To summarize, this novel revolves around Survival. The MC trying to survive against horrors of unknown origin using his cheat that can upgrade various things, creating a safe zone for himself and his loved ones.

Highly recommend trying this novel. The first "arc" heavily revolves around SCP-esque horror survival build a base theme so if you are a fan of those style, give it a try and it might get you hooked in.

One of also the key strong aspect of this novel is in its side characters as you can feel... more>> that they are really integral in the story progression regardless of gender.

The world building is decent as the author did a good job in making sure you want to know the mystery behind everything. There are some parts that you may feel like a wasted potential or unanswered questions though personally, it fits the idea of the story, it would be up for you to decide if you like it or not.

Unfortunately I can't judge the translation quality as I endure the MTL version which might be not up to par but for those veterans like me who endures MTL for years just to satisfy the itch of novels not getting translated, it is already bearable. It's first hundred chapters is good though as far as I remember before switching to MTL. Next would be in a somewhat spoiler territory though I tried to keep it down

Spoiler

Night of desparation shifts tones throughout from mainly horror to action and then so on.

The tone shifts somehow not become a problem for this particular novel because it does not forget that it's essence is a SURVIVAL story

This works because the main "villain/enemy/Antagonist" throughout the whole story is the nature itself i.e. Source Disaster and is the driving force for the plot progression.

In fact the MC is OP in itself but it still would and always be a survival story. It heavily revolves around the theme of hope and despair using the two as it's plot points.

[collapse]

Overall, a pretty thrilling experience. Personally I really love it and it is in my Top novels. It has a strong start in my opinion so really you should give it a go and maybe you would also like it like I did. <<less

Ngl, this story has pretty immersive writing style and the world building is captivating. This story would've been perfect if the author toned down the misogyny and qi cultivation progression fantasy crap.

Seriously, why is every woman described in terms of their physical "assets" and then promptly dismissed in derogatory ways? You can't argue it's because of the male MC's personality affecting the narration because the misogynistic attitude extends to 3rd voice narrative POV's outside the male MC's. Sure, the male MC (so far) has not shown any outward creepy intentions... more>> towards female characters in this series, but there seems to be hidden resentment towards the female population? Within the male MC's POV, the female characters are suspicious of him and throw themselves at his feet, and then the male MC proceeds to trample on their basic dignity and blaming them for being distrusting/scheming when he never bothered to try and extend a reasonable olive branch. He even mocks a female character for her suspicions that he harbors ulterior motives towards her after she is disfigured during combat. He also mocks the concept of sisterhood by leaving two women to die outside to see if either is left behind by the other. WTF? Another prominent female side character that was cold and calculating towards him ends up mildly insane and pregnant due to se*ual violence after she decided to part ways with him, only becoming more normal after returning to his care. There are even jokes about how a female child under male MC's care might end up marrying him. Sure he refused this but why even joke about this, author? Gross.

I wonder if something is wrong with the author psychologically. Pretty disappointed because I really enjoyed the supernatural post-apocalyptic world setting and the author's horror genre writing style. <<less

A Night of Desperation is a gripping blend of SCP-inspired horror and wuxia-style conflict, wrapped in a modern xuanhuan setting. The author masterfully weaves together three key struggles - man vs. Nature, man vs. God, and man vs. Man - to create a tense, immersive survival story.

This novel shines in its meticulous world-building, where even the smallest details deepen immersion. Characters' actions carry tangible weight - literally, as seen when heavy loads leave footprints sinking into concrete. Keen readers will notice thoughtful touches, like accumulating dust over time or military... more>> ranks that reflect realistic age dynamics. While these subtle elements enrich the story on a micro level, the multi-POV narration expands the scope, offering a grander perspective that breathes life into the fictional world.

Initially, the protagonist might seem overpowered, but the story escalates at a well-measured pace, maintaining tension. While it follows base-building and cultivation tropes, the execution feels fresh, avoiding the pitfalls of repetitive power progression. Around Chapter 230, the plot accelerates dramatically, culminating in a major shift by Chapter 270, offering a welcome change in tone.

The novel features a diverse cast, with women frequently occupying leadership roles—military commanders, rescuers, and key decision-makers. Another reviewer has accused the story of misogyny, but this critique seems misplaced and prejudiced. Female characters in the story are portrayed as competent and influential, and their conflicts with the protagonist are grounded in the narrative rather than gender bias. If anything, the story leans progressive by Chinese web novel standards.

That said, characters—regardless of gender—act believably, a rarity in a genre often plagued by theatrical personalities. Their decisions align with their circumstances, making the story far more engaging than typical power fantasies.

Unfortunately, the Stellar Realm translation is subpar, often resembling MTL. In some cases, it even includes GPT-style placeholder text ("Here is the translation of the text"). Unless improvements are made, readers may be better off using free AI tools, as the quality is comparable.

Overall, for fans of horror, survival, and intricate world-building, A Night of Desperation delivers what's promised. The mix of mystery, escalating stakes, and well-developed characters makes it a standout. That said, the translation quality may hinder full enjoyment. If you can overlook that (or read the original Chinese), this is a story worth trying. <<less