Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

126 reviews

takarakei's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-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

5.0

A stunning sequel to The Poppy War. Few authors can make a 650 page book feel like it flies by. This is a series about the brutality of war, but told in a way that enraptures the reader. Since this is the second book (and thus less world building to do) you really jump right into things and there is more war/battle depiction in this book. However the writing is so fantastic, that even as someone who doesn't usually like reading about battles/war I was still enthralled. The underlying message is the dangers of seeking power and control over others (obviously the main problem with our world & history so very relatable).

I loved learning more about the tribes of the Hinterlands (I saw that bit on the map in book 1 and was like... ok we gotta go there eventually!). I fully believe we will see them again in book 3. My favorite thing about these books continues to be the way magic/connection to the gods works. Rin must connect with herself, know herself, at times become meditative to access the power of the gods. You kind of can't really trust anyone in these books. I loved the evolution of Daji and look forward to seeing where that storyline continues. The Hesperians I am convinced will be the greatest evil we've yet to encounter as we move into book 3. My heart aches for the unlikely possibility of Nezha and Rin ever really leaning into their love (I love a good rival/enemy to lovers, but I don't think it'll happen for them).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, War, Animal death, Violence, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Death, Blood, Gun violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Abortion, Vomit, Racism, Alcohol, Torture, Medical trauma, Grief, Child abuse, and Body horror

Minor: Colonisation and Classism

Encounter of active rape (on page). This book has much more animal death than 1st book including detailed scenes of animal sacrifice/killing. Detailed scenes of graphic injury and medical treatment of said injury.

natnat_7's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Rape, Torture, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Kidnapping, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Classism, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Vomit, Abandonment, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Bullying, Pregnancy, and Abortion

hannahalbregts's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Absolutely amazing, how everything tied together in the end. Had me hooked for three days and I finished it in that time. Just a little slow at times, but besides that, it was perfect.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Addiction, Animal death, and Blood

sunsetcity's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Classism, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, Rape, Vomit, War, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, Abortion, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

laiacxl's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Alcohol, Body horror, Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Death, Drug use, Grief, Rape, and War

tinybluepixel's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

shivapriya's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, War, and Torture

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Classism, and Child death

Minor: Colonisation and Abortion

mcorrieri's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Rape, Genocide, Child death, Racism, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Addiction, Animal death, and War

miavlb's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I still enjoyed this book, but it was a little more difficult to have motivation to get through this book. It's not because it was bad, but because the story felt like it was going nowhere in like the first 2/3 of the book. The first book followed Rin's journey to Sinegard and her discovering her Speerly powers. But in the second book, it doesn't feel like much happens. I understand Rin is recovering from using her powers and grieving over Altan, but the events that happen during their time at sea wasn't very interesting. And on top of that, Su Daji blocks Rin's access to her powers, so a lot of the book is just Rin sad about not having her powers. It's not until the last third of the book when she can use her powers again and the story actually picks up. Rin finally has closure with Altan's death and so much gets revealed in the end that I finally got interested in the book again. Another thing I liked was seeing Rin's relationships with Kitay, Venka, and especially Nezha. Overall, I think this is still a great book, especially if you like reading more about the political side of wars, but I liked the first book more. I am excited to read the third book but I am also worried about who else is going to die lol

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Animal death, Sexual assault, Gore, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and War

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, and Alcohol

Minor: Cannibalism

livreads16's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This book… omg I thought the first one was amazing. This one was even better. The pacing, the character development, the drama— amazing. I really liked the way we got to see Rin work through everything. I liked her development with the other characters and the building ( and breaking down) of relationships.

You’re gonna have to work really hard for me to get behind a Nezha redemption. He was already on thin fucking ice with that whole “all shamans should die” thing and now he got like Suni and Baji killed too? Fuck you, you betrayed Rin and she trusted you because you knew she loved you you little rich asshole fuck you

Absolutely living for Rin at the end of this book. Super excited to see her murder lots of people in the next book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Abortion, Gore, Grief, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, War, Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicide

Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Religious bigotry, and Vomit

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, and Medical content