Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee

18 reviews

bisexualwentworth's review against another edition

• 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

4.0

There's a lot that I love here: the worldbuilding, the magic system, the prose, the women with swords, the mechanical dragon. I think that Yoon Ha Lee accomplished exactly what he set out to do with this book. Unfortunately, I think that the concept is just fundamentally not super compelling for me. The execution is as strong as it could have possibly been, but Jebi just isn't an interesting enough main character for me. I would have loved either a more slice of life story or a more action-packed story, but again, those aren't the books the author wanted to write, and that's okay. I will absolutely be reading his other work cause I think there's a lot of good stuff here. I did wish the book was longer, but I do appreciate a good quick fantasy standalone.

The first and second half of this book are very distinct in terms of vibes and pacing. I preferred the second half, but I think the first half may work better for a lot of readers. Very much a personal taste thing.

Anyway, this book isn't a new favorite, but it did leave a positive impression and I would definitely recommend it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, Death, Violence, and Xenophobia

jayisreading's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

3.25

I want to first praise the fascinating premise, especially considering that it was clearly based on colonial Korea in a fantasy setting. Lee also brought to attention the importance of art in life and society, turning it into a literal weapon to signify its value even during war. He also reimagined really interesting politics that clearly drew from historical figures and events of the Korean peninsula while under Japanese rule.

And, with that said, I was underwhelmed by the novel and wanted more. Lee was working with a fascinating setting and powerful themes that all felt underdeveloped. I wanted to learn more about the politics of what was happening; a better understanding of the magic system and mechanical dragons; as well as a stronger idea of characters' motives and desires. Regarding the last point, Jebi (the protagonist) was clearest in what they wanted, even if what they wanted wasn't particularly revolutionary. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but in a fantasy novel that demanded action, it conflicted with Jebi's interests and made the overarching story less interesting.

I think there's still a lot to take from this novel, and I know many readers would love the incredible queer representation (and seamlessly woven into the world) that is present. The novel had a lot of potential across the board and, unfortunately, they weren't fully realized.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Grief, Confinement, Colonisation, and Death

Moderate: Torture and Xenophobia

jessthanthree's review against another edition

adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Colonisation

Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Death, Violence, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Torture

Minor: Sexual harassment and Death of parent

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Torture, Vomit, and Xenophobia

Minor: Medical trauma, Police brutality, and Toxic relationship

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

I was hesitant to read this because of how dark the last Yoon Ha Lee book I read was, but I’m glad I did because I loved it. The paint magic system was alarming and awesome, and the unexpected connections were interesting throughout. Loved the tie-ins with Korean folklore and the non-binary rep. I wish things with Hawk had been a little more developed.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Gun violence, Genocide, Physical abuse, War, Confinement, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, and Blood

Moderate: Medical content, Grief, and Torture

kaiiyo's review

emotional informative reflective 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? It's complicated

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, and Xenophobia

laurareads87's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? No

4.0

Thoroughly enjoyed this.  The world-building -- political dynamics, magical pigments & painting, automatons given personality characteristics and capacities with magical masks -- was impeccable, and the plot exciting without feeling hurried.  I adore the representation in this story: a non-binary protagonist and an array of relationships depicted.  The ending felt slightly rushed, and I do wish there were going to be more stories in this world.  This is not complex in the ways that Lee's <i>Machineries of Empire</i> books are, but it's a satisfying read.  The dragon is not as central as some of the book descriptions make it out to be, so those most excited for a dragon story might feel a bit disappointed, but I really liked this novel.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Colonisation, Murder, Death, War, Violence, Torture, Xenophobia, and Blood

Minor: Gore and Injury/Injury detail

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

4.0

Come for the worldbuilding, stay for the soul-crushing conclusion. 

This was epic, expansive, yet somehow it remained so intimate and almost claustrophobic being in this one character's mind trying to interpret the grand scale of this novel. Fantastical and imaginative.  I loved that our protagonist was not a warrior, not a hero (in the traditional sense). They are an artist who isn't that invested in politics and activism yet gets drawn into war.

The last couple of chapters sold me on this novel, the last two sentences crushed me into tiny, sad pieces. It was a pleasure to read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Confinement, Colonisation, War, Racism, Death, and Torture

Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol

radtastical's review

adventurous hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Murder, Death, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Colonisation, and Blood

Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, Gore, and Blood

Minor: War, Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Excrement, and Medical content

aardwyrm's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

The magic system is stellar, the worldbuilding is lovely (and brutal), and you get to make a dragon friend, which improves any book a thousandfold. Lots of political intrigue, a paucity of right choices, and horrible consequences, avoids giving pat answers to hard questions. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Death, Police brutality, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Colonisation, Gore, War, and Violence