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If you are looking for a lighthearted political fantasy THIS. IS. NOT. THE. BOOK. FOR. YOU.
I seriously wish I had read more reviews that stated that because I didn’t know what this book entailed and was caught off guard. There should be content warnings printed on the first page.
The pros:
The Magic system established is truly unique - with shamans and martial arts and Lore. The characters are somewhat likable and unique, and I was interested in their motivations and their journey. I actually liked that Altan and Rin didn’t have a love story - there was a commander/soldier relationship, an emotional connection between the last two Speerlies left after a genocide, and arguably a abusive friendship. I liked the enemies to friends with Nezha.
The cons:
This book has complex themes. There’s racism, genocide, war, torture - you name it and it’s there - it’s graphic and disturbing af. Like seriously disturbing. I get that there’s an argument for the readers needing to be disturbed by the books content to fully understand the characters motivations and that many of the events that happened in this book can be referenced in actual history but there should be trigger warnings everywhere in that book. It’s challenging and dark. I don’t think what happened to Venka needed to be as graphic as it was. The retelling of what happened to the pregnant woman? Sick. I went through all of the context warnings I would add for this book and there were at least 28 and you could argue for more.
To be honest, I don’t think I will recommend this book to people because I wish I hadn’t read some of the scenes. I’m not sure I’ll even read the second book.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Colonisation
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Xenophobia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
My main complaint is Rin. Not really her as a character, but how the author decides to handle her. I just don't find characters who are The Best at Everything all that interesting. I also found the sexism aspect of the world building to only be applied when convenient.
Overall, it's a very daring and well thought out story. The graphic violence at one point made me feel physically sick, but at no point did it feel "glorified" as some other reviews are saying. The violence felt very much like, "Hey, this is what war is like. It's extremely fucked up."
I will be continuing the series.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Gore, Sexual violence, War
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Misogyny, Rape, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, Infertility, Vomit
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Classism
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
The last quarter of the book really surprised me because I was expecting a 'normal' fantasy school story, but holy hell that's not at all what this is about. I had to reflect for a while if I even wanted to continue the series because it's so dark and depressing but I'll give it a go and if I can't handle it, I can always stop. Great writing tho.
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Probably one of the best fantasy work I have ever read. As usual, Kuang strikes true and hard, her prose incredible, poetic and gutwrenching in the best way possible.
Her stories pull at something deep inside of you and nestle there to never leave, and I welcome them with open arms.
A must read for any fantasy lover.
However, do check the trigger warnings beforehand.
This book is raw and Kuang doesn't coddle the reader. The atrocities that war inevitably brings are showed in all their horror. This is not a light read and some scenes are very graphic.
Please read the trigger warnings if you are a sensitive reader.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Pregnancy
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, War, Classism
Moderate: Racism, Sexism
Minor: Cursing
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism