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ringofkeyz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
while the tonal shift between parts i and ii was jarring, it felt necessary in terms of story-telling. upon reading part i, you assume that you're in for a more magical/martial arts focused schooling story; something where the education aspect is the primary focus. when part ii hits, you're IMMEDIATELY thrust onto the frontlines of the war and kuang does not hold back. the tone immediately becomes gruesome and dark, almost unexpectedly so. however, this works narratively because it mirrors the experience of the protagonist, rin, in the novel. there is no lead-up, no warning to the prompt arrival of pillaging, murder, r*pe, and bloodshed for the reader because there is no warning for that in real life. while it was definitely off-putting at the start, in hindsight it not only makes sense but also feels necessary in order for kuang to accomplish what she set out to write.
the book was incredibly well-written, the world-building sucked me into the story immediately, and the downfall of rin's morality has me eager to read the second book.
it just needs to be said to incoming readers that this book is dark, gruesome, and describes the perils of war in extremely vivid detail to the point where i had to put the book down and walk away before picking it back up because it made me nauseous.
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Slavery, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Infertility, Excrement, and Colonisation
everlymayreads'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Infertility
hunnymush's review against another edition
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Bullying and Torture
Minor: Child death
freddie_mewcury's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and War
and_deni'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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Miscarriage, and Pedophilia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infertility, and Vomit
whoopingchow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, and Rape
hayreading'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
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bazer63's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Racism, Torture, Excrement, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Vomit, and Pregnancy
runealin'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: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
cedence's review against another edition
5.0
However, I want to take a paragraph to say that this is an adult(?) high fantasy inspired by 20th century Chinese history. The main character is 14years old when the book begins, but the story lasts for several years and turns closer to an adult grim dark fantasy halfway. Genocide(s), racism and justice are themes on the forefront of this book. Chapter 21 will put it full-blown on the page in great detail. It's grusome. I suggest skipping that chapter if descriptions of unthinkable violence and cruelty against people of all ages (and animals) is not on your budget for the day. Please, use the TWs. There are a lot going on in this book.
The main character is not easily likeable as her sense of injustice fuels her need for power. And the price of power may be distrastous.
A must-read for anyone who enjoys high fantasy, military fantasy, Chinese-inspired fantasy, and just spellbinding storytelling. I recommend going in as blind as you can so every twist takes you by surprise.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Genocide, Infertility, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail