Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

101 reviews

chrisb913's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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

5.0

After hearing so many reviews raving about this book, I was hesitant to pick it up. I had heard so many times that this book was very traumatic and emotionally heartbreaking. Everything I had heard about this book did not do it justice. I don't think it's possible to review this book and capture the emotional turmoil the reader goes through. But for all the emotional devastation, M.L. Wang seems to found a way to piece you back together through the trauma and sadness for these characters. My only complaint about this book is there is no sequel as of yet because I need more of this world, of these characters, of this story. I just need more. This has probably been the worst case of emotional damage I have received from a book, and I am incredibly grateful I was able to read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Classism, Child death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Miscarriage, Grief, Death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Sexual assault

gigi_bebe's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Grief, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Death, and Sexual assault

anguawolf's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Blood, Child death, Racism, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, War, and Sexism

Moderate: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Suicide

Minor: Bullying and Racial slurs

lola218_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Violence, War, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Child death, Rape, and Sexual assault

gracecrandall's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Grief, Suicide, Misogyny, War, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Child death, Blood, Death, and Sexism

Moderate: Rape and Pregnancy

The child abuse/physical abuse is in the context of

a 14-year-old trying to start a conversation about the government that could be perceived as traitorous. His dad backhands him and then orders him to spar, which turns into a beating. His mother is afraid for the boy's life a few times during the match.

kcweber22's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

It took me foreveeeerrr to really get into this, but by god it blew me away once I did. Definitely would recommend and revisit

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, War, Suicide, Death, Child death, Violence, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, and Grief

Moderate: Rape

gingerbready's review against another edition

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

4.75

Only giving slightly less than 5 stars after reading loose ends in the book and learning that the author has discontinued it. It’s understandable but it’s heart wrenching that I’ll never get a conclusion from the little girl being kidnapped, some godlike blood manipulator, and the threat of the strongest army in the world filled with theonites and sub-theonites.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Blood, Child death, Child abuse, and Gore

Moderate: Miscarriage

Minor: Sexual violence

gabi_715's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Blood, Violence, Death, Murder, and War

Moderate: Sexism and Infertility

therestisstillunwritten16's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Child death, Rape, Suicide, War, Blood, and Death

thenoboshow's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Xenophobia, Child death, Classism, Miscarriage, Rape, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, and War