Reviews - Sarı Yüz | The StoryGraph

76.2k reviews for:

Sarı Yüz

R.F. Kuang

3.99 AVERAGE

minnejenny's review against another edition

3.5

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I could not wait to be done with this book. Maybe it was the audio version that put me off, but I could not stand the main character. Obviously, thats the point: June Hayward/juniper Song is not meant to be liked. But she had NO redeeming characteristics. She wasn't complex; there were nonlayers to her. It felt like Kuang wanted to create a effigy punching bag instead of a deep character. And that's not just the only dericive character. Everyone in this book was loathesome even those trying to fight for "justice". Maybe Kuang meant for the real punching bag to be the publishing industry as a whole. Thank gawd I'm not trying to be a writer! It's a sh*t show.

Content Warnings

luhyalibrarian's review against another edition

4.75

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

skiran901's review against another edition

4.0

funny reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

wrestler052153's review against another edition

3.75

Good story, but a bit heavy handed at times... but maybe that's what makes it real? Does a good job though illustrating how one can be sympathetic and open-minded in front of people ("convinced in the moment"), but revert to shifty behavior at home or with friends

crofteereader's review against another edition

4.0

I particularly loved the last 25% as the narrative collapses and June is forced to come to terms with everything that she’s done, and I love the frank window into the racism and tokenization inherent in the publishing industry as it stands today. However, June’s POV felt very limited for a good portion of the book; I personally would have loved to see someone in her close circle challenge her, even just a little bit. Then again, there’s the potential that the whole premise would have fallen apart if she had anyone in her close circle at all.

I really liked the careful deliberateness of the microaggressions sprinkled throughout June’s narrative voice - particularly in the first half. And how that expands and how it envelops everyone June interacts with.

I did think things dragged a little in the middle, but the ending really brought everything delightfully to a fantastic conclusion.