Please understand this review is on the manhua up till where it currently has be released in English on Bilibili (we're on volume 5, chapter 70 I believe). I won't give any spoilers from the novel.
This is the highest rating I've given a manga or manhua simply because of one thing: the art. It's gorgeous full colour and stands head and shoulders above any I have ever read. I cannot gush more about STARember's style. It (for me at least) is totally unique. The unfortunate thing about illustration trends is that a lot of animation and manga starts to looks similar. TGCF stands out from the crowd. The artist put care, love and attention to detail in ever panel. I can gush a paragraph about how beautifully he renders the colours of the fabric of their garments... but I won't bore you. You get the idea; art = exemplary.
The story, at times, can be confusing if you haven't read the novel. I suspect the artist cut some of the details in order to focus on quality of artwork rather than quantity of panels. The manhua follows several fast-paced, sometimes funny story arcs, all held together with the slow-burning, hauntingly beautiful love story between Xie Lian and Hua Cheng... both whom have been beautifully drawn. Much currently remains a mystery and we haven't yet got to the best story arcs yet, but I so look forward to THE backstory... if you know, you know. All I'll say is that it's achingly painful.
The main characters are incredibly interesting, Xie Lian has lived a tough 800 years without becoming cynical and jaded. His experiences have made him a humble, likeable character. Hua Cheng's character (to date) has not really been revealed... and, as I said, I won't give spoilers except that you'll really want to see more of him.
When I first read the novel I knew nothing about xianxia or cultivation and spent half my time googling these terms. They are not explained in the manhua, but now the official translated novel does. Having a small index of terms at the beginning of the manhua would have been helpful.
I highly recommend TGCF if you enjoy great artwork, are open-minded about BL stories, enjoy Xianxia novels and like long-haired bishies running around in robes. Actually, if you enjoy great artwork just read it, I guarantee you won't regret.
I do realise that my rating of 10/10 has been affected by my knowledge of the novel storyline, nostalgia and sentimentality, but trust me... the artwork is 11/10!
Oh yes, and did I mention just how great the artwork was? 😂
