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I absolutely LOVE the world-building here and wish M.L. Wang had more time to delve into it; however, I am satisfied with this as a standalone novel. Without getting into too many spoilers, I'm glad that Wang wrote the irredeemable characters as such so that the story wouldn't get tied up with a neat little bow. I do wonder, however, if she would write another book set in this world with a focus on the Kwen.
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Suicide, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Miscarriage, Alcohol
Don’t EVER let anyone tell you reading is not political.
Trigger warning for those that do not like graphically described death and gore and
This was my first book by M.L. Wang and it was amazing! Morally grey main character, Sciona, frustrated the hell out of me to the bitter end. The fact that she clung to her naievté and stayed so gullible for so long…god I just wanted to shake her. The writing was on the wall!!! You see it ages before she accepts it and even then, she is STILL making excuses for these men. She had a very “I can excuse racism and genocide, but I draw the LINE at misogyny!” way of thought. Thomil anf Carea were the best characters in the book.
The opening chapter holds you by the fucking hand while it dashes your hopes of a positive revolution story. The revolution comes, but at what cost? How much blood is needed?
The villains are awful and it was with glee that I saw their unmaking. And the commentary on social issues, from misogyny to racism and classism, will never not be relevant I fear.
I thought the magic system was creative, like fantasy coding! Though it’s heartbreaking when you realize what fuels it.
I will definitely be reading more by M.L. Wang.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Classism
If you liked Babel but want more female rage. This is the book for you.
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Minor: Suicide
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Police brutality, Gaslighting
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism
Graphic: Gore, Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation
Minor: Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Classism
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Blood
Minor: Sexual assault
Characters: 5⭐️
Plot: 5⭐️
Setting: 4.5⭐️
Emotional Impact: 5⭐️
Enjoyment: 5⭐️
TOTAL ROUNDED RATING: 5 ⭐️
SPICE: N/A
"A ravine won't water crops or quench the dying. At some point, there has to be a river, or what good can you really claim? If the man of good intentions never manifests a river, only calamity, should he not be damned to hell?
But it doesn't seem fair.
But it's only fair to the world he leaves behind."
I am beside myself. This story hit so hard with its themes of sexism, racism, colonialism, classism, you name it, while providing insightful dialogue about the ethical and moral implications of these choices imposed on fellow human beings. I'll forever be thinking about the conversation between Thomil and Sciona regarding the difference between a person's intent and the consequences that influence their judgment at the end of life, and how this plays out in the book.
The magic system in this book is the most complex I’ve ever read in a fantasy, incorporating elements of computer programming and drawing parallels to real-world industrial and technological advancements and their impact on the environment and civilization.
Everything about this book serves as a mirror reflecting past and present political power struggles and their devastating effects on marginalized communities. My heart broke not just for the characters in this story but also for the world we live in, where these issues are still prevalent.
While the book ends with a sense of hope, I'm anguished over the fact that we are at the beginning/middle of our current story.
This book is a must-read for high school and college students, and would be a great book club pick.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism