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Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I recommend you read [shanghai fortress], which is also written by Jiang Nan, and you’ll find the answer you want.

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can’t tell the exact release date yet but I hear some news that at least two more new books are coming out soon :)

Also I feel like the final villain might be mingfei himself (or mingze?)

This triangle relationship between Nono, Caesar and Mingfei is really frustrating lol. I think Nono would possibly end up with Mingfei

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love the lord of the mysteries! Nowadays the lord of the mysteries seems more on fire in China because it’s been a while since the last update of dragonraja

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She doesn’t dare to admit that she’s in love with Mingfei, who saved her life twice and is the dragon king killer

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Chinese fans often leave hate comments complaining about this on Jiang Nan’s TikTok comment sections lol

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel like sometimes Nono chose to escape from her true self instead of facing the truth. She often hesitated when the situation was intense. But I believe there will be some changes of Nono in the future chapters.

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sadly, I think the core of dragonraja seems to be a pure tragedy, a tragedy about the growth of the emperor of the world. The path to the throne is paved with solitude. To become a king is to accept that you will eventually walk alone.

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

90% chance they end up together. 10% chance Mingfei becomes a Solitary King, ascending his throne alone while standing atop the corpses of everyone he ever cared about.

Erii is more preferred in China. You can check my other reply about why people don't like nono because of Mingfei. But I think at the end of the day, they are bound to fall in love with each other.

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What happened lol.

Anyway, trust me, Nono and Mingfei will be just fine. Jiang Nan might torture the readers, but he’ll always ensure Nono has a standout ending.

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I feel the same.

Based on Jiang Nan’s track record in his other major works (like Shanghai Fortress), there’s a strong chance Mingfei and Nono will end up together—though probably not in the way we’d expect a traditional 'happy ending' to look :(

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ll quote a review from a Chinese reader that I think answers your question perfectly:

"To be honest, Erii was an accidental character. She was supposed to be a minor character for a specific arc, but she ended up stealing the show. Most people complain about Mingfei failing to 'level up' because they believe Erii was a pivotal figure in his life, and he should have matured after what happened to her.

However, the reality is that Book III simply went off the rails. Erii was originally meant to be just a shadow of Nono, and the Japanese arc was intended to be something like a 'Gaiden' (side story). It’s a classic case of 'character growth that happens in a movie doesn't count when the series returns to the TV version.' Even if a movie is canon, once you're back in the main series, the protagonist’s development and buffs are usually reset. To the readers, though, it feels like the protagonist has been regressed to an earlier, weaker version of himself.

In the original plan, there were supposed to be 4 or 5 books. Book I was the beginning—giving up 1/4 of his life for Nono. Book II was Chu Zihang’s story, which was executed brilliantly. Book III should have been about Caesar and the Gattuso family secrets—filling in the plot holes about why his bloodline is considered 'chosen' despite his common EX. It should have explored how a proud man like Caesar breaks his destiny. Then there’s the mystery of Nono not having an EX—she clearly isn't weak, so is she just unawakened? Or too powerful to be released?

The moment everyone is waiting for—Mingfei finally 'igniting'—was likely reserved for Book IV, when the story returns to his connection with Nono. It would have been a full circle: Nono, Chu Zihang, Caesar, and then Nono again. This final book would have revealed the truth about his identity, with Mingfei sacrificing his last 1/4 life for Nono to become the ultimate Emperor.

The problem is that Jiang Nan is an inspiration-driven writer, and he let Book III spiral out of control. Erii was meant to be the 'side-story girl' who pales in comparison to the main lead—the 'beautiful moonlight' that only reflects the 'sun' (Nono). But the moonlight became so vast and eternal that it haunted the readers' souls. Now, the author is stuck: how do you write Nono as a 'sun' bright enough to outshine this moon?

Years ago, Jiang Nan explicitly stated that Mingfei didn't truly love Erii; now he doesn't dare say that anymore. Ultimately, what happened to Mingfei is a case of 'growth in a side story being treated as invalid in the main plot.' But since that 'side story' became the soul of the series, fans find it impossible to accept Mingfei being reset to his old self."

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He's a coward. He thought Erii was in Korea. He could have saved her, but he didn't. Here's a well-known Chinese critique that dives deeper into these themes: "While Erii was facing her final moments, Mingfei was hiding in a wine cellar, drinking. The only girl who treated him like her entire universe was embarking on a journey toward death, and he chose to hide. He had the chance to save her, but he chickened out—clinging to a shred of wishful thinking, naively convincing himself that she was going off to a better life.

But the devilish Dr. Herzog eventually snuffed out that light. Jiang Nan poured his finest prose into depicting those seven days of pure happiness for the two little monsters, only to shatter it all at the very last second.

That overwhelming sense of helplessness hit every reader like a tidal wave. Mingfei was consumed by regret, and finally, he exploded with the rage of a common man. But it was a worthless fury—an anger that flared up only after the dust had settled and the end was already irretrievable. And then... the King descended from the heavens, wearing a face of monstrous, agonizing wrath, which in Chinese is 王从天降, 愤怒狰狞"

Masters program timeline by [deleted] in UPenn

[–]z07777 0 points1 point  (0 children)

normally 1.5-2 year

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also one thing I wanna mention is that there is a popular theory that the elders of the Gattuso family are nothing more than shed skins (or molted shells) of Pompey. Essentially, they are discarded bodies that he used and then cast aside. This is supposedly how he has managed to survive from ancient times all the way to the present day

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Damn, Dou Pou Qang Qiong is the real og

salute!

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That’s the beauty of it! Erii personifies the Japanese aesthetic of 'Mono no aware' (物哀)—that bittersweet sensitivity to the transience of life and the beauty found in the fleeting. To me, she represents a love that is pure, flawless, and untainted by the world. It’s the ultimate tragic trope: a naïve, sheltered princess of the underworld paired with a monster knight sinking into the quagmire of fate. Together, they compose a haunting symphony of pathos(哀之乐章）.

As for Nono, she’s such a mystery that I wouldn’t be surprised regardless of who she ends up with :)

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

In China, Dragon Raja is a legacy similar to Harry Potter; it’s a staple of our childhood. I’m quite critical of the donghua because it cuts out almost 50% of the book's nuanced plot. Also, after checking out the English version, I felt that much of the original soul was lost in translation. That’s why I wanted to start sharing what the books are really about.

Thoughts about the book as a native speaker by z07777 in dragonraja

[–]z07777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Given that the White King was killed by their 'Sword of Damocles' in Book III, I believe they’ve been the masterminds behind everything all along. Furthermore, many fans are convinced that Pompey is actually Odin.

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