Review: Kaleidoscope of Death (Break the Cocoon #1) by Xi Zi Xu |《死亡万花筒》破茧【上】西子绪著

5 stars for Kaleidoscope of Death (Break the Cocoon book 1) by Xi Zi Xu |《死亡万花筒》破茧【上】西子绪著.

I didn't expect myself to be so absorbed in this series but when a story is good, it is hard not to. I continue with this second volume of Break the Cocoon | 《破茧》right after I have finished reading Like a Dream |《入梦》.

Similar to the previous two books Like a Dream book 1 and Like a Dream book 2, there are a total of four doors in this book. I am familiar with three of the doors and its content from having watched the drama - three out of four is what I will say a very good number. The main difference is that the Doors are named differently in the book and I am so used to the name of the Door in the drama that it is hard to get used to the ones in the book. One thing to note is that the last Door in this book, Door 12, is actually not a complete door story as it stretches into the next book which is also the final one.

Truth be told, I do not particularly like Door 11 - yes, the new Door - as I find the setting somewhat stale. When we first have a high school setting in Door 5《佐子》, the idea is fresh and welcoming, but a second one again not long after albeit a University school setting, is just too much. The good thing is, other than Door 11, I have a great time immersing myself in the world-building of the other three Doors.

Again, for my own reference, I am putting down name of the doors here as listed in the book (the former) as opposed to what the drama has it termed (the latter). Though name of the doors could be the same, the door content and its sequence as showned in the drama does not always follow that of the book. Also, as what the author has pointed out, I want to highlight that the number of doors in the title is based on the number of doors entered by character Lin Qiushi, not the level he entered.

Book Door 9《哭儿郎》vs Drama Door 8《夜哭郎》
Book Door 10《晴天娃娃》vs Drama Door 9《扫晴娘》
Book Door 11《雕像》vs Drama Door does not have this
Book Door 12《发鬼》vs Drama Door 10《箱妖》

I am now left with the final book in this Kaleidoscope of Death series |《死亡万花筒》. I am not sure how I feel yet. But one thing I know for sure is, I don't want the story to end. I feel that, so long as I am reading and still reading, the characters will always be alive, and with me.

Publisher: 江苏凤凰文艺出版社
Publication date: 2021年09月

@}--->>--->>-----

起初的异样，是家里的猫不让抱了。 林秋石发现周围的一切都开始变得充满了不协调感。 然后某一天，当他推开家中的门，却发现熟悉的楼道变成了长长的走廊。 走廊的两头，是十二扇一模一样的铁门。 故事由此开始。

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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Review: Kaleidoscope of Death (Like a Dream #2) by Xi Zi Xu |《死亡万花筒》入梦【下】西子绪著

5 stars for Kaleidoscope of Death (Like a Dream book 2) by Xi Zi Xu |《死亡万花筒》入梦【下】西子绪著.

This book continues from where Door 5 was briefly introduced in book 1. Door 5 is a terrifying, unforgettable door. It leaves a deep impression long after I watched the drama, The Spirealm |《致命游戏》. That said, it is surprisingly one of my favourite doors. It creeps me out the most, and yet at the same time, moved me to tears.

As mentioned in my last review, the characters need to go through the doors and solve a mystery in each one before moving to the next door. By reading the finer details in this original story, I now have a much better understanding of each door and what it entails.

Same as book 1, there are four doors in this book, two of which I am already familiar with having watched the drama. However, the same cannot be said for the other two doors - they are totally new to me. Obviously, for one reason or another, these two doors have been omitted, or I should say, been re-scripted by the drama production team. The consolation is, most if not all, of the characters' names are kept intact. So, the sense of familiarity is still there even as I plough through the doors in the book.

Again, for my own reference, I am putting down name of the doors here as listed in the book (the former) as opposed to what the drama has it termed (the latter). Though name of the doors could be the same, the door content and its sequence as showned in the drama does not always follow that of the book. Also, as what the author has pointed out, I want to highlight that the number of doors in the title is based on the number of doors entered by character Lin Qiushi, not the level he entered.

Book Door 5《佐子》vs Drama Door 5《佐子》
Book Door 6《乌鸦稻草人》vs Drama Door does not have this
Book Door 7《威福利山疗养院》vs Drama Door 6《威福利山疗养院》
Book Door 8《铜镜》vs Drama Door does not have this

Though Door 8 is new to me, I actually quite like the story and the way the author crafted the world behind this door. It is not only spooky, mysterious and full of twists and turns, it is also filled with touching, emotional scenes.

I think I am reading this series a tad too fast. I want to slow down my reading to prolong my enjoyment of the story and the mystery behind each door. I know it is easier said than done, but I shall try. Well, we will know when I post my next review.

Publisher: 江苏凤凰文艺出版社
Publication date: 2021年07月

*** Favourite Quote 1 ***

《字面上的意思》page 372, 448, 625

page 372
“我们在调查关于你们班级的事。” 阮南烛开门见山，直接拿出了他们从档案馆里找到的那张照片，“我们想问，照片里少的那个人叫什么名字？”

他把照片拿出来，江信鸿只看了一眼就脸色大变：“你们从哪里找到这东西的？”

阮南烛挑眉：“这照片很特别？”

江信鸿没吭声，但林秋石却从他的眼睛深处看到了一种恐惧，仿佛眼前的照片不是照片，而是什么索命的怪物。只见他重重地吞咽着口水，声音里带着颤抖：“我不知道你们什么意思。”

“字面上的意思。” 黎东源突然开口，他的语气非常冷静，“我们也不是要为难你，只是想问清楚照片上到底少了谁，她的名字到底是什么？”

page 448
“在第一扇门的时候我就发现了。” 阮南烛说，“林秋石，你其实……很适合这里。”

林秋石挑眉：“什么意思？”

阮南烛：“字面上的意思，你的适应能力非常好。” 甚至可以说好过头了，在阮南烛出去调查到林秋石的的确确是第一次进门之后，便知道林秋石是个和门内世界很契合的人，想找到这样的人，并不是件容易的事。

page 625
阮南烛歪了歪头：“你们是亲兄妹吗？”

“是啊，怎么了？” 罗千山笑了笑，“不像？”

阮南烛：“不像。”

罗千水皱眉：“我和我哥哪里不像了……”

她话还没说完，便听到阮南烛轻飘飘地来了句：“活人和死人哪里像了？”

空气仿佛瞬间凝固了，罗千水愕然瞪着眸子，而罗千山的眼睛却如暮色一般沉了下来，他说：“你什么意思？”

“字面上的意思。” 阮南烛说，“你妹妹是在第几扇门死的？”

*** Favourite Quote 2 ***

《成仙》page 456

门外世界熬夜叫作修仙，门内世界熬个夜可能第二天直接就成仙了，根本不用修，一步到位很是省事。

*** Favourite Quote 3 ***

《光芒》page 585

林秋石想，人也是生物的一种吧，在黑暗的夜色里，看见光芒总会想要朝着那里走去。不去思考光芒的尽头到底有着什么。

*** Favourite Quote 4 ***

《无论是你的一辈子，还是我的一辈子》page 654

阮南烛沉默片刻，缓缓开口：“我第一次独自进门的时候很害怕。” 他似乎觉得有些好笑，“怕得要死，不过怕也没用，身边的人总不能带我一辈子……林秋石。 ” 他叫了林秋石的名字。

林秋石看向了他的眼睛，两人视线相触，林秋石听到了阮南烛轻声开口。

他的语气很淡，却带着股执拗的味道：“但如果你愿意，如果愿意——我可以护你一辈子，无论是你的一辈子，还是我的一辈子。”

~ Kaleidoscope of Death (Like a Dream book 2) |《死亡万花筒》入梦【下】
Xi Zi Xu | 西子绪

@}--->>--->>-----

起初的异样，是家里的猫不让抱了。 林秋石发现周围的一切都开始变得充满了不协调感。 然后某一天，当他推开家中的门，却发现熟悉的楼道变成了长长的走廊。 走廊的两头，是十二扇一模一样的铁门。 故事由此开始。

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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