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Painting the Mists #6
Kindling
On a Jade Moon between the stars, Cha Ming finds true love. But can he save her?
Cha Ming’s qi core is broken. Practicing martial arts is difficult and painful. But the Monkey King is fading fast, and he’ll need something stronger than mortal medicine to recover.
To that end, Cha Ming must cross the Bridge of Stars. The competition is stiff, and it will be hard to pass, even with the three-tailed fox Huxian by his side. It’s a good thing he meets a pretty lady who’s only too happy to help.
Yu Wen is kind, intelligent, and everything Cha Ming could ever hope for. Their bond grows every day. But a great evil has been following her for as long as she can remember, and now it knows exactly where to find her…
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2019
274 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Patrick G. Laplante
37 books72 followersPatrick Georges Laplante was born in a small town in the Canadian prairies in 1987. He began publishing Painting the Mists online under the pseudonym RedMirage in January 2018.
An engineer by trade, he graduated from the University of Alberta in 2009 and completed his master's degree in 2011. While writing and engineering have little in common, he actively utilizes his experiences and attention to detail in fleshing out a vivid world and answering the "whys," which are often left unanswered in Xianxia fiction.
As an avid vegan, he aims to prompt internal reflection in his readers through various themes like non-violence, choice, and begging the question: Is personhood restricted to humanity? And what is proper conduct, morality, and love?
His work is inspired by a combination of Western fiction, Dungeons and Dragons, Chinese web novels, and various Japanese, Korean, and Chinese comics and illustrated novels.
Patrick's hobbies include: reading, board games, and taekwondo.
An engineer by trade, he graduated from the University of Alberta in 2009 and completed his master's degree in 2011. While writing and engineering have little in common, he actively utilizes his experiences and attention to detail in fleshing out a vivid world and answering the "whys," which are often left unanswered in Xianxia fiction.
As an avid vegan, he aims to prompt internal reflection in his readers through various themes like non-violence, choice, and begging the question: Is personhood restricted to humanity? And what is proper conduct, morality, and love?
His work is inspired by a combination of Western fiction, Dungeons and Dragons, Chinese web novels, and various Japanese, Korean, and Chinese comics and illustrated novels.
Patrick's hobbies include: reading, board games, and taekwondo.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 13, 2020
I remember Sanderson once advocating for narrow-but-deep magic systems. Spend your time exploring the great and subtle impacts on society of the few drops of color that you've added to the real. If his process is one end of the creative spectrum, then Laplante pursues the opposite extreme.
While Laplante didn't invent the cultivation genre, steeped in Chinese mythology as it is, he has embraced its essence. Rather than a magic system, we have a magic world where anything is possible. There are seemingly endless series of methodologies that can be used to grant mere mortals powers to make the gods envious.
The problem with this approach to fiction is that the very lack of limits makes it impossible for the reader to anticipate solutions or strategies. The characters don't have to work within a known set of abilities and their associated costs, rather they seem to reach into the Author's mind and pluck out yet another miracle to save the day. There's little sense of risk.
Thus this series stays afloat on the strength of its characters - which are fascinating. The world-building is rich but unknowable. It's reminiscent of children's fantasy where the reader is expected to forgive even the most fantastical because anything is possible to the very young.
For the moment, I've had enough flights of fancy. Perhaps I'm getting too old.
While Laplante didn't invent the cultivation genre, steeped in Chinese mythology as it is, he has embraced its essence. Rather than a magic system, we have a magic world where anything is possible. There are seemingly endless series of methodologies that can be used to grant mere mortals powers to make the gods envious.
The problem with this approach to fiction is that the very lack of limits makes it impossible for the reader to anticipate solutions or strategies. The characters don't have to work within a known set of abilities and their associated costs, rather they seem to reach into the Author's mind and pluck out yet another miracle to save the day. There's little sense of risk.
Thus this series stays afloat on the strength of its characters - which are fascinating. The world-building is rich but unknowable. It's reminiscent of children's fantasy where the reader is expected to forgive even the most fantastical because anything is possible to the very young.
For the moment, I've had enough flights of fancy. Perhaps I'm getting too old.
July 28, 2019
Great read for fans of will wight
I’ve read the last six books in this series and this is the first one I reviewed. This series is great in the sense that it develops characters with a depth that is rarely seen by any other than master story tellers. Not only is it an entertaining read but the spiritual insights and emotional discoveries make me think the author is wise beyond the pages of his stories. The only hesitation I had to writing a 5 star review was the struggle I had to understand the complexities of the cultivation hierarchy as well as the focus on Buddhist numbers like 108 etc. I’m sure the focus is relevant and important but it got confusing when using the different significant numbers like 12, 1080, 100,008 etc etc I’m usually a very perceptive reader but I find myself hesitating on the descriptions of the different formations and significant numbers, instead I skim over than info and follow the flow of the battle or instance using the descriptive setting as opposed to the technical details of cultivation.
I’ve read the last six books in this series and this is the first one I reviewed. This series is great in the sense that it develops characters with a depth that is rarely seen by any other than master story tellers. Not only is it an entertaining read but the spiritual insights and emotional discoveries make me think the author is wise beyond the pages of his stories. The only hesitation I had to writing a 5 star review was the struggle I had to understand the complexities of the cultivation hierarchy as well as the focus on Buddhist numbers like 108 etc. I’m sure the focus is relevant and important but it got confusing when using the different significant numbers like 12, 1080, 100,008 etc etc I’m usually a very perceptive reader but I find myself hesitating on the descriptions of the different formations and significant numbers, instead I skim over than info and follow the flow of the battle or instance using the descriptive setting as opposed to the technical details of cultivation.
October 12, 2019
The just keeps getting better!
Following Du Cha Ming as he puts his future on the line and truly opens his heart for the first time we learn about matters of the heart, hope love faith, doubt and bitter calculation. We see the return of Yu Wen and Hong Xin adding some other great personality. A few points could have used some small clarification (like runic fragment myriad truth diagram relationship to runic arts like talisman/formation and fuxia's library. Also how can Yu Wen teach Du Cha Ming in Fuxia and then now claim to not know how to find a formation node? Definitely recommend reading all of these books though as the plot just keeps getting better!
Following Du Cha Ming as he puts his future on the line and truly opens his heart for the first time we learn about matters of the heart, hope love faith, doubt and bitter calculation. We see the return of Yu Wen and Hong Xin adding some other great personality. A few points could have used some small clarification (like runic fragment myriad truth diagram relationship to runic arts like talisman/formation and fuxia's library. Also how can Yu Wen teach Du Cha Ming in Fuxia and then now claim to not know how to find a formation node? Definitely recommend reading all of these books though as the plot just keeps getting better!
May 3, 2022
not my favorite on the series
The story continues strong, but the details become so blurry and messy. The best characters of the series, the Spirit Animals, shine way less even though they had much more protagonism.
The problem is that all characters lose pages and pages saying the same thing repeatedly without moving the plot forward. And I have the impression some chapters are there to make the story longer. And when is time to resolve the main issue …. It Takes like four pages.
I loved how the female character finally has an actual plot and stops being accessories to men in the story. Just because of this, the book is already worthy.
The story continues strong, but the details become so blurry and messy. The best characters of the series, the Spirit Animals, shine way less even though they had much more protagonism.
The problem is that all characters lose pages and pages saying the same thing repeatedly without moving the plot forward. And I have the impression some chapters are there to make the story longer. And when is time to resolve the main issue …. It Takes like four pages.
I loved how the female character finally has an actual plot and stops being accessories to men in the story. Just because of this, the book is already worthy.
February 22, 2021
17.12.2020 - 4*
It was a good read but I had to take a break from it.
I was reading it for its light and kind of fluffy nature. The few last books started to be better in regards of plot etc. but it started to be very taxing emotionally, at least for me. I genuinely like our protagonists and especially the happenings in the end of the book was hard blow for me. So. I need a little time off from this story.
Binge reading could be the reason why I took it so hard, when I think about it. .)
It was a good read but I had to take a break from it.
I was reading it for its light and kind of fluffy nature. The few last books started to be better in regards of plot etc. but it started to be very taxing emotionally, at least for me. I genuinely like our protagonists and especially the happenings in the end of the book was hard blow for me. So. I need a little time off from this story.
Binge reading could be the reason why I took it so hard, when I think about it. .)
July 8, 2019
Great read
This one was my favorite of the entire series. Each book has been a better story than the previous fantastic book. The heroes are not all powerful except when they team up as a group. Even when this happens there are severe consequences that makes you feel hope, loss, achievement, and failure. Duality at its finest. Superb effort
This one was my favorite of the entire series. Each book has been a better story than the previous fantastic book. The heroes are not all powerful except when they team up as a group. Even when this happens there are severe consequences that makes you feel hope, loss, achievement, and failure. Duality at its finest. Superb effort
August 7, 2019
Each book is progressively better!
Honestly, five stars is a bit of an understatement. The pacing is excellent, the world is amazing, the characters are well developed and each book in the series is better than the last. Heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Laplante for sharing this tale and can't wait for the next installment!
Honestly, five stars is a bit of an understatement. The pacing is excellent, the world is amazing, the characters are well developed and each book in the series is better than the last. Heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Laplante for sharing this tale and can't wait for the next installment!
June 3, 2019
Great Book
This whole series is an excellent addition to the English Wuxia style of novels. Well written, compelling drama, great action. One of the best series I have read in recent memory
This whole series is an excellent addition to the English Wuxia style of novels. Well written, compelling drama, great action. One of the best series I have read in recent memory
September 3, 2019
A solid book.
Overall I enjoyed the book but I did not enjoy the pavilion part of it. The pacing was good and fast paced otherwise. The emotional part of it was very well done and gave you both moments of sadness and bliss.
Overall I enjoyed the book but I did not enjoy the pavilion part of it. The pacing was good and fast paced otherwise. The emotional part of it was very well done and gave you both moments of sadness and bliss.
August 1, 2021
Best book of the series so far.
Best book of the series so far; I enjoy reading the characters being tempered with their personal battles. There might have been tears freely flowing at the end on my account.
Best book of the series so far; I enjoy reading the characters being tempered with their personal battles. There might have been tears freely flowing at the end on my account.
September 14, 2021
Good
The book it was good. Some book it was good I guess I don't know that this is just a review I don't really care about this but I just want to give this author good review cuz the book was pretty good I guess I don't know anyways yes.
The book it was good. Some book it was good I guess I don't know that this is just a review I don't really care about this but I just want to give this author good review cuz the book was pretty good I guess I don't know anyways yes.
June 13, 2019
Grabs your eyes
Like the other books of this series, this book grabs your eye balls and doesn't let go till the very end. And then leaves you hungry for the next book.
Like the other books of this series, this book grabs your eye balls and doesn't let go till the very end. And then leaves you hungry for the next book.
July 26, 2019
An excellent resd.
A delightful mix of fantasy, magic, martial arts, character decelopment and growth rivaled by very few Wuxia or LitRPG works, highly recommended.
A delightful mix of fantasy, magic, martial arts, character decelopment and growth rivaled by very few Wuxia or LitRPG works, highly recommended.
September 28, 2019
Adventure, and for once, romance
There hasn't been much romance in the series thus far, which is well and good, but this book touches on it in very sweet and touching ways
There hasn't been much romance in the series thus far, which is well and good, but this book touches on it in very sweet and touching ways
April 25, 2020
Opinion:The jump in strength is off
This book had alot more emotions than the others which I think is cool. I could relate to the loss that was felt.
This book had alot more emotions than the others which I think is cool. I could relate to the loss that was felt.
May 11, 2020
Good
A good entry into the book series, I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book released.
A good entry into the book series, I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book released.
May 6, 2022
Very good
There's a few small errors, but this is where the series really picks up. Held my attention all the way through.
There's a few small errors, but this is where the series really picks up. Held my attention all the way through.
July 13, 2022
4.5 stars it would have been 5 stars if not for the boring Red dust pavilion side story that I did not like. This book seriously had me laughing and crying at several points what an emotional roller coaster. I can't wait to continue with the next one. I am so glad I stuck too this series even though book 3 almost made me give up on it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews