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A review by sadonohue
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I feel like I am the only person who dislikes this book but I found it truly awful. Yes, Kuang's writing is very good as in it is enjoyable to read but it is entirely unclear what she is trying to say in this book. Is she against all war? Does think some wars are inevitable? She seems to have a strangely pro- genocide stance as long as the people being killed are the "bad guys"? I like to think that she is trying to make an actual point but it is just so unclear.
The violence is also so over the top as to make me numb to it. Every single character on the opposing side has to be almost a caricature of evil. Literally every single one is an irredeemable sociopath. Which in my opinion, is always bad writing, but when you're clearly pulling from actual countries and cultures that exist in the real world, teeters on racist.
Not to mention her twist at the end that really the Europeans were behind all of this is not only incredibly predictable, but also incredibly boring take on war.
Overall I think this is the most overrated book I have read in years. I give is two stars purely because the actual prose is good, but I found almost all her attempts to actually say something truly bad.
The violence is also so over the top as to make me numb to it. Every single character on the opposing side has to be almost a caricature of evil. Literally every single one is an irredeemable sociopath. Which in my opinion, is always bad writing, but when you're clearly pulling from actual countries and cultures that exist in the real world, teeters on racist.
Overall I think this is the most overrated book I have read in years. I give is two stars purely because the actual prose is good, but I found almost all her attempts to actually say something truly bad.