a whole book centered around xie lian's backstory? say less. minor spoilers ahead since this is the second book!

i won't say much about this book, but i will say that it's hard to see a comfort character go through a shit load of intense pressure and watch them make difficult choices that you aren't sure if they're right or wrong. but i was happy to see the "what should i live for in this world?" "live for me." scene play out because that was probably the happiest point in the book for me. everything else was just suffering.

it was also really gratifying to see the little cookie crumbs tossed out throughout this story: the umbrella, the white flower that connects to hua cheng's name, the start of painting, xie lian tying a lock of hair around hua cheng's finger (connects to hua cheng tying the red string of fate around his own finger later ALSO it's a traditional wedding ritual symbolizing "til death do us part"??? im gonna lose my shit), etc.. it added a little spark to my eyes as i read along, constantly eating up all these little, meaningful details.

but i also have to talk about the cave scene because what the fuck was that. i was hysterical throughout that entire scene because it was just so bizarre to me. but i will say this: when that flower demon specifically targeted little hua cheng, saying "oh i bet your favorite type looks like this" and little hua cheng seemed to have stopped breathing, i know that shit must've looked like xie lian.

last thing i wanted to mention was the author's note.

We've finally reached this point...in a broken and defeated temple with a soon-to-be forgotten god and a young devout follower was the first image that floated in my mind for this novel, and was also what first gave me the impulse to write it. I'm the kind that would write up an entire book just for a scene...all this plot-planning exhausted me..."

i love this detail because i always find it so admirable and interesting what spurs authors to write and write and write. this author's note also made me laugh because that plot-planning would've exhausted me too; i don't know how this author does it. and with that, i'm off to book three!