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noyastan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: War and Colonisation
Moderate: Dysphoria, Murder, Transphobia, Child abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Animal death and Slavery
wirt's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death of parent, Blood, Grief, Violence, Child death, Death, War, Murder, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, and Ableism
cheye13's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
I also don't think this book was pitched to me correctly. "A fantasy Mulan retelling" is very far from what this actually is. There's very little fantasy (more in the realm of magical realism) and the story is much more in the spirit of intricate political historical fiction. The book itself has a broader scope than just Zhu Chongba's perspective, and I found it riveting.
The nuanced depiction of gender identities as well as cultural identity in a period of colonization was expertly done. The physical proof of the Mandate of Heaven was an excellent choice and offered a significant thought exercise. The various sympathetic perspectives in war time made the story feel full and rounded. An expertly crafted piece of fiction. I plan to read the sequel in hopes that it lives up to its predecessor.
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Child death, Death, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, and War
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Genocide
Minor: Alcohol, Dysphoria, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Sexual violence, and Slavery
numerous instances of amputation, including genitalsreadbyella_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood
Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, Misogyny, Homophobia, Death, and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent, Child death, Slavery, Cursing, Vomit, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Animal death
eegekay's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Violence, War, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Murder
marleywrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: War, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: Animal death
thecatconstellation's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, War, Gore, Death, Blood, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, Grief, Animal death, Sexism, Alcohol, Colonisation, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Genocide, Child abuse, Child death, Bullying, Ableism, and Body shaming
Minor: Suicide
evelphysicist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Racism, Violence, Physical abuse, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, Child death, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Ableism, Animal cruelty, and Vomit
heuteschongekurtet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: War, Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Vomit, Alcohol, Misogyny, Dysphoria, Grief, Infertility, Ableism, Animal death, and Cursing
rbeccamaec's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Classism, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual content, Torture, Grief, War, Ableism, Colonisation, Death, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Body shaming, Abandonment, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Racism
Minor: Animal death, Excrement, and Vomit