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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I had high expectations for this one and it didn't disappoint!
adventurous
challenging
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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:
No
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
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
This is the literary equivalent of being punched in the stomach multiple times very,very hard. But it turns out, they were punches you very much needed to take. I am so glad that Kuang does not hold back in tackling ACTUAL grimdark in fantasy! This book is precisely what I signed up for - it's dark, brutal, and a very unhappy read. Bad things happen, the people in this book are bad. This book, therefore, is extremely good.
I went in a bit blind, so my initial reaction to starting to recognise historical events was to assume this was the aftermath of the Opium Wars (the title, and the fact it's been a few years since I did Chinese history didn't help me here). It's not, however. We're speedrunning 20th Century China in this novel and I hope you're ready for much *much* more darker detail than what school teaches you about the Japanese occupation of Manchuria.
Rin is likable in that she's a complete mess. She's emotional, determined, vengeance-driven and traumatised right from the get go. She's had it rough and that's left her with a lot to prove and a lot to take out on others. She's not good, but that is what makes her compelling. Often her journey humbles her, or sets up blocks it might seem impossible for her to get past. But she does. Rin is ready to do whatever it takes to get what she wants and needs and feels she deserves. Even, as later events will show (I won't spoil) to the very heavy detriment of herself and others.
I won't lie, Kuang hit me hard in the feels. I was devastated by so many of the deaths (and fates worse than death in some cases). Especially with how tragically meaningless some of them were (which is highly important and impactful. no critique there!). Im looking forward to following Rin's journey in the sequels.
I went in a bit blind, so my initial reaction to starting to recognise historical events was to assume this was the aftermath of the Opium Wars (the title, and the fact it's been a few years since I did Chinese history didn't help me here). It's not, however. We're speedrunning 20th Century China in this novel and I hope you're ready for much *much* more darker detail than what school teaches you about the Japanese occupation of Manchuria.
Rin is likable in that she's a complete mess. She's emotional, determined, vengeance-driven and traumatised right from the get go. She's had it rough and that's left her with a lot to prove and a lot to take out on others. She's not good, but that is what makes her compelling. Often her journey humbles her, or sets up blocks it might seem impossible for her to get past. But she does. Rin is ready to do whatever it takes to get what she wants and needs and feels she deserves. Even, as later events will show (I won't spoil) to the very heavy detriment of herself and others.
I won't lie, Kuang hit me hard in the feels. I was devastated by so many of the deaths (and fates worse than death in some cases). Especially with how tragically meaningless some of them were (which is highly important and impactful. no critique there!). Im looking forward to following Rin's journey in the sequels.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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