sbhat_39 's review for:

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

4.0

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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RF Kuang calls this a horror story of loneliness and I think that grounds this perfectly. This was a really interesting exploration into our darkest secrets and the opportunity to address them (or not). I really enjoyed this dive into racial exploitation, fiction, and cultural ownership. Having really enjoyed City of Brass by SA Chakraborty, I was struck upon realizing that the author was in fact a white woman writing Islamic medieval fiction. While I did think it was odd, the writing was still superb and the series counts as one of my favorites due to its complexity and historical accuracy. While Yellowface presented a dramatized version of this exact dynamic, I found the gears in my brain turning as I processed the dynamics of what it means to write about a history that isn’t quite your own. Thought provoking and exciting, I definitely recommend this book.