Lie Huo Jiao Chou (Draining Sorrows In Raging Fire)

 by Priest , I’m (Very Fashionably) Late, But Here We Are

Okay, I might be late to this Priest novel (Lie Huo Jiao Chou )(烈火浇愁, “Sorrow Drenched in Fierce Fire”) but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from falling back into danmei, it’s that it’s never too late when the angst hits just right.

You can read the beautiful, polished translation over on LotusScribe, and if you want to spiral with other readers (highly recommended), there’s a nice mix of opinions on Reddit here.

Thoughts on this novel:

This book is… something else. It’s technically urban fantasy with a post-apocalyptic backdrop. But really, it’s about:

• Found family,
• Grief and healing,
• Ancient gods and bureaucracy,
• And trauma management via dry sarcasm, coffee, and slow-burn yearning.

A Little Warning

People have dropped this novel early for valid reasons:

• The worldbuilding is dense.Like a lot Expect Bureau lingo, divine mechanics, reincarnated soul fragments, and terms like “Chiyuan” and “Vermilion Bird” being thrown around casually. But if you really stick to it you’ll survive.
• The pacing shifts. It’s not a straight mystery or a straight romance. It meanders, and the tone evolves. Which for me if part of the plotting, the way the story is told really builds the emotions.
• The names, timelines. flashbacks. It gets tangled.

But if you stick with it… it’s worth it.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for something subtle but devastating, quiet but rich in emotional depth, Lie Huo Jiao Chou might be your next favorite. It’s not loud. It doesn’t rush. But it lingers , and it stays with you.

Oh, and There’s a Donghua Too

Lie Huo Jiao Chou actually got adapted into a Chinese anime (donghua) called Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire  and yes, it’s on Crunchyroll.

The animation? Pretty sleek. The Bureau of Paranormal Control aesthetic is spot-on, Duan Feng looks effortlessly cool in every frame, and Shen Chi’s chaotic fireball energy translates surprisingly well to the screen.

Is it a perfect adaptation? Not quite. The plot gets a little compressed and, let’s be real, the romance is very blink-and-you’ll-miss-it. But if you’ve read the novel and just want to see your faves animated, it’s worth checking out. Think of it as a stylish bonus treat rather than a full emotional retelling. I read the book first before I started the episodes so I can follow the plot a bit.

Also, the fight scenes? 🔥