A review by pnwbibliophile
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I like what R.F. Kuang did with this series. She delves into a complex time in history—the Japanese invasion of China and the Chinese Civil War—through the lens of fantasy. We're given a hard to swallow but poignant story filled with moral dilemma, intense pain, and a deeply flawed and morally grey main character. I could see some not connecting to this series because Rin ends up doing some disgusting things, yet for me Kuang expertly navigated keeping me engaged with her story. Though I wouldn't have made the choices Ron did, Kuang lays the groundwork for why Rin gets to each objectionable decision such that you can't help but to feel empathy for her and see how she got there. That's a difficult balancing act for an author and why I think Kuang is one of our modern greats. Definitely check your content warnings if you are sensitive to the evils of war as this series does not topically glaze over them.
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