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kittykels's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
It's been a very long time since I've cried so much reading a book. I wanted to give more like 4 stars cause I had a few minor complaints (more technical than anything else) but the fact that I was so emotionally involved in this book convinced me to give a solid 5 stars.
Edited to add:
There's another, bigger reason I considered giving 4 stars instead of 5 (I did end up altering my rating), but it contains ending spoilers. Read at your own risk.
When I noticed I was getting to the 90% mark, I was concerned about how the book was going to end, especially knowing it's a standalone and not a series. The ending didn't feel like an ending, and I think we were left with way too many unanswered questions.
The whole book was spent establishing a questionable and corrupt Empire and impending war. We follow characters and information that are seemingly going to challenge these things, yet nothing ever happens. The home of the main characters was devastated and they start to rebuild and the story ends after she reunites with her old love and tells him to go back home and maybe do some things.
Maybe it's because in real life, war isn't resolved in such a short amount of time and therefore can't be in this story either, but it felt like a build up to nothing rather than like, commentary on war tragedy or something. I'm probably not explaining my thoughts well at all. But I've read books that focus on the tragedies of war and I've read books that have offered some kind of resolution to a war. This doesn't fit in with either of those types of stories. Maybe that's not necessarily a bad thing. Maybe that means this book offers something unique. However, I can't shake the feeling that all of the character development and story progression seemed a little pointless at the end with the blatant lack of closure/conflict resolution.
Why learn about the empire or the Ranganese or the mysterious God figure or anyone that provides conflict if literally nothing is going to happen with them? I thought the battle that devastated Takayubi (50% into the book) was a precursor for some big final battle or standoff or SOMETHING, but literally nothing else of importance happened. The rest of the book was spent reflecting, rebuilding, and reuniting with Robin. Robin and Misaki find closure with their relationship, but the story itself never gets any kind of closure or suitable ending.
Don't get me wrong, this book is well written and I still recommend it. I will likely read it again someday. However, the ending (or lack of one) just doesn't sit well with me. It makes me feel disappointed.
Edited to add:
There's another, bigger reason I considered giving 4 stars instead of 5 (I did end up altering my rating), but it contains ending spoilers. Read at your own risk.
When I noticed I was getting to the 90% mark, I was concerned about how the book was going to end, especially knowing it's a standalone and not a series. The ending didn't feel like an ending, and I think we were left with way too many unanswered questions.
Maybe it's because in real life, war isn't resolved in such a short amount of time and therefore can't be in this story either, but it felt like a build up to nothing rather than like, commentary on war tragedy or something. I'm probably not explaining my thoughts well at all. But I've read books that focus on the tragedies of war and I've read books that have offered some kind of resolution to a war. This doesn't fit in with either of those types of stories. Maybe that's not necessarily a bad thing. Maybe that means this book offers something unique. However, I can't shake the feeling that all of the character development and story progression seemed a little pointless at the end with the blatant lack of closure/conflict resolution.
Why learn about the empire or the Ranganese or the mysterious God figure or anyone that provides conflict if literally nothing is going to happen with them? I thought the battle that devastated Takayubi (50% into the book) was a precursor for some big final battle or standoff or SOMETHING, but literally nothing else of importance happened. The rest of the book was spent reflecting, rebuilding, and reuniting with Robin. Robin and Misaki find closure with their relationship, but the story itself never gets any kind of closure or suitable ending.
Don't get me wrong, this book is well written and I still recommend it. I will likely read it again someday. However, the ending (or lack of one) just doesn't sit well with me. It makes me feel disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Pregnancy and Sexual assault
januaryt123's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Child death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death, Toxic relationship, War, Miscarriage, and Suicide
ourlamp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Child death, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, and Sexual assault
Minor: Kidnapping and Homophobia
wayward_flowers's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
"Most strong things are rigid. If you are water, you can shift to fit any mold and freeze yourself strong. You can be strong in any shape. You can be anything."
This was one of the most devastatingly beautiful books I've ever read. It was everything.
The story at its core is about the struggle of such immense grief and unbearable loss but the ability to survive through it all with love and hope.
The impact of the author's words were profound and so beautiful..The chatcters and their journeys, their relationships with each other..I'm utterly speechless..
I want to hold on to this book-this world and it's chatcters- and never let go..I'm in excruciating pain because of this book.. yet I loved it so dearly
Wholeness, she had learned, was not the absence of pain but the ability to hold it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Child death, and War
Moderate: Suicide and Rape
hanni693's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Sexual assault, Child death, and Death
jartone93's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Colonisation, Death, Rape, Child death, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Racism, War, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Suicide, Miscarriage, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
keishbby's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, War, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Torture, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicide, Classism, and Colonisation
rae_bookmarkchronicles'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
I'm surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did. I didn't really care for Mamoru or Tekeru but I love Misaki. Even though I didn't care for Mamoru, I am sad that know one knows that he was able to master the Whispering Blade.. And Misaki talking to his corpse hit me hard.
As for Tekeru, I'm glad Miskai fought him. I don't think that it would have been that simple for him to make such a drastic change but I liked the ending
As for Tekeru, I'm glad Miskai fought him. I don't think that it would have been that simple for him to make such a drastic change but I liked the ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Rape
charcha01's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Minor: Suicide
beckahh_i's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
I am so glad I finally picked this up! M.L. Wang's writing is incredible, and I would happily read more in this world (after I recover from all the emotional trauma of the SoK...). I knew this was going to be a brutal book, but I don't think I could have really predicted how brutal it would be. The journey these characters go on both personally and as a group is written so well. Reading this with a book club made me stop and think about what the characters were going through more than I would have if I was reading it by myself, and it was so interesting to see the similarities to both my own life/experiences, and to the world and political climate around me. The trauma the characters go through and the subsequent healing and growth was written in a way that didn't seemed forced or hurried, but felt very realistic and true to the characters nature. Overall would definitely recommend if you're prepared for some trauma and pain 😅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Child death, War, Death, Gore, Grief, Violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Kidnapping