Reviews

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan

dragonwriter's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

Zhu is getting ever closer to her destiny, but she is not the only one wielding Heaven’s Mandate. There are others in the race to claim the throne from the Great Khan. Ouyang has no mandate, only the honor-driven sense of revenge for his father’s murder and family’s disgrace. Baoixiang seeks revenge against Ouyang for the murder of his brother, but he’ll use his father’s court to get it, luring Ouyang in with his own vengeance. General Zhang has Heaven’s Mandate, but his will to use it is linked to his mistress, his brother’s wife, Madam Zhang. With so many players on the board, each one willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want, who will have the will and strength to see the game through to the end? 

 

It was rough seeing all the sacrifices Zhu, Madam Zhang, and Baoixiang made to accomplish their goals. Each one lost someone they loved, and they had to decide if what they wanted was really worth the cost. Madam Zhang suffered the most, I think, but her talk with Zhu was quite poignant. Zhu told her that she was too willing to serve and grovel before a man rather than take the opportunity to lead herself, even though she was more ambitious and clever than General Zhang (or her husband, Rice Bucket, who’s name cracked me up something fierce!) Madam Zhang’s rejection of Zhu’s point was painful, especially since Zhu was absolutely right. Ma was the real hero in the end, though; sacrificing herself to Baoixiang to get Zhu the opening she needed to win, and then talking Baoixiang into surrendering! She was awesome! But I really liked Zhu coming up to the edge of what she would sacrifice, the heaviest cost she would pay, and really having a look inside herself to weigh what she wanted with what it cost. It was a wonderful conclusion to a powerful duology! 

cwooler's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

behindpaperbacks's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

rosiec's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

quiltomer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-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

4.75

lea8914lh's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

a worthy ending of the duology. the characterization and also character development is insanely good, I kind of love everyone even though they're morally very grey at best. 

sundey7's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

jasmaurelia's review against another edition

4.0

this was so much better than the first. I liked the story but when I was reading the first one, it felt agonizingly slow and info-dumpy. so I wanted to give this one a chance because I really did like the story, and i’m glad I did! This has much better pacing imo and I was more engaged.

I agree w another review on here strongly where part 3 could’ve been a third book. definitely felt rushed and made some big moments at the end less satisfying

alicewithapen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-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

imyril's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.5

It’s a wee bit too tortured to wring five stars from me, but this is a powerful, painful sequel to complete a stand out duology.