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pagesofpins's review
2.0
I thought the story was really picking up when Rin begins training with one of the wackier and less respected masters, mastering the elements a la The Name of the Wind. At this point a war breaks out that is clearly the 2nd Shino Japanese War, and nearly every description of infant rape, mass murder of families, and creative torture was lifted directly from The Rape of Nanking. That work made some intelligent observations on what prompted men with no violent past to do such horrific things, but this work adds nothing thoughtful. There is no hint of how a nation heals after suffering atrocities like this. It's merely used as a device to add drama. I think sensitive elements in history can be responsibly represented in fantasy, but instead a team of X-Men wander the country wreaking havoc and our MC cries a lot about her abusive and problematic crush. Fantasy can add enough distance to see history clearly, or ask "what if it had happened differently?" I couldn't find either here.
It's possible in the sequel the Taiwanese will be more than a red eyed bloodthirsty race used as bargaining chips in battle, the Japanese will have some context as wealthy oppressors, the Chinese will be more than torture porn, and human experiments like Unit 731 will be treated with more gravity than a device for our heroine to understand her boyfriends drug addiction. But I won't be reading to find out.
Graphic: Sexual content, War, Torture, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Child death, Colonisation, Cursing, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Incest, Cultural appropriation, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Addiction, Death, Genocide, Medical trauma, Gore, Racism, and Rape
cowboylatte's review
Graphic: Excrement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Body horror, Murder, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Sexual assault, and War
mellacke's review
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Torture, Gore, War, Rape, and Genocide
lilly24's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Hate crime, Toxic friendship, Dementia, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Alcoholism, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abortion, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Deportation, Drug use, Murder, Self harm, Slavery, Stalking, Terminal illness, Torture, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Sexism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Excrement, Xenophobia, Classism, Cursing, Gaslighting, Racism, Bullying, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Colonisation, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Rape, Trafficking, Violence, and Vomit
whewtaewoon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Classism, Genocide, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Violence, War, Death, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Pedophilia
chrisg94's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Genocide, Pandemic/Epidemic, Grief, War, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Addiction, Xenophobia, Bullying, Child abuse, Violence, Gore, and Torture
jklinck2's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Violence, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Torture, War, Sexual assault, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Grief, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Hate crime, Rape, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Blood, and Slavery
stephsbookedout's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Medical content, Sexual assault, Classism, Blood, Death, Drug use, Excrement, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, War, Body horror, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Grief, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, and Vomit
tano's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, War, Torture, Drug use, Violence, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Suicide, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
michealasharp'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
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, War, Torture, Rape, Racism, Suicide, Genocide, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Violence, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Murder, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Gore, Death, Bullying, Body horror, Blood, and Addiction