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Quick answer: If you loved Mo Dao Zu Shi, also known as The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, read Heaven Official's Blessing, Scum Villain's Self-Saving System and The Husky and His White Cat Shizun, then try Iron Widow, The Poppy War and Daughter of the Moon Goddess. All blend martial fantasy, strong bonds and Chinese mythology.
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's novel follows Wei Wuxian, a brilliant but reviled cultivator who returns from death in another body and teams with the disciplined Lan Wangji. It is a danmei story of cultivation, mystery and devotion. The books below share its martial worlds, romance and bold characters. Most are fantasy for older teens and adults, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation | Mo Xiang Tong Xiu | Adult | the original |
| Heaven Official's Blessing | Mo Xiang Tong Xiu | Adult | more by the author |
| Scum Villain's Self-Saving System | Mo Xiang Tong Xiu | Adult | comedy and cultivation |
| The Husky and His White Cat Shizun | Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou | Adult | romantic reincarnation |
| Guardian | Priest | Adult | supernatural cases |
| A Hero Born | Jin Yong | Adult | classic wuxia |
| Iron Widow | Xiran Jay Zhao | Teen and adult | fierce heroines |
| The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang | Adult | military fantasy |
| Daughter of the Moon Goddess | Sue Lynn Tan | Teen and adult | mythic romance |
| Spin the Dawn | Elizabeth Lim | Teen | craft magic |
| The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea | Axie Oh | Teen | Korean folklore |
| The Jasmine Throne | Tasha Suri | Adult | political fantasy |
| The Dragon Republic | R.F. Kuang | Adult | continuing Kuang |
| Black Water Sister | Zen Cho | Adult | ghost comedy |
| The Wrath and the Dawn | Renée Ahdieh | Teen | romantic retellings |
1. Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
The English translation of the novel, with its full cast, mysteries and a love story. If you have only seen the show, read it for the extra detail.
Best for: the original.
2. Heaven Official's Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
A fallen god meets a mysterious ghost king in a world of heavens and hells. By the same author, romantic and adventurous.
Best for: more by the author.
3. Scum Villain's Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
A modern reader is transported into a web novel as a villain and tries to avoid his fate. Funny, inventive and also by the same author.
Best for: comedy and cultivation.
4. The Husky and His White Cat Shizun by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
A reborn cultivator discovers his teacher is not what he seems. Humor, pain and a romance across lifetimes.
Best for: romantic reincarnation.
5. Guardian by Priest
A modern-day detective and a mysterious officer investigate supernatural cases. A danmei mystery with a Chinese setting.
Best for: supernatural cases.
6. A Hero Born by Jin Yong
The first volume of Legend of the Condor Heroes, a classic wuxia epic. Fast and rich in martial arts.
Best for: classic wuxia.
7. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
A girl enters a giant-robot war and fights the system. Fierce and feminist, with a Chinese setting.
Best for: fierce heroines.
8. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
A war orphan enters a military academy and unleashes dangerous power. Dark and ambitious.
Best for: military fantasy.
9. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
A girl raised on the moon seeks to free her mother and trains in the Celestial Kingdom. Lyrical and romantic.
Best for: mythic romance.
10. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
A girl disguises herself as a boy to compete as the emperor's tailor. Magic, sewing and a quest.
Best for: craft magic.
11. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
A girl throws herself into the sea to appease a god and finds a hidden world. Inspired by Korean myth.
Best for: Korean folklore.
12. The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
A princess in exile and a maid with secrets join forces. Rich and political, inspired by India.
Best for: political fantasy.
13. The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
The second Poppy War book follows the rise of a new republic. Dark and tense.
Best for: continuing Kuang.
14. Black Water Sister by Zen Cho
A woman in Malaysia is haunted by her grandmother's ghost. Funny, strange and rooted in local belief.
Best for: ghost comedy.
15. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
A girl volunteers to marry a murderous king to avenge her friend. A romantic retelling of One Thousand and One Nights.
Best for: romantic retellings.
How to Choose
For more Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, read Heaven Official's Blessing or Scum Villain's Self-Saving System. For classic wuxia, A Hero Born. For strong heroines, Iron Widow and Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Many danmei novels are long, so check how many volumes each translation has.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mo Dao Zu Shi about?
Wei Wuxian, a demonic cultivator, dies and is reborn years later, working with Lan Wangji to uncover the truth about his death.
What is danmei?
Danmei is a Chinese genre of fiction about romance between men, often with fantasy or historical settings.
What is The Untamed?
It is the Chinese TV drama based on the novel, a major reason for its Western popularity.
What is cultivation?
In xianxia and wuxia stories, cultivators train their bodies and spirits to gain power.
Is there an English translation?
Yes. Seven Seas has published a full English edition.
Where can I read more danmei?
Look for English editions from publishers such as Seven Seas and for translations on fan sites that follow official releases.
Is it for teens?
It contains violence and adult themes, so it suits older teens and adults.