Reviews with content warning for Colonisation - Опиумная война

Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Опиумная война by R.F. Kuang

1133 reviews

lawrence_david's review against another edition

3.75

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

Content Warnings

ganzareads's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Couldn't sleep last night because the last chapters are so fast paced and tense (especially compared to the rest of the book that's really slow paced).
Not usually my genre of books, but so well written. Gave me very bad anxiety though.

Content Warnings

sabrinaaa720's review against another edition

The details of the federations massacre of Golyn Nils

Content Warnings

puffins57's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

This book was extremely well written and it never felt as if there was a dull moment. On that note, however, there were sections that I wish for more time or attention rather than breezing through. That being said it’s very apparent how intentional the pacing of the book was, so I can’t necessarily say changing it wouldn’t have made it blocky. One of the things I really enjoyed was how clear Rins character change is from the start to the end of the book. While still the same person, she almost morphs into exactly the kind of person she would have once looked at with disgust. There’s also an immediate understanding in the motivations and almost a sense of being able to explain or excuse some of Atlanta behaviors and choices once Rin changes to be like him. Some scenes were difficult to even imagine in terms of senseless cruelty and violence, a fact made even worse knowing there was much historical backing to the events Kuang shares and paints for us. Rins character is in a constant pull between her Master and her Commander, yet when Atlan passed it does very much feel like he fit the fallen mentor troupe. As readers, you quickly begin to face a dilemma regarding how far your justification for and how much you can vouch for, or really even like, Rin towards the conclusion of the book.

Content Warnings

cazza1805's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark informative 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

Content Warnings

mrnikkel's review against another edition

3.5

dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

harvestgirl's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

thosemeddlingkids's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous 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

Reread 2025 - Ooof, this book is still as rough as I remembered.

Grim dark fantasy following IRL historical events is not for the faint of heart. Check out CWs, the third part of this still is haunting from the first time reading.

Content Warnings