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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
Objectively, this book is 5 stars because of how impressive it is. It’s not the book… it’s me
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I felt it was over explained. The pace was slow, but it hoped between times a lot. The magic was interesting, and I liked the exploration of colonialism and its impacts, but to the point I was at it felt as if Kuang was hammering the same criticism in over and over. I felt it was too boring and when a book repeatedly puts me to sleep, I put it down.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
This read like a fantasy book of my childhood but with the relevant, real enemies and powers of what I’m interested in today. So much beautiful work on language, etymology, what being native in a language is like, learning to be disillusioned from what you’re fed to by your oppressors, what revolution may look and feel like to different people, what it’s like to be in the belly of the beast… more.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I waited too long to write this review, partially because I really wasn’t sure how I felt after finishing the book. I’m still not confident in my rating.
Overall this very much reads like a dissertation in novel form. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but it wasn’t what I usually look for or enjoy. I know that the over-explanatory aspect of the voice was intentional, but for me it detracted from the narrative. There was way too much introspection, and I felt like I was constantly being told how to feel. There was also a bit of an abrupt transition after the trip to Canton — the narrative did most of the work before this point, but it the voice became much more heavy-handed afterwards. This also coincided with what felt to me like an overly convenient plot point. The fourth-year trip suddenly being moved up to the beginning of their fourth year might have made sense if it was a trip just for Robin, but dragging the other three members of his cohort along when none of them spoke Chinese didn’t really make sense. Obviously the full cohort needed to be together for what happened next(Robin’s murder of Professor Lovell) , but that felt like the only reason to include them. I think this jarred me a bit and I wasn’t really able to immerse myself in the narrative again.
I also think the ending felt rushed, especially in terms of Robin’s character development.
Overall this very much reads like a dissertation in novel form. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but it wasn’t what I usually look for or enjoy. I know that the over-explanatory aspect of the voice was intentional, but for me it detracted from the narrative. There was way too much introspection, and I felt like I was constantly being told how to feel. There was also a bit of an abrupt transition after the trip to Canton — the narrative did most of the work before this point, but it the voice became much more heavy-handed afterwards. This also coincided with what felt to me like an overly convenient plot point. The fourth-year trip suddenly being moved up to the beginning of their fourth year might have made sense if it was a trip just for Robin, but dragging the other three members of his cohort along when none of them spoke Chinese didn’t really make sense. Obviously the full cohort needed to be together for what happened next
I also think the ending felt rushed, especially in terms of Robin’s character development.
Overall I think my main point of frustration is the fact that this isn’t *really* fantasy. The story didn’t need the magic system with silver bars to make its point.
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes