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lwelch94's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
sunnyreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- 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
The Last Exiles is a really heartbreaking story of what two people will do to reunite after one of them is accused of a crime and thrown in prison.
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I received a copy of The Last Exiles from Harper Collins Canada in exchange for an honest review.
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 when Jin and Suja escape to China separately. The experiences that they have to go through even when they are “free” from North Korea is still quite traumatic especially for Suja, as a woman.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, and Trafficking
Moderate: Sexual assault
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