Cold Sands

Description

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He’s just a low-ranking deputy general and he’s a prince. They meet on the battlefield but it turns out to be the beginning of a complicated and beautiful story.

Murong Yu is a very confident man – until he meets Han Xin.

There’s nothing he cannot get; there’s nothing he cannot destroy.

To let live or not, is all up to him.

He is the future ruler of Great Yan and so it’s only natural that the world should bow down at his feet.

But he had never thought that one day he would lose control of it.

That even his own will would be uncontrollable.

Murong Yu can neither get nor destroy this prisoner of war.

Han Xin has never given a care about the world – until he meets Murong Yu.

He has never cared about anyone, nor has anyone cared about him.

It doesn’t matter if you’re alone or sad, as long as you can still laugh, life will go on.

He has learned long ago how to not question, how not to believe, how not to lose and how not to care.

Destiny’s uncaring teasing and humiliations have already become numb to him.

That’s right, he doesn’t have a care in the world.

Even if it’s this Prince Royal of Great Yan who’s started to warm up to him.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Beyond the Frore Dunes
Mo Shang Han Sha
漠上寒沙
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
War Prisoner (7)
Thousand Autumns (4)
Xia Niangniang (3)
To Rule in a Turbulent World (3)
Till Death Do Us Part (3)
Ai No Kusabi (2)
Recommendation Lists
  1. All BL Novels I've Read Part (1)
  2. TBR BL that i believe hold the potential to make i...
  3. BL in Ancient Times
  4. Danmei worth reading (at least for me!!!)
  5. Political Danmei

Latest Release

Date Group Release
08/08/15 Chinese BL Translations extra 4
07/30/15 Chinese BL Translations extra 3 part2
07/18/15 Chinese BL Translations extra 3 part1
07/02/15 Chinese BL Translations c41 + epilogue
06/25/15 Chinese BL Translations c40
06/18/15 Chinese BL Translations c39
06/11/15 Chinese BL Translations c38
06/04/15 Chinese BL Translations c37
05/28/15 Chinese BL Translations c36
05/21/15 Chinese BL Translations c35
05/14/15 Chinese BL Translations c34
05/08/15 Chinese BL Translations c33
05/07/15 Chinese BL Translations c32
05/06/15 Chinese BL Translations c31
04/30/15 Chinese BL Translations c30
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79 Reviews sorted by


Xiao Bao zi
Xiao Bao zi rated it
July 22, 2020
Status: --
Finished it quite a long time ago (3-4 months ago) but stopped by to leave a review. I've never done so in the past and this should be my first time.

The reason as to why I stopped by again is because I couldn't forget how this made me bawl my d*rn eyes out. Author's words invoked such deep emotions that the pain had set roots in my heart. I really couldn't help but cry man D*MN. The characters were well-written, the pacing was aight and I'm only angry with the... more>> fact that they didn't end up togetherbdvosdbjvsdvsn <<less
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Cherry tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes rated it
July 18, 2020
Status: Completed
Overall: 5 of 5, no contest

I cried and cried and cried. I cry so much. I literally cry a river by the end because every sentence just squeeze my tear duct.

Yes, it's tragedy. It's sad. It's heartwenching, heartbreaking, and there's no happy ending for the MC and ML due to their position. But, their love is pure and beyond beautiful. It's so beautiful that it's the closest thing to a happy ending for them.

Definitely recommend for everyone to give it a read. (There's smut too. I'm so happy for that.... more>> I'm happy everytime I read a good written smut in cnovel to a beautiful story.) <<less
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Talker09
Talker09
February 25, 2020
Status: Completed
Funny start and then we get a emotional ride

I loved it but didn't really like the end

The MC didn't deserve anything that happend to him

And the chains of love, responsibility that killed his heart, I hate it! I hate it!

But sometimes you have to sacrifice for something good,

Both the MC and ML did the same
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softmatcha
softmatcha rated it
June 1, 2019
Status: Completed
For someone who doesn't like to read sad stories, I HAVE to stress that Cold Sands holds an unshakeable position as one of my all-time favorites. I implore you to give this a read if you want a full-bodied, memorable story that engages your emotions with vivacity.

Cold Sands isn't a tragedy in the sense that it's out to spend all your tears and tissue boxes for the sake of making you suffer - ex. The cliche where a character who's dying/close to death reveals the whole truth, which could have... more>> easily resolved the very misunderstanding that caused their misery.

No, this is a proper tragedy in a literary sense - more reminiscent of Shakespearean or Greek tragedies in its structure and character growth, as well as the trials and tribulations they face and endure. Cold Sands evokes a wide range of emotion, and while sadness is not the predominant tone, it is a kind of sadness that is truly felt deeply by the characters and not just the reader.

It follows a natural course of events that will have you easily invested in the dynamic story, and just as easily invested in the complex characters. I found the ending very satisfying, and the extras do well to make it even more poignant. <<less
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Red Pineapple
Red Pineapple rated it
May 23, 2019
Status: Completed
It has been half a year or maybe a year after I read this, but I still hardly move on from it. Really touching.
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takumiforever
takumiforever rated it
May 8, 2019
Status: Completed
*BAWLING FOREVER IN THE CORNER*

help my tears won't stop, this story is just so painfully well done I'm totally crushed under all the feels

the plot! The characters! Esp the characters! OMG THE CHARACTERS

... more>>
Spoiler

my heart also goes to the side character general Heng, he was sooo loyal and everything and his feelings are true goddamn just as when I thought the end couldn't be more heartbreaking, I was once again crushed.

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while this couldn't be called a true HE, I actually thought the end was really fitting and somewhat satisfying as the plot and story progression go <<less
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kiraluvst
kiraluvst rated it
March 4, 2019
Status: Completed
Just, brilliant.

I had been saving this one because of the reviews, wanted to give it full attention when my heart and mind were ready.

I actually paused a bit after the MC and ML's first farewell because after that their story went independently for quite some time and the plot just went seriously real. I thought it would be boring until their next meeting and I would have to skim some parts, but I was totally wrong. The MC's character development was just so engaging with a sense of bitterness and... more>> loneliness as the main theme. I honestly sympathized with him.

The story-telling is really an art, every word is written beautifully, the translation is also extraordinary.

The story is ironic in some ways, since the MC was trapped into a situation far far beyond his expectation right after he decided to leave all of the good things he could have for freedom, that was never meant to be his. All of the good things he would love to come back to and yearn for until the end of his life.

The ending is terribly realistic. It is painfully sad, but it's the kind of sad that you cannot really complain about, the kind that you understand and have to accept involuntarily. I would not choose a different ending. Every "they could have..." is a violation of their sacrifice.

After finishing the story, it left me with such a lingering feeling.

Please trust me and the other reviews, this is so worth your time.

Note: you can finish without reading the first 2 extras and you'll still feel satisfied. Frankly speaking, I was quite disappointed about how the MC treated his loyal partner-in-crime who fought side by side with him, after the war. I believe this man deserves so much more : ((

Here are some heart-wrenching parts of the novel:

Spoiler

"Go." He passes me the reins and closes my palm. I look up at his bitter expression.

"You wanna live like the wind and I know you're not that obedient. You'd never just stay by my side like that. And I'm your enemy no matter how you look at it. We might've reached intimacy... and I could make you stay but your heart would be gone."

[collapse]

Spoiler

I squeeze the letter in my right hand as my heart begins to ache.

After years of overcoming hardships and obstacles and putting my life on the lines battle after battle, I have longed for someone to be there, for someone to understand me, for us to support each other with all our heart and share our feelings.

Yet the person I have chosen ended up leaving me.

[collapse]

Spoiler

My enemy's enemy is my friend.
I let out a deep breath and start feeling disgust towards myself.
Calculating and plotting every step of the way, abandoning my true self, becoming heartless, becoming coldblooded, tirelessly disposing of anyone who gets in my way.
And that includes the love of my life.
In the dark, gloomy palace hall, I tilt my head back and feel the warm fluids drip down my
face.

[collapse]

Spoiler

I'm not a good emperor.
I can't save everyone.
I'm tired.
It's as if I'm walking through a foggy night. From the skies above, an ocean of blood comes roaring towards me to drown me.

Where are you, Murong Yu? Why have you still not come yet?
I don't want anything. I just want you to come and take me away from this terrible nightmare.

[collapse]
<<less
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peachgummy
peachgummy rated it
January 31, 2019
Status: --
Amazing read.

This was one of the first Chinese BL novels I read, and I'm so happy I found it. I'm writing this review nearly 3 years after having finished it, but I still remember the insane feelings I had while reading it. It's such a beautiful story, but be warned--even if you are ready for the angst, it might hit you harder than you think! The characters and plot are so wonderfully crafted and they'll string your emotions along with them.

... more>>
Spoiler

By the end you might be mad and sad and resigned, but miraculously satisfied because the author lays out all the circumstances that led to that point, and shows us that life is really full of difficult decisions.

[collapse]

I'm pretty sure I'll end up reading this again at some point, it was so memorable to me. <<less
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soup-chan
soup-chan rated it
September 13, 2018
Status: --
This novel is not for the faint hearted. It wrecks your emotions. I literally cried in the end. No novel has been able to make me cry. The love, passion, destiny, SACRIFICE and DUTIES. One of the best novel I've ever read.
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Shaelin
Shaelin rated it
September 2, 2018
Status: Completed
I'm giving this story 5 out of 5.

For those who stays away because of the sad ending, let me tell you that it's not actually sad. More like realistic. The ending fits well with the grim setting. Despite being the 'uke', the protagonist isn't wimpy, powerless, or weak-willed.
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Redroses__
Redroses__ rated it
August 21, 2018
Status: Completed
It started in a humorous and kind of fluffy way. The banter betwen the MC and the ML was funny and the way it was written you will certainly feel the character's emotions. So even when they were apart from each other, even if there were only a few chapters left, I had still hoped. Hoped that they the MC HX will just say f*ck it and elope with the ML. Seriously, why wad the MC so righteous, and why was the ML so ambitious. I want them to elope... more>> and travel the world. ? Its kinda hard to move on to another story after this one. <<less
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missred
missred rated it
July 4, 2018
Status: --
I only read this story one time. But that one time makes me feel like my heart is being shredded! Piece by piece. It was beautiful and yet so heart wrenching. *Sniffs*
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
isecai
isecai rated it
June 23, 2017
Status: --
How come I haven't read this before? It's so intricately woven. Too realistic for my type, but that is precisely why this is a masterpiece. It fulfills the romance, drama, character development, all in a top notch narratives. Soon enough, the translation already immerses you into their world. Try it.
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
trufella
trufella rated it
September 4, 2016
Status: Completed
I finish it all at Sunday, I try to read its because yaoi tags but the story so good from comedy at beginning to angst plus action until its bitter end. I am glad to have time to read this story even I cry a lot.. My score 5/5
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Sakamaki Sitaara
Sakamaki Sitaara rated it
December 3, 2021
Status: Completed
Sigh...... cold sands....I've wanted to read it for a long time but just couldn't find the time because of studies. Had I known that it would be such a masterpiece, I'd never

waited this long to read it even if I had to slack off for some times.., .anyway, I've always been a sad*st so cold sands was just perfect for me. This novel is well deserved of the tragedy tag. It may seem short but the chapters are really long. I think if the chapters were written according... more>> to normal length, it would be at least 90 chapters. It's just my guess or perhaps I was in a hurry to finish that's why they seemed long to me. Anyway, there are a few novels as heart wrenching ass this on. All in all, This novel is perfect for all the sadists, masochists and sadomasochists out there. Do not hesitate to read, this is just wonderful ! <<less
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h1kar1
h1kar1 rated it
October 7, 2021
Status: Completed
One of the first danmei novels that I read and I was so moved by it that I still remember it to this day. The emotions, pains and longings are so intense I could feel my heart break just imagining the things that the characters were going through, but at the same times it was also so deliciously painful. The ending is truly what you call "bittersweet" ending, it was really fitting for their story and situations and honestly I couldn't think of any other suitable ending, even though it... more>> will leave you empty and heartbroken.

So, if you're ready to experience a rollercoaster of emotions and unforgettable reading experience, read this novel. <<less
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nsharm11 rated it
August 13, 2021
Status: --
Just finished reading it and I loved it. Awesome story :)

Thanks to author for writing such an amazing story and heartfelt thanks to translator too who did a tremendous job too!

Spoiler :

I cried buckets : ((. My heart is still in so much pain and this shows how good the story is, it is able to stir such strong emotions in me!
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Kala
Kala
November 19, 2018
Status: Completed
I never liked novels with sad endings...
I just can't stop crying...
That was the most beautiful novel I've ever read! Ever!
I can not point anything to complain about ... more>>
Spoiler

even thou they could not be together...

[collapse]
Spoiler

This novel broke my heart but I don't regret it. I don't regretting knowing Murong Yu and Lin Xin as their story even thou full of pain and separation was still full of love... Love for each other... Love for their counties and its people...
I strongly believe that if in their world God exist he must have granted them another life that could fulfill all of their desires.

[collapse]
<<less
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aovel
aovel rated it
September 2, 2018
Status: c96
Heart wrenching... like watching cherry blossoms flutter with the wind. It was beautiful and lonely, if I was the type to hold grudges I'd say this was tragic. But then there's a saying that goes: 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all...

I would recommend it but a word of advice, this story is not for the faint hearted. If you want a pure happily ever after, look elsewhere, if you're willing to take the risk and compromise then dive into this world and... more>> decide if it's beautiful or tragic.",) <<less
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