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Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Murder, War
Moderate: Drug use, Grief
Minor: Rape
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Mental illness, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Violence, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Body horror, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Similar to The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic is violent and gritty. One of the most disturbing scenes involves a rape and the subsequent violent murder of the rapist. Other scenes include mass murder on a scale that I, in my Western Canadian upbringing, can’t fathom because I simply can’t imagine that many people in one location, never mind going to war with one another (all Eastern readers may now laugh at me… it’s okay).
Major Themes
Addiction as a response to PTSD, trauma, and grief: Rin doesn’t know how to deal with the consequences of her actions, so she allows her anger to fuel her into rash actions that endanger more lives. She uses addiction to cope with her intense, out-of-control emotions… not the best tool to use, but the only one at her disposal until Vaisra pulls her out of her self-destructive behaviours. Even so, Vaisra becomes another sort of addiction as Rin desperately seeks his approval.
“But she didn’t want to be strong. Because if she were strong then she would be sober, and if she were sober she would have to consider the consequences of her actions. Then she’d have to look into the chasm.” (108)
“She craved Vaisra. She wanted his approval. Needed it. He provided her with structure, control, and direction that she hadn’t had since Altan died, and it felt so terribly good.” (171)
Colonization: It’s no secret—the Hesperians are equivalent to the Western world, especially Britain, and their thirst for conquest and colonialization is insatiable. Kunag makes no secret of her dislike for the Western colonialism of Asia, and it’s no wonder, since Britain and the other European powers effectively raped the land of resources and ripped away Chinese culture, identity, and dignity. Rape, then, is an adequate motif in the book. Religion is also closely tied with colonialism; convert the nation, and they will be docile and obedient to the ruling powers.
“We’re not equals,” Augus said. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. And I don’t think the path to salvation involves treating you like you’re not people.” Augus, Rin realized, really thought that he was being kind. (320)
Democracy, imperialism, and dictatorship: The ideologies begin to run hot in this book. Ideals of democracy are thrown around and criticized. Imperial rule is contested and defended. Dictatorship isn’t yet a reality, but the reader begins to see why Nikara chooses that path as it is steeped in civil war over ideologies and ambition.
“The Nikara people aren’t ready for democracy. They’re sheep. They’re crude, uneducated fools.” (153)
“Democracy’s not going to work. Look at them… They’re cows. Fools. They’re voting for the Republic because they’re scared—I’m sure they’d vote just as quickly to join the Federation… They need someone to tell them what to do, what to think—” (305)
Writing Style
Kuang continues her direct, insightful writing style in The Dragon Republic. She weaves powerful statements and motifs into her characters’ narrative arcs in ways that do not feel forced or clichéd. Her descriptions are visceral and evocative. Rin’s internal narrative is emotionally charged and intense. The strategy and militarism are not overwhelming; they move the plot along smoothly without becoming bogged down.
- Antihero and descent into darkness
- Magical military fantasy
- Post-traumatic growth/decline
- Found family
- The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
- Babel by R.F. Kuang
Violence Rating: Severe**; Brutal descriptions of war, rape descriptions, massacre, torture
Profanity Rating: Severe; 154 occurrences of f*ck, one use of c*nt
Reader discretion is advised.
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Rape, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Animal death, Abortion
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Gore, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War