Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

32 reviews

ginalucia's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Jumping back into the story with The Dragon Republic was a breeze. And what a story it is! Kuang delivers a gritty, realistic narrative that pulls no punches. 

The character development is tough, and while many of the characters are unlikeable, there's something strangely compelling about them.

From the get-go, I was fully invested. Kuang does a masterful job of making the main character unlikeable yet undeniably real, especially considering the harsh realities of war and the difficult decisions it forces people to make.

The Dragon Republic is not for the faint of heart. It's a brutal, uncomfortable read that keeps you on edge constantly. But that's also what makes it so good.

While the story maintains a relentless pace, it does drag a bit during some repetitive moments. However, this doesn't detract too much from the overall experience.

While it may not be perfect, The Dragon Republic is an excellent next step in this trilogy and I’m looking forward to the last. 

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Genocide, Violence, Xenophobia, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Rape, Blood, Grief, Colonisation

nataaaliya's review against another edition

5.0

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

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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

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Content Warnings

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

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

potion96's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gun violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Colonisation

winterwoodbooks's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark 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

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Content Warnings

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

kaylaswhitmore's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Coming straight out of the first book and into this one was very interesting. After the first book’s rather awe-inducing end (

Rin’s use of the Phoenix to completely level an entire country

) I already anticipated that Kuang would have to find a way to “nerf” Rin in the second book. After all, if it was all just easy wins, nothing would feel very climactic, would it? So, with that in mind, it’s safe to say that the first half of this book was exceedingly frustrating. I don’t mean that in a negative way, but rather, that Kuang found the bruise that conjoined both Rin and the reader and she pushed down, hard. It thoroughly sucked for awhile there, especially considering my standing-critique of Kuang’s writing style that she tends to sum up Rin’s various relationships with a handful of informative scenes but too little transition in-between (imho). This occasionally made those relationships and characters feel a little flat in comparison to the rich intimacy we have within Rin’s character and arc. However, I think that particular flaw took a hard turn for the better around 2/3 through the book (

Rin and Kitay’s bond

). After that point, the emotions, stakes, and overall well-roundedness of every character beside Rin felt much more vivid than before, and Kuang even delved a little deeper in adding casual exchanges here and there that really enriched the dynamics. By the end, I truly felt immersed in this world and found myself longing for exactly what Rin herself is headed towards: purpose. I’m going right into the third and final book now, and hope this journey finds a satisfying end!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Self harm, Grief, Abortion, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol

Minor: Cannibalism

As with the first book, please check trigger/content warnings before reading.

There is an incident involving a woman being r*ped in the second half of the book that is moderately graphic and could definitely be triggering for some.

cort_03's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical trauma

cmsreads's review against another edition

3.75

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

allisonmspiers's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Torture, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Classism

Minor: Genocide, Racial slurs, Abortion, Alcohol

not listed above: hallucinations, human experimentation, massacres, mutilations

hailsatan's review against another edition

3.5

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Antisemitism, Grief, Cannibalism, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Classism, Deportation

shaunaxx's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Cannibalism

Minor: Abortion