Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

33 reviews

johnathanwet's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I have so much praise for this book but I just finished it and cannot get my thoughts in order yet.

Absolutely phenomenal read. Don’t think I’ve ever read a book that was just so difficult to get through, the brutality is next level.

For later:
- historical context
- bodily autonomy 
- substance abuse 
- reality of war 

I will come back once I’ve finished reeling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Rape, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Child death, Death, Grief, Religious bigotry, Classism, Colonisation, Pregnancy, and Gore

nataaaliya's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

If it were possible, I'd get every word of this trilogy inked into my skin.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Gore, Death, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Murder, Abandonment, Ableism, Body horror, Grief, Racial slurs, Drug use, Violence, Sexual assault, Racism, Body shaming, Blood, Genocide, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Child death, Sexism, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Dementia, Pregnancy, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Infertility, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death of parent, Self harm, Trafficking, Cannibalism, and Domestic abuse

anispaperbacks's review

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

 

This is def my fav in the trilogy so far!! I just couldn't put it down, I was so engaged the whole time. I had taken a bit of a break from reading it initially because I had just gotten started and was travelling and not quite fully into the book yet but once I *was* into it, I just consumed it. I read the vast majority of it over about 2 days. It was so brilliant to see R.F Kuang further take us on the characters journey and see how things have affected them, how they've changed and developed as people, and I really felt like I was along for the ride with them, never really knowing who I could trust and it was really interesting to watch Rin's views change throughout the book as well as straight up question my own in regards to the book's politics. There were so many little twists and I had my jaw on the floor in shock quite a few times. Kuang really knows how to pick you up and throw you around like a rag doll, my emotions were all over the place in regards to the characters istg I am never getting attatched to a character ever again /od But alongside all the backstabbing and betrayal that I felt on a personal level, the book also gave us characters and character dynamics you can really root for. Particularly, Rin and Kitay. GOD they mean so much to me. I just aboslutely adore how you can really see their closeness and comfortability just through the little ways in which they interact with each other. And you better know that I am an absolute SUCKER for strong and close platonic love. I eat that shit up. If anything happens to them in The Burning God I'm going to kill myself right there on the spot. My only gripe with the book is that sometimes I'm just not really sure what I'm supposed to be picturing as the book is more focused on the action than descriptions at the time. I had the same problem with The Poppy War too, but it's literally no big deal anyway and the scenes still have really effective imagery. 

The book was much less graphic than The Poppy War but still had some tough and/or gorey scenes. 

Overall, I just super super enjoyed reading this and the ending has me so so so excited for the next book (I also am keen to get more pirate action). I hope Rin gets to go nuts she deserves it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Animal death, Drug abuse, Child death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Xenophobia, Death, Addiction, and Violence

Moderate: Colonisation, Excrement, Genocide, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Cursing, Racism, and Classism

Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Gun violence, Sexism, Pregnancy, Torture, Kidnapping, and Medical content

eloisereading's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Sexual assault, Child death, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Rape, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Murder, Addiction, War, Abortion, and Death

shannonverra12's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Drug use, Self harm, Vomit, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Torture, Addiction, War, Genocide, Drug abuse, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Cannibalism

Minor: Religious bigotry

mboicekeith's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Rape, Medical trauma, and War

Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Vomit

getlitwithamy_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective 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

4.75

R.F. Kuang’s sequel to the profoundly thought provoking POPPY WAR adds even more tension and impact when it comes to the effects of war. 

The story starts right where THE POPPY WAR ends. Rin is coming to terms with the events that occurred at the end of the previous book, and Kuang doesn’t hesitate to show her struggling with this.

She also shows Rin’s deep drug addled state where her reliance on opium interferes with her psyche.

As THE DRAGON REPUBLIC continues, readers see how important political alliances are in terms of war. Kuang does a great job at showing how ugly the behind the scenes discussions can be. 

This book dodged the second book syndrome. It was even more captivating than its predecessor, and it holds THE BURNING GOD to a high standard since Kuang provides so much buildup in the end. Much praise for her and this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug abuse, Mental illness, War, Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Self harm, Sexual violence, Blood, Drug use, and Genocide

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy

rubbertree14's review

challenging dark tense slow-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

4.0

It’s hard to rate this book, as the writing itself is good and the world building is good, and I love how the author has tied fantasy and history together. But, the book feels longer than it needs to be. I wish there were less characters to track and more delving into the ones that have front stage, especially the women in this book. All the female characters seem very one-dimensional, even our leading lady. I think the only well-developed character in this series is Kitay. The history and lore is amazing, but wish the plot and characters were there as well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Addiction, Gore, Self harm, Abortion, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Medical content, Rape, Vomit, War, Classism, Colonisation, Animal death, Death, Body horror, Drug use, Genocide, Child death, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Violence

Graphic

alex_salamander's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first book but that's not a fault of the writing at all and more personal preferences on how I like character motivation set up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, War, Addiction, Body horror, Death of parent, Genocide, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Vomit, Alcohol, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Classism, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic friendship, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Excrement, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, and Bullying

Minor: Pregnancy, Abortion, and Cannibalism

winterwoodbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, War, Ableism, Cultural appropriation, Medical content, Pedophilia, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Racial slurs, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Classism, Excrement, Misogyny, Vomit, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Toxic friendship, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Torture, Chronic illness, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual violence, and Slavery