Reviews

The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories by Regina Kanyu Wang, Yu Chen

welgan's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.75

A collection of short stories read for book club.
I love the mix of short stories, which where very varied in genre and tone, and essays. The essays were very interesting and I really liked some of the short stories ! Others were simply not my thing. Overall interesting read !
Glad to have a bit of non binary representation, but if the theme of the collection is "by female and non binary authors", it is not about genre, feminism and queerness (which is fine but if that's what you're looking for, this may not be what you want !)

geekmom's review

adventurous challenging dark informative lighthearted reflective sad

4.0

This was a rich and varied collection of stories and essays. Very interesting and enjoyable. 
Note: the "graphic" CWs particularly apply to #16, "Dragonslaying".

This is a story best read during the day if you're like me and don't like reading very unsettling fiction just before going to sleep.

ahoyitsjoy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.75

Like a lot of anthologies, there were some stories I enjoyed and some I didn't care much for... and unfortunately, no clear stand-outs (for me). This collection leans more fantasy than sci-fi, and I do think you'll get more out of it as a reader if you're somewhat familiar with Chinese fantasy conventions. I also enjoyed the occasional essays on the subject of writing and translating these kinds of stories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content and Body horror

Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, and Blood

Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, and Child death

kainz's review against another edition

These stories are written in Chinese and use a lot of Chinese folklores and classic references, which sound unnatural in English. I don't think this is the fault of translators, I just find it more apprehensible when reading in my mother tongue, which can convey the beauty of this book much better. 

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Bullying, Dementia, Sexism, Death, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Misogyny

Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Genocide, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy

breadandmushrooms's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

mochimustreads's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

A really interesting collection of short stories and essays, not every story was for me but some were amazing and the essays were really informative 

danandsaurus's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

ahlisa's review

Sampled. The first story had a very interesting premise and tone, but the payoff was a bit of a letdown. The second story just didn't grab me at all. I know there are other stories by other authors in this, but I just wasn't hooked enough to give it a try.

69goose69's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• 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