A review by jaan
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I was expecting a completely different book than the one I got, which is mostly why the rating for this book is so lukewarm, plus Parker-Chan veers too far into purple prose for my tastes. However, once I got on board with the story they were telling, I enjoyed it, even though it was (for the most part) quite predictable. The twist that

Ouyang's father is still alive

is VERY well done. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Readers should be warned that this book contains a lot more sexual content—indeed, is reliant on sexual politics in a way SWBTS isn't—and I would characterize the vast majority of it as of the 'dubious consent' variety.