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larqspur'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
4.0
Graphic: Confinement and Death
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Infertility, Misogyny, Racism, and Pregnancy
paperpaladin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
What follows is a slow unraveling of the mystery of this place and Nghi Vo does an expert job of teasing out the mystery. The prose in this book is beautiful but feels effortless. Lines are well written and just flow off the tongue. I have described this style as what Hemmingway wanted to be but never quite achieved. Not a word is wasted but there is no excess either. The story itself had me gripped until the end. This book was amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone.
My rating system
1 - Did not enjoy
2 - Not irredeemable but has too many flaws to say I enjoyed
3 - Enjoyed it
4 - Great book but didn't love it
5 - Amazing book
Moderate: Emotional abuse and War
Minor: Suicide
ablaine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I first listened to this as an audiobook and was immediately lost. A mystical creature, a gender non-binary cleric and a funeral for an empress were too much for my auditory processing to grasp all in the first few seconds. I’m grateful to my friend for encouraging me to pick it up in written form.
Each chapter begins with an inventory of significant objects and reading reveals the historical meaning of each within this imagined political landscape. Reading this while grieving a parent and taking stock of objects and memories made this a sad and reflective experience, but I’m grateful for it.
Thanks for the recommendation, Hannah ❤️
Moderate: Grief, Murder, and War
Minor: Body horror and Sexual content
shakakan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: War
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Infertility, Xenophobia, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide and War
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Grief, and War
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy
lain_darko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Grief, Murder, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, Slavery, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide
horationelson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Confinement, Infertility, Violence, and War
mlewis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Death, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Infertility, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
reviewsandreadathons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: War