Kaleidoscope of Death

Description

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It started off peculiarly; first, his domestic cat refused to let him cuddle it.

Lin Qiushi soon found that a sense of disharmony and incongruity began to pervade everything around him.

Then, one odd day, he pushed open a door, and he discovered that the hallway he was familiar with turned into a boundless corridor.

At both ends of this corridor were twelve, identical iron gates.

He pushed one of the doors

Thus, the story begins.

Ruan Nanzhu said to Lin Qiushi, “When you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss will also gaze back into you.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Qiushi sank into deep contemplation. He then pulled down the zipper of his trousers and aimed at the abyss…

Ruan Nanzhu: “…Put your pants on properly!”

Super shameless, ill-pampered gong X Shameless, calm shou; a combination of double [or extreme] shamelessness.

Associated Names
One entry per line
KOD
Kính vạn hoa chết chóc/Tử vong kính vạn hoa
Sǐwáng wànhuātǒng
The Spirealm (Drama)
Калейдоскоп Смерти
ฝ่ามิติประตูมรณะ
死亡万花筒
死亡萬花筒
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Global Examination (13)
The Earth is Online (13)
Escape the Infinite Chamber (6)
Supernatural Movie Actor App (6)
The Trial Game of Life (6)
Paintings of Terror (5)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Chinese Novel and Danmei
  2. The consequence of my BL binge
  3. Greatest Unlimited Flow - BL (long reviews+ratings...
  4. Unlimited Flow BL
  5. BLs Adapted into Dramas ( live action )

Latest Release

Date Group Release
07/18/21 Zin extra 10
07/01/21 Zin extra 9
05/30/21 Zin extra 8
05/28/21 Zin extra 7
05/24/21 Zin extra 6
05/24/21 Zin extra 5
05/22/21 Zin extra 4
05/22/21 Zin extra 3
05/20/21 Zin extra 2
05/19/21 Zin extra 1
05/19/21 Zin c139
05/19/21 Zin c137
05/19/21 Zin c138
05/18/21 Zin c136
05/18/21 Zin c135
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272 Reviews sorted by


mafuyu_sato_123
mafuyu_sato_123 rated it
August 11, 2021
Status: Completed
OMG LIKE OMG!!

I don't even know where to start but let me tell you, it's so fricken good!!! Don't even bother with my review, just read it NOW!! I really love how the MC is very calm and relaxed in very tough situations, that's the type I would prefer and so is the ML, plus their interactions are so funny af. haha lol. OH! And the side characters are all really good too, they are the type of characters that you will remember well, like they have actual personalities. YAAAY!!... more>> but omfg the twins, dam LOVE YOU TWO.

Spoiler

but OMG! MY BOOI!! MY CHENG QIANLI!! AHHHHHHH!! HOW COULD YOU DIE LIKE THAT?!?! WHY DO YOU LEAVE ME???!!!! I LOVE YOU AND CHENG YIXIE TOO!! oh he was the best the boy I've ever had and he just dies, do you how much my heart ached?? do you know how much I cried?!?! I haven't cried like that since my graduation at primary school... and now I can't even listen the song that I was listening to when Cheng Qianli died, I just can't anymore, and their extra chapters too, I cried again, but I'm happy that Cheng Yixie can stay with him in the illusionary world...🥲 pls send help I'm dying again....

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Oh my!! the door worlds sure are fascinating, I like the stories. Considering that this is horror BL novel I've ever read, this left me amazed, so if this your first horror go and read it right now!!

Spoiler

Although I am quite confused near the end...

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crownprince
crownprince rated it
July 4, 2021
Status: Completed
I started this because I wanted to read a novel similar to Earth is Online, it didn't disappoint, though I still much prefer Earth is Online. I would have to say that the horror element in this novel is much more than what it is in the Earth is Online.

This novel has good and enjoyable plot development and character development. The dynamics between the couple are great. Though, if the ending was a little different I might have given it a 5/5. Don't get me wrong, the plot twist at... more>> the end was interesting but unnecessary. Even with the twist, the story is still good, though I would much prefer the novel without it. The plot twist had me feeling like as if I was looking at a smooth piece of ribbon but with a knot near the end of the ribbon, but there's no ribbon bow, it's just a knot. And I want to untie it so badly.

Ending spoiler and discussion/rant:

Spoiler

So in the extra, we find out our dear ML is door 12, he is the abyss (but we have no clue what abyss mean in this context), it doesn't explain much on how he was able to be different from other doors, why do other doors have no manifestation (maybe the other doors didn't fall in love with our MC?), or why he is so different from other doors (maybe cause he's the last door so he has much more power?) ? But it's a mystery novel I get it, not everything is supposed to have an answer.

While it's interesting that everything we read from chapter 1 and everything that took place in the whole series happened in Door 12, and the MC's going through his actual Door 1 to Door 11 progress again but with the ML this time (because the ML had the desire to be by MC side to complete Door 1 to Door 12 and remember MC is a youth when he started the door but became an adult by door 12, but in the beginning of the series he is an adult already so everything in this novel from chapter 1 is MC's Door 12), at the same time, the author making ML into Door 12 could either be written much better or completely omitted. The author could have jolly well continued what she had written in previous chapters and both the MC and ML (both humans) are both done with Door 12 and got extended life and they live happily together for as long as their life allows.

But NO, now, I don't even know if the MC passes away what will happen to the ML, will he die as well (but he's not human), or will he erase his memories again and do the same thing and fall in love with someone different, will he go back to do his door duties, or will he just waste he life away forever while keeping his find memories with the MC together in his mind. And so a door, how does he manifest in the reality, just how powerful is he man.

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Pretty open-ended huh, but it doesn't affect the enjoyment of the series, in fact, each arc is well written (especially the earlier arcs). While I understand an author's desire to write something unique and possibly include a plot twist, I would say I rather not have this twist present in this novel. But regardless, still a very good and enjoyable read. RIP to CQL and other characters though, you'll be missed. :') <<less
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XxmeacxX
XxmeacxX
July 2, 2021
Status: Completed
Everything was going great until the later half of the 11 and then the supposed "12th" door. Even the explanation after was shoddy. That return to reality in the end changed them somehow :<

Spoiler

what does the 12th door actually do? (Not MC but others) 😂😅

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Spoiler

If we're going by actual 12th, then that was a veeeeery long dream and the stacks of reality and planted memories until the happenings inside the 11th door seemed deux ex machina -- all the build up kinda made me expect a lot //cri that sudden plot twist was somewhat unexpected and ML falling in love w/ him

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Some things felt left unexplained. Esp towards the end.

QWQ EVEN WITH A HAPPY END, THE GRIEF I HAD TO GO THROUGH WAS IMMENSE. WHY USE DEATH AS THE WAY TO MAKE THE PLOT MOVE FORWARD OR AS CATALYST FOR CHARACTER GROWTH SOBS P.s. Im happy that although there are enemy ghosts there are some helpful ones as well uwu

Spoiler

WHY DO OTHER NOVELS GETS DEAD CHARAS SOMEHOW RESURRECTED BUT HERE, NOT ONLY ARE THEY DED BUT THEY RUBBED SALT ON OUR WOUNDS! 11TH DOOR AND EXTRAS IM LOOKING AT YOU.

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Their relationships with the other members got vague in the end : ( (kinda missed the warmness and interaction. Like they've put of it all behind and are just bystanders now. Can't they go back in&out considering both of their identities? MC also changed somehow :<

Spoiler

the superimposed realities gave me confusion like who's the true leader in the end? True reality? Following ML's or MC's? And why does the MC still feel discombobulated? Kinda wtf but accepting if he's that affected by the "self" he had in the 12th door. So he's supposed to have the ml's personality originally? LIKE IS THAT WHY MC LOOKS SO CALM AND FIT FOR DOORS BEC OF WHO/HOW HE IS ORIGINALLY?

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Nevertheless, I'd still recommended this unli flow novel uwu the gore, horror, and stories, how they're used, the foreshadowings, everything is great. What's more is at times, THEYRE NOT OP (both always had near death experiences. Had a great time with the MC and ml's banters and personalities too. They're somewhat balanced human beings and you can see their age. LIGHT COMEDIC UNDERTONES RLLY HAD ME CACKLING. MC being so dense until so many chapters and being so calm always amazed me lol

Spoiler

(Such a high survivor count in door 10 tho owo starch contrast w/ the twins. Why are they so stubborn tho?? Some parts rlly leave a taste in my mouth. Some parts and characters written :<) Still happy to read this novel tho)

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3.0-3.5 as a score from me

It's one of those types that makes you want to reread it and/or come back for some of the arcs. I'll miss them two bbies :>
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Queen_of_Chaos000
Queen_of_Chaos000 rated it
June 26, 2021
Status: Completed
Absolutely amazing!

This novel was a gem but at the beginning I did have some reservations despite the excellent reviews this got.

Becuase I found myself unable to get into the estory. But after the first arc was over, it was not the case anymore, just like how it was for the characters inside the novel, the story became more and more intense for me and at the end it completely blew me away.

People definitely need to read this and you won't regret it.
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univrs
univrs rated it
June 2, 2021
Status: Completed
The horror was very good, not too focused on gore and jumpscares with a nice balance of thriller and suspenseful aspects. I liked that there was always a solution that wasnt too irrational to each door, despite the absolutely bonkers ways some people died (i.e. pulled down a shower drain etc). The pacing of the story was also quite good. Not too overstuffed with extraneous details, well used time skips, and good character development.

I liked how death/dying felt progressively more real as the novel advanced. At first it's like "ahhh... more>> how gorey, rip", but later on you're really slapped in the face like, "WAKE UP death is real and permanent in this world." There is always a constant threat of major character death, enough to make me wonder if this really was a Happy Ending novel (it is). The tension from the increasing difficulty of survival really kept me on my toes until literally the final chapter. I kid you not, I came back to the NU page to check for a tragedy tag while I was reading OTL

The two main characters weren't OP. They were smart, but human enough to make mistakes and they were not invincible inside each of the door arcs. Quick thinking, reflexes and instinct is what saved them from certain death a lot of the time. Their bantering was fun to read, and the romance was paced quite well in between each door. Their love, trust and mutual dependence felt real and not forced. They have a healthy (?) relationship :D despite all the circumstances of their lives and the things they went through together.

The side characters were decently fleshed out. They had enough presence to fill out a universe within the novel properly, and had enough screen time to really make you feel for the more major side characters. There were numerous times when I felt very empty and melancholic about the fates of some of them. I won't go into details, but there was some heart wrenching stuff in there. The way these events were handled was also nice, not too over the top emotional, and the way the characters reacted was logical as well (aka they reacted and mourned like normal human beings). Such is the dealings of life and death... Your heart might be pulled straight out of your chest, but the living has to move on (or not).

Some of the monsters inside the doors were also given a lot of TLC --> a backstory that made you understand their motives etc. I can't say there were any "antagonists" per say. The entire door system could count as the main antagonist, but not at the same time. It's a bit of a complicated story, which you'll understand if you read the novel ;)

This novel very seriously gave me a mindf*ck.... I recommend you not skip any of the arcs, and strap in for a hell of a ride....

surprisingly the biggest twist is actually revealed after the main text is complete. I won't mention which extra it's in so that you don't jump and look for it. The best way to enjoy this novel is to read it from start to end while completely in the dark !!!

Happy reading !!!! <<less
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wuxianstoes
wuxianstoes rated it
May 22, 2021
Status: Completed
bestie, if you're looking for a sign to read this novel or not:

this is it— your sign. Stop what you're currently doing and read this novel. Now.

kod is my first horror danmei experience, and I would like to worship thank the person who recommended this masterpiece. I loved it so much, everything about it— its plot, the characters and their developmens, the gradual but sweet romance between the cp, the horrifying and disgusting to imagine monsters and ghosts, the angst whenever a character from ... more>>
Spoiler

obsidian, especially the twins bcs how am I supposed to cope with the twins' death

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dies, and the mindblowing plot twist at the end.

139 chapters + 8 extras aren't enough to satisfy my thirst for more nanqiu interactions love for this novel, and I wish it was longer than that, but alas, stories have to end and the only thing I can do is cry reread kod from the start.

also, can someone please pray with me that they continue the supposed to be manhua adaptation because the world needs to see official ruan baijie and lin qiuqiu art. /cries in the corner <<less
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ricoerrr
ricoerrr rated it
May 21, 2021
Status: Completed
characters

mc: lin qiushi

ml: ruan nanzhu

... more>> summary

MC finds himself near death from liver cancer but a supernatural force grants him a chance at life through a series of doors (instances). each door has a puzzle; solving the puzzle involves finding a key and a door, which usually shows up after defeating the corresponding big boss. each door cleared means a lifespan extended. it also means their next door becomes a step harder. there's a total of 12 doors, but no one has ever cleared the final door...

MC and ML meet inside the doors and they show remarkable aptitude and teamwork with each other. ML appears to be an extremely experienced door-goer who trains inside the doors to get stronger (and richer) and takes MC under his wing to train as well.

thoughts (major spoilers)

Spoiler

THE PLOT TWIST is not something I expected, in an extra of all things. we learn that the whole story takes place inside door 12; nanzhu is its door-keeper, extremely powerful, and basically falls in love at first sight watching qiushi clear his earlier doors. he waits until qiushi enters the 12th door, wipes both their memories, and recreates THE WHOLE STORY of qiushi's adventures... but with him by his side this time. and qiushi is none the wiser until he comes out of the 12th door (and back to true reality) and realizes no one knows who nanzhu is...

as it turns out, the person who nanzhu said he was was actually the real qiushi himself. he basically stole qiushi's identity, fooled everyone including himself, and poor qiushi never regained his real memories but he does develop an inkling of what nanzhu did

... and what I love the most was that qiushi doesn't mind one bit. he understands that his memories are falsified but nanzhu is with him and that's all that matters. I absolutely love the relationship development from both nanzhu and qiushi where they both were SO afraid of losing each other, so deciding that whether in life or death, being with each other was the most important. they've grown so much and their outlook on life and what is most important to them matured as well <3

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and my personal opinion of door 11-12

Spoiler

so one of biggest unanswered questions is what the heck happened between door 11 and door 12, because it sounds like either 1) door 12 existed inside door 11, or 2) door 12 never existed in the first place. my personal take is that the real door 11 and door 12 existed seperately, but because of nanzhu's interference, they merged together in our storyline.

the real qiushi probably did pass door 11 like it was a regular door, found the key and the door, and got out. the events of door 11 (100 ghost riot) likely did take place, but ended differently simply because nanzhu wasn't a part of qiushi's life at the time. we know for a fact that door 11 and 12 were indeed separate in the original timeline because it was specifically mentioned that nanzhu saw qiushi enter door 12, and ye niao also reaffirms this fact in the final chapter.

as for why door 11 and 12 merged in the storyline that we read? I'm not too sure, but I want to entertain the idea that our qiushi didn't manage to pass door 11 at all. time ran out before he could find the key, and qiushi slowly becomes trapped inside the door, essentially 'dying'.

BUT!! we have to remember that this is actually door 12 that he's in, and door 12 is still incomplete.

he finds two the two keys; the one signifying illusion was the key out of door 11 (this door tempts qiushi into thinking the door world isn't so bad as it seems, with dead characters making re-appearances and living fulfilling lives), it crumbles because qiushi never managed to clear this door. the one for authentic death was to clear door 12. and door 12 was likely meant as a test of fiction vs reality; qiushi chooses reality because only in reality can he and nanzhu be truly together, no matter if it's in life or death.

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Hualian bae
Hualian bae rated it
May 10, 2021
Status: c1
HOLY **** I DID NOT SURVIVEE READING THIS BOOK!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 just read one of the reviews below about the ending and got mind blown!! I could not wait for a few weeks and went into mtl but got confused about the ending BUT DAMNNN NOWW I WILL RE READ THIS FROM SCRATCHH!! what a story😍😍

this has everything one can wish for!! andd the horror scenes really made me freeze and run for my lifee!

i feel likee I just finished watching an intense moviee!! definitely worth 10000000... stars for this book!!

in... more>> thiss there was no dull scenes at ALL!! woooooooow just wooooow... how I wish for this to become a tv series or something😭😭

AHHHHHH
Spoiler

CHEN QIANLIIIII I WILL NEVEE FORGET YOU SWEETIE😭😭 I literally crieddddd bucketsss of tearss... for me it was a twist... author made it seem likee qianli's twin bro will diee for himm but damnn at the end our littlee one had to take the blow...i was soooo heartbroken forr chen qiexi... he technically lost everything 😭😭 the story of the twins was one of the highlights for me😭😭 ahh the feels fromm the story!!

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AND IT SEEMS LIKE ENDINGIS EVEN MOREE AMAZING!!

i will camp under translators tumblr from nowww!!

BESTIEE GIVE THIS BOOK A CHANCE AND READ IT TILL THE END!!😘😘 <<less
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Foxy-nalune
Foxy-nalune rated it
April 30, 2021
Status: Completed
To be honest this novel is one of the best novel I have read.

Sadly because I had to MLT, as the story is not fully translated yet, I didn't really understand what was going on at the end. But luckily one of the review here helped me very well, so I finally understood everything.

But when I did, my heart was beating so loudly and it messed up my brain a bit.

To be honest I would have given this novel a 4 out of 5 if not the ending that was... more>> not only genius but also incredibly beautiful and mindblowing.

So yeah the ending, where they explained everything, is the key point.

Edit:

I have reread this LG and OMG! It's beautiful! MlT really destroys the impression one can on this book. This novel made me laugh, cry and depressed. The ending is phenomenal as said before !!

Please read it! If you're put off by the way MC is handling death then read on! There's always a purpose here. <<less
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tanni103
tanni103 rated it
February 11, 2021
Status: Completed
This novel was a very good read with horror, romance and a breeze of comedy.

Even though the description about the horror scenes aren't that detailed, it still hits your scare spots when it is supposed to. The romance was quite slow though, but they still throw some dog food here and there. Once they get together will be the moment they stuff us and the people around them with massive dog food.

The arcs are also very unique and sometimes don't follow the cliché trope, which is clearly a plus point.... more>> The arcs are usually resolved around 10 chapters, which is good since you won't get the feeling that it is dragged on.

I think my favourite parts are when the ML gets to act dramatic scripts with the MC. I was so shocked when I found out that the MC gets to crossdress lmao I wish the author could have added more crossdress scenes of the MC. While reading I desperately wanted some detailed papapa scenes, but... *sigh* I should be content with what I have.

When you reach the end and get to read the extras, there will be a weird twists about the origin of ML, but I didn't understand it clearly in the MTL version, so I hope the translator will pick up his pace again.

All in all it was a good read and the ending also satisfied me. Nothing to complain.

The MTL version is still understandable, but I think you should have some experience beforehand before starting reading from this novel. I used 75% of my brain cells to read it. <<less
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Ichigoeater
Ichigoeater
November 9, 2019
Status: Completed
I quite love this story, blending the right amount of comedy, horror, and romance. The leads are fun and memorable, and the side characters aren't just cannon fodder. There are proper mysteries that don't have obvious answers, unlike similar stories like this, so you discover things along with the characters instead of yelling at them for not getting something so simple and questioning their intelligence... or do so, and find out you're the wrong one. That was embarrassing, I would've totally died. Anyway, yeah. It is 100% worth a read.

Also,... more>> as a side note, the romance is a bit of a slow burn (my favorite kind). It doesn't feel that way, because Ruan Nanzhu (who is the real shameless one of the two) flirts ridiculously with Lin Qiushi throughout the whole story, but it takes a while for them to actually get together, which is nice when you care more about the growth of a relationship than immediate results in order to enjoy dog food.

I also liked how neither Ruan Nanzhu nor Lin Qiushi were OP in any way. Both of them face very real death threats multiple times throughout the story, so the horror isn't negligible like in many other infinite flow horror yaoi novels that dabble in comedy. Rather, unlike the many comedic novels that dabble in horror, this one is the other way around, which is my preference.

It really was a great novel from start to finish, with no lulls. If I had any complaints, it would be the extra chapters, which revealed something pretty darn big. So big, I really don't understand why it wasn't revealed in the main story. In fact, it wasn't even hinted at, which is what really bothers me.

I can't NOT talk about it, so here is a SUPER SPOILER WARNING. For real. Reading the spoiler will affect your thoughts throughout the reading of the novel, so only read if you're caught up and wanting other people's opinions!

Spoiler

I get that there were hints that Lin Qiushi had already gone through the 12 doors before the story started and been made to forget. His tendency to not become overemotional in the face of death, his abnormally quick adjustment to the doors, and his lack of detailed history beyond working overtime constantly. I also understand that his liver cancer was also a hint, as it turns out that, prior to forgetting, he seemed to be seriously addicted to cigarettes. On Lin Qiushi's side of things, we seem to be good. But on Ruan Nanzhu's...

I feel like the author could've done a bit more to hint at his true identity. Maybe have the Obsidian members take to Lin Qiushi as if he were an old friend immediately after 'meeting' him. Maybe have Ruan Nanzhu feel disconnected at some point for reasons the reader will misconstrue. Or, have a ghost react strangely to him inside the door.

In the end, the only hint we got about Ruan Nanzhu's identity in the main story was in the very last chapter before the extras, when he came out of the 11th door a year after Lin Qiushi already did. Since, no matter how long you're in the door, it's only been 10 minutes outside, this is a very strange thing to happen, but it's the only strange thing to happen concerning Ruan Nanzhu.

Honestly, it felt unnecessary. Because, now, Ruan Nanzhu is actually kind of awful since he not only stole Lin Qiushi's life for the most part, he also made Lin Qiushi go through the 12 doors all over again just so he can be there with him. In one word, it's romantic. In another... it's pretty awful. But, he made that decision when he was the lead NPC of the 12th door, so we can't really hold that against him. Since he was originally supposed to be an enemy, and all that. Since he made himself forget, so he'd be human with everyone else, we'll call him innocent.

And that's another thing! Now, we'll never know what the 12th door would've looked like! What sort of monster was Ruan Nanzhu supposed to be, originally? What nearly impossible challenge would he set?That was the extra chapter I wanted, author!

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Anyway... it's a good novel, and if you're a genuine horror fan, you're bound to like it. Cheers. <<less
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harupin
harupin rated it
March 10, 2024
Status: Completed
Spoiler

Why is this painful? Came for BL horror IF and ended with tears

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I don't know how to start my review but all I can say is, this was a rollercoaster ride. I really am peeking at a kaleidoscope of death, different kinds of death of how and after. A must read.

I love that even with a slow romance, I felt the love of Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu, and both are independent and dependent at the same time. Plus the gong shou dynamics wasnt the usual
Spoiler

I didnt expect at first that the ML is the crossdresser. I also like how LQ got that masculine personality but the one that gets laid and cute too. RN got that mixture of masculine and feminine

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Me wanting a smut esp with RN's sassy personality lmao

There's lots of hilarious moments too that got me hitting the table lmao like the people eating dog food, RN's shamelessness and LQ leaving the ghosts speechless lol, Cheng Qianli catching strays with his IQ
Spoiler

and now, I miss him 😭 I was at 50/50 thought that he will die or live when the early chs talking about the twins but the moment Author killed Tan Zaozao, I became 100% sure that he will die.... the moment Toast barked like he cant accept the death of his owner CQ, that made me cry fr and broke down. Plus when LQ visited CQ in door 11, dang my tears were nonstop. Twins ending was a painful HE

Tan Zaozao's death too left me a great pain but she died like a hero too in front of her many fans... so painful aaa
Wu Qi and his gf's death, and Xiao Mei and her bf... man, it's so hard

Lastly, I thought LQ and RN would have a tragic ending that I thought the No Solution was to have double su*cide. Was a bit hesitant to read Door 11 arc but yey.. I went through it. Srsly got me so much in tears but I'm glad both are back in the real world esp with RN😭😭 (what if LQ was actually stuck in Door 12- nah I wont think about it) where LQ and RN both exist is the real world

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Author made me feel like Im inside the doors with the torture
Now, I'll talk about the doors. I like how all doors are referenced to something like tales, cultures and got many japanese urban legends that I'm aware of (author based too, watching Another)
Spoiler

Door level 6 and below spooked me the most like Sister Drum, Woman Painting. The Sculpture door's twists got me gasp a lot lol but dang Door 10 and 11 got me so emotional. Door 11's 1st day tho with the chasing got me panicking lol.

I had guessed that RN wasn't human at first bcz of his weight being light when carried by LQ in Door 1 and 3 plus his remarks of LQ having that something and is fit for Doors but that theory went away when RN got family and talked about his past in Obsidian. And dang the reveal, he is indeed not human but didnt expect him to be Door 12 itself tho idk, human or not it doesnt change the way I view RN and LQ and their relationship. They even got their youngest growing and waiting for them at home lmao. Dang, NPCs do love LQ esp RN

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Kitgrouke
Kitgrouke
March 6, 2024
Status: Completed
Horror has never been my fort and because of KoD; I’m considering changing my taste. This novel was good and I really never expected to ever read and even more love it. The flow of the story is good and it just kept me hooked me in every phase. I commend the author for a good description of the horror parts. It indeed made me sleep as soon as I read them because I didn’t want to stay awake thinking about them. The characters in this novel are so well... more>> fleshed and you can see character development as the story flows. I can’t express how much I love the interactions between the leads. Nan Zhu was a great character to read in and outside the doors. Qui Shi too was a great character and I loved his development th most. I was so emotionally invested that even the death of some side characters made me burn with tears.

I’m giving this novel a full 100/100. Fully recommended. It had stayed in my reading list for over three years and I’m really glad I picked it up. Now I’m going to enjoy the drama adaptation. <<less
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The Toast Man rated it
December 19, 2023
Status: c29
Good grief, the MC has zero personality. All I can gather is that he likes cats, and is slightly dependent on the ML. From chapter 1 until chapter 29 (as far as I've read), we hardly get any insight on his thoughts, and he seems to be some kind of blank slate. Although this could be explained through the extras - from what spoilers I've seen from other reviewers.

I suppose if you like self-inserts for the MC, you may enjoy this more than I did, but the MC always has... more>> to have a personality for me to properly enjoy a novel. This character was too much like plain oatmeal for me to find interesting.

The plot of each door is pretty interesting, but it feels like there's something missing. I think it may be because the author focuses too much on the lore outside of the doors, that it loses the natural horror atmosphere of the situation that the doors set up.

Also because ML is so OP, it really diminishes the fear of death because you feel like he's just gonna carry the MC through the situations. This is also because we don't get any insights on the MC's thoughts or feelings, so it loses a lot of potential for immersive writing. The greatest way to make the reader feel like they're living the story is by letting the reader have an understanding on the MC's feelings. And unfortunately, that was not done well.

If you're interested in an infinite-flow-type story that focuses more on the horror aspect and has good character writing and development, I would recommend Death Spiral. <<less
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HiddenHermit
HiddenHermit
December 13, 2023
Status: c45 (dropped)
Dropped. Pretty good novel but I'm dropping (without rating) it because it's too gory and affected my sleep. I keep visualizing certain scenes when trying to fall asleep. As a person who stays away from horror movies and haunted houses, I can still handle most written horror stories. However, the author's use of words to create imagery forced me to submit to my cowardice. 🫣 Besides this, I liked the novel and wanted to finish it but will have to be content with reading the spoilers from the other reviewers.
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p1xelcorn
p1xelcorn rated it
September 1, 2023
Status: Completed
Oh I loved it so much. I have stayed up far past my bedtime for multiple nights and partway through binging it, I felt sad that this meant I would finish it faster.

My favourite thing to read is something that's both horrific and hilarious and this did all of it. The love between the two MCs — it was slow and it was so natural.

The plot was amazing, even after the MCs got together, my desire to read more didn't slow.

There were definitely some confusing bits but I just passed... more>> over them.

Highly recommend. It's something that made me laugh, cry, squeal, gasp, be afraid to step off my bed at night.

For reference, the two other webnovels I've enjoyed the most passionately have been Love Between Fairy and Devil and ErHa. <<less
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BellsMoon
BellsMoon rated it
March 24, 2023
Status: Completed
3 starts for: The romance, Ruan Nanzhu e the terror.

I was excited to read this novel as I'm a fan of this genre but this was a bit disappointing.

It had a lot of potential but in the end left me with the feeling of being bad developed and a waste of potential.

The thing that left me down mostly was that there's no other mainly plot besides passing the doors. Like in qqgk, they pass through the tests which is parallel arcs but meanwhile they try understand where they are and... more>> than fight to defeat the thing keeping them there. There's a mainly goal besides the tests. Or Mist, where the first mission goes wrong that leads to the next and the next and they go through the missions trying go back home. There's a mainly goal besides the missions. So I missed this here, a mainly goal besides the doors. It could be anything, like the mystery about the door 12. (There was also the indication of mystery, like saying how LQS is especial and different, with a super hearing and being really cool about all that, they mentioned this again and again and in the end was nothing. Never addressed.)

The way it went it made me feel like each door was a short horror story. You can skip any, mostly or all doors and it really won't matter. You won't loose anything.

The other things that bothered me is the sexism. Female characters are so, so bad written.

We have some girls who although they are inside the door frightened, they dispute for men attention. Like they can't accept one or more men giving so much attention to "another" that they acted all "I'm scared, protect me". All to be dismissed and humiliated.

Some girls don't act like this. Like they're strong and clever. But "b1tchs" and everytime they're talking to another girl the narrative make sure to tell you they're being fake. (There was 2 like this. I still don't know if they were the same or not. Cause they were exactly the same in behavior)

Then we have one girl being actually kind towards someone she thought be a girl too. But is only for romantic/s*xual interest.

99% of the monsters are female. Mostly cases, a victim in their story.

There's a high point/irony/ in the narrative where it's said that mostly women don't get to the final doors, cause they're weaker than men. However, mostly doors, if not all, you pass through by using your brain, being brave, having luck, not physical force. So yeah, is a really s*upid remark.

There's other small things that by itself as happens in other novels, don't bother that much, but putting together with all this it makes worse. I know mostly danmeis don't have good female characters, but this one was exceptional. It was sexist.

A little of the pros and things in between (before I talk about the plot twist with a spoiler) :

The romance it was great. They have a lot of chemistry, they're fun and cute. And after they end up together they're so emotional, with that kind of desperate love of "if you die I die" type of thing. I loved.

Ruan Nanzhu is just amazing. I fell in love in the first chapters. He's a drama king, cold, stoic, but warm, shameless and naughty. He's so fun but also so bad4ss and dedicated lover.

Meanwhile the MC was a bit boring. I don't hate him or anything but he's the first MC that I don't absolutely love. I found his personality kinda weak. He's not shameless as the synopsis suggests. He's also not that shy either.

About that, I saw some people saying he changes too much. However I didn't saw this way. He was never that shy, right in the beginning he tell RNZ he likes sleeps with him. Introverts don't mean be shy. When they starts dating is natural that they acts more shameless. Introverts people won't act shy around their loved one. Some may, some not. To me he was consistent.

Other thing I saw was people complaining about how they deal with death. I also don't agree is weird. Cause they're all like in death's door, literally. They're like terminal ill patients who knows that tomorrow anyone of them could be dead. They're mentally prepared. We don't see mostly of the secondary characters, but the little we saw the did cried and all. As for the MC, he was completely depressed after that one death. And always remember the death of the others being depressed again. Is not a deep grief, but this is more related with the narrative. Either way to mostly deaths I felt their attitude coherent too. RNZ is the type that is strong for the others. Cold outside but you see emotions coming through sometimes.

There was only one death I missed more feelings, I mean

Spoiler

he was in a worse state for Qianli than for his old friend. I get that Qianli was like a innocent child, but still

[collapse]

The Obsidian group is well... if you wait a vibe of found family, don't. Mostly are erased type, they have poor development and even little time on scene. Only Qianli and his brother appears more having more in depth. Than we have Tan Zaozao, who is not part of the group, she's not that developed but have far more time on scene and development than the only woman from the group. So...

Alright now let's talk about the plot twist. First without spoil. I understand why mostly people here hated it and decided to ignore. Is cause you can ignore. The plot twist appears only in the first extra and than is only mentioned again in the last extra. Is ignored in the extras in between. Is not properly addressed. It felt like the author had written the whole novel before deciding adding this just for have a plot twist. And didn't mind with inconsistencies and plot holes.

Now with spoilers:

Spoiler

So RNZ is a NPC/god. This means he was no real in real life. The door we thought to be the first was actually after LQS entered door 12. After he left he still didn't have his memories back, so wasn't he still inside the door 12? If that so, why would it be talked about as if RNZ had entered all those doors afterward with him. If this was the case, than this would mean they were back in reality, if they were back in reality than why LQS and the others didn't remembered of the real/original life? Why they see RNZ as the leader still? If in the door why say RNZ went through those doors with him? Wouldn't that mean that the whole novel was an illusion inside the door 12? They only left in the end, that's when the door 12 was sealed, indicating that only than RNZ left the door, so again. Nothing was in real life? After they come back, people remember RNZ but also of LQS as their leader. And the best/irony/ they mention that RNZ dropped high school, how would he drop high school if he technically don't existed in real life, once he was not human? Maybe something get lost in translation, I'm not that slow to understand things, I had no problem with Mist, Little Mushroon, 2ha, which has far more complex elements and twists. This one is just bad written or bad translated or bad explained.

[collapse]

The worse part is that the plot twist is actually cool and good. Or would've been good if it had been better developed and explained. With hints from the beginning and consistency. But unfortunately this was not the case.

I honestly only indicate this if you're after horror story without mind if they seems short not connected stories. The doors are actually really cool. The horror and terror is really nice too. Creepy. They're all based on real life myths and urban legends.

I only finished this for the romance. They are quite a couple. I did skip some doors and I hope some day read those, maybe with the intention of read short stories. It works better this way. <<less
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yaagrabrag
yaagrabrag rated it
March 14, 2023
Status: Completed
A very different book from what I was expecting, but amazing nonetheless. I was on edge for so many chapters, despite knowing how many were left to go. I was shocked and dazed at some of the plot twists and unexpected happenings. The novel was just the right length to tell its story.

To me, the main characters seemed really flat and a bit extreme. I mostly like how it progressed, minus the creepy undertones. Side characters did a well job at bringing life to the world.

I'd really give this a... more>> 4/4.5 out of 5. <<less
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taestykookie
taestykookie rated it
February 23, 2023
Status: Completed
I'd like to pretend as if the extras didn't exist at all.

It was such a nice story till the end of main story and then extra just ruined it for me.

I agree with others reviews saying that Ml's plot twist was so unnecessary.

... more>> Except for the extras I loved everything in the novel. I was hooked already from the very first chapter. I feel like the horror element was done really well in this novel.

ML was a really great character (in the main story), him acting coquettish inside the door when he is so aloof and cold in reality was so fun to read about. Him teasing MC and MC indulging with him in his acts was really funny. Their relationship development was extremely nice.

Side characters were equally lovable too especially Cheng Qianli and Gu Longming being my favorite.

All in all it's a really great story just disappointed because of the extras. <<less
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Yammenes
Yammenes rated it
February 3, 2023
Status: --
Definitely the best bl novels out there. The picture of the novel itself is hinting what monsters the couple will encounter in each doors. And that infamous twist of true identity of ML is too effin good and most likely why ppl went crazy after reading that chapter lolololol
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