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A review by fiveredhens
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
favorite quotes:
"Jinzha?" Jiang frowned, digging his little finger into his ear. "The older Yin brat?"
"Yes," Daji said.
"I think taught him at Sinegard. Utter asshole. Whatever happened to him?"
"He got plucky," Daji said. "I turned him to mincemeat and sent him back to Vaisra in a dumpling basket."
Jiang arched an eyebrow. "Darling, fucking what?"
"It's a bad guest that shows up
unannounced," Daji said.
"Not if a third guest is holding a knife to the host's throat," Rin said.
"This analogy has lost me," Jiang said.
How many chances, asked Altan, are you going to throw away?
At least one more, she thought, and ignored his jeering laughter.
Their eyes met. She felt a shock of horror. She recognized the way he was looking at her. It was how she'd once looked at Altan. It was the way she'd seen Daji look at Riga—that look of wretched, desperate, and reproachful loyalty. It said, Do it. 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.
good pacing, good exposition, and an end i can't tell if i loved or hated
"Jinzha?" Jiang frowned, digging his little finger into his ear. "The older Yin brat?"
"Yes," Daji said.
"I think taught him at Sinegard. Utter asshole. Whatever happened to him?"
"He got plucky," Daji said. "I turned him to mincemeat and sent him back to Vaisra in a dumpling basket."
Jiang arched an eyebrow. "Darling, fucking what?"
"It's a bad guest that shows up
unannounced," Daji said.
"Not if a third guest is holding a knife to the host's throat," Rin said.
"This analogy has lost me," Jiang said.
How many chances, asked Altan, are you going to throw away?
At least one more, she thought, and ignored his jeering laughter.
Their eyes met. She felt a shock of horror. She recognized the way he was looking at her. It was how she'd once looked at Altan. It was the way she'd seen Daji look at Riga—that look of wretched, desperate, and reproachful loyalty. It said, Do it. 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.
good pacing, good exposition, and an end i can't tell if i loved or hated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Racism, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Colonisation
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Genocide, Gun violence, Infertility, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol