Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

195 reviews

abicaro17's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

God this book was unbearable. I will say first off, that Kuang has a beautiful writing style and the base of this book is really interesting. That being said, the execution of said base is god awful.

Juniper Song Heyward is a jealous, manipulative, vindictive, racist, bitch. She spends the entire book a plagiarist who attempts to convince the reader she's a victim somehow. June continuously uses racist language and defends her actions by blaming Athena for being more talented and likable. Every word that came out of her mouth made her less likable.

The plot is unbearably slow. You spend like 80% of the book reading tweets. Why? Who knows. I considered DNFing so many times it's a miracle I finished at all. I would recommend this to someone only if I hated them. Brb while I go cleanse my aura of this nightmare. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Vomit, Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Alcohol, Body horror, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, Islamophobia, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Violence, Medical content, Sexual assault, Stalking, Cursing, Rape, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs

thursdd4y's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Bullying, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Racism, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, and Violence

obfuscatress's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

As a reader and writer of colour, I found this to be a most pleasant mindfuck. This author has done such a resplendent job of making the first person narrator (and main character) so deeply unlikeable, that I wanted to put this book down several times and give it a one-star review simply because of how disgusted I was by the narrator. The themes only really come alive through the reader's understanding of the context that lies beyond the fourth wall e.g. the dismal statistics of diversity in publishing in the "real" world and scandals like the one currently surrounding Cait Corrain. If you're a reader or writer with insight into this world, it'll be a delightful read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Minor: Suicide and Murder

sofiarodriguez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I was absolutely in love with this book until the last 50 pages. I feel liek Candance faking being Athena was too expected. I would have much rather seen June end up having some tragic ending due to her own psychosis. I loved the themes and messages--June as an unreliable narrator gave such an interest perspective and how the book views intersectionality and the self-victimization of white woman. I love how this book talks about the duality of social media, especially in times of crisis and reinforcing systems of harm without it being "cringey." I think it fell into some of the pitfalls of thrillers at the end, and should have leaned more lit fic in being able to end with some "loose ends." This book is so beautifully written and self-aware, and I would have given it 5 stars without the last 50 pages. I have so many thoughts I cannot even express in this review. Such a beautiful piece by R.F. Kuang. God I loved this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Cultural appropriation, Death, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

emma_r_smith's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, Violence, and Toxic friendship

meimeililylil's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Thrilling with a touch of dry humor and a pinch of Crime and Punishment. Bring inside the narrator’s mind was a rollercoaster ride and with the ways she kept rationalizing despicable behavior, I had to keep reminding myself that she is the villain. Excellent writing!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Racism

Moderate: Death

Minor: Violence

reading_for_light's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

The writing is strong, but the author never trusts the audience to see the characters’ flaws without handholding.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

kanorve's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a book you’ll love to hate. It’s amazingly written but you’ll definitely find it hard to love any characters.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Racial slurs

Minor: Rape, Violence, and Xenophobia

nabs_co's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Gaslighting, and Violence

Minor: War

callmeplushies's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Cultural appropriation, and Death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts