Scan barcode
syddey_syd's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Kuang has the ability to keep me on my toes with this series. I never knew what was coming next, but I did always know it wouldn’t be good.
Rin is a difficult character to like (in my opinion). Her decisions often baffle me, but they fit her character. The brutality of war is very manifest in this book; possibly a little less graphic than the first, but not by much. Racism, classicism, sexism—all of the isms are present. It made for a ponderous read, and I often had to take breaks because the subject matter was so heavy.
In terms of moving along the series, this was a fitting sequel to the first book. Rin had some character development, Nikara politics thicken, and even more outside forces come into play. I’m very interested to see how Kuang ties up the series. Reading is like watching a train wreck—it’s terrible and messy, but I can’t seem to look away.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Drug use, Religious bigotry, War, Addiction, Classism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Racism, Self harm, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape
noms01's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Death, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Addiction, Blood, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Vomit, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Abortion
cybeleflame's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Gore, Medical trauma, Genocide, Classism, Physical abuse, Murder, War, Drug use, Cursing, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, and Child death
epointer44's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Grief, Rape, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, War, Blood, Death, Violence, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Classism, Drug abuse, Cursing, Child death, Colonisation, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, and Self harm
hexillith's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Drug abuse, War, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Colonisation, Classism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Kidnapping, Racism, Self harm, and Sexual assault
acepiary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Genocide, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, Drug use, Xenophobia, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, War, Death, Classism, and Grief
theresa_timber's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, War, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Cursing, Confinement, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Genocide
threemjen's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Murder, Colonisation, Slavery, War, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Self harm, Abandonment, Drug use, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
lydiasturges's review
- 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
The constant changing relationships and alliances should have been exhausting to keep track of, but it was such a compelling plot to see how things developed. I genuinely enjoyed this book more than the first book. There was more focus on Rin’s relationships which made the story more enjoyable to me. I never knew where the story because the politics/strategies of war are above me, but I enjoyed always feeling on edge. I felt like this book had more stakes because I was genuinely concerned about whether or not they would succeed multiple times throughout the story.
The author is just brutal to Rin and what she’s going through. But all of her suffering isn’t gratuitous. It clearly is designed to push her into a dynamic and complex FMC that you can’t help but root for.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Genocide, Confinement, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Drug use, and Classism
Moderate: Vomit, Suicide, Torture, Sexual violence, and Religious bigotry
mytheydyjay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Gore, Murder, Self harm, and Addiction