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alyssasaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Rape, Death, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, War, and Blood
omega's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, War, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Death, Misogyny, Child death, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
eleonorehilbig's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
the story, the characters and their development, the resolution of the story as nearly a third of the book deals with what comes after were handsdown a 5 star read for me. i also absolutely loved how the women were written. i mean the duel at the end was an absolute masterpiece
however - i absolutely HATE infodumps. pages upon pages of it. we're reading through an actual history lesson that one of the main characters attends ffs.
however - i absolutely HATE infodumps. pages upon pages of it. we're reading through an actual history lesson that one of the main characters attends ffs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Murder, and War
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
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
I expected an epic fantasy adventure. What I got instead was emotional damage.
Because I ignored the subtitle of the book. "A Theonite War Story" should have prepared me for... an actual war story. With all the gruesome horrors of war. Yeah, that's on me. Probably not the best time to read the book given the current global situation, either.
But! I really really really loved it. I hated it, but I loved it. It hurt, but it was SO good.
The character work is exceptional. It's fantastic, maybe even the best I've ever encountered. The main characters and points of view are a mother and her firstborn son. And I loooooove them both with all my heart. But all the side characters are amazing as well. All of them are flawed, which makes them so real.
But since this is such a character-driven story, the plot and action take a very long time to develop. Even then, I would say the climax of the story is in the middle of the book, with epic and creative magic/battle sequences. The second half mainly deals with the aftermath. And it's so impactful and painful. Because you care so much for these characters, it physically hurts to see them suffer and process the trauma. But the character arks, their development, the way relationships and dynamics change are worth it in the end, at least they were for me.
I can't say I enjoyed the direction the plot took. I wish it had gone in 10 different directions tbh. But I realize that this wasn't about the plot, but about the effects that war has on the individuals who have to live through it. It's also about love and duty, about community and survival, family and friendships.
Although the characters are what makes this book so special, I really enjoyed the world building and atmosphere. The mix of fantasy elements, magic and traditional values with advanced technology reminded me a little of Studio Ghibli movies, especially the ones that have war as a theme as well. And the action sequences are actually really good. I usually don't care for action unless it's interesting and can hold my attention. Which is the case here.
I don't know if I can recommend this book to anyone. But definitely to people who value character-driven stories and like to suffer. Just check trigger and content warnings beforehand, please.
Because I ignored the subtitle of the book. "A Theonite War Story" should have prepared me for... an actual war story. With all the gruesome horrors of war. Yeah, that's on me. Probably not the best time to read the book given the current global situation, either.
But! I really really really loved it. I hated it, but I loved it. It hurt, but it was SO good.
The character work is exceptional. It's fantastic, maybe even the best I've ever encountered. The main characters and points of view are a mother and her firstborn son. And I loooooove them both with all my heart. But all the side characters are amazing as well. All of them are flawed, which makes them so real.
But since this is such a character-driven story, the plot and action take a very long time to develop. Even then, I would say the climax of the story is in the middle of the book, with epic and creative magic/battle sequences. The second half mainly deals with the aftermath. And it's so impactful and painful. Because you care so much for these characters, it physically hurts to see them suffer and process the trauma. But the character arks, their development, the way relationships and dynamics change are worth it in the end, at least they were for me.
I can't say I enjoyed the direction the plot took. I wish it had gone in 10 different directions tbh. But I realize that this wasn't about the plot, but about the effects that war has on the individuals who have to live through it. It's also about love and duty, about community and survival, family and friendships.
Although the characters are what makes this book so special, I really enjoyed the world building and atmosphere. The mix of fantasy elements, magic and traditional values with advanced technology reminded me a little of Studio Ghibli movies, especially the ones that have war as a theme as well. And the action sequences are actually really good. I usually don't care for action unless it's interesting and can hold my attention. Which is the case here.
I don't know if I can recommend this book to anyone. But definitely to people who value character-driven stories and like to suffer. Just check trigger and content warnings beforehand, please.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Infertility, Medical content, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, War, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Racism, and Rape
annailles's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Sexism, War, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Gore, Rape, Child death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Miscarriage
poetry_shaman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, War, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Blood, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Violence, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Miscarriage
_forestofpages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, War, Death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, and Racism
wrbueche's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Child death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Rape and Suicide
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
absolutely fantastic; the sword of kaigen is one of the best books ive ever read and has now joined the few ranks of my top fav books ever. i had quite high expectations going into this but the book still exceeded them. it's actually mind-boggling how this book manages to be so many things all at once, yet it excels in all of them. this is an amazing high fantasy filled w/ thrilling action (one of the best written action-heavy books ive ever read, idk if the author's martial artist bg is a factor here); great characters who are complex, w/ some of the best arcs ive ever read; emotionally charged, heartrending, and bittersweet moments; and important (and relatable) themes of regret, duty, openmindedness, among others.
it's also a phenomenal character study whose main character and her struggles--as a woman, a mother, a lover, a wife--are rarely seen in fiction, let alone in the traditionally male-dominated domain of fantasy. misaki is unto herself, but is also a symbol for countless women even in modern times; her struggles once again remind me of the repressive, stifling, soul-crushing impact of the patriarchy and sexism. and in the greatest reversal of my feelings towards a fictional character, takeru def takes the cake; how wang made me come to like an alpha male--the very paragon of the patriarchy--who i profoundly loathed and wanted to throttle for at least 60% of the book is beyond me. a miraculous feat, rly, and a testament to the author's ability to fully render her characters as complex, multidimensional humans w/ backstory and fears.
now, despite the myriad of the book's awesomeness, my absolute fav thing abt it is how emotionally charged it is w/o ever veering into being overdramatic. the post-battle misaki-mamoru and duel scenes are one-of-a-kind, id never read anything like them, and they tore at me, and i loved it. the last chapter is also a revelation; robin and misaki's relationship--w/ its fraught history and all things unspoken yet known--is bittersweet, w/ the taste of life, w/ the complexity of the world and its reality, and how, despite not being textbook HEA, we can still be ok, to care and to be hopeful. also highly relate to and appreciate the book's msg of not letting regret overtake us, to instead do our best and appreciate everyday bc we can truly never know when it will be our last this is one of my top reads ever; i just cant stop gushing abt this book and it's honestly a crime more ppl havent read it!!!
it's also a phenomenal character study whose main character and her struggles--as a woman, a mother, a lover, a wife--are rarely seen in fiction, let alone in the traditionally male-dominated domain of fantasy. misaki is unto herself, but is also a symbol for countless women even in modern times; her struggles once again remind me of the repressive, stifling, soul-crushing impact of the patriarchy and sexism. and in the greatest reversal of my feelings towards a fictional character, takeru def takes the cake; how wang made me come to like an alpha male--the very paragon of the patriarchy--who i profoundly loathed and wanted to throttle for at least 60% of the book is beyond me. a miraculous feat, rly, and a testament to the author's ability to fully render her characters as complex, multidimensional humans w/ backstory and fears.
now, despite the myriad of the book's awesomeness, my absolute fav thing abt it is how emotionally charged it is w/o ever veering into being overdramatic. the post-battle misaki-mamoru and duel scenes are one-of-a-kind, id never read anything like them, and they tore at me, and i loved it. the last chapter is also a revelation; robin and misaki's relationship--w/ its fraught history and all things unspoken yet known--is bittersweet, w/ the taste of life, w/ the complexity of the world and its reality, and how, despite not being textbook HEA, we can still be ok, to care and to be hopeful. also highly relate to and appreciate the book's msg of not letting regret overtake us, to instead do our best and appreciate everyday bc we can truly never know when it will be our last this is one of my top reads ever; i just cant stop gushing abt this book and it's honestly a crime more ppl havent read it!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, War, Misogyny, Grief, Rape, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Colonisation, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic relationship
fe_lea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
4.75
12/16/21 edit: the more i think about this, the more i actually love it. bumping it up to 4.75 stars.
9/26/21:
I loved this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience it gave me. I made some assumptions before I read the book and found out all them were wrong, lol. When people said this is a Japanese military-inspired adult high fantasy, the first thing that came to mind was The Poppy War by RF Kuang (which is an awesome book that you need to check out if you haven't read it yet). I thought the war would be the main driver in the story but it's not. The war merely serves as a background for the internal war happening within and between the characters, and I liked this. Based on the cover and the first chapter, I honestly thought the book would focus mainly on Mamoru, the 14-yr old protagonist who's training to be a fighter to defend his homeland and had a world-shattering revelation that the Kaigenese Empire isn't what he was made to believe. Instead, the book mainly focused on Misaki, the 34-yr old mother of Mamoru who was a fighter and a vigilante in her youth but got trapped in a cold and loveless marriage for 15 years. This is my first time encountering a housewife as the main protagonist of a high fantasy book and I say ML Wang did it well. It was fresh to me and I really loved Misaki's arc. Honestly, the book felt like a giant character study of Misaki and I loved that.
The writing in this book is simple but beautiful and it gets poetic sometimes. It just knows how to get the right emotions from me. The Matsuda family are very powerful jijakulus (basically waterbenders) and I loved the way ML Wang wrote their powers. They took waterbending to a whole new level. It's magnificent and magical but it's backed by science which I really liked.
However, I struggled at the beginning of the book. There were a lot of made up words that my dumb brain couldn't keep up. There's a glossary at the back but having to flip through back and forth after every paragraph disrupted my concentration. The beginning was also slow, and while I found the world it's set in beautiful and interesting, it was sometimes difficult to digest. Another thing I didn't like was a major character's redemption arc. I feel like it happened too fast and felt too convenient. Perhaps if we were given his POV in the previous chapters it would make it more believable. The ending also brought in more questions instead of answers so it left me a little dissatisfied.
Overall, the book was really good. If you loved The Poppy War and/or if you're a fan of the elemental magic in Avatar: The Last Airbender, then I highly recommend this. Like The Poppy War, this book could get dark and heavy. It's definitely not a light read. Some of the themes and issues that were discussed frustrated me, but in a good way. I think they were handled well and delicately.
9/26/21:
I loved this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience it gave me. I made some assumptions before I read the book and found out all them were wrong, lol. When people said this is a Japanese military-inspired adult high fantasy, the first thing that came to mind was The Poppy War by RF Kuang (which is an awesome book that you need to check out if you haven't read it yet). I thought the war would be the main driver in the story but it's not. The war merely serves as a background for the internal war happening within and between the characters, and I liked this. Based on the cover and the first chapter, I honestly thought the book would focus mainly on Mamoru, the 14-yr old protagonist who's training to be a fighter to defend his homeland and had a world-shattering revelation that the Kaigenese Empire isn't what he was made to believe. Instead, the book mainly focused on Misaki, the 34-yr old mother of Mamoru who was a fighter and a vigilante in her youth but got trapped in a cold and loveless marriage for 15 years. This is my first time encountering a housewife as the main protagonist of a high fantasy book and I say ML Wang did it well. It was fresh to me and I really loved Misaki's arc. Honestly, the book felt like a giant character study of Misaki and I loved that.
The writing in this book is simple but beautiful and it gets poetic sometimes. It just knows how to get the right emotions from me. The Matsuda family are very powerful jijakulus (basically waterbenders) and I loved the way ML Wang wrote their powers. They took waterbending to a whole new level. It's magnificent and magical but it's backed by science which I really liked.
However, I struggled at the beginning of the book. There were a lot of made up words that my dumb brain couldn't keep up. There's a glossary at the back but having to flip through back and forth after every paragraph disrupted my concentration. The beginning was also slow, and while I found the world it's set in beautiful and interesting, it was sometimes difficult to digest. Another thing I didn't like was a major character's redemption arc. I feel like it happened too fast and felt too convenient. Perhaps if we were given his POV in the previous chapters it would make it more believable. The ending also brought in more questions instead of answers so it left me a little dissatisfied.
Overall, the book was really good. If you loved The Poppy War and/or if you're a fan of the elemental magic in Avatar: The Last Airbender, then I highly recommend this. Like The Poppy War, this book could get dark and heavy. It's definitely not a light read. Some of the themes and issues that were discussed frustrated me, but in a good way. I think they were handled well and delicately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Violence, and War
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and Suicide