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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
This is the literary equivalent of being punched in the stomach multiple times very,very hard. But it turns out, they were punches you very much needed to take. I am so glad that Kuang does not hold back in tackling ACTUAL grimdark in fantasy! This book is precisely what I signed up for - it's dark, brutal, and a very unhappy read. Bad things happen, the people in this book are bad. This book, therefore, is extremely good.
I went in a bit blind, so my initial reaction to starting to recognise historical events was to assume this was the aftermath of the Opium Wars (the title, and the fact it's been a few years since I did Chinese history didn't help me here). It's not, however. We're speedrunning 20th Century China in this novel and I hope you're ready for much *much* more darker detail than what school teaches you about the Japanese occupation of Manchuria.
Rin is likable in that she's a complete mess. She's emotional, determined, vengeance-driven and traumatised right from the get go. She's had it rough and that's left her with a lot to prove and a lot to take out on others. She's not good, but that is what makes her compelling. Often her journey humbles her, or sets up blocks it might seem impossible for her to get past. But she does. Rin is ready to do whatever it takes to get what she wants and needs and feels she deserves. Even, as later events will show (I won't spoil) to the very heavy detriment of herself and others.
I won't lie, Kuang hit me hard in the feels. I was devastated by so many of the deaths (and fates worse than death in some cases). Especially with how tragically meaningless some of them were (which is highly important and impactful. no critique there!). Im looking forward to following Rin's journey in the sequels.
I went in a bit blind, so my initial reaction to starting to recognise historical events was to assume this was the aftermath of the Opium Wars (the title, and the fact it's been a few years since I did Chinese history didn't help me here). It's not, however. We're speedrunning 20th Century China in this novel and I hope you're ready for much *much* more darker detail than what school teaches you about the Japanese occupation of Manchuria.
Rin is likable in that she's a complete mess. She's emotional, determined, vengeance-driven and traumatised right from the get go. She's had it rough and that's left her with a lot to prove and a lot to take out on others. She's not good, but that is what makes her compelling. Often her journey humbles her, or sets up blocks it might seem impossible for her to get past. But she does. Rin is ready to do whatever it takes to get what she wants and needs and feels she deserves. Even, as later events will show (I won't spoil) to the very heavy detriment of herself and others.
I won't lie, Kuang hit me hard in the feels. I was devastated by so many of the deaths (and fates worse than death in some cases). Especially with how tragically meaningless some of them were (which is highly important and impactful. no critique there!). Im looking forward to following Rin's journey in the sequels.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
I really liked the world, I like where this is going, but it didn’t have that 5 star feeling to it just yet. I think the next 2 books are going to destroy me.
I absolutely love the shamanism, I love the Pantheon she has created, and I’m obsessed with how Rin will stop at nothing to get what she wants, no matter the cost. I wish we got more time at the college itself just because I love seeing how it operated.
I absolutely love the shamanism, I love the Pantheon she has created, and I’m obsessed with how Rin will stop at nothing to get what she wants, no matter the cost. I wish we got more time at the college itself just because I love seeing how it operated.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
damn this was an insane reading experience. absolutely recommended. this might just ruin me for the next few days.
Second read was even more intense and amazing than the first time around.
I am so glad that I decided not only to read in the original language, but to invest in a phisycal copy that I could annotate and interact with more intimately.
Rebecca Kuang's prose is absolutely stunning through the whole novel and you can sense her dedication to the characters, the worldbuilding, the magic system and especially to the historical and cultural references.
But what I loved the most about my second experience was the fact that I noticed my growth as a reader. If the first time I loved the first half of the book, but only respected the second half and tried to take a step back from my attachment in order to assimilate the brutality, this time I immersed myself fully into everything. Now the darkness and brutality made me understand so much more and showed me what human hatred was and still is capable to do. I could clearly see that the author does not glorify violence and war, but display them naked for a better understanding. The message is clear: when we stop seeing others as equal fellow human beings or inferior to ourselves we loose our own humanity and we become monsters.
2021 review
I read a Romanian translation of this superb work and it opened my mind and soul more than I imagined.
What other praise I can bring to this amazing author that hasn't been said?
If in the first part of the book I could relate so much with the heroine's determination, her coming of age, but in the second part I had to force myself to become more of an observer, as to not be broken by the suffering and the aftermath of hate and violence.
There are so many things to be learned from this work, including that all human life is equally important, that fearing and hating our neighbours brings only suffering and that peace and compassion should be treasured.
You can now support my passion for books with a small donation here https://ko-fi.com/mariareadssff
I am so glad that I decided not only to read in the original language, but to invest in a phisycal copy that I could annotate and interact with more intimately.
Rebecca Kuang's prose is absolutely stunning through the whole novel and you can sense her dedication to the characters, the worldbuilding, the magic system and especially to the historical and cultural references.
But what I loved the most about my second experience was the fact that I noticed my growth as a reader. If the first time I loved the first half of the book, but only respected the second half and tried to take a step back from my attachment in order to assimilate the brutality, this time I immersed myself fully into everything. Now the darkness and brutality made me understand so much more and showed me what human hatred was and still is capable to do. I could clearly see that the author does not glorify violence and war, but display them naked for a better understanding. The message is clear: when we stop seeing others as equal fellow human beings or inferior to ourselves we loose our own humanity and we become monsters.
2021 review
I read a Romanian translation of this superb work and it opened my mind and soul more than I imagined.
What other praise I can bring to this amazing author that hasn't been said?
If in the first part of the book I could relate so much with the heroine's determination, her coming of age, but in the second part I had to force myself to become more of an observer, as to not be broken by the suffering and the aftermath of hate and violence.
There are so many things to be learned from this work, including that all human life is equally important, that fearing and hating our neighbours brings only suffering and that peace and compassion should be treasured.
You can now support my passion for books with a small donation here https://ko-fi.com/mariareadssff
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Loved the first half and then suddenly went unexpected turn with how bloody dark this became. Didn’t expect it. Was well written but personally was too dark for my liking. One chapter was so random hence why loss of a star. There were times where certain paragraphs or scenes were difficult to understand or awkwardly written. Can’t decide if I want to continue reading this series
dark
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
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Really enjoyed. Different from the usual fantasy books I read and was pleasantly surprised. The book kept me gripped throughout. I feel the ending was slightly anticlimactic and frustrating.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes