
Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy
2017 • Action & Adventure, Drama, War & Politics
Muyun Sheng, born from a spirit mother, is the unfavoured sixth son of the reigning Emperor Ming of Duan. Discovering an ancient painting by chance, he is captivated by the spirit locked inside (Panxi), and together, they promise to search for the most beautiful places on Earth. Muru Hanjiang, friend of Muyun Sheng, is the son of General Muru Shuo, famous for conquering the Eight Tribes of Han Province.
Many years later, the descendant of the Eight Tribes Shuofeng Heye sows discord between the Muyun and Muru families. Only when the friendship and loyalty between these two families is rebuilt will the Duan Dynasty be safe from invasion by the Eight Tribes. This drama tells of the loyalty, friendship, enmity and romance between the young descendants during the twilight years of the Duan Dynasty.
Why you should read the novel
Immerse yourself in Jiang Nan’s 'Novoland: Eagle Flag,' a sweeping novel that delves deeper into the magical and political complexities artfully hinted at in the TV adaptation. The book’s intricate narrative, character development, and philosophical depth offer a richer and more expansive experience than can be conveyed on screen. With a tapestry of interconnected stories, multifaceted themes, and detailed inner monologues, the novel rewards readers who seek epic scale and emotional resonance.
Unlike the TV series, the source novel presents a more nuanced portrayal of its characters’ inner struggles, worldviews, and shifting allegiances. You’ll encounter raw emotions and authentic voices not diluted by dramatic compression or visual spectacle. The broader mythos, histories, and cultures of Novoland unfurl with intimacy, inviting you to live alongside the characters and shape your own understanding of their motives, triumphs, and failures.
Reading the book provides unparalleled access to the internal logic and cultural subtleties of Novoland. The richness of Jiang Nan’s prose, filled with allegory and psychological insight, transforms every chapter into an exploration of fate, ambition, and the burdens of prophecy. Choose the original novels for a more personal, vivid, and complete experience missed by even the most faithful screen renditions.
Adaptation differences
The television adaptation condenses or rearranges timelines and plotlines, resulting in significant narrative shifts that impact character arcs and thematic pacing. Intricate subplots, particularly those regarding side characters and tribal politics, are minimized or omitted in order to focus on the main protagonists and their immediate conflicts. As a result, some key events unfold differently or are greatly simplified in comparison to the layered storytelling of the source material.
Many characters in the novel possess multi-dimensional backgrounds and motivations that the adaptation either glosses over or changes for dramatic effect. Internal monologues, nuanced relationships, and formative experiences essential to the novel’s character development are often lost in the translation to the screen, replaced by more straightforward dialogue and action sequences for visual clarity.
The worldbuilding in 'Novoland: Eagle Flag' is another area where the TV series necessarily abridges content. The books dive deep into mythology, competing cultures, and historical constructs, bringing cultures and conflicts to life with granular detail. The adaptation streamlines this complexity, focusing only on visually dramatic elements and relegating much of the lore or symbolic subtext to the background.
Additionally, the philosophical and psychological themes that run through the novel—such as questions of destiny, legitimacy, and the human cost of prophecy—are often overshadowed by the TV show’s emphasis on spectacle and romance. Readers of the original novel encounter richer thematic debates and the slow evolution of ideas, providing a much richer intellectual engagement.
Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy inspired from
Novoland: Eagle Flag
by Jiang Nan