samhain 's review for:

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

4.5

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

I am absolutely devastated to learn the author has shelved the series. What a brilliant dive into the mind of a woman who chose patriarchy and gaslight herself for more than a decade into thinking she was the problem for suffering under its rules! And the universe was extremely promising, so it's a shame there are only two YA stories linked to this and nothing else. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Classism

Minor: Homophobia, Miscarriage