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A review by ghulsona
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a glorious end to a fantastic series! I think the best way to describe this book is like watching a train wreck happen in slow motion - you know things are going to end disastrously, but you simply cannot look away. The writing is immersive and keeps me at the edge of my seat as always.
Rin's gradual slip into insanity is something that I predicted from the first book, but it still gutted me to read about her downfall in this book. Do you know the tumblr post that goes like "i am a war criminal i am clinically insane & the next virgin mary & i am never going to die etc etc"? I feel like that is the exact embodiment of the character Rin becomes over the course of this book. Reading about her descent into madness was extremely interesting - she's already thinking of herself as this legendary figure that history will sing about before they've even won the war! The hubris! Her love for Kitay being a tether to her humanity made me so so so sad. The last scene truly destroyed me. I get why a lot of people wouldn't like her character, but I found her her thirst for vengeance and her struggles with identity (who is she without a war to fight for?) so fascinating. She's definitely a character that I will think about for a long time.
Kitay, Kitay, Kitay. I loved him so much - his genius, his ethics, how he loves and loves Rin despite everything and cannot deny her anything. "Take what you want, it said. I’ll hate you for it. But I’ll love you forever. I can’t help but love you. Ruin me, ruin us, and I’ll let you." Wow!His last words telling Rin that she's hurting him absolutely destroyed me.
The Trifecta finally coming together was something that I was really excited to read about. Jiang! I missed him dearly and felt Rin's heartbreak when he really isn't the man we met in the first book anymore. I also grew to like Daji more than I thought I would. I was expecting Riga to be horrible, but his monstrosity cannot be understated. I wish we could've gotten more of them - their time was up almost as soon as we finally had all 3 of them together, and it doesn't make that much sense considering how powerful they were? Oh well, I did really enjoy the little that we got of them.
For the other characters: Rin finally realizing that Altan had been extremely flawed, but still heeding his words and keeping his memory and voice alive in her mindspace was interesting. Venka! I'm heartbroken about her end, but I loved the small moments she had with Rin. I didn't see much of Nezha so I don't have much thoughts to offer about him, but I'll read "The Drowning Faith" soon to get his perspective. The mastery and execution of his powers was really cool to read about, and the last scene really hit home how young he is despite the burdens placed on his shoulders (how young all of them are, really).
There are some things that I wished were explored more. For example, Speer! I am honestly left with more questions than I had before. How did Rin survive the genocide? I want to know more about Hanelai! Also, I thought the subplot about Chaghan's people would be tied into the story, not solved outside of the text. Speaking of Chaghan's people, I thought we would get more about Tseveri! I also wish there could've been more exploration of the vengeance and violence that takes ahold of the South following their liberations. What were the fates of Kesegi and maybe even Tutor Feyrik? Also, what is up with the Hesperians!?! How did they even find those god-neutralizing weapons? This was definitely intentional, but the uncertainty of Nikara's future by the end of the book really had me distressed.
Misc moments that I really liked: Rin's small memorial to Jiang at the base of the mountain and her last thoughts to her old mentor. Her last thoughts about the endless circle of violence and her thinking about others who once stood in her place to make the choice she had to make. Rin's mentoring of the new shamans (I wish we had gotten more of them as well, but alas)! "Dying was easy. Living was so much harder—that was the most important lesson Altan had ever taught her". Rin finding the poppy fields outside of Tikany and having that brief burst of hope. Rin getting her revenge on Sister Petra!
Overall, I really did love this book. I haven't picked up a book in a long time that's captivated me as much as this series has, I'll probably think of it for a long time. Read the Poppy War!
Rin's gradual slip into insanity is something that I predicted from the first book, but it still gutted me to read about her downfall in this book. Do you know the tumblr post that goes like "i am a war criminal i am clinically insane & the next virgin mary & i am never going to die etc etc"? I feel like that is the exact embodiment of the character Rin becomes over the course of this book. Reading about her descent into madness was extremely interesting - she's already thinking of herself as this legendary figure that history will sing about before they've even won the war! The hubris! Her love for Kitay being a tether to her humanity made me so so so sad. The last scene truly destroyed me. I get why a lot of people wouldn't like her character, but I found her her thirst for vengeance and her struggles with identity (who is she without a war to fight for?) so fascinating. She's definitely a character that I will think about for a long time.
Kitay, Kitay, Kitay. I loved him so much - his genius, his ethics, how he loves and loves Rin despite everything and cannot deny her anything. "Take what you want, it said. I’ll hate you for it. But I’ll love you forever. I can’t help but love you. Ruin me, ruin us, and I’ll let you." Wow!
The Trifecta finally coming together was something that I was really excited to read about. Jiang! I missed him dearly and felt Rin's heartbreak when he really isn't the man we met in the first book anymore. I also grew to like Daji more than I thought I would. I was expecting Riga to be horrible, but his monstrosity cannot be understated. I wish we could've gotten more of them - their time was up almost as soon as we finally had all 3 of them together, and it doesn't make that much sense considering how powerful they were? Oh well, I did really enjoy the little that we got of them.
For the other characters: Rin finally realizing that Altan had been extremely flawed, but still heeding his words and keeping his memory and voice alive in her mindspace was interesting. Venka! I'm heartbroken about her end, but I loved the small moments she had with Rin. I didn't see much of Nezha so I don't have much thoughts to offer about him, but I'll read "The Drowning Faith" soon to get his perspective. The mastery and execution of his powers was really cool to read about, and the last scene really hit home how young he is despite the burdens placed on his shoulders (how young all of them are, really).
There are some things that I wished were explored more. For example, Speer! I am honestly left with more questions than I had before. How did Rin survive the genocide? I want to know more about Hanelai! Also, I thought the subplot about Chaghan's people would be tied into the story, not solved outside of the text. Speaking of Chaghan's people, I thought we would get more about Tseveri! I also wish there could've been more exploration of the vengeance and violence that takes ahold of the South following their liberations. What were the fates of Kesegi and maybe even Tutor Feyrik? Also, what is up with the Hesperians!?! How did they even find those god-neutralizing weapons? This was definitely intentional, but the uncertainty of Nikara's future by the end of the book really had me distressed.
Misc moments that I really liked: Rin's small memorial to Jiang at the base of the mountain and her last thoughts to her old mentor. Her last thoughts about the endless circle of violence and her thinking about others who once stood in her place to make the choice she had to make. Rin's mentoring of the new shamans (I wish we had gotten more of them as well, but alas)! "Dying was easy. Living was so much harder—that was the most important lesson Altan had ever taught her". Rin finding the poppy fields outside of Tikany and having that brief burst of hope. Rin getting her revenge on Sister Petra!
Overall, I really did love this book. I haven't picked up a book in a long time that's captivated me as much as this series has, I'll probably think of it for a long time. Read the Poppy War!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Body horror, Grief, Mental illness, Racism, Gore, Murder, Religious bigotry, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Animal death