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lwelch94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Animal death, Classism, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Xenophobia, Abortion, Death, Blood, Police brutality, Slavery, Cursing, Deportation, and Kidnapping
tnociti's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, and Trafficking
Moderate: Rape
buroaklifereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, and Trafficking
sunnyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Trafficking, Death, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy
kindredbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The Last Exiles follows a young man and woman in North Korea as they meet and fall in love while in university. They come from two very different classes in society but nevertheless they find a connection and attraction between them. On a visit home to his poor village, Jin finds just how badly his family is suffering under the current political climate and makes a rash decision that will change his life - and Suja’s - forever. Before long, the two lovers are separated yet determined to find their way back to one another. This will mean escaping the country in which they were born into, and even then, freedom may not be quite as easy.
After having lived in South Korea for awhile and learning more about the history between North and South Korea, I started this novel with great interest in getting a more novel look into the lives of North Koreans. Life in North Korea is not as widely known as not many North Koreans are able to make it out to tell their stories. I thought that it was a very interesting narrative told from Jin and Suja’s point of view. The events of the story were harrowing and quite intense, even more so later in the book
I found The Last Exiles to be a eye-opening story that approached many tough situations and themes head on. It is a story that shows the North Korea situation is not quite as romantic as South Korean dramas perhaps make it seem (I’m thinking of Crash Landing Into You here.)
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for sending me a copy of the novel.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, and Trafficking
Moderate: Sexual assault