Priest (pseudonym) (born 13 June 1988) is a Chinese author whose works are published online. She has been actively writing since 2007 and has received several awards for her writing. She is signed by the web-based publisher Jinjiang Literature City. She is considered to be among the top five Chinese writers catering to women's interests. She is known for writing various genres of danmei, as well as novels featuring female protagonists. Her works have been adapted into manhua, donghua, and Chinese dramas. Many of her novels have been translated into Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese versions. The dramas Guardian, Legend of Fei, Word of Honor, and Justice in the Dark are based on Priest's novels.
Life
Priest graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. She then attended Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She works full-time, writing on the side. She has a cat named Pizai (皮仔).
Writing
Priest's works have deep humanistic themes, reflecting reality and women's growth. The Biennial Network Literature Award stated: “This work [You Fei] gives full play to the author's ability to control the grand historical theme, vertically continues the classic context of the wuxia novel genre, horizontally connects with the female Internet text, and opens up new possibilities in the old type tradition. The novel has a grand structure, steady rhythm, concise language, delicate and touching characters, and delicate emotions. It is a rare masterpiece of contemporary network wuxia novels." Her novel You Fei was also praised by Sixth Tone for being a unique martial arts piece that focuses on a woman in a genre that is usually male-centered.
Tan Tian of Literature and Art Newspaper says that Priest's Mo Du demonstrates an: "…inheritance of traditional literary resources, which is mainly manifested in three aspects: titles, selected sentences, and contents are integrated into the elements of traditional literary resources; realistic style is concerned about social hot issues; the slow introduction of narrative rhythm and complex story structure suggest that network literature extradite the essence of traditional literature."
About Priest's Can Ci Pin, the 30th China Science Fiction Galaxy Awards stated, "Under the surface of all kinds of sci-fi elements such as mechs, cyber, and interstellar wars, there lies a story about the warmth of humanity. The author uses a first-class narrative ability, bringing sci-fi to a much wider audience."
Xia Lie, vice president of the Chinese Writers Association's Institute of Online Literature, described Priest as a talented writer covering a broad range of genres, from romance and martial arts to science fiction and danmei, with her quality and creativity sets Priest apart from other writers.
Publications
Mainland publications
Foreign publications (translations)
Japan
Guardian (镇魂), online serialization, volume 1, June 2021–August 2022
The Defectives (残次品), online serialization, February 2023
Korea
묵독 (默读) 진혼 (镇魂) 유비 (有匪) 살파랑 (杀破狼), online serialization, January 2020 열화요수 (烈火浇愁), online serialization, September 2021 잔차품 (残次品), online serialization, August 2021
Russia
Убить волка (杀破狼)
USA/Canada
Stars of Chaos (杀破狼), volume 1, July 2023
Guardian (镇魂), volume 1, May 2023
Singapore
Coins of Destiny (六爻), print only, 2024
Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire (烈火浇愁), print only, 2024
The Defectives (残次品), print only, 2024
Taiwan
殺破狼(杀破狼) 獸叢之刀(兽丛之刀) 鎮魂 (镇魂) 最後的守衛 (最后的守卫) 天涯客 脫軌(脱轨) 有匪
Thailand
ฆ่าหมาป่า (杀破狼) นักรบพเนจรสุดขอบฟ้า (天涯客) Guardian (镇魂) หลิวเหยา (六爻)
Vietnam
Sát Phá Lang (杀破狼) Đại Ca (大哥) Đọc Thầm (默读) Thất Gia (七爷) Trấn Hồn (镇魂) Tàn Thứ Phẩm (残次品)
Short stories
"Ci Sha/刺杀/Assassinate" (2015) in Machine Fantasy - A Dream of Steampunk (机械幻想- 蒸汽朋克之梦) "Hei Se Fang Zhou/黑色方舟/Black Ark" (2013) in The Locked Room (上锁的房间)
Online Short Stories
"Gou/狗/Dog" (2014) "Yi Qian Nian Yi Hou/一千年以后/A Thousand Years Later" (2009) "月光灿烂丑小鸭" (2009) "Meng Ji/梦祭/Dream Sacrifice" (2008)
Online Essay
"21岁/21 Years Old" (2010)
Awards and honors
Online Literature Awards / Recognitions
One of the five classic writers selected for 20 Years of Chinese Network Literature 4th Orange Melon Network Literature Award 2020 Orange Melon Network Literature: Top Ten Wuxia Authors in the Past 20 Years 2020 Orange Melon Network Literature: Top 100 Great God Authors in 20 Years of Network Literature 2020 Orange Melon Network Literature: Top 100 Industry Representatives of Network Literature in the Past 20 Years