Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

191 reviews

ginalucia's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Jumping back into the story with The Dragon Republic was a breeze. And what a story it is! Kuang delivers a gritty, realistic narrative that pulls no punches. 

The character development is tough, and while many of the characters are unlikeable, there's something strangely compelling about them.

From the get-go, I was fully invested. Kuang does a masterful job of making the main character unlikeable yet undeniably real, especially considering the harsh realities of war and the difficult decisions it forces people to make.

The Dragon Republic is not for the faint of heart. It's a brutal, uncomfortable read that keeps you on edge constantly. But that's also what makes it so good.

While the story maintains a relentless pace, it does drag a bit during some repetitive moments. However, this doesn't detract too much from the overall experience.

While it may not be perfect, The Dragon Republic is an excellent next step in this trilogy and I’m looking forward to the last. 

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, Xenophobia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, and Addiction

Moderate: Blood, Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Rape, Child death, Colonisation, and Grief

sxbui5's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Gun violence, Confinement, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Murder, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Rape, Physical abuse, Cursing, Classism, Mental illness, Genocide, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Torture, Sexism, and Blood

nataaaliya's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

If it were possible, I'd get every word of this trilogy inked into my skin.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Gore, Death, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Murder, Abandonment, Ableism, Body horror, Grief, Racial slurs, Drug use, Violence, Sexual assault, Racism, Body shaming, Blood, Genocide, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Child death, Sexism, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Dementia, Pregnancy, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Infertility, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death of parent, Self harm, Trafficking, Cannibalism, and Domestic abuse

anispaperbacks's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

 

This is def my fav in the trilogy so far!! I just couldn't put it down, I was so engaged the whole time. I had taken a bit of a break from reading it initially because I had just gotten started and was travelling and not quite fully into the book yet but once I *was* into it, I just consumed it. I read the vast majority of it over about 2 days. It was so brilliant to see R.F Kuang further take us on the characters journey and see how things have affected them, how they've changed and developed as people, and I really felt like I was along for the ride with them, never really knowing who I could trust and it was really interesting to watch Rin's views change throughout the book as well as straight up question my own in regards to the book's politics. There were so many little twists and I had my jaw on the floor in shock quite a few times. Kuang really knows how to pick you up and throw you around like a rag doll, my emotions were all over the place in regards to the characters istg I am never getting attatched to a character ever again /od But alongside all the backstabbing and betrayal that I felt on a personal level, the book also gave us characters and character dynamics you can really root for. Particularly, Rin and Kitay. GOD they mean so much to me. I just aboslutely adore how you can really see their closeness and comfortability just through the little ways in which they interact with each other. And you better know that I am an absolute SUCKER for strong and close platonic love. I eat that shit up. If anything happens to them in The Burning God I'm going to kill myself right there on the spot. My only gripe with the book is that sometimes I'm just not really sure what I'm supposed to be picturing as the book is more focused on the action than descriptions at the time. I had the same problem with The Poppy War too, but it's literally no big deal anyway and the scenes still have really effective imagery. 

The book was much less graphic than The Poppy War but still had some tough and/or gorey scenes. 

Overall, I just super super enjoyed reading this and the ending has me so so so excited for the next book (I also am keen to get more pirate action). I hope Rin gets to go nuts she deserves it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Animal death, Drug abuse, Child death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Xenophobia, Death, Addiction, and Violence

Moderate: Colonisation, Excrement, Genocide, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Cursing, Racism, and Classism

Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Gun violence, Sexism, Pregnancy, Torture, Kidnapping, and Medical content

ladynocturnal's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

 Very heavy on war strategy and political affairs. I wish there was more character development for Rin and the Cike. The main character makes silly decisions, I understand why, but it was so frustrating. War, war never changes. 

Rin loses her powers for a large chunk of the book. The writing is still good, but I didn't pick up this book to read about a regular person.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Blood, Drug use, Racism, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Murder, Rape, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Violence, and War

Minor: Chronic illness and Self harm

tariana'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? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because from 20 to 60% of the book it was sooooo slow, too much details about sword fights, military strategies, extensive descriptions, which must be great for those that understand it and are into it, but for me it was boring, it was like the story was stuck. The whole thing happened in less than a year for the characters but for me it was like an eternity. In spite of that, the whole book is amazing. At two different moments I had to hold my tears, I have ene highlighted the passages. They were:
62%: “Rin… what am I going to do?”
88%: I heard what you did to that Hesperian soldier.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, War, Xenophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Racism, Self harm, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Addiction, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Forced institutionalization

aimeenotpond's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense slow-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

WHAT THE FUCK.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Blood, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, and War

Moderate: Self harm, Animal death, Rape, Torture, Abortion, Vomit, and Xenophobia

getlitwithamy_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.75

R.F. Kuang’s sequel to the profoundly thought provoking POPPY WAR adds even more tension and impact when it comes to the effects of war. 

The story starts right where THE POPPY WAR ends. Rin is coming to terms with the events that occurred at the end of the previous book, and Kuang doesn’t hesitate to show her struggling with this.

She also shows Rin’s deep drug addled state where her reliance on opium interferes with her psyche.

As THE DRAGON REPUBLIC continues, readers see how important political alliances are in terms of war. Kuang does a great job at showing how ugly the behind the scenes discussions can be. 

This book dodged the second book syndrome. It was even more captivating than its predecessor, and it holds THE BURNING GOD to a high standard since Kuang provides so much buildup in the end. Much praise for her and this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug abuse, Mental illness, War, Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Self harm, Sexual violence, Blood, Drug use, and Genocide

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy

rexpostfacto's review against another edition

3.0

*jan Brady voice* Altan altan altan

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Xenophobia, Torture, Violence, Toxic friendship, Slavery, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Colonisation, Toxic relationship, and War

pagesihavenotyetread's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Animal death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Abortion, Confinement, Suicide, Colonisation, Rape, Animal cruelty, Child death, Murder, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Gore, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Cannibalism, Cursing, Chronic illness, Death, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, War, Classism, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, and Torture