Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

110 reviews

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

harvey7leah's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.5

Jesus. While I found Rin to be a pity party in the first half, I was completely unprepared to swept away by the second half of this book. There were so many moments that on retrospect were obvious, but while I was in the thick of it I could not see coming. Ready to devour The Burning God like the Phoenix has taught me!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Child death, Sexual violence, Sexism, Medical content, Drug use, Addiction, Torture, Alcohol, Blood, Gore, Grief, Genocide, Self harm, Rape, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Colonisation, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Classism

readwthsam's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, War, Violence, Addiction, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Medical content, Grief, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Murder, and Death

Minor: Abortion and Sexual assault

ghost_rider's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Drug use, War, Addiction, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence, Vomit, Classism, Death, Genocide, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Grief, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Torture, Sexual assault, Blood, Murder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, and Racism

krystaldelusion's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, War, Racism, and Genocide

Moderate: Vomit, Violence, and Rape

Minor: Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Body horror, Death, Drug use, and Drug abuse

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

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

akashapaulina's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Abortion, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Murder, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, and Death

wytherwytch's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.75

Just a brilliant, brilliant book... would have been 5 stars but I found the start slow. The battle scenes are fantastically written and the ending had be gasping in public with no care what anyone thought of me! Where will this trilogy end!? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and War

Moderate: Gun violence and Religious bigotry

Minor: Rape, Blood, Alcohol, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts

potion96's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Violence, War, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Addiction, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Ableism, Colonisation, Rape, Animal death, Misogyny, Alcohol, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Panic attacks/disorders