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jlyles_177's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma
roget's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Minor: Infertility
wingsofareader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Colonisation
Author R.F. Kung explains - in a note at the back of the paperback edition - that the vivid descriptions of war violence, including sexual violence against women and children, we’re taking from historical documents and personal accounts from World War II survivors. Kuang’s rating offers specific sensory imagery, alongside a listing of violence observed by the characters as a means of connecting the reader with both the profound horror and the casual brutality of wartime atrocities. These descriptions do not seem gratuitous, when taken as part of the overall level of description of character experience and visual detail throughout the novel, as well as the context of author, intent bring awareness of historic events and truths that are buying large ignored in the West. The details are, however, unflinchingly described, as are the characters emotional, mental and physical trauma responses to what they see and endure. Some readers may find detailed descriptions difficult to read or process, particularly depending on personal circumstance and experience.samflowerv6's review against another edition
5.0
“I don't love you. And I can kill anything.”
Well, fuck the heavenly order of things. If getting married to a gross old man was her preordained role on this earth, then Rin was determined to rewrite it.
“I don't need your pity. I need you to kill them for me. You have to kill them for me," Venka hissed. "Swear it. Swear on your blood that you will burn them.”
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
miciahsreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
worldbuilding - 1
writing - .75
enjoyment - .75
plot - .75
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Child abuse and Rape
jaz_apples's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
This book was incredibly graphic. It goes into heavy detail of body horror, death, murder and SA. The author did a good job of painting the picture of the scene but could have done so in a more tactful and effective way.
“The bigger the issue, the smaller you write. Remember that. You don’t write about the horrors of war. No. You write about a kid’s burnt socks lying on the road. You pick the smallest manageable part of the big thing, and you work off the resonance.” -Richard Price
Another thing to be wary of is the heavy drug use and abuse within this book.
I believe that the most triggering chapter is chapter 21 and I’ll have a general description of the events for those who wish to skip it under a spoiler. This chapter covers exceptionally graphic and detailed descriptions of: murder, genocide, torture, body horror/mutilation, the postmortem state of bodies, SA, sexual violence, miscarriage/forced abortion/violence towards a pregnant women, and drug abuse. With that said, here is the general description of the chapter:
See the content warnings for the rest of possible triggers
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism
ehrycyna's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
iniiri's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Things seemed well thought out and nothing gave the impression of being shallow; just a character because it was needed which I really liked.
Slight spoiler because I don’t know how to talk about this book otherwise.
I really liked the time skips in the first half of the book. It didn’t need to tell certain things in detail so I’m glad it didn’t. It took me by surprise, that’s for sure, but I liked it. It also made things more convincing to learn that significant time had passed without anything noteworthy because that’s just life.
Still in the slight spoiler zone, but my closing thoughts. It was quite difficult to read at times. Again, I didn’t know anything going into this book so I didn’t expect the turn it took. I’m used to books glossing over a lot of things, but again, it delivered on the name.
I honestly don’t know if I’ll read the other books. I’m quite overwhelmed by everything. There were moments where I didn’t even want to read because it would just lead to more missery. It was a good book on its own and as of right now, I don’t feel any need to read the next one. I think I need to leave this world for a while before I light pick up the next one.
All in all, would recommend with caution :)
(Audiobook)
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Violence, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Rape, and Torture
Minor: Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Kidnapping, Colonisation, and Classism
snaileton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Torture
Minor: Addiction and Sexism
elyanna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Addiction and Animal cruelty