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Little Mushroom
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Web Novel (CN)
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Rating(4.8 / 5.0, 1321 votes)
5    87% (1145 votes)
4    9% (121 votes)
3    2% (28 votes)
2    0% (6 votes)
1    2% (21 votes)
Language
Support Book (#ad)
Author(s)
One entry per line
Artist(s)
One entry per line
N/A
Year
Example: 2012
2019
Status in COO
Status in Country of Origin. One entry per line
84 Chapters + 5 Extra (Completed)
49 chapters (published edition)
Licensed
Yes
Completely Translated
No
Original Publisher
One entry per line
English Publisher
One entry per line
Release Frequency
Every 1548 Day(s)
Activity Stats
[Graph]
Weekly Rank: #294
Monthly Rank: #202
All Time Rank: #803
Reading List
[Graph]
On 12102 Reading Lists
Monthly Rank: #3684
All Time Rank: #177

Description

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“Until the day humanity falls.”

In the year 2020, Earth’s magnetic poles disappeared and humankind was nearly wiped out by cosmic radiation. Within the span of a hundred years, living creatures began to mutate and devour each other while the remaining humans, numbering in the tens of thousands, struggled bitterly in their man-made bases.

In the Abyss, home to the mutated xenogenics, there lived a sentient little mushroom. Because it had been nourished by the blood and flesh of the deceased human An Ze, not only did it take on a similar-looking human form, but a similar name as well: An Zhe.

An Zhe is determined to go to the human base to search for his spore, which had been harvested by humans. Once there, however, he faces the omnipresent risk of discovery and certain death as he tries to keep his non-human nature hidden from the Judges, whose responsibility is to inspect for and eliminate xenogenics like himself. And of all the Judges, Colonel Lu Feng is the most perceptive and merciless—as soon as he determines that someone is a xenogenic, he will execute that person on the spot.

But An Zhe’s mutation goes undetected by Lu Feng’s eyes, and so a tale of humans and xenogenics unfolds…

Silver Award winner at the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards for Chinese Science Fiction.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Cây nấm nhỏ
Xiao Mogu
เจ้าเห็ดน้อย
小蘑菇
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Saving Unpermitted (12)
How to Feed an Abyss! (10)
Thrive in Catastrophe (8)
I’m Not Shouldering This Blame (7)
Laws of the Other World (7)
Mist (5)
Recommendation Lists
  1. all novels i've read
  2. Autumn's Read BLs
  3. Only banger books!!
  4. Chef's Kiss
  5. Might read

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299 Reviews sorted by


stardustmist
stardustmist rated it
September 1, 2020
Status: c89
The synopsis is so cute, and it made me want to read the novel until I read the translator's note. Please don't go reading this if you want some fluffy, romantic novel. There are some fluff scattered, but the whole premise is about a dystopian Sci-Fi world, where monsters run rampant and if infected, you will be killed instead.

It started with our little mushroom, An Zhe who got his spore taken, and then he journeys in search of his spore to the Northern Base. He's very naïve, innocent. but definitely... more>> not s*upid. He's so adorable and lovable, he's just... a little mushroom *SOBS*

Lu Feng, as The Judge has a heavy responsibility, some hate him while some praise him. When An Zhe asked Polly what he kind of person was The Judge, the answer he got was a lonely man. I haven't been able to get over it since then.

Disclaimer: Please don't get too attached to the side characters unless they are the main characters. it's a bloodbath : ( ( ((

This novel is very plot driven and the angst builds up leading to a painful disaster. It shows how humans can be greedy yet selfless, pessimistic yet encouraging. and it is shown through the eyes of a little mushroom who doesn't really understand those emotions. For him, his life's mission was to raise a spore, and then die.

Also, the author gave us some side ship crumbs, I couldn't be more happier!!!

The novel isn't as overwhelming as many said, yes, I cried a couple of times, it was saddening, but not truly too heartbreaking as it is HAPPY ENDING!!!

Main CP: 10000 stars

Characters: 1000 stars

This is one of my favorite novels!!! I really recommend this novel, it's worth the tears and sadness!! I can't stress how amazing this novel is, or the translations!!! Rainbow Turtle did an amazing job as always~ PLEASE READ THIS NOVEL AND GIVE LOTS OF LOVE TO OUR LITTLE MUSHROOM!! <<less
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StarPhia
StarPhia rated it
August 23, 2020
Status: Completed
10000/5 honestly one of the best novels I’ve ever read. There were so many times when I wanted to cry or laugh. The writing was incredible, the characters were amazing, the foreshadowing was beautiful. Everything about this novel was just perfect. There was a see less blend of depressing moments and happy moments. I constantly was worry for the characters because they suffer so much and I just wanna hug them and get rid of all the dangers. Even though I knew this is a happy ending novel, I still... more>> couldn’t help but panic whenever something bad happened.

This novel though isn’t for everyone, the characters do suffer a lot. There are a lot of happy and fluffy moments but there were even more sad and heart wrenching ones. This novel does have a happy ending, or more accurately an open ending. There is a happy conclusion but sometimes I was doubting that the end would really be a happy ending. So rest assured that at the end, you won’t have much to cry over in terms of it being depressing. The way the characters overcome there hardships and sacrifice themselves was beautiful.

The story line was very heavy, there were many debates of what is and isn’t morally right. As you know from the description, the story follows an innocent mushroom named An Zhe. He’s a kind, aloof, and gentle mushroom. He doesn’t always understand what is happening but he doesn’t hesitate to help people. Out of all the characters I’ve gotta say that An Zhe is the most human. But the other characters don’t disappoint either! Lu Feng was also an amazing character who I loved!!! I really wanted to give him and An Zhe a hug because they suffered so much.
Spoiler

An Zhe had a lot of physical suffering and the occasional phsycological suffering. There was an electrocution torture scene that I wished was longer and more detailed. I don’t want An Zhe to suffer but I feel that it would have been more interesting to really see into his mind and his pain during that torture. Lu Feng also suffered a lot, though his suffering was almost entirely phsycological.

[collapse]

The author did a great job with foreshadowing! A lot of stuff got introduced and most of it played a later role! It was really amusing to theorize on what would happen next. I can always appreciate a book that introduces things and then those things actually play a role. 10/10 on the foreshadowing ???. If you go back or think back on the book, you’ll be able to pick up all the clever foreshadowing stuffed in the early parts of the novel.
Spoiler

I love the Lu Feng doll. Haha and it wasnt forgotten.

[collapse]

The science they explain in it didn’t always make sense and you kinda just had to go with it, but the author did a great job explaining it. I just took physics this past year so I didn’t have too much trouble understanding everything. Some of the stuff at the end was also kinda confusion (the very end, after the conflict gets resolved kinda end).

The romance is great as well. It takes a really long time for the MC and the ML to even notice their feelings for each other but there relationship is great! I appreciate that the ML isn’t like a “I’m only ever gonna pay attention to my lover and everyone else is tr*sh and can die.” And isn’t a supper controlling person. They’re so perfect for each other but the world they were appart of wouldn’t let it. The ending played perfectly for their relationship so 10/10 for the great ending that ties everything together. There relationship isn’t that fluffy at first. They are both kind to each other and look out for each other but that was it for a while, it’s not that they didn’t want to be close, it just wasn’t the time yet. They weren’t ready. Every event had to play out perfectly for them to be together. Though there isn’t much romance in the beginning, it’s not disappointing either. We do get a fair amount of fluff and absolutely adorable scenes of them together.
Spoiler

I can also appreciate that although An Zhe suffered so much, the times that Lu Feng hurt him were the hardest for him. They’re relationship was by no means easy and for them to even accept their feelings for each other, they had to suffer a lot. Though out the novel, Lu Feng tries to kill An Zhe like 5 times. It might even be more idk. But the one who protected An Zhe the most was also Lu Feng. Everytime Lu Feng had to kill An Zhe, I just wanted to cry. He doesn’t want to hurt An Zhe, he can’t bare to see hurt, but he’s not human so it’s his duty to kill him. The ending was really perfect for them. It allowed them to be together in a world that literally made for them.

[collapse]

OMG I love this novel. I can’t stop thinking about it haha. I just finished the novel 30 mins ago and now I feel sad cause it’s over. I’ve rarely read anything better than this. It’s amazing! I never want the story to end ;-; I wanna see more of An Zhe and Lu Feng ????. I 100% reccomend this book for everyone. The fluffy scenes will warm your heart. The sad scenes will make you cry. Everything about it is beautiful. Ahhhhh it should be turned into a donghua or a manhua!!!!!!!! I would totally read / watch it.

1 billion / 10 stars it more accurate that 5/5 stars. I love this novel and if you read it I hope you will too! <<less
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Peeping Girl
Peeping Girl rated it
July 26, 2020
Status: Completed
Don't follow my footsteps and be deceive by the fluffy synopsis! There's a lot of angst in this novel and I cried a lot. But then everything here is so satisfying... Now I understand why it has a highest rating among all BL novel.

I love the character development of MC here in how he becoming more human. Yes, this is a dark novel however looking at An Zhe giving hope to others made you feel some warm inside. I also like how MC describe ML as the Aurora in the... more>> sky...

Both are innocent in love but when they realized what's spurting inside their hearts, it will really give you a bursting emotions. Specially in the part of MC when he said, "I don't want to see him... But I want to see him. I don't regret leaving him.. But I regret it."

The first novel I keep appeasing myself to have a good ending.

Spoiler alert: Satisfying ending indeed! <<less
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eryafii
eryafii
July 20, 2020
Status: Completed
Warning: This is not a fluffy story but it makes my heart soft.

My personal experience:

... more>>
Spoiler

I started reading this story with an apathetic mood. I've read chapters that would usually make me cry if only I read it at night, when I am more emotional. Still, one afternoon, I found myself crying for all the angst. I did not feel the overbearing angst like when I've read The Decade of Deep Love (The 10 Years I Loved You Most), but it was like a fleeting angst brought by parting. Fear not, it's HE.

[collapse]

Plot: 5/5

The small details gave the most impact. The foreshadow is superb. It did not gave me the brow-raising aftertaste when I predict what's going to happen. The plot devices are well utilized. There are no wasted chapters. It's rare to comeby novels like this.

The length is neither short nor long, just right.

Worldbuilding: 5/5

It's really well thought of. As an avid subscriber of Kurzgesagt, I know a thing or two of the concepts used in this story. Although it might not be scientifically accurate in some areas, it was well-covered by this factor---chaos. That made me have a deeper appreciation for this novel.

Characters: 5/5

Absolutely no OC or Out of Character moments. At least, none that I noticed. The character growth is steady and not rushed. Every character named has a goal, and a literary purpose. I appreciate how the complexity of human nature are framed in each character. The side characters... I don't even dare to call them side characters. They have pivotal roles at certain parts of the story. None of them are forgettable and they are remembered even when they walked gently into that dark night.

As for the little mushroom and the colonel, I really like their relationship. There were no cheesy romantic moments. Only little interactions that are just as precious. I love their journey.

I hope that slow romance could be a trend in novels. The romance here is just what I am looking for. It's not built on thrist for flesh or hunger for love. It just developed and came to be like it was the most natural thing. Homos*xual relationship issues weren't even raised which could also be attributed to the fact that most women were no longer fertile. Still, the fact that the little mushroom is so clueless about everything and how it wasn't an issue for the colonel makes me appreciate their relationship further. I love it.

Overall: 5/5

A novel that I would recommend to everyone. This is a type of danmei that could be read by non-fujodanshis.

Bonus points for this novel for introducing me to an excellent poem, Do not walk gentle into that good night. I love this poem and decided to customize a curtain to hang in my room.

Trivia: Did you know that mushroom is a slang for a s*upid person?

If the author really considered that when thinking of the little mushroom's species, that I can kowtow now.

A literary masterpiece translated proficiently. <<less
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Litolito
Litolito rated it
July 6, 2020
Status: Completed
I never thought I would cry so much from a webnovel. The imagery in this novel was quite moving and I had to remind through most of the book that they would indeed get a happy ending. The amount of thought that the author put into this work is just astounding. For those who love a plot driven story this should at least be on your list. I also have to say that these characters are the most dynamic I've seen and they're characters that have the ability to make... more>> ME a book lover cry multiple times. This novel is also the only novel that I have given 5 stars to or even wrote a review about. If you haven't start reading or planning to I recommend starting in the morning because you aren't going to be able to put this book down and don't forget to bring a blanket, tissues, and a glass of water. <<less
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patch
patch rated it
February 16, 2020
Status: Completed
As you'd be warned, this is not fluffy. It was rather dark, deep, and meaningful. I commended the author for creating this apocalypse without zombies world that at the same time beautifully reflected human nature.

MC was a little mushroom as pure as any mushroom. As a non-human, he put himself in a human's society with a viewer standpoint. His growth process was wonderful.

ML was not bland at all. He was full of conflict inside with his position being in a center of controversy and morals.

This story is full of death,... more>> sometimes you like a character and the next few chapters.... death. But that how it suppose to be, the author didn't hide away from doing that at all.

And if you ask for love, it was there.... you might not find it a lot but you feel it along the journey. They really love each other deeply.

Reading is experiencing, and this story took me on a wonderful journey. <<less
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calledout
calledout rated it
February 10, 2020
Status: c84
the prose is so beautiful. even when its shitty google translate mtl it made me cry. its more than a novel about a little mushroom its about humanity and human will against the vast unknown of the cosmos. every chapter makes an indelible mark. and yet in the end it really is about our little mushroom, and his judge, and how they finally meet each other at the end of all things. im very glad I read this and I cant wait for rainbowturtles translation so I can fully appreciate... more>> each word. I cried a lot

Spoiler

and oh my god the way I find clarity and understanding at the very end... every plot hole is filled. everything has a reason, everyone mentioned has a role. freaking an zhes spore was always close to lu feng because it was his second body oh my god im gonna go cry.

[collapse]

frankly I regret mtl-ing this novel because it means I cant experience it for the first time in its full glory. ifi could tell myself anything I would say, be patient goddamnit and go study <<less
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Ekoyi
Ekoyi rated it
February 7, 2020
Status: Completed
I feel sad for the MC through the whole story but he really is a strong baby? And the ML, he gave MC his love even through he's voilaing his own morals by doing so. Neither MC nor ML tried to control each other. They just tried to understand and forgive each other.
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SeoDawonn
SeoDawonn rated it
April 9, 2024
Status: Completed
You can't go wrong with reading this novel.

It's such a sad, sweet, yet thrilling novel. The complex story line also adds some excitement to it.

It's so beautifully well written; and the artist for the manhwa emphasis that when drawing the characters because they are all so beautiful.

I have the physical copy of this novel, and every now and then I reread it just to remind myself how good this story was written.
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Souppp
Souppp rated it
April 2, 2024
Status: Completed
The MC’s POV is so interesting, the world-building is top tier, amazingly vivid and horrifying images, and somehow manages to still be funny. The only danmei I’ve read and unreservedly recommended to everyone I know. I read the whole thing over a total of 8 hours because I could not put it down. And when I did put it down (since I was travelling), I spent that time talking about it to others. The story deserves the award it won; I would consider teaching it in a sci-fi lit course.
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crimson Heart
crimson Heart rated it
March 22, 2024
Status: C 86
I have seen many reviews calling this an underrated gem in the danmei world and now I finally understood the true meaning of it. This truly needs to find more popularity within the danmei world.

It's such a subtle story written with so much depth. Maybe I'm being over dramatic but just reading this left me with indescribable feelings. It left me thinking more about our future, the future of the world. Will this be what we end up with?

An Ze you sweet sweet soul. I wish you nothin but happiness.... more>> All you want to is to live in peace. His simpleness is what makes you love him more. He doesn't deserve so many things happening to him. Lu Feng, I truly don't know what to think about you. You are an equally tortured soul...

" When the aurora lights up again, the colonel will return" I'm not crying you are...

One of the best dystopian novels I've ever read. <<less
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FoxyYaoguai
FoxyYaoguai rated it
February 17, 2024
Status: Completed
I know a lot of people loved this novel, but I sadly have to say that I was disappointed by it.

1. The sci fi is ok but far from good. Even though the science tries really hard to be legit, it is wonky at best.

2. Everything keeps getting worse. The scope of the story keeps expanding. ... more>>
Spoiler

At first, we are limited to one human base and the fact that mutations exist, but by the end we're talking mass extinction, world is coming to an end, and laws of physics don't exist anymore.

[collapse]
There are no breaks between things escalating, it's just one punch after the other. I would have preferred less catastrophe and more relationship development.

3. The romance is so incredibly slow burn and
Spoiler

they don't even get together until the extras.

[collapse]

4. The happy ending feels out of place given how the main plot kept spiraling towards a tragedy.
Spoiler

What does that even mean, An Zhe sat in a device and then his frequency was transmitted and that somehow saved the world?! Since when can living beings be transformed into frequencies and how would that solve anything? 😭

[collapse]

The original idea was good and I enjoyed the first book. It was cool to learn about life in the base and about the different characters, professions, and the world. But then so much happened in the second book... I'm pretty disappointed after all the hype it got. : ( <<less
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Pitchouille
Pitchouille rated it
January 29, 2024
Status: c1
Can't believe I forgot to write a review for this. Read this. Read this. READ THIS.

It's for your own good. I've never read something so damn beautiful. The world building, the characters, the plot. Simply perfect, absolutely nothing I can complain about.

If you are here for the romance, sorry to say but you'll be very disappointed. It stays in the background, and is not at all the focus of the story. No, you'll follow our dear little An Zhe and witness the way he interacts with the world around him.... more>> How he evolves and learns to care about others, without losing sight of his goal. Oh to care so deeply about a fictional mushroom.

Was I disappointed by the lack of romance? Yes. Am I bitter about it? Absolutely not, because the search for romance is how I found this novel, and it's something I'll never regret. Trust me, you'll be way too engrossed in the story to even care about the lack of kissy cuddly stuff.

f*cking splendid from beginning to end. I read the first half online, and immediately bought the physical copy afterwards. I forced myself to wait for months to finally be able to buy the 2nd book and finish the story, and boy was it worth it. Since it was impossible for me not to binge read, I barely slept for two days straight, and finished the book at 3 am. Cried and cried for half an hour. Just beautiful. I'm tearing up just thinking about it again.

Please, read this. It's a gem of a novel. It's an experience.

Can't give this anything else but a perfect score.

He was... just a little mushroom. <<less
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Toads-on-the-Road
Toads-on-the-Road
September 13, 2023
Status: Completed
Absolutely amazing.

I laughed, I cried, I was in awe for the world building and storytelling.

I really truly recommend reading.

... more>> I will say that except for the extras it's not very romance focused or fluffy. There are cute and funny little moments though. The meetings MC and ML have are very profound but few in the beginning. It didn't bother me at all though because the pacing was very good and even though MC and ML weren't constantly together they were involved with each other.

I think it was the perfect length and the author gave it their all from the beginning to the end. <<less
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izayaYY
izayaYY rated it
September 7, 2023
Status: Completed
A short fast-paced post-apocalyptic danmei, that feels more like movie-watching than reading. It is well written and translated and I will definitely buy the published english version and the manhua to add to my collection.
The beauty of this novel is difficult to point out... it is not in the plot, or the characters, or the grim realism of the world setting. All these elements are present in other c-novels/movies/manga too... The difference might be in the gripping writing style, or the fact that the protag is a cute mushroom with a mushroom 'mentality', or the interesting juxtaposition of a mushroom turned human v/s a human judge forced to be inhuman... all these subtleties makes this a page-turner for me. I also like the contrast between the devil judge who speaks very little and kills a lot in favour of humanity v/s Colin who showcases his humanity to all and shouts his slogans adnauseam but in fact cares only for his ideals, his emotions and not the global picture, which is the fate of humanity (reminds me of all the s*upid anti-science, anti-vax, anti-masks nonsense from the Covid days tsk tsk...).

There are no OP protags in this novel and very little fluff and romance... the fluff is only in the last 10chapters or so. The protags go through hell and have very little time for romance. But the deep connection between the protags is clear right from the start. Their romantic feelings developed at a realistic pace.

After the manhua, hope to see a live action adaptation one day!
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lollypop77
lollypop77
August 16, 2023
Status: --
A very engaging novel, its short, interesting, and will most definitely hurt your heart if not make make you cry.

... more>>
Spoiler

The side characters in this novel is pretty weird. They will NOT stay long, only long enough to pique your interest in them, but not long enough for you to get attached. I cant say for sure whether I like or haye the way side characters are in this novel, but for some of them, their deaths are really fitting, like the mistress of the black market.

[collapse]

Everything in this novel is not too hard to understand, I'd even say this is fit for middle schoolers to read if not for the implications in the extras. Since MC is a mushroom, everything is explained through his point of view, so it really should be a breeze to follow through with everything going on.

ML IS SOOO INTERESTING, I loved him, everything about him is just amazing. His backstory, his motives, his interactions with everyone, and most importantly HIS DIALOGUE!!

Overall you wont regret reading this, though MC's "fragile" character may not fit everyones taste. <<less
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Geozah
Geozah
July 5, 2023
Status: Completed
At first I didn't expect to like and be so impacted by this story, I really feel everything the writer conveys, I cried a lot, I felt the frustration with them, and when it was all over I felt the joy and relief with them.
The romance was beautiful, from the first meeting, every bit of their evolution and the growth of affection they feel for each other, the love was beautiful to see, even with the world going through one disaster after another, the small demonstrations of their affection and concern makes us forget that humanity is ending. An Zhe and Lu Feng will be in my heart, it was beautiful to go through all the troubles and happiness with them
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eleen
eleen rated it
December 23, 2022
Status: Completed
This novel left me crying. I really dislike MC who doesn't posses great skills. MC should be on per with ML.

Ahhhh, this one, I love little mushroom, he is naive and innocent. Not like those dumb MC. Even as a reader I want to desperately protect him, let alone ML and others. T T
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YoruHana
YoruHana rated it
November 27, 2022
Status: Completed
Good novel. Gives a different taste to doomsday novels.

Though I have mixed feelings bout the ending

Spoiler

I am happy because the MC survived. But I am also sad because it did not gave birth to what he is expecting his spore to be. I hate my imagination cause I think the MC denied his supposed baby/spore a new life

[collapse]

But everything else. I like it.
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AnihilatorEightK
AnihilatorEightK rated it
November 6, 2022
Status: --
Reading this I felt unbearable sorrow but at the same time I was so happy. Can't remember last book that made me feel so much. I couldn't stop reading and finished it in like 15 hours (english is not my 1st language so I'm not a fast reader).

The story is great and the world feels real. You can easily believe that humanity may perish just like this in a blink of an eye at its own hand. Life is so fragile.

Characters are alive. Mushroom is a mushroom, he is not... more>> a human being so he acts and thinks accordingly. But slowly he learns what it mean to be human and I think he is one of the most humane fictional characters of all times. Lu Feng till the end follows his cause. He sacrifices all he has to it. He is not just an unfeeling tool of the author to evoke compassion from a reader, he is a person. All his actions correspond to his character. Though you may think otherwise at first.

This is a great novel and I recommend it. Just start reading and you won't stop. Be ready for a lot of angst though. <<less
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