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winterjasmine'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: Colonisation, Racial slurs, Classism, Death, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Suicide, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexism, and Misogyny
Minor: Blood, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Grief, Alcohol, and Cultural appropriation
laurawho'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: Blood, Colonisation, Police brutality, Suicide, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Murder, Racial slurs, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Death, Sexism, War, Child abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Slavery and Drug use
chelseaisreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
This one has me full of tears and thoughts.
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia
Minor: War
smateer73's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Racial slurs, War, Blood, Colonisation, Death, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment
lucyatoz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
It tells the story of four young adults, Robin, Victoire, Ramy and Lettie, as they come together as the 1st year cohort at the Oxford University's Royal Institute of Translation in 1836, as they each have amazing talents when it comes to learning languages that can be used for the benefit of the British Empire, regardless of the cost for them and those they love and care about.
It is a big and ambitious novel tackling big topics although it starts off quite slowly, but when the group come together, the action starts apace and takes you on a fantastical journey, which, at times, I could not tell was real or imaginary.
I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on BorrowBox. I read this for prompt 26, hybrid genre, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Gore, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, Misogyny, Racism, Grief, Toxic friendship, Death, Violence, and Classism
Moderate: War, Pandemic/Epidemic, Vomit, and Blood
bernika999's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I would recommend 100 per cent. I had finished the Poppy War series and would recommend reading that first. Not because you have to. You don't. But I think this book hits harder when you do.
The connections between them kills man.
I'd admit that it's a slow start, I mean it was for me. The footnotes are lengthy and sometimes the terminology goes over your head. However, that doesn't matter, at all, it didn't prevent the book from getting five stars from me. Very painful but definitely worth it. Wish I could read it again for the first time.
And all her other books, are all 5 stars for me, must read them.
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Grief, and Suicide
Moderate: War, Racism, Death of parent, Child abuse, Murder, and Blood
genorgana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Slavery, Child abuse, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Classism, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Violence, Murder, Sexism, and Death
bugsybugs'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? No
5.0
Minor: Murder, Torture, Violence, Death, Grief, Blood, Colonisation, Misogyny, Racism, and Classism
jiwiz's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
I'd describe this book in one sentence as a very loud 'Fuck you' to western colonialism. I've seen people criticise how on-the-nose it is. It drives its point home in such a glaringly obvious way that it's impossible to misinterpret it. I think it definitely could stand to deliver its message in a more subtle, nuanced manner. That being said, it was a solid read. I think R.F. Kuang does a good job at writing less-than-perfect protagonists and the magic system is very fresh and unique.
Graphic: Colonisation, Murder, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Grief, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Murder, and Torture
Minor: Blood
psitstorrie'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
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Colonisation
Moderate: Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Death of parent, War, Classism, and Child abuse