Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Опиумная война by R.F. Kuang

1146 reviews

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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dark emotional tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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: Complicated

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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: Complicated

New favourite book
Nobodys son/Nobody's daughter vibes
Check tw

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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: Complicated

This was a great introduction to Rin's world in Nikara, who overcomes the challenges she faces as a girl, a darker skinned person than her peers, and a poor, uneducated war orphan. 
I know it's the intent of the book (being based on the second Sino-Japanese war and mid 20th century China) but its very obviously drawing from real events which, as the reader, definitely made the events in the book hit even harder, knowing that there's an element of truth in the pages. 
The way the story is segmented felt so natural, and despite feeling like 'hard stops' in Rin's arcs, it definitely helped to show the passage of time/major event/environment change. I loved this approach.
The complex levels of each character, both main and secondary, and their relationships with one another were fantastic, heartwarming, anger inducing, heart-wrenching, triumphant.

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

I think this is a fantastic book! The world and characters immediately sucked me in and I fell in love with all of it. I love Rin so much and I love seeing through a characters eyes that isn’t a good person even if she has good intentions. It is definitely a tough and emotional read, full of really heartbreaking moments. If you are looking to start this book I really suggest looking up the trigger warnings because this book won’t be for everyone. However I definitely still recommend it to anybody willing to give it a shot!

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chronic_consumer's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 39%

Incredible writing and atmosphere. Will absolutely look into RF Kuang’s other works.. but the gratuitous (and real) violence of chapter 21 was too much for my heart. Incredible, but too much for me right now. Might try again at a later date.

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings