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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
At last the war comes to a tipping point in Burning God. With her eyes opened to the Republic’s true intentions, Rin and the Yin dynasty (and their Hesperian allies) are at odds, and we finally see Rin become the central leader, gathering the forces of the South against a new despot for the fate of Nikan. With Kitay at her side, Rin struggles under the title of General and under the yoke of responsibility to her country and her people, realizing there is no way to avoid suffering and still win the war.
Readers who have made it this far into the series won’t be surprised by the graphic violence and detailed suffering inflicted upon the country by protracted war. In this installment, I felt it was especially painful to read since Rin seems so close to finishing the conflict and I just kept hoping to see their peoples start to recover.
Overall, I felt this book meandered a bit more than the first two, but still a fitting conclusion to an epic and memorable series.
Animal Alert Harm to squirrel, pigeon, pigs, deer and dog.
What I Liked:
- Kitay remains the voice of reason and my favorite character in all of this series.
- I have appreciated these books have had a female MC without the need to include heavy romance.
- The commentary on colonialism and preservation of culture.
- The realism throughout this series has been refreshing. SPOILER:
What I Didn’t:
- A few story beats in this book felt like page fillers
- The arc for the Trifecta.
- I guess I can finally conclude I was not a huge fan of Rin overall. She was a force to be reckoned with, and I know the power distorted and twisted her psyche at times, but she repeatedly bemoaned the results of her choices despite consistently choosing the path of vengeance, anger, and self-interest.
Readers who have made it this far into the series won’t be surprised by the graphic violence and detailed suffering inflicted upon the country by protracted war. In this installment, I felt it was especially painful to read since Rin seems so close to finishing the conflict and I just kept hoping to see their peoples start to recover.
Overall, I felt this book meandered a bit more than the first two, but still a fitting conclusion to an epic and memorable series.
Animal Alert Harm to squirrel, pigeon, pigs, deer and dog.
Spoiler
Rin recounts how Altan used animals like squirrels and birds to demonstrate the power of the fire. A fawn is sacrificed. A dog is fed food and poisoned to death.What I Liked:
- Kitay remains the voice of reason and my favorite character in all of this series.
- I have appreciated these books have had a female MC without the need to include heavy romance.
- The commentary on colonialism and preservation of culture.
- The realism throughout this series has been refreshing. SPOILER:
Spoiler
Rin’s half-hearted victory in the last few chapters, during which she realizes that the end of the war is not the end of putting the country back together, was realistic. This series has never strayed away from painting a realistic depiction of the many parties, military and civilian, that are impacted by war.What I Didn’t:
- A few story beats in this book felt like page fillers
Spoiler
Kitay’s imprisonment being one of those – there was almost no purpose/consequence to it other than a glimpse of Nezha’s consultations with Kitay.- The arc for the Trifecta.
Spoiler
I felt they were built up heavily, and it just ended so quickly. It’s not even that I am upset about their demise, it was just how suddenly and easily it seemed to come about.- I guess I can finally conclude I was not a huge fan of Rin overall. She was a force to be reckoned with, and I know the power distorted and twisted her psyche at times, but she repeatedly bemoaned the results of her choices despite consistently choosing the path of vengeance, anger, and self-interest.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall rating for the trilogy: 3.5/5
Having studied about the Opium and Sino-Japanese war back in school, the concept genuinely excited me bc of its novelty. Although, if Kuang was going to incorporate almost every tragedy into one fantasy timeline, perhaps there could be variations in the insights of each one apart from what a tragedy it was.
If I were the sort to enjoy stories on warfare and battle tactics, it might have been a more enjoyable book for me. But at one point, the multiple “plot twists” brought out more of a sense of dread rather than excitement. Maybe that was its intention but didn’t quite hit the grimdark level type shit bc I could not manifest enough care for Rin, let alone the other characters. Maybe Altan, bc I love broken men #icanfixthem (jk)
Character wise, I wish there were more meaning and allegory to the naming, esp if you were to use actual characters from Chinese lore (e.g. Jiang, Nezha etc). Or perhaps I’m not interpreting them correctly.
As per my previous review, still not a big fan of the opium x magic concept. I wonder what the point of emphasizing that opium can help you access the pantheon is meant to do. Mb its not that deep the magic just exists to add spice (and fire)- shall just accept that
The ending was satisfactory tho I’m really glad it ended the way it did. Overall it’s still a great series, esp for my battle-crazed friends who can talk about tactics and fantasies all day long.
Having studied about the Opium and Sino-Japanese war back in school, the concept genuinely excited me bc of its novelty. Although, if Kuang was going to incorporate almost every tragedy into one fantasy timeline, perhaps there could be variations in the insights of each one apart from what a tragedy it was.
If I were the sort to enjoy stories on warfare and battle tactics, it might have been a more enjoyable book for me. But at one point, the multiple “plot twists” brought out more of a sense of dread rather than excitement. Maybe that was its intention but didn’t quite hit the grimdark level type shit bc I could not manifest enough care for Rin, let alone the other characters. Maybe Altan, bc I love broken men #icanfixthem (jk)
Character wise, I wish there were more meaning and allegory to the naming, esp if you were to use actual characters from Chinese lore (e.g. Jiang, Nezha etc). Or perhaps I’m not interpreting them correctly.
As per my previous review, still not a big fan of the opium x magic concept. I wonder what the point of emphasizing that opium can help you access the pantheon is meant to do. Mb its not that deep the magic just exists to add spice (and fire)- shall just accept that
The ending was satisfactory tho I’m really glad it ended the way it did. Overall it’s still a great series, esp for my battle-crazed friends who can talk about tactics and fantasies all day long.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No