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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book, it's not easy to write a truly nasty character and R F Kuang has managed it! I am looking forward to reading some of their other works.
I appreciated the historical info mation about the Chinese people who fought in WW1 . It was a thoughtful way to highlight the historical moment.
Yellowface has lost a few points because I can't tell ifAthena is a self insert or not. Given the author's meteoric rise to success and privileged access to education and resources, Athena's lack of insight, and the dismissal of her attitudes is somewhat confusing. Are the similarities between Athena and Kuang meant to be satirical? Or is this an attempt to address public discourse on the author, a sort of 'setting the record straight'? Either way - this was a great read, and I look forward to reading Kuang's future works.
I appreciated the historical info mation about the
Yellowface has lost a few points because I can't tell if
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Provocative
I had heard a lot about this book, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. What I found was a story written in a raw, unfiltered, yet smooth and captivating way. From the very first page, I was hooked—and the deeper you go, the better it gets.
I had heard a lot about this book, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. What I found was a story written in a raw, unfiltered, yet smooth and captivating way. From the very first page, I was hooked—and the deeper you go, the better it gets.
The book shines in its portrayal of raw human emotions: greed, jealousy, spite, envy, condescension, and the subtle racism woven between the lines. These emotions are expressed with simple wording, but they carry so much weight. I loved the depth and complexity of the characters, and the way the author captured the toxic reality of online attacks—the scary, hypocritical, and often disgusting side of social media.
The descent of the main character was both fascinating and disturbing. The lies piled on top of lies, manipulation spreading outward and inward, until she became consumed—losing her soul, her voice, and her freedom. What she thought would liberate her instead built a prison around her, stripping away the possibility of honest writing. Watching her cling to self-deception just to preserve a broken image of herself was both tragic and unsettling.
I also appreciated the behind-the-scenes look at publishing—the pressure, the politics, and the struggles writers endure. It really makes you wonder how many great works never see the light of day because of such a flawed system.
Now, what didn’t work for me: the vulgar language (which felt excessive at times), the strange ghost subplot, and above all, the lack of character growth. Instead of evolving, the main character just kept spiraling downward, she simply sinks lower and lower. She is disturbing, selfish, and disgusting, and that dragged the story down for me. I think part of me wanted redemption or at least a moment of clarity, but Kuang doesn’t give us that. Instead, the book ends with spite and emptiness—painfully real, but frustrating to read.
Overall, this was an intense, thought-provoking, and brutally honest story. It’s both captivating and disturbing—one that lingers, even if it leaves you unsettled.
challenging
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely loved this messy satire. June Hayward, a writer completely incapable of insightful self analysis, is a thrilling main character in the same way that it's thrilling to watch something go really, really badly (as long as you aren't involved).
I thought this book was really fun, and provided enough content to engage in thoughtful social critique, whilst still being a very enjoyable read.
I thought this book was really fun, and provided enough content to engage in thoughtful social critique, whilst still being a very enjoyable read.
RF Kuang said something at a talk once where she said, “reading is not political. It’s what you do with it after that is.” I feel like this book really encourages readers to embrace that.
I understand ~why~ this book exists, and I appreciate it deeply for being a book that gives a lot of people a mirror to see the racism that exists around them every single day. I love seeing bad people suffer for being shitty humans. Kuang’s writing is just as witty as usual, and appropriately curt for the book. the issues I have with this book are not necessarily an issue with the book. I do not think satire really works for me. I am not sure if people find this to be heavy handed, or if it’s an appropriate amount because Satire.
just an okay experience for me, but an important read nonetheless!
I understand ~why~ this book exists, and I appreciate it deeply for being a book that gives a lot of people a mirror to see the racism that exists around them every single day. I love seeing bad people suffer for being shitty humans. Kuang’s writing is just as witty as usual, and appropriately curt for the book. the issues I have with this book are not necessarily an issue with the book. I do not think satire really works for me. I am not sure if people find this to be heavy handed, or if it’s an appropriate amount because Satire.
just an okay experience for me, but an important read nonetheless!
r f kuang is an amazing writer omg this book was so good