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A review by boyscoutsreject
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Ruin me, ruin us, and I'll let you.”
Fang Runin, I despise you.
RF Kuang, I fucking love you.
I know opinions are split heavily on this but God I really couldn't stand Rin in this book. In the end, her ideal reality is infinite chaos. As long as war is around, so is Rin. I get that she has no other purpose but fuck, I hate that mentality. I genuinely felt sorry for Kitay. Bro deserved so much better.
I'm still stupidly latching on to the harbour scene at the end of TDR with the four of them just being kids. What I would have given for them to just run away and live their own little peaceful lives together.
Nezha had no one left. Everyone in the House of Yin was gone, he didn't need to live up to their expectations, but he still fought for the respect of the Hesperians? I know why he did it and I understand but I really fucking wish he didn't have this overwhelming sense of duty. It's admirable as fuck but I just want him to be fucking happy :(
Rin's paranoia cost the lives of her friends and herself and seriously, what else does Nezha have to live for at this point? I'm so insanely pissed but at the same time there is no other realistic way this could have ended. I understand but let me dream!
At times, the war did feel too easy. The incidents at Mount Tianshin and the Grotto seemed rushed and I was convinced that they were fucking with me and there was really more to it but alas, I was wrong. However, that didn't take away from the experience at all. This did deserve 5 stars but I'm just too petty to give it that. I loved the worldbuilding and the writing. I was constantly engaged, only taking breaks to eat. These characters will stay with me forever.My bisexual ass will be fantasizing about Venka, Nezha, Kitay and Daji forever.
RF Kuang is my only auto-buy author (thus far) and shit I am so fucking ready for Babel and Yellowface. Thank you for The Poppy War trilogy. Yes, I hated it but yes, it was the best book series I have ever read.
Fang Runin, I despise you.
RF Kuang, I fucking love you.
I know opinions are split heavily on this but God I really couldn't stand Rin in this book. In the end, her ideal reality is infinite chaos. As long as war is around, so is Rin. I get that she has no other purpose but fuck, I hate that mentality. I genuinely felt sorry for Kitay. Bro deserved so much better.
I'm still stupidly latching on to the harbour scene at the end of TDR with the four of them just being kids. What I would have given for them to just run away and live their own little peaceful lives together.
Nezha had no one left. Everyone in the House of Yin was gone, he didn't need to live up to their expectations, but he still fought for the respect of the Hesperians? I know why he did it and I understand but I really fucking wish he didn't have this overwhelming sense of duty. It's admirable as fuck but I just want him to be fucking happy :(
Rin's paranoia cost the lives of her friends and herself and seriously, what else does Nezha have to live for at this point? I'm so insanely pissed but at the same time there is no other realistic way this could have ended. I understand but let me dream!
At times, the war did feel too easy. The incidents at Mount Tianshin and the Grotto seemed rushed and I was convinced that they were fucking with me and there was really more to it but alas, I was wrong. However, that didn't take away from the experience at all. This did deserve 5 stars but I'm just too petty to give it that. I loved the worldbuilding and the writing. I was constantly engaged, only taking breaks to eat. These characters will stay with me forever.
RF Kuang is my only auto-buy author (thus far) and shit I am so fucking ready for Babel and Yellowface. Thank you for The Poppy War trilogy. Yes, I hated it but yes, it was the best book series I have ever read.