Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (2021), by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, is a Chinese fantasy novel series centering on cultivators, magic users who develop supernatural powers through training and meditation.

The protagonist, Wei Wuxian, earned the cultivation world’s fear and hatred when he began to use his powers to harness demonic energy. Thirteen years after his widely celebrated death, he is summoned back to life in the body of a young man who sacrifices his own soul in hopes that Wei Wuxian will take revenge on his abusive family for him.

The newly resurrected Wei Wuxian soon finds himself under attack once again by his old enemies. But this time he has an ally: Lan Wangji, a well-respected cultivator who has spent the last thirteen years blaming himself for not standing up to the mob that condemned Wei Wuxian. Together, the two men work to unravel a conspiracy and clear Wei Wuxian’s name, all while dealing with their growing romantic feelings for each other.

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation was originally released in China as a serialized web novel. Due to its length, the English translation is being published in five volumes, the first of which came out in December 2021.

This series has a satisfyingly complex plot full of twists and turns, and makes heavy use of flashbacks to slowly reveal the truth of Wei Wuxian’s past to the reader. The developing romance between the outwardly stoic but deeply-in-love Lan Wangji and the cheerfully oblivious Wei Wuxian is also a delight. If you enjoy epic fantasy with a strong romantic element, give this a try! Also check out the TV adaptation, The Untamed, which is available to watch on multiple streaming platforms including Netflix and Amazon Prime (if you don’t have a subscription, you can now access Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more by checking out one of the library’s Rokus.)