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xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-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? No
3.0
It's very well-researched, there's a lot of complicated motivations in participating in the building of the transcontinental railroad, subterfuge, blackmail, and a lot of explosions, injuries, and action. Tam Ling Fan is.... Kind of a dumb protagonist in the sense that I wanted to slap her upside the head every time she'd continue to let Wong Wei take advantage of her.
And while I think that there is a LOT to like about this story, the biggest reason it took me nearly a MONTH to finish this book is because the writing is So. Incredibly. Dry.
A lot of super interesting and dangerous things happen to Ling, and she gets involved in this super sticky plot of trying to save Wong Wei, keep her gender secret, and also get paid to sabotage AND progress the railroad line she's working on. It should be interesting! This plot is something that should've pulled me in, but instead reading this felt like counting the tiny holes in a ceiling tile at school.
And while I think that there is a LOT to like about this story, the biggest reason it took me nearly a MONTH to finish this book is because the writing is So. Incredibly. Dry.
A lot of super interesting and dangerous things happen to Ling, and she gets involved in this super sticky plot of trying to save Wong Wei, keep her gender secret, and also get paid to sabotage AND progress the railroad line she's working on. It should be interesting! This plot is something that should've pulled me in, but instead reading this felt like counting the tiny holes in a ceiling tile at school.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Blood, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Gun violence
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