Reviews

Celui qui noya le monde by Shelley Parker-Chan

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aehc's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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? Yes

4.5

I’ll say it: this should have been a trilogy. The pacing is maintained at an extremely fast clip, but it picks up steam so rapidly in the back half that I was holding on with white knuckles not to get swept away. It’s a testament to Parker-Chan’s superb skills that this pace means that the book is merely very very good, as opposed to transcendant and triumphant as the first novel was. I do think that a slightly more leisurely pace and a third book would have strengthened the narrative by allowing for some more breathing room and space for the reader to sink in to the world.

Content Warnings

janhavi1718's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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? It's complicated

4.75

Many of the reviews I've seen online seem disappointed that this isn't a happy story with positive rep. I've seen compliants that it was too dark and the characters were too unlikeable. I don't really understand those points. Because, just based on the first one, why would this be a happy story all the way through? Of course the characters aren't the most palatable, they're fighting a war!

This book was miles better than the first one, for me. With the first one I was confused at times why certain characters did what they did. I didn't understand their motives. It was only after I finished it that I found out it was based on an actual emperor's ascent to power. Thankfully, I felt that aspect was delt with better in this one. Motivations made sense. I could understand why certain events occurred. I was even able to forget that is was loosely based on real life.

To expect this to be some happy and sweet love story with great rep feels a bit odd considering the setting.

ilovemagpies's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? No

5.0

hanard's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Felt like there were too many narratives compared to the first which slowed the pace.

reading_and_wrighting's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

nkem_ani's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Bloody brilliant! Better than the first book and she somehow made some aspects sexy (at least to my potentially out there tastes) when it could have been seen as painful and horrible. Throughly enjoyed it.

P.S I feel like Ouyang would make the best sub if he had been given the chance.