Reviews with content warning for Death - Опиумная война

Reviews tagging 'Death'

Опиумная война by R.F. Kuang

2722 reviews

bookswithgracie's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark 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: Yes

Content Warnings

margauxjpg's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark 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

Content Warnings

n_mutanu16's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

lighterthaneyre's review against another edition

4.5

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

Extremely good. Extremely good. It's clear to me that the main character is supposed to be likeable, but she is not meant to be a good person.

Main Character reflection:

She's terribly clever, but at several points willfully dense. Because sometimes it's easier to not acknowledge truth when anger and retaliation feel so good in the moment. Every warning she gets, she reflects later on with something like regret. It's not regret, it's almost nostalgia for the person she was allowed to be before she choose her path. She's told repeatedly about costs, and refuses to internalize it. But at the same time, the anger and fear and rashness are this very relatable Thing. This series is going to be a tragedy, it seems. Rin will be her own destruction.

Themes:

The way trauma and violence changes Rin is very interesting. She's always been driven (possibly too much) but prior to Golyn Niis, she doesn't react to war with retaliation. She thought striking back against the Federation in Khurdalain was "halfhearted, disrespectful and pointless" (Ch 16). By the end, she's pivoted entirely, so that striking back is the most important thing. More important than safety of her own side, or the ability to live a "avenged" life in peace. There is only the next Real Enemy. I think exploring that change is sort of fascinating. She suffers terrible traumas, but it's pointed out repeatedly that her friends suffered worse. Kitay lived through the actual events of Golyn Niis. Alton spent years enduring torture and more direct memories of the genocide of his people. Not that this is a suffering Olympics, but it's to say that this wasn't inevitable. Some of her friends are horrified by what she's done. And I think is the difference is in the lies Rin tells herself. "I won't go out like this", "power is the only solution", "a good martial artist is a good commander/wise leader". She wants to believe, so she turns off her other lines of thought. And she becomes a monster. A monster who lies and says she's in control.

The trigger warnings are no joke, as a heads up.

The most graphic violence is an after the fact recounting and a review of the aftermath. That being said, it is pure human evil ripped from real life history books. It is the sort of trauma that creates monsters. Even as presented it's pretty disturbing.

Content Warnings

lorendia's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I read this whole thing because it’s a compelling page turner, but I’m not sure I actually like it. The description on the back of the book was a major spoiler and I’m not sure if I like the main characters. No one seems to learn or grow - they just throw temper tantrums. I do plan to read the next one because I like this author and I hope she is building a bigger story.

Content Warnings

sunriseat0519's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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: Yes

Content Warnings

ctucker94's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark reflective 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: No

R.F. Kuang does an excellent job creating a new, gripping fantasy story with influence from some of the darkest events in history. Excellent first book for a trilogy.

Content Warnings