Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Rache im Herzen by Xiran Jay Zhao

12 reviews

ratchetang's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Can be confusing if you have little knowledge of chinese culture and mythology or mecha genres. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Alcohol

Moderate: Dysphoria, Genocide, Xenophobia, Confinement, Grief, Misogyny, and Colonisation

Minor: Sexual content, Body shaming, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, War, Sexual assault, Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

hearkenheretic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Addiction, Child abuse, Sexism, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Violence, Misogyny, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Genocide, Body shaming, Alcohol, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent

pitchblackkoi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I love stuff where characters aren’t necessarily “good people.” This book delivers on this. Wu Zetian isn’t a “good” protagonist, but you understand why she is doing what she does in this book. Wrap it up in Chinese mythology and history (something I am by no means an expert in but find immensely fascinating and enjoy learning about) AND put giant robots in it and you have a book that hooks you from page one. The writing style in this book makes it a quick and easy read even as it also goes into some tough to read subjects. I loved this book and am eagerly awaiting the sequel. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Addiction, Body horror, Mental illness, and Torture

miggyfool's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Colonisation, Confinement, Drug abuse, Murder, Police brutality, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Slavery, and War

maggdalene's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Emotional abuse, War, Alcoholism, Dysphoria, Misogyny, Sexism, and Domestic abuse

jjjreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Torture, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Body shaming, Misogyny, Racism, Kidnapping, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Mental illness, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Confinement, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Death of parent, Gun violence, Medical content, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

Minor: Cursing, Pedophilia, Rape, and Fatphobia

ramiel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, and War

Moderate: Sexual assault, Classism, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Confinement, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Bullying, Death of parent, Racism, Body shaming, Classism, Sexual content, and Racial slurs

hayleyvem's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Murder, Death, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Classism, and Xenophobia

Minor: Colonisation, Genocide, and Rape

readingelli's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

A fantastic debut. Well written, imaginative, had me hooked from the first page. I loved the overturn of classic tropes, such as

making a love triangle a polyamorous triad

. 
I am really interested to see where the author will take the next book, especially as Zetian is extremely femmephobic and rejects female companionship. Is this a product of the setting? Is it a product of their complicated feelings about their own gender? 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Gore, Murder, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and War

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Dysphoria, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Medical content and Xenophobia

ellariawrites's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, War, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Murder, Physical abuse, and Torture

Minor: Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Kidnapping, Medical content, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts