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A review by a2412z
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
This book was... good. I felt the writing was much better than in The Poppy War and for that I am glad. I still think that it struggles with the amount of stuff happening basically every new chapter.
After Rin and Kitay were bonded, I expected a lot more development of their connection but felt that it was ignored until the next time we see them together or the next time it serves to develop the plot. I would've loved to see Rin feel Kitay's pain, or for them to work through their emotional differences and how that affects them.
I also had to deal with my feelings about the central characters throughout the book. Rin was a mess. And I'm not talking about her opioid addiction, or her crazy thirst for vengeance, I'm talking more about herrelationship with every man who slaps her??? I cannot be the only one who genuinely was baffled by her reaction to Altan slapping her in The Poppy War and Vaisra slapping her in this book and like... ??? I just found her feelings about Vaisra odd. Like she almost killed Nezha for that (but to be fair she also did end up falling in love with him too).
I really hope Jiang comes back because firstly I cannot just accept that his arc ends like that I am sooo sure we're going to see the Trifecta in the next book, and I also want her to gain back a father figure (of sorts) who can put some sense in her because this girl is going through some shit.
Now, I think I've complained enough, so I now will address the better parts of this book.
It was so much fun. Not for the characters, but to read. R. F. Kuang knows how to create and tell a story. Some of the formatting could be done different to make her intentions for suspense more impactful, but I could imagine the intended effect and that worked fine. And although we all knew the ending would rip everything to shreds, it was still gutting. I was genuinely debating giving the book 3.75 stars but the ending was too good. My jaw was hanging for the entire part about the aftermath, and that is a good sign. What an ending!
Kuang is insanely good at getting you to care about the characters. Each betrayal, each confession, every single decision they made got me to react viscerally.Suni, Baji, and Ramsa had just become so dear to me I loved them. Their deaths were just devastating. I will not recover from that.
In conclusion, I liked the book. I am going to start The Burning God immediately.
I also had to deal with my feelings about the central characters throughout the book. Rin was a mess. And I'm not talking about her opioid addiction, or her crazy thirst for vengeance, I'm talking more about her
I really hope Jiang comes back because firstly I cannot just accept that his arc ends like that I am sooo sure we're going to see the Trifecta in the next book, and I also want her to gain back a father figure (of sorts) who can put some sense in her because this girl is going through some shit.
Now, I think I've complained enough, so I now will address the better parts of this book.
It was so much fun. Not for the characters, but to read. R. F. Kuang knows how to create and tell a story. Some of the formatting could be done different to make her intentions for suspense more impactful, but I could imagine the intended effect and that worked fine. And although we all knew the ending would rip everything to shreds, it was still gutting. I was genuinely debating giving the book 3.75 stars but the ending was too good. My jaw was hanging for the entire part about the aftermath, and that is a good sign. What an ending!
Kuang is insanely good at getting you to care about the characters. Each betrayal, each confession, every single decision they made got me to react viscerally.
In conclusion, I liked the book. I am going to start The Burning God immediately.