Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

86 reviews

soryualan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

This book is a 10 out of 5. 
From around chapter 7 and until the end I couldn't stop crying. I cried out of rage, sadness, frustration and happiness. The author portraits emotions in such a raw and visceral way. No other book or piece media has ever hit me as hard and as deep as this story.
The story is super inspiring filled with heart-warming characters and is also packed with incredibly well written action sequences. 
This is probably the best book I've read so far. Loved it!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, War, and Child death

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Suicide

Minor: Rape, Kidnapping, and Xenophobia

It is a great story, but there is a lot of grief going on. As some one who lost my mother 3 years ago I found some moments to be incredibly hard to read through. I still loved the book and I found it to be somewhat cathartic, but for people grieving the loss of loved ones it may be very triggering

maucha's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book broke my heart made me cry so badly. I love it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Gore, Blood, Child death, War, Misogyny, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Miscarriage and Suicide

Minor: Sexism and Rape

mikaylamarie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

This book is peak fantasy. Every single review I have seen for this book sings its praises, for the world building, the magic system, the sheer amount of dark and heavy themes that are tackled within it, and done so beautifully. I struggle to find the right words to describe just how amazing this book is, as well as how hard it it to understand the impact this story left on me.

 Misaki is a 34 year old mom of four. She gave up a life with her sword to marry and have children, but she finds that she doesn't really know who she is or what her purpose in life has become. Her oldest son Mamaru is 14, he is incredibly powerful and yet he struggles with having to live up to his peoples' expectations, and later on with what it really means to protect what you care about. An outside war is gaining on them as things start to fall apart, and when it does, it is heartbreaking. 

This book has the same vibes as Avatar the Last Airbender, both in the incredible displays of power through the elements, but in the heart of people wanting to do the right things and protect their people. 

It's just so good, and I cannot recommend it enough. Although be prepared to be angry, confused, heartbroken, sad, angry again, and then at peace. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Child death, Miscarriage, Death, Grief, War, and Blood

Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Rape

andrew_corduroy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Absolutely fantastic. An excellent exploration of such a wide range of emotions and experiences; from honor and understanding to grief, shame, perseverance and love. I’ve read some bangers so far this year but none have moved me quite like The Sword of Kaigen. 

Admittedly there are some interesting stylistic choices like:

italics for languages other than the local dialect (there are several), flashbacks where they don’t quite fit with the tone of the previous chapter(s), and a single POV chapter from one of the main characters at about the 70% mark and not giving the character another POV for the rest of the book.

However, despite these choices I found the book engrossing and didn’t feel like my attention was being whipped about too much. I highly recommend reading this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Sexism, Miscarriage, and War

Minor: Racism, Rape, Physical abuse, and Suicide

frogsreadfantasy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death, Misogyny, Murder, and War

Moderate: Rape

macwiththemic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book broke me. One of the saddest books I’ve ever read. It kind of put me back together at the end but I’m not the same person I was. You should read it but also be prepared. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Blood, Physical abuse, Child death, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Rape, Suicide, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Misogyny

Minor: Colonisation and Miscarriage

vashaava's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I still get chills thinking about this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Gore, Rape, and Pregnancy

colorcrystals's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, War, Grief, Xenophobia, Blood, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, Death of parent, and Colonisation

Minor: Suicide, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Classism, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

jocogr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Miscarriage, Suicide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Death, Child death, Violence, War, and Child abuse

lauramcc7's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Rape, War, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Grief, Child death, Death, and Misogyny