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angstifies's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.5
incredible book.
the characters and dynamics were so well written it blew my mind, this world and magic system are super interesting and it had the literal best fighting scenes i’ve ever read.
probably one of the best standalone fantasy books out there, i truly loved this story and how it progressed so much, and i couldn’t have thought of a better ending, wow
the characters and dynamics were so well written it blew my mind, this world and magic system are super interesting and it had the literal best fighting scenes i’ve ever read.
probably one of the best standalone fantasy books out there, i truly loved this story and how it progressed so much, and i couldn’t have thought of a better ending, wow
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and War
Minor: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
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: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
cgn's review against another edition
5.0
Wow this was fantastic. I got so immersed into the world and the characters, and I cried three or four separate times, which I don’t think I’ve ever done with a book before. The fight scenes were spectacular, but the characters were what drew me in the most. I can’t wait to get my own copy for my shelves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, and War
maira_h's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
4.5 stars 🌟
I love how this book reminded me so much of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Naruto. For ATLA, it's because of the use of elemental powers in this world. For Naruto, it's probably the whole clan hierarchy thing and the use of 'bloodline technique'. Those two pieces of pop culture are phenomenal in their own right, but this book in itself is also damn excellent.
At first, it took me a while to set a pace while reading this book, mostly because of the language used. I kept flipping back to the glossary to find out the meanings of multiple words. Kaigen/ Takayubi is heavily influenced by Japanese language and cultures. Some words I was familiar with while others I was not sure whether they were made up or what. However, after a while, everything slowly clicked into place.
The writing was probably one of the best things about this book, specifically the battle scenes. I thought Fonda Lee's battle scenes from The Green Bone Saga were incredible, but ML Wang's was downright poetic at times.
The characters are also beautifully written and so well developed. They have multiple layers to them, which I absolutely love. I love Misaki, I love Mamoru and damn it, I love Takeru too. His character development is probably my favourite. Because, despite being seen as this formidable character, he is still human.
I also really love how this book tackled motherhood and womanhood. Misaki had this internal conflict about having to choose between being a wife/ mother and being a warrior. But I loved how, in the end, she realized she could be both. I cried a bit reading about Misaki and his son, Mamoru. I want more of Mamoru, if I'm being honest.
This is going into my list of favourites now. I need more books like this— where the reading experience felt like watching a freaking anime.
I love how this book reminded me so much of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Naruto. For ATLA, it's because of the use of elemental powers in this world. For Naruto, it's probably the whole clan hierarchy thing and the use of 'bloodline technique'. Those two pieces of pop culture are phenomenal in their own right, but this book in itself is also damn excellent.
At first, it took me a while to set a pace while reading this book, mostly because of the language used. I kept flipping back to the glossary to find out the meanings of multiple words. Kaigen/ Takayubi is heavily influenced by Japanese language and cultures. Some words I was familiar with while others I was not sure whether they were made up or what. However, after a while, everything slowly clicked into place.
The writing was probably one of the best things about this book, specifically the battle scenes. I thought Fonda Lee's battle scenes from The Green Bone Saga were incredible, but ML Wang's was downright poetic at times.
The characters are also beautifully written and so well developed. They have multiple layers to them, which I absolutely love. I love Misaki, I love Mamoru and damn it, I love Takeru too. His character development is probably my favourite. Because, despite being seen as this formidable character, he is still human.
I also really love how this book tackled motherhood and womanhood. Misaki had this internal conflict about having to choose between being a wife/ mother and being a warrior. But I loved how, in the end, she realized she could be both. I cried a bit reading about Misaki and his son, Mamoru. I want more of Mamoru, if I'm being honest.
This is going into my list of favourites now. I need more books like this— where the reading experience felt like watching a freaking anime.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Miscarriage
kayleyc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and War
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide, and Grief
nightswim78's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
I have no words to describe the emotional rollercoaster I experienced over the 8 days I read this. While I think the political messaging is typical of epic fantasy, it feels like a perfect place to start to get into the genre.
Pros: The tenseness of about 40% of the middle was unbelievable and glorious! The worldbuilding was well done and each nation had a distinct culture. The characters were flawed and reveals were made about them at the right moments. The combat scenes were vivid and heart pounding. Grief was handled well and even when it was no longer mentioned on every page, it could be felt underneath the words and actions of the characters.
Cons: The time skip near the end felt as if it occurred one or two scenes too early. It was very sudden. Also, the ending felt as if it was setting up a spin-off sequel for a character due to a conversation that happens.However, I have not read the rest of the series but I am aware that this takes place at least a decade before the series does and focuses on a character that appears in this as a child. So, whatever I think is mentioned here could happen there.
Pros: The tenseness of about 40% of the middle was unbelievable and glorious! The worldbuilding was well done and each nation had a distinct culture. The characters were flawed and reveals were made about them at the right moments. The combat scenes were vivid and heart pounding. Grief was handled well and even when it was no longer mentioned on every page, it could be felt underneath the words and actions of the characters.
Cons: The time skip near the end felt as if it occurred one or two scenes too early. It was very sudden. Also, the ending felt as if it was setting up a spin-off sequel for a character due to a conversation that happens.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual assault
britreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
4.0
At first, I was leaning towards a 3.5 or 3.75 star rating. But after thinking about this novel more, I decided to bump my rating up to 4 stars. I nearly DNF'd this when I first started. I found the first 125-150 pages difficult to get through. It's not until we learn more about how the Empire may be covering up some truths that the story started to pick up for me. The story picks up during the second section of the novel and the third section deals with the consequences of everything that occurred in the second part.
Misaki was a complex character from start to finish. I found her story to be the most interesting and engaging. Reading about a young mother who was once a warrior and fighter in her own way settle into a more quiet life was fascinating. And she struggles throughout the novel moving through feelings of selfishness, agony, resentment, anger and grief. I also liked Mamoru's perspective and the conclusion to his arc. And I grew to understand (and somewhat like) Takeru. I didn't really care for his one perspective section since we never dip into his mind again after that. I just wish the information we gather there was given to us in a different way. .
The biggest reason why I struggled with this novel was the way the lore and history were presented. The author would have characters speak for pages as they shared some important piece of history and I wasn't interested in it at all. This happens in the first 150 pages where a teacher goes through the history of the conflict between the different empires and civilizations. It was important information that set up the rest of the story, but unfortunately, the way it was presented to me as the reader wasn't engaging and my eyes glazed over during those moments. This happened two more times in the story and each time I was just bored and rushing through to get to something more interesting.
I understand why so many people praised this book. And I was happy to read it. But it didn't surpass my expectations like I anticipated it would and that's why I can't give it 5 stars.
Misaki was a complex character from start to finish. I found her story to be the most interesting and engaging. Reading about a young mother who was once a warrior and fighter in her own way settle into a more quiet life was fascinating. And she struggles throughout the novel moving through feelings of selfishness, agony, resentment, anger and grief. I also liked Mamoru's perspective and the conclusion to his arc. And I grew to understand (and somewhat like) Takeru.
The biggest reason why I struggled with this novel was the way the lore and history were presented. The author would have characters speak for pages as they shared some important piece of history and I wasn't interested in it at all. This happens in the first 150 pages where a teacher goes through the history of the conflict between the different empires and civilizations. It was important information that set up the rest of the story, but unfortunately, the way it was presented to me as the reader wasn't engaging and my eyes glazed over during those moments. This happened two more times in the story and each time I was just bored and rushing through to get to something more interesting.
I understand why so many people praised this book. And I was happy to read it. But it didn't surpass my expectations like I anticipated it would and that's why I can't give it 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Pregnancy
bookishfaye's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Wow I adored this book… This is very much a blend of The Poppy War’s brutality with ATLA’s elemental magic. This book was profound, it had so many quotes that moved me, brought me to tears, made me laugh/smile, or broke my heart in half. I can’t fully comprehend that this is a stand alone novel & this is just it??? I need more of them & gah it was so fricken good. I do feel like the first 150-200 pages got quite info dumpy at times, but boy was the story ever worth it once it got into it!! I was expecting something very different from the ending as well so it’s wild to me that it was left on the note that it was, but I also found it unexpected and beautiful. I really did not know where this book was gonna go at any given moment & it absolutely kept me on my toes & I am obsessed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and War
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, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage
shamciar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Xenophobia