I am finishing The Untamed and am IN. LOVE. I thought I remembered you posting a thread on where to go next in this journey but can't find it! Do I want to read the English fan translation of the novel? Do I want to read the (I don't know the word for the Chinese version) Manga? Watch the animated version? What comes after The Untamed? Help, Unforth! You're my only hope! (If you have the time/spoons/energy, of course.) Thank you!!
Ack I’m so sorry I didn’t answer this sooner, I’ve kinda been a mess this week. Anyway! You have a lot of places you can go next!
The Untamed is adapted from Mo Dao Zu Shi, a novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. It’s explicit, the ship is canon, warnings for dub con (acknowledged, which at least for me makes a difference) and homophobia. There are multiple adaptations of MDZS, all of which are more similar to each other than any of them are to Untamed - Untamed made some major changes in the plot (for example, changed the entire timeline for when Xue Yang, Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan are introduced, and completely invented the Yin Iron and everything related to it) and those changes aren’t present in any of the other versions. That said, they’re different, but still enjoyable. (personal disclaimer: I *far* prefer the Untamed to the others, but that’s just me, some people love the others far more.)
Exiled Rebels Scanalations English translation
Mo Dao Zu Shi Donghua by Tencent (Chinese equivalent of anime)
I think there’s some other version people read but I’ve read the Exiled Rebs translation of the manhua (Chinese equivalent of manga)
Suibian Subs has the main version of the radio drama that I know of; I hear good things about it but haven’t listened personally
Those are all options if you want more of Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, and all the rest of our wonderful cast. Now, if instead you want some new characters to fall in love with, by the same author...
My favorite of the danmei novels I’ve read so far is Tian Guan Ci Fu. It’s also by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, and I adore it. The translation done by @yummysuika and others is phenomenal, and you can learn more about where to access it here. There’s also a manhua. It’s currently on hiatus, but you can read translations on TGCFMissy’s account on Twitter. (the first chapter is missing a few of the sections and I don’t know why but all the rest is there). The donghua has one season out, and recently came to Netflix.
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s third novel (well, actually her first - the order she wrote them in was this one, then MDZS, then TGCF) is Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong, usually translated to “The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System.” There’s a website with the whole thing translated but I personally read the first half-or-so of the chapters here, and the rest here. A manhua exists but it only had a couple issues come out before it vanished, and the first season of the donghua aired last year and is available on Youtube.
...and finally, some works by others...
Guardian, or Zhenhun, by Priest, is one of the early danmei works to get really popular. The show and the novel are VERY different. The show is available on Youtube. I don’t have time to hunt down the novel translation rn, sorry.
Word of Honor, also based on a novel by Priest, is a break out hit right now. I’ve only seen the first three episodes so far, but they’re great and I can’t wait to watch more. It’s on Youtube Afaik there is not an official translation yet of the entire series, even though it’s all aired. The novel it’s based on is “Faraway Wanderers”
The Husky and His White Cat Shizun, usually called Erha or 2ha, is by Meatbun Doesn’t Eat Meat. There’s a show adaptation filmed, but it hasn’t aired yet, and I believe there’s a manhua and a radio drama, though I’ve not listened to each. Warning for a LOT of dark themes, especially non-con stuff.
I’m currently reading Thousand Autumns, by Meng Xishi, and I’m enjoying it a lot. There’s also a donghua; the first season is on Youtube.
There’s loads more, and in a lot of ways I’m a terrible person to ask because I have so little time for watching and reading right now.
My personal “to watch” list right now is...
Word of Honor
The Lost Tomb Reboot (I’m almost done, but it’s not on the above list cause it’s not canonically queer)
Thousand Autumns donghua
Sleuth of Ming Dynasty
Probably about six other things I’m not remembering right now
My personal “to read” list includes...
Sha Po Lang (also by Priest)
The Wife is First
Those Years in Quest of Honor Mine
How to Survive as a Villain
Faraway Wanderers (by Priest)
And I’ve got some others stashed away in my Tumblr drafts - that’s where I save danmei rec posts when I see them on my dash.
So...that’s a lot. If you want one single rec? Tian Guan Ci Fu is so far my favorite, I’d personally say go there next. :D
