Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Опиумная война by R.F. Kuang

2259 reviews

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

I don't know what to say, I am speechless. I did not expect it to end like this because I don't know what I was expecting. The book always kept me guessing and surprised

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adventurous 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book...there is a lot to say. At the beginning, I was rooting for Rin, wanting her to succeed, to grow stronger, be someone who you can see yourself in. I don't know at what point it shifted. 

This story is about reaching for power, pulling it in, holding tightly to it, despite the warnings from everyone around you of the cost of such power. I respected Rin's decisions to pursue power, understood why she clung so desperately to the idea. But as the story progressed, the more warnings that she was given, the more she pursued the power. She chose the path of destruction again and again, even after witnessing the devastating effects that war brings. Revenge was a drug, she was addicted and wouldn't relinquish its control over her. 

I found myself hating her. How could she chose this road after the things she had seen? Bodies piled in the streets, desecrated in horrific ways. Hearing the story of Venka and her repeated violation, witnessing the mutilation of women for the sexual gratification of Federation soldiers. Rin chose to take these horrors and inflict them upon others, vengeance for vengeance sake. She only briefly realizes the gravity of what she's done, to then brush it aside and continue on her mission to kill more people. 

I can agree with others that this book is beautifully written, gut-wrenching, and harsh. I can understand that most of the depictions of war violence are taken from real-world accounts of war. But I can't continue reading a series with such graphic depictions of rape, mutilation, and torture.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
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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adventurous dark informative reflective 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

Excellent fantasy book reflecting parallels to second Sino Japanese war - author includes great non fiction recommendations to educate on that topic at end of book.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional sad 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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challenging dark medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I do not recommend it. The story is plump. It feels written in bad taste. 

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adventurous challenging dark 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

“And she would call the gods to do such terrible things.”

Amazing. Rin is definitely a true dark and twisted heroine. Every chance for redemption she ignores making for a gripping read.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings