Stars of Chaos (Sha Po Lang) Danmei Novel Review

Stars of Chaos (Sha Po Lang or 杀破狼 in the original Chinese) by priest is a 4/5 star book for me.  Packed with action and kisses, this story was fun, emotional, and well written in almost all ways.

This is the first of two blog posts reviewing Stars of Chaos.  This one is a spoiler-free review.  You can also read the second review here, which dives into more spoilery goodness about the relationship between the leads.

Relationship

Both Gu Yun and Chang Geng are incredibly competent, one of my favorite danmei couple dynamics.  They each develop their competence in different environments and in different ways, some preceding the story and some within the timeline of it.  Through their independent journeys, their relationship evolves and builds over time in a way in a way that feels genuine, and their growing affection and love for one another feels like an organic extension of their circumstances and natural dispositions.

While there are many other elements to Stars of Chaos, this is a critical one for my enjoyment of a danmei story and Chang Geng and Gu Yun definitely don’t disappoint.

Setting

The steampunk setting of Stars of Chaos is also exquisite.  I have read a lot of British-based steampunk works and a smattering of American-based ones. Steampunk at its best is a re-imagination of the industrial revolution that explores the outcomes of changing means of production across different social classes through the lens of something a little utopian.  Stars of Chaos dives right in here, interrogating the isolationist Ming Dynasty response to 19th century industrialization.  The book directly reimagines what could have led to a more visionary approach. What would have happened if China had responded differently to Western industrialization?  The answer priest has to this question is indeed utopic.

(Note: I’d love to dig into this more in a future blog post, especially if I can leverage the expertise of some historians of this era.)

Secondary Characters

Stars of Chaos also shines in its nuanced treatment of some of the antagonists.  The handful of antagonists throughout the story who are connected to the Imperial Court in one way or another are treated deftly.  They have their own motivations, aspirations, and ideas about what is best for the nation.  Characters make bad choices for good reasons (and sometimes the reverse), and are ultimately sympathetic and three-dimensional.

Unfortunately this is much less the case for other antagonists in the story, especially ones who are not Chinese.  Whether Japanese, generically Western, or from northern desert tribes, these antagonists more often feel like two-dimensional caricatures.  Stereotypes abound and their decisions and impact feel driven less from internal motivations than by plot necessity.  At times this bordered on unbelievable, and is the main reason this story is 4 stars rather than 5 for me.

The same can also be said for some of the friendly side characters.  Once again, this treatment is uneven.  Some of the side characters feel fully realized, while others feel like simple plot devices even when they appear frequently throughout the 5-volume story.

Closing Thoughts

Overall, Stars of Chaos is a wonderful read. Despite my critiques, Gu Yun and Chang Geng will undoubtedly remain one of my favorite couples.  I also deeply appreciate the political and aesthetic aspects of the world priest has built. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy unusual but sweet romances, action-driven plots, and immersive (semi-)historical settings.

Want to read more? Check out a deeper dive into the spicy parts of Chang Geng and Gu Yun’s relationship.