, I loved the shit out of it and devoured it as if I haven’t eaten something all day. The characters should’ve gotten more fleshed out. I did love the romance so much! I enjoy big books so that’s always a win for me despite the flaws it can contribute to overall narrative. I like spending time with my cast of characters. That’s my justification. I’m making my way sort of backwards and am currently in book 3 of scum villain and I’ll read MDZS after. I can already see that her other work(s) have a more balanced narrative. Still TGCF will hold a special place in my heart for being some goofy fluff with some angst and helping me through my chronic pain and severe mental health issues I had back when I read it. I’d recommend this book to people who value a cute romance with cast of well written side characters. And for people who won’t take worldbuilding and background(stories) at a high level. Thumbs up from the hopeless romantic here!