Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

49 reviews

sofiadanielle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

An incredible read. And also very moving/emotional, having found myself crying at least three times because of it. 

Sort of Avatar: The Last Airbender-esque, with characters who had powers relating to the elements. Though it didn’t strike me as fantasy in the sense of what I’ve grown to think of in the genre (magic, fae, with creatures of legends, etc.), I was still quite taken with the whole universe of it. 

I do think the book focuses more on the topics of war, emotional processing, death, loss (of many things), and in that sense, was quite heavy, but Misaki’s character arc was so pushing in completing the story.

.5 stars taken away only for what I believe was slightly messy world building; as I was reading on a Kindle, I couldn’t easily traverse from where I was in the story to the glossary; and the world outside of Takayubi was.. Muddled. Additionally, I also have questions about the conflict added to the end that wasn’t resolved..

Still, both points don’t detract from the story all too badly, in my opinion, and I still so very much got involved in this story and the characters involved. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, War, Death, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Violence, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Grief, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexism, Rape, and Murder

ichinoot's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

Beautifully written story about the tragedies and reality of war, in a world so different from our own, but still so grounded and human. An incredibly emotional story mixed with an amazing power system and very well written action, you will most definitely not want to put this book down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Murder, Gore, Suicide, Death, War, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Genocide, Sexual assault, Self harm, Medical trauma, Violence, Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Infertility

susanatherly's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, War, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Child abuse, Vomit, and Child death

lejones1785's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

I am conflicted about this book. We all want books that make you feel things. Well this one really hit the spot. I have been so angry at these characters, but I have also shed tears. It was a beautifully written book, but I just can't love it. After years of abuse and being held back from being an amazing warrior, a duel makes everything ok? The love that never was just appeared?  And now it's back to house wife and opening a restaurant? There was so much potential in the story that I'm a bit disappointed in the end. Maybe it's setting up for future stories? It's a good book, just not on my top list.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Violence

Moderate: Grief, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Blood

Minor: Classism, Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse

romine2's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad 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

I havent read a good fantasy book that has kept me hooked from start to finish in a long while. I went into this book thinking, "surely everyone's 5 star reviews are just overreacting". Though now, after staying up until 3am every night reading this book, I realise that this book deserves these great ratings. The characters themselves i both love and hate, and their flaws and the means in which they face these flaws are realistic. The world building and language was confusing at first- I hadn't actually consulted the glossary until halfway through oops.. However, I did appreciate the time and thought process put into this book. I just wish that this series would be continued, because I would eat it up and leave no crumbs. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Grief, Death, Child death, Misogyny, Violence, War, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Rape

hailiebear's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad 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: Child death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Miscarriage and Classism

Minor: Suicide, Sexual assault, and Rape

parasihir's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional sad 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

Probably the first book in 2024 that makes me spill tears with extra enormous effort to not let out a scream. It hurts me real bad. Everything flows perfectly. Even at the first chapter, I actually had a great time savoring the world-building, the terms, the magic with painstaking effort to go back and forth from the book to the glossary. Yes, I open it on another tab, but it was still a little bit of effort because I wanted to understand everything. It made me that interested and immersed in the story.

Since the very moment I read the way Mamoru jumped to go to his school, I know I love that boy.

And my biggest devastation comes from the way he stayed true to his name. To protect. Nyama to you, the Protector. Nyama to you, Son, Brother, Friend. Nyama to you, Soldier. You did your part. I love you so much.

And I absolutely head over heels for Misaki. My MOTHER.

The way everything unfolds leaves me with hunger. I need more. I need it. So I just read, read, read and then suddenly (not so sudden), everything that was once broken becomes better. Not the best. But better. Life, I suppose, does go that way. A little better than yesterday.

The Sword of Kaigen has every elements you can ask for in a fantasy book. A good world-building, a wonderful magic system (it is actually not that complicated once you take notes of it), a amazing characterization of all characters, a admirable relationship (of all kind, I mean it), a real plot, and the best ending you can ask for. It has been a long time since I actually finish a fantasy book with a new whole concept like this. A new world, though M.L. Wang seems to write it based on East Asian culture. Hard to grasp at first, but perfect when you get to understand it.

If you want a real good book to read to keep you focused in turning the pages as it hooks you in the story, The Sword of Kaigen is the best choice. Trust me. And also,  may you will find this book as gorgeous as I find it, if you decide to pick it up, of course. Love you!

Nyama to you, my fellow reader. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, War, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Cursing, Grief, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Suicide, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Kidnapping

bittcr4k's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

The pen man ship was like a dance, rhythmic and well articulated. I think I can compliment this book for its deep characters and there are many, by no means the author had a small cast and all characters got brilliant character arcs. For a character driven book the plot was great, to be honest I wish to see some cast again but sadly, the author says this series is discontinued. The author has great skills but they need to get a real editor.

The only issue for me was the ending. Why must you leave us with so many unanswered question, why?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Murder, Misogyny, Child abuse, Abandonment, War, Pregnancy, Suicide, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Genocide, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Classism

nyquilla's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, War, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

kirsten1999's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, War, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Infertility, Murder, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Miscarriage