Reviews

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

ethias's review against another edition

3.0

Pretty enjoyable sequel. I had some issues with the pacing and some choices, but overall I liked it

telegraphclub's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense 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

kheleesi's review

adventurous emotional 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

4.0

The pacing is a little difficult at times, although I found the overall character arc of Rin very compelling and natural. I loved the small character moments, but occasionally the humor felt out of place. I still have a complicated relationship with Rin- sometimes I love her, other times I’m so frustrated by her protagonist stubbornness. But overall a good sequel. I’m excited for the final book! 

invalid_input's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

dumb_library's review against another edition

5.0

4.5* for this one only because there were points where i got hella lost BUT it was still extremely well written and the last few chapters killedddddd me

bmjavorski's review against another edition

4.0

kinda ate. 

mauvemeg's review against another edition

5.0

Sobbing. Emotional damage. R. F. Kuang WHEN I CATCH YOU!

This was an amazing read and I really love this whole series. R.F. Kuang may have become one of my favorite authors, just because of this trilogy. I really like her writing, descriptions, absolutely one of the best world-buildings and characteristics I have ever read.
Starting the end of Poppy War, I am seriously thinking we’re reading from a villain POV, but Rin is an absolute badass and we support both her rights and wrongs. ❤️ Slay.
Kitay owns my heart. My little pure traumatised genius. I love his support of Rin, how they overcame so many things because they have bigger problems and they stuck together, no matter how much they sometimes disagree.

I shouldn’t have picked favorites. I should’ve known. I shouldn’t have fell in love with the Cike as much as I did. Omg, found family trope, yay, I love them being goofy! Naive little Meg. WHEN I CATCH YOU KUANG, ISTG.
There are maybe two “happy” scenes in the whole book. Everything always goes to shit and if it doesn’t, it soon will. Nezha and Rin boat scene, I am looking at you. I am now in need of therapy. I think I need to take a small break before starting The Burning God, because I am not mentally prepared (and never will be, let’s face it) yet. But truly, I feel like everyone who read this series can relate to the fact, that R. F. Kuang ruins us, but we love her for it anyway.

An easy 5⭐️. This series became one of my favorites, but I think it will take a LONG time before I reread it eventually, because I do miss feeling happy.

bluejaybooks's review against another edition

An intense, expansive follow-up to The Poppy War. I had a bit of a hard time getting into it at first because it can be hard to connect with a character who is feeling rather defeated, but I enjoyed the story once the plot got going.

cecilie_flohr's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.25

I liked this far better than the first one. Rin is feeling guilty about committing genocide, and just in general having other feelings than a lust for revenge.
Kitay is becoming a soldier/general and I have conflicting feelings about that. I liked the direction that all the characters were taken; they felt like they made more sense than in the first one.
I enjoyed all the backstabbing and the fact that everybody was the bad guy.

mayhemmay's review against another edition

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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0