Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - The Water Outlaws

"The Water Outlaws" by S.L. Huang is an action packed fantasy story that centers a group of bandits looking to bring about justice.
Lin Chong is one of the Empire's arms instructors until the day she rejects an advance from a powerful man. When the man says that Lin Chong tried to kill him to cover her rejection, she must escape from those who seek to kill her. She finds a group of bandits, many criminals or who were branded as such, who have created their own society. The group hopes to fight back against the unfair men that have harmed them and they could use Lin Chong's expertise.
Huang does a great job of adapting a martial arts text into an engaging story with fully fledged characters and great action. There were many moments in this story that I wished I could see on screen because Huang has clearly well choreographed them. This story is rooted in its characters, who are easy to care for. Lin Chong is a good protagonist though my personal favorite character was Lu Da.
I also really appreciate a standalone fantasy with a strong plot in a world where so much fantasy is written as a series. Huang does a great job of containing the story while having it fully fill the pages. I will be interested in what Huang writes next as they clearly have a way with characters and action scenes.

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badgersallthewaydown's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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rundells's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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contemporarymeepsie's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Water Outlaws tells the story of Lin Chong, who works for the Jianghu government as an Arms Instructor, training the imperial guard in all forms of weaponry. However, a petty Marshall turns her world completely on its head, brandishing her as a criminal and forcing her down the path to the bandits of Liangshan. What follows is an epic tale of heroism, family ties, duty and justice - for women, for the down trodden and for progressive thinkers that the Empire would otherwise destroy.
I really liked this book. At first I was a little unsure of the narrator as she sounded like an AI, especially when saying "scholars skills" but over time I got used to it. I was so invested in Lin Chong's story, captivated by some of the other characters that played major parts in the story and the ending had me hooked! I do wish the ending hadn't been left so open but I understand why it was done that way and it certainly helped to make the whole thing feel a lot more believable. Even if it is definitely fantasy. The fantasy elements were well considered and grounded, built in with a collection of believable grounded characters, to create a fun but substantial story.

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grandiose_r's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny 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

5.0

Read it in one sitting and loved it. Very lovable rogues, and I really enjoyed the variety of different characters among the Liangshan bandits. I particularly love the way Lu Da talks, both towards other characters and her internal thoughts.

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bluenarcissa's review

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adventurous funny inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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_theresenatalie's review

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No

3.75

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