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fashi0nablefr0g's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
The second half of the book was incredibly rushed. There was no "plot twist" in the end, no sort of redemption or even real downfall of the main character. The cycle continues and you finish the book with no new ideas or knowledge, nothing to show other than time you wasted reading it. The final 50% was just a series of "shocking" events shoved in one after another, the author desperately trying to link them together to add depth after a flat first half. The only thing that kept me picking up this book was the desire to get it over with, but it was very nearly one I didn't finish.
Graphic: Death, Bullying, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Xenophobia, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, War, Vomit, Violence, and Sexual assault
erin__melissa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
One thing that bugging me. Did the EMTs, doctors, and nurses not notice the bite mark on June’s arm?! It was bad enough to draw blood! It should have been mentioned again, or remove from the fight, because it doesn’t fit the narrative of falling down the stairs while jogging.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Racism, Violence, Toxic friendship, Death, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts
melniksuzuki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Death, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual assault
Minor: Xenophobia, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Islamophobia, and War
katrinalamothe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Toxic friendship, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Xenophobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gaslighting, Slavery, Emotional abuse, War, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Bullying, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Vomit
Minor: Islamophobia, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
forestfloor's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was most impressed by Kuang's ability to write from June's perspective as the villain while walking the line between making her neither flat and one dimensional, nor a sympathetic anti-hero. Despite most of the characters having their negative traits far more readily described and explored that their positives, they all still felt like they were whole people, past the limitations of June's perspective.
I found it so interesting to follow June's fluctuating reliability as a narrator, particularly as her mental health degrades. Her descent into anxiety and delusion was so evocative, and again - it's so impressive that even as she's breaking down she is clearly not the victim.
I have heard some people found the ending to be too predictable - I would have described it as believable, but your appreciation of it may vary depending on how much of a surprise you like the reveal of your mysteries to be.
Overall an absolutely brilliant exploration of whiteness, writing and publishing. Cannot wait to read more of Kuang's other works.
Graphic: Violence, Cultural appropriation, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and War
sarasbookmark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Death, Colonisation, Physical abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Stalking, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, War, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Vomit
britbreeze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Death, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Minor: Rape, Eating disorder, Vomit, and Mental illness
tofubaby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Racism, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death of parent, Sexism, and Rape
lindsaybethlyons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Rape, Bullying, and Racism
Minor: War, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Suicide, and Violence
booktalkwithrae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am always thinking and reflecting upon myself as a human as well as the questions of our society and what is right and what is wrong. Her characters feel so absolutely real and sometimes you can see yourself in the darkest parts of the character, which makes you reflect and think upon yourself as a human in society. Could you ever do that? have you ever had that thought or dark feeling in your conscious self?
As always, the ending left me completely unsatisfied, and yet it is so well crafted and so well done that I don’t know what kind of ending would have made me satisfied. And that’s R. F. Kuang for you… because there is no good ending with her characters that she creates.
Moderate: Violence, Racism, and Cultural appropriation