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airsilv 's review for:
The Burning God
by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The biggest issue I had with this instalment of the Poppy War trilogy was the ending.
I do not understand why Rin was given Kitay’s moment. He has been a tool for Rin throughout this entire series, and even his death only comes at her suddenly guilty hands. This should have been the moment he stood up to Rin, and asserted his own will over hers after she has been spiralling further towards corruption. And instead Rin is given the moment of final agency, of glorious sacrifice for the good of the people, despite the fact the book has pushed her further and further from this sense of duty.
I also feel that the inconsistencies of Rin’s character were more obvious in this book—whether or not she feels guilt for what she has done being a chief example. Of course this inconsistency can happen in real life, but the extent of it in this novel was not helpful to the narrative.
I think this was further compounded by her addiction to opium being quickly abandoned earlier, to the point that being bombed with opium gas only really affects her in the moment, dampening her powers but not seeming to lead to any real relapse.
It felt like Rin was whatever she needed to be in any particular scene, rather than developing in an effective way. She did not have to be entirely consistent, relapses are expected in reality, but she also should not have been a pendulum throughout the entire novel.
I also feel that the inconsistencies of Rin’s character were more obvious in this book—whether or not she feels guilt for what she has done being a chief example. Of course this inconsistency can happen in real life, but the extent of it in this novel was not helpful to the narrative.
It felt like Rin was whatever she needed to be in any particular scene, rather than developing in an effective way. She did not have to be entirely consistent, relapses are expected in reality, but she also should not have been a pendulum throughout the entire novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Violence, War
Moderate: Racism, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Colonisation
Minor: Slavery, Trafficking, Alcohol