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delbz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Rape
roxiehrt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. At first I wasn’t sure if this book was going to be my cup of tea. I usually am a thriller/horror reader, but man this book had me TENSE. From the conversations on racism/appropriation, second hand embarrassment, and tension throughout to the desperation of the main character to try to dig herself out of a hole unscathed, I found it utterly gripping. The last 4th of the book even had some very creepy imagery which veered into ghost story territory. I think that this novel spins you in so many directions, you’ll feel like you have whiplash by the end. I’ve never felt such intensity from a novel that wasn’t straight horror. It did more than most thriller/horror books I’ve read this year with weaving such a complex page-turning narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
pocketofjoy's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
danieladas8's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I was so annoyed and disgusted with the main character that more than once I wanted to punch her or through the book across the room, and for that I know I love the story and its characters.
They are so well constructed, they’re raw, emotional, flawed and even when you hate them, you get them and pity them.
The story in itself is so unique and well thought out, I’m glad I had the chance to cleansed my reader palette with something so different. Its writing is messy, confusing and at the same time well paced and transparent. It’s a reflection of its protagonist complexities and state of mind. Which, I believe, also showcases, and I’m not sure how accurately, the mischievous and derogating publishing industry and world we live in.
Thank you, R. Kuang, for such an interesting and exciting narrative.
They are so well constructed, they’re raw, emotional, flawed and even when you hate them, you get them and pity them.
The story in itself is so unique and well thought out, I’m glad I had the chance to cleansed my reader palette with something so different. Its writing is messy, confusing and at the same time well paced and transparent. It’s a reflection of its protagonist complexities and state of mind. Which, I believe, also showcases, and I’m not sure how accurately, the mischievous and derogating publishing industry and world we live in.
Thank you, R. Kuang, for such an interesting and exciting narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Bullying, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Rape, and War
Minor: Suicide, Dementia, Sexual violence, and Self harm
heyitsfey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Rape, and Sexual assault
leanneymu's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A deeply unlikeable narrator, but a really interesting story about plagarism, professional jealousies, egos and insecurities. Almost everyone in this story is awful, but that's necessary to give us a look into the cut-throat world of publishing. Reading this is as a writer is an uncomfortable experience, but the narrative is so compelling, it doesn't even matter!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death and Suicidal thoughts
poirot's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Xenophobia, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Vomit and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
mt_tana's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I could not put this book down. Seeing how Junes perspective and outlook changed as she morphed into ‘Juniper’ turned her from a self conscious aspiring writer into an insufferable best seller, and finally to a jaded, victim mindset, guilt ridden woman. Viewing the world through her lens and FEELING IT CHANGE made me feel deeply disappointed in her, but then watching her downfall, was juuuuust a little bit satisfying because of it. I mean, being so self serving while the body is STILL WARM???? K.
This book has a lot of racist and xenophobic themes within and the author is able to drive her point home. So many parts made me gag at how obtuse and ignorant Juniper was.
There are so many stories being told at the same time.
The satire is palpable.
It’s very well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Grief, Cultural appropriation, and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Rape
the_wistful_word_witch's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wow, Wow, WOW!!
This descent into madness with echoes of Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart grips you by the throat from the very first page and sends you hurtling along a narrative that leaves you not only shocked at everyone's actions and audacity but guessing at the many ways it could possibly end... That is, until the actual ending knocks you right on your ass. Did June just lose her mind after watching Athena die so horribly and the whole book is just a tortured fever dream she's having while on a grippy sock vacation?? Has Athena actually come back as a ghost to haunt June?? You'll have to read the whole thing to find out because Kuang's brilliant prestidigitation in the form of an incredibly unreliable narrator keeps us focused on one thing while the truth sneaks up behind us, just waiting to push us down the stairs.
I pretty much hated all the MCs in this book, which is a new thing for me... But Kuang does an amazing job of capturing what it's like to be a white woman caught up in a maelstrom of her own making, within a cut-throat industry that's all about that superficial diversity. I was going through an array of emotions, getting sucked into June's just as much as my own were taking over. Yellowface just left me shaking my head and muttering, "wtf... why would you even do that??" about everyone in it.
I had a buddy read going on and it was so much fun because not only were we able to riff off each other as we moved through the book at relatively the same pace, but my reading partner really made me step back and look at things differently.
This descent into madness with echoes of Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart grips you by the throat from the very first page and sends you hurtling along a narrative that leaves you not only shocked at everyone's actions and audacity but guessing at the many ways it could possibly end... That is, until the actual ending knocks you right on your ass. Did June just lose her mind after watching Athena die so horribly and the whole book is just a tortured fever dream she's having while on a grippy sock vacation?? Has Athena actually come back as a ghost to haunt June?? You'll have to read the whole thing to find out because Kuang's brilliant prestidigitation in the form of an incredibly unreliable narrator keeps us focused on one thing while the truth sneaks up behind us, just waiting to push us down the stairs.
I pretty much hated all the MCs in this book, which is a new thing for me... But Kuang does an amazing job of capturing what it's like to be a white woman caught up in a maelstrom of her own making, within a cut-throat industry that's all about that superficial diversity. I was going through an array of emotions, getting sucked into June's just as much as my own were taking over. Yellowface just left me shaking my head and muttering, "wtf... why would you even do that??" about everyone in it.
I had a buddy read going on and it was so much fun because not only were we able to riff off each other as we moved through the book at relatively the same pace, but my reading partner really made me step back and look at things differently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Xenophobia and War
ellaxo's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Bullying
Moderate: Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Death, and Racism
Minor: Alcohol