A review by emilymax21
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Compared to the other books in the series, I liked it better than the second book, but not more than the first. My biggest complaint was the pacing felt a little off throughout the book. Some plot points felt unnecessarily drawn out and others gone took quickly. 

Besides the pacing, the writing was amazing and this book truly makes you think. It was well established in the last book and this one that Rin is a complex person who is not necessarily a good or moral character, but it was so much so that in some moments it just felt excessive. That said, I do love a story where the main character is not a perfect hero as it makes for a much more intriguing read, and this accomplishes that. 

This series as a whole is a great reflection of what war, trauma, betrayal, and most importantly, power can do to people. It is an amazing showcase of how much wrong you can do in the name of a cause you believe to be right, and how easily you can lose yourself in the fight to save yourself. 
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