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The Diary of a Snezhnayan Boy
by C.T Ajax, M. Archon (Translator)
★★★★☆ 4.04 Rating Details 2,904,123 ratings · 100,506 reviews
When the Vision Uprising happened in the 19xxs, the world was unprepared for the dangers that swept the nations. Ajax Tartaglia happened to be a boy in the heart of all of that - a Snezhnayan boy-turned-vanguard for his Tsaritsa who he fought for and killed at her behest. Notoriously known as Childe, the boy is simply known in the history books for his ruthless past, his emotionless demeanour, and his sickening penchant for tiresome violence.
However, a diary unearthed in the 20xxs has come to prove otherwise, depicting Ajax “Childe” Tartaglia in an entirely different light.
Now known as the Vanguard who “Ended it All”, Ajax Tartaglia’s personal diary is a shockingly intimate view into the young vanguard’s life, who speaks about his time as a Snezhnayan nationalist, his unwavering time as a spy in Liyue, and the rebel who fought for us all.
Now with one extra chapter and an afterword .
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Paperback, Illustrated [Liy/Mond/Ina/Sne], 254 pages
Published 20xx by Morax Books (first published in July 20xx)
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Is The Diary of a Snezhnayan Boy a true story?
JiangXing As much as it sounds unbelievable, The Diary of a Snezhnayan Boy is 100% true. Although Archons no longer walk the earth among us, according to some historical artefacts, there had been… more
Is this book good for high schoolers?
Allen M. Absolutely! Given that the book solely focuses on the historical revolutions in Snezhnaya and then eventually Khaenri’ah, this is a good book to teach your kids regarding justice and the history of... more
Is The Diary of a Snezhnayan Boy a love story?
Mikhael V. There have been some arguments that The Diary of a Snezhnayan Boy is in no way a romance story. It mainly focuses on revolutions. However... more
Community Reviews
★★★★☆ 4.04 Rating Details 2,904,123 ratings · 100,506 reviews
Emma rates it ★★☆☆☆
Shelves: Goodread’s best read 2021, Non-Fiction, way to SHATTER MY SANITY, This Made Me Cry, Just Kill Me
SPOILERS AHEAD!
I’ve heard of raving reviews regarding this book, but I’ve never really come around to reading it until this afternoon. Needless to say, I am now crying my eyes out and writing this review with sixteen wet tissues stuck to my keyboard. You’re welcome.
Whoever told me this wasn’t a romance book was a goddamn liar. This entire thing is a love confession. The whole Liyue arc was a goddamn love confession. Holy shit. Was it really supposed to be a historical book? I kept trying to read and re-read it again, but nope, all I saw was two really gay, constipated people who just kept jumping around each other and - when they finally got the chance to confess!!!! - got screwed over by the universe.
That’s right. I’m looking at you, La Signora.
But seriously. What the hell? Okay, I know I should be more focused on history and everything. Hell, I’m reading this for my history class because of all the class disparity arguments that the author writes inside of it, but seriously. I can’t really focus on the idea of revolution and the thoughts on oppressive regimes when all I see is “ Sometimes, I enjoy hanging out with Mr. Zhongli for a cup of tea or a full-course meal at night”. DUDE. WHAT????? U SAYING U INTO HIM???
But on another note. The crying. You must be asking: it’s the sad breakdown of Childe’s past that got you, wasn’t it?
No, my dude. No.
What really got me was the fact that literally three separate times in the book (I am not highlighting where), the author has openly confessed to loving Zhongli more than a friend. Because why??? Because every time he confesses, he’s either halfway dead to the Underworld or slowly rising up to the Celestia’s. I swear, I’ll be fucking 90 and dying and this dude will STILL be blabbering about how much he loves Zhongli, and even then he’ll stick up a damn stick up his ass before he’ll actually tell the actual dude himself .
But ma’am! Ma’am! I hear some people call. That’s not the point of this memoir! The point of this memoir is to discuss the writer’s struggle in living in a supremely oppressed country! Man, I get it. I really do. But can you really look at me straight in the eye (no flinching!) and tell me that this book isn’t like 15% historical discussions and 75% wooing? I mean, dude, look at these excerpts:
- I quite enjoy hearing Mr. Zhongli talk. He speaks a lot like a river, calm and ever-flowing. Sometimes, when he twists his head to look at me and talk, he moves like the river, too, calm and elegant. He may as well be the most beautiful man I have ever laid my eyes upon.
- Mr. Zhongli is far too kind. When I talk to him about my hometown struggles, he simply nods and listens attentively; and when I’m done, he’ll come to me and offer me a cup of tea. It’s always green tea.
- I think Mr. Zhongli enjoys spending time with me. He’s been giving me gifts lately - one of which is a pair of chopsticks that I find supremely unusable, but it’s okay - and I find it incredibly endearing. I will keep them in my box where I’m sure it’ll be safe.
Giving him gifts? GIVING HIM GIFTS???? ARe you SERIOUS??? These two were literally skipping base one, two and three and they went to base fucking five with rainbow flags and basically declared themselves married. I mean, from what I was garnering from Childe’s description of the damn man, it was clear that Mr. Zhongli was as useless as he was broke. Dude literally couldn’t buy food without Childe having to show up more than once to pull out his wallet and throw foreign currency at the local stall keepers. So how tf did he buy him a boyfriend gift???
And there’s MORE. There’s like that one extract where Childe talked about how pretty Zhongli’s eyes were, or how he talked about wanting to card his fingers through Zhongli’s hair. There’s an excessive amount of descriptions about Zhongli’s booty - yes, you heard that right TOO - which I quote, “ Is shaped into the finest peaches I have ever seen” , which he later hastily scrubbed it out, but apparently, NOT ENOUGH, so now the whole goddamn world knows he’s been ogling Mr. Zhongli’s butt.
And the sexual tension. Oh god, the sexual tension.
I don’t give a shit if La Signora was screwing up their friendship by declaring Zhongli had a secret pact with the Tsaritsa. I don’t care that later, after that incident, Childe talked to Zhongli in quiet, hushed tones behind the back alley near Wangsheng Funeral Parlour. I do not give any, ANY damns that they, later on, split for like a couple of years or so, where Childe went from Harbinger of the Tsaritsa to Prime Rebel of the Snezhnayan Empire. I do not care.
What I cared about was that reunion scene. That oh-shit-I-haven’t-seen-you-in-three-years scene. That distinct crackling fire-hot energy that the author described, shocking through the both of them, literally shuddering down to their bones scene. I cared about the fact that Childe took one step, two steps, three! - and pounced on Zhongli and hugged him so tight, he never wanted to let go.
And I cared about the fact that he wrote this. In extreme detail. In four pages of pure agony of just Childe and Zhongli looking at each other, but Childe simply summarizes it with, “ I’m sure he doesn’t think of me this way. ”
I-
(picks up table) (rattles it while screaming) (throws it across the goddamn room and hears it shatter into a million pieces).
*Inhales*
WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE DOESN’T THINK OF YOU THIS WAY????????????
I can’t do it. I can’t. Idgaf if the whole world thinks this is single-handedly the most world-moving, heart-wrenching memoir about a Snezhnayan boy who grew up to be a nation's rebel. I know it’s supposed to be important - and in some ways, I am sorry for slandering the meaningfulness of it - but I just can’t. I’ve read this whole book and in no place - NO PLACE - do they tell me if those two idiots ever got together. I mean, sure, we got a healthy, whole Snezhnayan government, but DUDE. I am INVESTED. I deserve to know THE ENDING.
The discussions on social issues and economical problems? 5/5, no biggie.
But because of the romance? It’s now 2/5 stars. At least they had chemistry.
(P.S Real question - are the actual people in the memoir still alive right now????)
Edit: Oh shit the gods heard me, and they added an extra chapter and an afterword. I’m so fucked.
12,304 likes · Like · See Review
FanXing rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Mind-Breaking, History, Non-Fiction, Romance??
Hilarious review aside, I just had to clarify very cleanly for the OP that yes, the characters in the diary right now are, in fact, still alive. I know this because I’ve googled them up at one point, and apparently Childe now works in a Snezhnayan university called Harbinger Uni (Cool, right!?) and Zhongli, a funeral parlour advisor. They are living continents apart. I don’t know what you can do with that information.
Also, the book was great!
12,203 likes · Like · See Review
Alex. M rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Best Reads 2021
Okay I was going to leave a solid review when I saw that y’all mentioned that Childe worked in Harbinger Uni and I just had to check and…
HOLY SHIT!!!! Childe is my TEACHER!!!
I was thinking like, damn, why does the sports trainer here look super familiar. I mean, I feel like I’ve seen his face before. Then I checked my book I’m reading and fuuuuuck, they have the same face. Except now Professor Childe’s changed his name to Ajax.
That’s a good thing, right???
Anyway, y’all be here gossiping about his love life and, like, I’m just here to tell y’all that he’s kind of… taken??? Idk man, I saw a wedding band on his ring from a long time ago, and I’m pretty sure he’s been happily married for like 6 years. Idk, bro, but if you tryna get them together, it ain’t working.
12,103 likes · Like · See Review
Shan. Chi rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Audiobook
Wait, what do you mean Professor Childe’s taken??? Sorry, y’all, I also go to Harbinger Uni and I legit don’t remember that at all. If Prof Childe’s taken, we would have like, known from a long time ago how his husband looks like.
Also, I’m pretty sure we’re spamming Goodread’s website with spam ratings, but haha I promise you I’ve actually read this book. It’s pretty solid.
12,045 likes · Like · See Review
Alex. M rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Best Reads 2021
Dude, like, wtf are you talking about??? Do you not see that big mf ring that he wears literally every day to class? It’s like, what, this huge Cor Lapis gem on like this super gold band. How do you not see it??
11,980 likes · Like · See Review
Smelix rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: History
Wait, what did you guys say his ring looked like????
11,976 likes · Like · See Review
Shan. Chi rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Audiobook
Uh, apparently gold with a huge Cor Lapis gem, yall.
11,867 likes · Like · See Review
Lapis rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Great Discussion
Um, sorry to break it to you guys, but in the book, Childe talks a lot about receiving a large Cor Lapis ring from his beloved friend…
11,789 likes · Like · See Review
XingYi rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, Audiobook
O
11,776 likes · Like · See Review
Vlad.X rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Memoirs, Sad
UhHHHHH
11,746 likes · Like · See Review
Alex. M rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Best Reads 2021
Yo hold up, G, we gotta reconfirm this
11,701 likes · Like · See Review
Book.Lover rates it ★★★☆☆
Shelves: Non-Fiction
Guys, why is everyone using the Goodreads Review features as a chatbox??? If you guys wanted to talk about things, just go make a group or something.
Needless to say, I read the book and it was okay. The arguments were pretty basic. I liked the way the writer wrote. Not really an ‘oomph’ story, but good enough.
Edit: Can y’all stop roasting me in my DMs?
11,609 likes · Like · See Review
Alex. M rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Best Reads 2021
ALMOST DIED BUT I CAN RECONFIRM - PROF CHILDE DEFINITELY WEARS A COR LAPIS RING WITH A GOLD BAND
11,605 likes · Like · See Review
Sheela. R rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Romance, Definitely Romance
AYYYYYY MY MAN
11,599 likes · Like · See Review
Sam. B rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Romance, History
OOOOOOOO It gettING SPICYYY
11,556 likes · Like · See Review
Trinity. J rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: History, Drama
I’M TELLING YOU THIS SHIP SAILING
11,506 likes · Like · See Review
Alex. M rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Best Reads 2021
BUT WAIT
11,489 likes · Like · See Review
Trinity. J rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: History, Drama
?
11,506 likes · Like · See Review
Sam. B rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Romance, History
?
11,556 likes · Like · See Review
Shan. Chi rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Audiobook
SPILL IT
11,553 likes · Like · See Review
Alex. M rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Best Reads 2021
I talked to prof. Apparently, he says it's an old gift from a friend he really liked. Said “I don’t really know if I can meet him anymore.”
11,489 likes · Like · See Review
Kang. L rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction
You cannot be serious
11,467 likes · Like · See Review
Mia. G rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Romance
Actually gonna die
11,456 likes · Like · See Review
AllenBrickrates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Romance, History
Can’t we like… do something about it???
11,456 likes · Like · See Review
Alex. M rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Best Reads 2021
Like what dude, hook them up?
11,305 likes · Like · See Review
Alex. M rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Best Reads 2021
Actually...
11,301 likes · Like · See Review
Alex’sMom rates it ★★★★★
Alex I don’t know why you’re viral, but please don’t do something stupid you are on probation!!!!
11,299 likes · Like · See Review
Alex. M rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Best Reads 2021
YO MY GOOD MEN I AM TYPING THIS FROM A BATHROOM BEFORE MY MOM SNATCHES MY PHONE (AND MY WIG). PLEASE FIND ZHONGLI’S CONTACT NO. AND HOOK THEM UP ON MY BEHALF. THANK YOU
11,257 likes · Like · See Review
Lian rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Audiobook
Because I am his default best friend and therefore a partner in his crimes, I have found the deeds. Zhongli’s funeral parlour is at XXX-XXX-XXXX. Please someone contact him on my behalf because my mother, as Alex likes to say it, is about to clap my face across the ocean.
11,205 likes · Like · See Review
Emma rates it ★★☆☆☆
Shelves: Goodread’s best read 2021, Non-Fiction, way to SHATTER MY SANITY, This Made Me Cry, Just Kill Me
I’ve had like 100000 people e-mail and message me in the span of a single night only to come back to… a matchmaking session? Wtf?? And yall want me to do the honours???
11,199 likes · Like · See Review
Sam. B rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Romance, History
Please
11,155 likes · Like · See Review
Kang. L rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction
Please
11,140 likes · Like · See Review
Trinity. J rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: History, Drama
Please
11,139 likes · Like · See Review
Emma rates it ★★☆☆☆
Shelves: Goodread’s best read 2021, Non-Fiction, way to SHATTER MY SANITY, This Made Me Cry, Just Kill Me
Uggghhhh fine
11,135 likes · Like · See Review
Emma rates it ★★☆☆☆
Shelves: Goodread’s best read 2021, Non-Fiction, way to SHATTER MY SANITY, This Made Me Cry, Just Kill Me
Update: OH SHIT HE ACTUALLY REPLIED
11,135 likes · Like · See Review
Sam. B rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Romance, History
Update
11,155 likes · Like · See Review
Kang. L rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction
Update
11,140 likes · Like · See Review
Trinity. J rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: History, Drama
UPDATE????
11,139 likes · Like · See Review
Alex. M rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Best Reads 2021
Bruv I literally risk my mf ass to get yall to this stage and there’s no update??? How many weeks has it been??
11,129 likes · Like · See Review
Lian rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Audiobook
Alex u just got ungrounded, don’t go viral
11,128 likes · Like · See Review
Alex. M rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Best Reads 2021
Man yall useless Imma call his ass myself
11,125 likes · Like · See Review
Lian rates it ★★★★★
Shelves: Non-Fiction, History, Audiobook
ALEX
11,124 likes · Like · See Review
Alex’sMom rates it ★★★★★
Alex, young man, you are grounded!!!!!!!!
11,102 likes · Like · See Review
Book.Lover rates it ★★★☆☆
Shelves: Non-Fiction
Why does NOBODY use the Goodreads website for what it is?
11,609 likes · Like · See Review
Extra Chapter Excerpt
It is with a brief incredulity that I get a phone call one day from a stranger who, and I quote, told me to, “get together with Zhongli like the whole of Goodreads depended on it.” Given that I am a sports coach - and indeed, I spend most of my days just ignoring the internet - I had not anticipated such feedback or such backlash.
It is on the 5th of July that I get the hilarious call on a nice Sunday evening. I was enjoying wine with my 'friend' when I got the call, and with much hilarity, we both enjoyed the call since - as you all did not suspect - we were both a hot topic within it. That’s right, I actually do still keep in touch with Zhongli even after the years of the Snezhnaya upheaval, and even more so after the La Signora situation. I am sure that everyone never anticipated this sort of plot twist; after all, I tried my best to get my diary past the gay censorships after all.
But all is for naught, given that we have just entered a new century, and gay marriage has - quite obviously - legalized itself. Unlike you buffoons who think I am intentionally trying to be as dense as I was in my diary transcripts, I can assure you that I am not, in fact, that dumb, and I simply needed to change up the story a bit so that my primary message got across.
Which I assumed was also for naught, since clearly, half the memoir’s feedback is in direct correlation with my dumbassery and my obvious love for Zhongli.
I can assure all you desperate readers - and I am sure you are desperate - that I have been, indeed, courting Mr. Zhongli for years. We have been happily married for 3 (not 6!) and we have two children. We also have a reptile called Morax, but we’ll never bring him up in the story because he is not relevant . I am legally Ajax Tartaglia, while my husband is legally Zhongli Tartaglia, since my beloved does not have a last name (as I am quite sure all of you can ascertain from your very clear readings on my piece).
Of course, I thought that that phone call on Sunday would be the last of it, but no. Apparently, another bunch of students thought it necessary to call me out, too. And I also had a particular student who had a screaming mother in his background audio while he demanded, “Yo, brother, I don’t know what fucking stupid you’re inhaling, but PLEASE get together with Mr. Zhongli. Like, you two are dumbasses in love.” Needless to say, I hope you are alright.
But to all my students: Yes, I am that Childe Tartaglia from the Snezhnayan diary. Yes, my real name is Ajax. Yes, I have been happily (VERY happily!) married to Zhongli for all these years and we are very much enjoying our time together. You would think that one rebellion, one civil war, and one overthrown government would push us towards that quite obviously.
To Alex. M on Goodreads, I hope your mother lightens your grounding sentence for an innocent prank.
To E.Emma, who completely lost the point of my memoir, but still decided to call out my wooing in the book (and subsequently forced me to make her sign an NDA when I talked to her about having to release this bloody extra chapter now), again, do not worry, I am dating Zhongli.
To every other busybody out there, who clearly has invested too much time in my happiness, I am happy. Very happy. I am with a lovely husband and my children. We are fine.
Also, as a warning to everyone, Zhongli does not work for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour anymore, so please, stop calling his number. I keep telling him to ask the parlour to switch the number on their website, but they never seem to get that right.
Afterword
by M. Archon (Translator)
I think it goes without saying, then, the identity of the partner who worked with Mr. Childe in translating this piece is me. For me, this is a very personal piece - it is a study and a breakdown of Childe’s life in sections. From the day he grew up in the Tsaritsa’s army to the man he stands next to me today, I have always wanted to depict such moments as accurately as possible if only to cement my memory into place. To me, translating this to Teyvatan is an honour - the highest degree of trust Childe could ever afford me - and I do not intend to waste it.
But pleasantries aside, I think it is also ironic that I must write an afterword, too. After all, I wanted to keep this book solely “Childe”. It is his thoughts and words and memories that make this up, not mine, so to have to include some parts of my opinion feels like a desecration of something holy. (Of course, my husband digresses.)
I was forced to write this for two very obvious reasons. One, the “Goodreads” dilemma that’s been spilling all over the internet and, two, the inevitability of my discovery. According to my husband, I am the least subtle man on the planet (“I heard that!” Childe shrieks). Therefore, if there’s a public investigation ongoing on “Goodreads”, then it would be inevitable that someone will put two-and-two and find out that my pseudonym does me no wonders.
To the internet out there, this is all I can provide you: I have married my husband - and I have been married - for all these years that have passed. I will continue to be married to him when time passes on and the earth crumbles to dust. I will continue to marry him even when we are reincarnated into new lives - something my husband grumbles immensely about - and when we are whole and new, made to slot together once more.
He is my husband. My lover. I wouldn’t have anybody else.