This study investigates the reception of English translations of San Guo Yan Yi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms) in digital media through Python-based sentiment analysis of 913 Goodreads reviews (2007-2022). Employing a multi-dimensional analytical framework encompassing translation, character, narrative, war, diplomacy, and dissemination aspects, the research utilizes enhanced sentiment analysis algorithms integrating multiple lexicons (AFINN-165, Pattern, Lorca) to achieve 85% accuracy. The main findings reflect clear patterns of receptionnarrative content is the most valued (sentiment score1.08), while diplomatic material faces barriers to understanding (0.50). Of the three full-length translations analyzed, Roberts’ stands out with better reception (1.041), due to its rich paratextual machinery. A diachronic examination reveals three peak moments of growth in the volume of reviews, which correspond with the launch of games, promotion of culture efforts, and pandemic-affected reading behaviors. Citation preference analysis demonstrates readers’ systematic selection of philosophically universal content while avoiding culture-specific expressions. This research suggests that literary reception in the digital era has become a process of collective meaning construction, where readers collectively negotiate cultural meaning through their reviews and engagement. The findings shed light on the complex interplay between translation strategy, cultural distance, and reader cognition, with data-driven recommendations for enhancing the global circulation of Chinese classical literature in digital environments.