r/QiangJinJiu

Hello! I'm new to danmei (like, really REALLY new) but not new to sprawling complicated political dramas. ASOIAF is my all-time favorite book series and my longest-lasting interest, so naturally, QJJ seems right up my valley!

However, I have a few triggers. While I don't mind noncon/dubcon happening to the characters, I really really don't like it when it's happening between the main couple. Even CNC stuff or forced kissing is too much for me. I also don't like big age gaps where one knew the other as a child/mentored them/raised them. I say this with no judgement towards people who do, those are all just my triggers and make me uncomfortable. Otherwise I am fine with everything, including extreme violence and gore. I also don't mind if the main couple is physically hurting each other.

I could not for the life of me find a trigger list for this book, so I am asking here! Thank you in advance!

I've heard mixed things regarding whether I'd enjoy this series as someone who primarily reads stories for their romance. I don't mind other plotlines as long as the main relationship plays a big enough role.

For example, I enjoyed MDZS but not Sha Po Lang becuase the main couple was apart too often and not interacting enough for my taste.

Hey y'all, I'm relatively new to the danmei scene - began reading last August. As a lover of period pieces and politics, QJJ was extremely high on my list (one of my three "finalists") after finishing my first set of novels and two donghua but I pumped the brakes due to the rigidity of my schedule at the time. The volume count felt a bit daunting, all things considered.

But last year is not this year and I intend to begin QJJ in the fall. When I say as much to the handful of people within my irl danmei circle, I can all but feel their shudders.

"It's really dense/made my brain hurt/I couldn't finish it!"

"Too political."

"No, no, we know court intrigue and political intrigue are right up your alley but we're not lying! QJJ is really -"

"But the donkey..." (If this is the only thing I get spoiled on, I can live with it)

And my personal favorite, "Think of it as Game of Thrones on steroids. Now, isn't that off-putting?" (Meanwhile, all I'm thinking the only way that such a comparison could ever be 'off-putting' is if the entire series reads like GOT S8).

I say all that to say I really hope it IS very complicated!! I've never been one averse to thinking hard about the media I engage with; not only is theorizing and hypothesizing fun — it's to be expected.

But people are out here behaving like t97 dabbled in rocket science. Density isn't a problem. I don't mind simplicity every now and then but are there a lot of characters, locations, courtesy names, sobriquets, etc. to remember that're also a driving factor in the wails I'm hearing?