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A review by fadingapple
The Sword of Kaigen: Deluxe Edition by M.L. Wang
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't think I can say enough about how much I loved this book, even though it left my heart in absolute tatters and I am devastated it is a stand alone. It lived up to every ounce of hype and is definitely a story I will want to return to in years to come.
I really can't say much about this without spoilers, but the emotional roller coaster this book took me on was absolute perfection. It starts slow, building up the foundation of what life on the Sword of Kaigen was like in peace....before it all falls apart. You fall in love (or hate) with these characters at a molecular level, learning everything about them and then they just....well, not all of them survive. And while the beginning is slow and not much action happens, you are enthralled the whole time. The writing is exactly what it needs to be with great pacing, even through the slower pieces.
And oh when the action starts....don't listen to the audiobook while driving, you'll suddenly be crying and that's just dangerous. It's as well written and as brutal as RF Kuang's The Poppy War without some of the gruesome detail that can make it hard to recommend (still one of my fav series, but I hesitate to recommend because of extensive triggers). It's just exactly what I wanted it to be and more - especially as a mother.
Go read this book, you'll thank me (and everyone else on the internet that says this is good).
I really can't say much about this without spoilers, but the emotional roller coaster this book took me on was absolute perfection. It starts slow, building up the foundation of what life on the Sword of Kaigen was like in peace....before it all falls apart. You fall in love (or hate) with these characters at a molecular level, learning everything about them and then they just....well, not all of them survive. And while the beginning is slow and not much action happens, you are enthralled the whole time. The writing is exactly what it needs to be with great pacing, even through the slower pieces.
And oh when the action starts....don't listen to the audiobook while driving, you'll suddenly be crying and that's just dangerous. It's as well written and as brutal as RF Kuang's The Poppy War without some of the gruesome detail that can make it hard to recommend (still one of my fav series, but I hesitate to recommend because of extensive triggers). It's just exactly what I wanted it to be and more - especially as a mother.
Go read this book, you'll thank me (and everyone else on the internet that says this is good).