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fiona_apples's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: Death of parent and Eating disorder
torismazarine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Xenophobia, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol and Vomit
Minor: Murder and War
carmineslamp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Sexual assault
seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death, Cursing, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual content, Drug use, War, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Confinement
hedsek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Death, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Sexism, Misogyny, Stalking, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
khradil'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
4.75
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
aamina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death of parent, Blood, Vomit, Bullying, Islamophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
ribbenkast's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Reading this book was like pulling teeth, i finished it in 1 sitting.
The book is from the perspective of Juniper who steals her deceased friend's manuscript and passes it off as her own. Juniper throughout the book is completely delusional, self centered, and intentionally oblivious to the harm she's doing. She's so dislikable, it often made this book hard to read, which is a good thing. Juniper is unfortunately, a very realistic depiction of a white woman who thinks she can't be racist because she voted for biden.
This book is a great call out to the publishing industry and It's racist practises. It also makes you reflect on your own prejudice when it comes to asian authors and stories and aks a lot of questions about race and story telling.
Edit to add:
My one criticism is with R.F. Kuang herself. It's clear that Athena is a stand in for herself. A lot of the criticism Athena gets is criticism Kuang herself has gotten. Such as Racist/insensitive depictions of Taiwanese people in her work, having a very priveleged upbringing which made it easier to focus on writting and not acknowledging that etc. By having these (often valid) criticisms be voiced by Juniper, they are voiced by a jealous hater, and therefore Kuang sets out to invalidate and deflect the criticism of herself. Just something to keep in mind while reading.
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Stalking, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, and Hate crime
Minor: Sexual assault, Eating disorder, and Suicidal thoughts
leonormsousa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Grief, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, and Medical content
akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.5
Juniper is such an interesting character, because at points I almost do feel sorry for her. It’s difficult putting yourself out there, especially when your friend seems preordained for greatness. I’ve been there. My best friend was everything I wanted to be, she was blonde, beautiful, and funny. She was insanely intelligent and good at everything. Her poetry made a teacher cry, her grades were the highest in my year. No one wanted to know me, they wanted to know her. I understand Juniper, better than I’d like to admit.
But Juniper’s downfall comes in the form of her unwillingness, or perhaps her lack of ability, to take any responsibility. She’s judgemental and rude and turns on people at any given moment. She’s incredibly selfish and bitchy, but at points she is sympathetic.
I love how Kuang dips between timelines, showing both Athena and Juniper in a sympathetic and unsympathetic light- but the fact is that none of Athena’s acts are terrible enough to have her life’s work stolen and her identity as a woman of colour stolen.
I think this is a very sharp thought out critique and I hope that Kuang writes more thrillers in the future!
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Body horror, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Rape, Bullying, and Sexual assault
Minor: Eating disorder and Gaslighting