Take a photo of a barcode or cover
It was also so brutal. Whoooo. Definitely be aware of the trigger warnings. There are so, so many. I don't have a strong stomach and I made it, but I was prepared for this one to be more violent.
Still, I flew through this beast in like 2.5 days, and there were several moments where I literally gasped out loud. It was a wild ride, you guys. The ending was also pretty satisfying.
I can see myself reading first book again, but the sheer amount of gruesome suffering in this one probably won't compell me to pick it up again.
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Slavery
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence
Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Medical content, Death of parent, Dysphoria
Minor: Incest, Miscarriage, Suicide, Vomit, Abortion
Much more gory tho
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism
Minor: Miscarriage, Torture, Pregnancy
Graphic: Genocide, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Murder, War
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Infidelity, Misogyny, Torture, Blood
Minor: Pregnancy, Dysphoria
"He Who Drowned the World" by Shelley Parker-Chan, the sequel and conclusion to "She Who Became the Sun," delves deeper into a world of imperial ambitions and incredibly ruthless desire for power.
The narrative continues to unfold around Zhu, the Radiant King, who hungers not only for victory but also for the throne in order to change the world. Yet, she's not the sole contender in this battle of power. To outmaneuver her opponents, Zhu forges an unlikely alliance with the enigmatic eunuch general Ouyang, while other contenders circle with their own places in place. I adored the interactions between these two in particular. The characters, while broken and often completely reprehensible, possess a certain allure that manage to captivate readers as strongly as in the first novel. The pacing is relentless, hurtling the narrative forward with action. The complex relationships and intricate machinations of these morally ambiguous characters create a compellingly dark atmosphere. Zhu, with her sly humor, acceptance of her true self, and love for Ma stands out amidst the cast of characters.
As the series concludes, "He Who Drowned the World" leaves an indelible mark with its dark complexity, unapologetically flawed characters, and an exploration of the insatiable desire for power. The series dives deep into the psychological abyss of ambition and its consequences, resulting in an ending that is both fitting and satisfying.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Murder, War
- I'm not sure how to review HE WHO DROWNED THE WORLD beyond simply some incoherent screaming. It's somehow better than the first book? It left me completely shattered? I could have kept reading it forever?
- I won't go into too much plot detail because 1) so much happens and 2) a lot of it would constitute huge spoilers. But know that I was gripped from beginning to end, gasped out loud at several points, and once my spouse asked if I was okay and the answer was a wailing, "Noooo!"
- Simply put, this duology is a masterpiece. I can't wait to see what Parker-Chan does next.
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Before reading, I thought maybe watching Zhu triumph and their buoyant nature would get boring in this book but the character growth and strength of plot meant that, it was nowhere near an option. I loved the first one and I'm so glad this one didn't dissapoint.
Though generally, it is very dark, so be prepared. There are a sea of content warnings. Generally handled pretty well but the self-harm and assisted self-harm is quite intense.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Kidnapping, Abortion
Minor: Domestic abuse, Incest, Infertility, Vomit, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment