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Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Classism
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, War
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Transphobia
I liked this one better than SWBTS because it had less of a story telling style I dislike, though it came back toward the end, especially with Baoxiang. I dislike when the narrator in books (and tv shows, movies) knows more than the reader. It feels like a cheap and lazy way to create suspense. It is a testament to how much I liked SWBTS that I kept reading it with that (imho) flaw. The story premise, characters, and setting I absolutely love.
The Zhu and Ouyang working together chapters were so fun and entertaining. Such interesting characters to compare and contrast! It did start to feel like Ouyang was becoming too OP, but it fit the story.
As in the first book, I felt like I was missing some things because I don’t know that much about China, Mongolia, Buddhism, and all the cultural norms and history there in. Once I did a bunch of Wikipedia reading and I realized these characters are based on real people (on Zhu and Ma’s side mostly), I got even more into it.
At first, I found Baoxiang’s chapters boring, but I appreciated them more later on.
After I finished SWBTS, one of the things I was hoping for in this book was a Zhu/Ma kissing scene. I did not get it. RIP Xu Da. RIP Third Prince.
There are many more trigger warnings to add to this book compared to the first one.
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, War, Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Outing
Minor: Pregnancy
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Blood, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria
This book was an incredibly strong follow up to the first book. I was a little skeptical about continuing the series because the ending of the first book stomped on my heart, but I am soooo glad I persisted. It ended up drawing me in just as much as the first one. It held me in rapt attention. This series has definitely solidified itself as one of my favorites.
There were some parts that were a little heavy handed, so just make sure to be aware of the trigger warnings.
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Misogyny, Self harm, Violence, Grief, Murder, Dysphoria, War
Moderate: Homophobia, Abortion
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Violence, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infertility, Racism, Rape, Vomit, Pregnancy, Outing, Classism