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Graphic: Death, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Slavery, Blood, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol
A world of magical realism that I found so fascinating and cruel, the magical qualities of silver being the catalyst and cause of so much strife is a powerful symbol of colonialism, and the relationships that bloomed and grew and died across the pages was so engaging.
I would rate it 5 stars, but the pacing was a bit awkward for me across the years that the book spans.
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Slavery, Blood, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War
Minor: Sexual harassment
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation, Pandemic/Epidemic
(returning after a night to process this)
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Slavery
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
That being said, Kuang paints Oxford in the mid-1800s vividly and guides us through an alternate world in which silver combined with language has magical powers. I liked how the silver was used to mirror the Industrial Revolution and gave a bit of whimsy to the story.
Kuang’s writing remains impeccable and immersive. For people who love magical realism, very fleshed out characters, high stakes, etymology, and history this book is perfect.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Xenophobia, Murder
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic