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sorodeeznuts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
bookbaristeas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, and Violence
redthistle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall I enjoyed it, although I admit there were sections which dragged pretty hard for me and I struggled to want to continue reading, which isn't surprising given the books 650+ pages.
I struggled particularly because
The story continues to be a brutal depiction of a country ravaged by war, young people thrust into positions of unimaginable power the consequences of which they do not fully grasp or allow themselves to consider (mainly Rin but others as well), and the ultimate reminder that those in power are willing to sacrifice anything and anyone to gain and keep what they desire.
While the narrative does show a window into Rin's mind as she tries to deal with what she had done and continues to do in the name of winning a war, I did feel that she lacked much actual development. She never really changes. Whether that is because of the nature of the pheonix and it's rage or because its the only way she can live with what she's done I'm not sure. I admit I had hoped for some sort of develop or growth from her which I personally did not see.
One thing I loved and kept me reading was the development between characters and their relationships. I have gotten much more attached to many of the ensemble characters than I had in the Poppy War and loved to see their friendships grow.
Thoughts on individual characters have spoilers:
I was so glad that Venka got to be in this story and that her and Rin have become allies. It warms my heart that Rin supported her and helped to to fight and I'm excited to see their relationship developed in the next book.
I loved the development of Kitay and Rin's friendship. I was getting pretty bored of the story before they became Anchored and that's when it turned back around for me. I've always loved their friendship and that he loved and accepted her from the very beginning of her story at the Academy.
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I love Rin and Kitay’s friendship. I loved seeing Venka and Rin become allies and then friends. Rin and Nezha’s dynamic was also very interesting to me. I know this series is a military fantasy inspired by real Chinese fantasy and it isn’t at all focused on romance, but can I just say that there’s SOMETHING going on between those two? Is that just me? While I like the way his character was written, I don’t love Nezha the way I do Rin and Kitay. I’m in a love-hate relationship with him at the moment. I’m excited yet concerned to see what unfolds in the final novel, given that every single review of it I’ve seen just talks about how heart-wrenching it is. I’ll get there eventually.
Representation
- protagonist of color
- some side characters of color
Graphic: Violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Blood, Body horror, Addiction, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Racism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Xenophobia, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Ableism, Abortion, Pedophilia, and Miscarriage
tinytrashqueen's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Rape, Drug abuse, Body horror, Child death, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Blood, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Vomit, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Genocide, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Dementia, Pedophilia, and Slavery
kaylamoran's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
R.F. Kuang has a unique ability to get me to worry and care about awful people. Rin and her friends have done some really terrible things, and yet I still care so much about what happens to them.
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Vomit
idlereader's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, Toxic relationship, Genocide, Self harm, Violence, Drug use, Gore, Medical trauma, Torture, Xenophobia, Death, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, and Body horror
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death