A review by helliepad
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

challenging medium-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

My least favorite RF Kuang book so far- though it delivered on its juicy premise, it reaaaallllyy took it's time to get there. The first part of the book didn't read like a story but rather like an extended rant, and the few bits of characterization at the end seemed out of place. Like I should've been invested in June's life at the beginning instead of outright hating her from the get go.

The thing is after 4 books you tend to notice that RF Kuang uses characters as a mouthpiece for her own anger, but she's a really good ventriloquist. The character voices are good and well-formed, they suck you in and they don't lose pitch. However, that did translate to June being silly- as a Southeast Asian girl I wasn't sold on the ghost aspect of this book because while June is haunted by Athena the myth and the human, it doesn't feel that way. The reader is stuck, flypaper and all, in June's very loud and singular voice.

...though I guess that'sbecause she did write in 1st person this entire book lol. RF Kuang writing in 2nd person will probably devastate me even more.

Still, this was an amazing read, if altogether preachy and drawn out longer than I expected. I can't wait for the author to explore other genres.
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