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a2412z's reviews
144 reviews
Nemesis by Philip Roth
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I went into this with high expectations and no knowledge and I was so pleasantly surprised. I'm on my fantasy kick right now and this was so good. The narration was so new to me and I was really unsure about it but it was great! I had a really offhanded thought towards the beginning about whether the narrator and 'I' are the same people but it was so minute that I brushed it off. Only for it to click pages later and I was like WOWWWW
So anyways. It was so good.
So anyways. It was so good.
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This has been such an insane journey like I don't even have words. I am tired!!!! This book is definitely better than the other parts of the trilogy and I am so glad because I was really struggling.
I have many parts of this book and this series to critique.Why on earth does Rin have a thing for almost every single man in the series... HATE THAT. That's possibly the most annoying part of all of it and all the stuff I have to say about the writing has been said in my previous two reviews for this series.
I kid you not, when I initially started this book I was just exhausted. The plot has been great, super engaging, but there were so many parts that were disappointing. R. F. Kuang has such a large reputation on online book spaces that I came in expecting something close to perfection from book 1 and I had to remind myself that this is her debut multiple times.
And of course it's been building up since book 1 but Rin has always been a villain in equal parts as she is a hero.
I think this is the first book series where I have hated more characters than I've loved. Hated basically everyone except Kitay and Jiang. But I think that's a good thing, it means Kuang writes her characters well.
The good things... It was so much more well written than the first two books, and in terms of story, I loved it. It might seem like I've been ranting about it and have like two good things to say but idk it was good there's not much else to say I think we're my system is to take off points for what I don't like rather than add points for what I do. At least for this series.
I have many parts of this book and this series to critique.
I kid you not, when I initially started this book I was just exhausted. The plot has been great, super engaging, but there were so many parts that were disappointing. R. F. Kuang has such a large reputation on online book spaces that I came in expecting something close to perfection from book 1 and I had to remind myself that this is her debut multiple times.
I think this is the first book series where I have hated more characters than I've loved. Hated basically everyone except Kitay and Jiang. But I think that's a good thing, it means Kuang writes her characters well.
The good things... It was so much more well written than the first two books, and in terms of story, I loved it. It might seem like I've been ranting about it and have like two good things to say but idk it was good there's not much else to say I think we're my system is to take off points for what I don't like rather than add points for what I do. At least for this series.
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
This book was... good. I felt the writing was much better than in The Poppy War and for that I am glad. I still think that it struggles with the amount of stuff happening basically every new chapter.
After Rin and Kitay were bonded, I expected a lot more development of their connection but felt that it was ignored until the next time we see them together or the next time it serves to develop the plot. I would've loved to see Rin feel Kitay's pain, or for them to work through their emotional differences and how that affects them.
I also had to deal with my feelings about the central characters throughout the book. Rin was a mess. And I'm not talking about her opioid addiction, or her crazy thirst for vengeance, I'm talking more about herrelationship with every man who slaps her??? I cannot be the only one who genuinely was baffled by her reaction to Altan slapping her in The Poppy War and Vaisra slapping her in this book and like... ??? I just found her feelings about Vaisra odd. Like she almost killed Nezha for that (but to be fair she also did end up falling in love with him too).
I really hope Jiang comes back because firstly I cannot just accept that his arc ends like that I am sooo sure we're going to see the Trifecta in the next book, and I also want her to gain back a father figure (of sorts) who can put some sense in her because this girl is going through some shit.
Now, I think I've complained enough, so I now will address the better parts of this book.
It was so much fun. Not for the characters, but to read. R. F. Kuang knows how to create and tell a story. Some of the formatting could be done different to make her intentions for suspense more impactful, but I could imagine the intended effect and that worked fine. And although we all knew the ending would rip everything to shreds, it was still gutting. I was genuinely debating giving the book 3.75 stars but the ending was too good. My jaw was hanging for the entire part about the aftermath, and that is a good sign. What an ending!
Kuang is insanely good at getting you to care about the characters. Each betrayal, each confession, every single decision they made got me to react viscerally.Suni, Baji, and Ramsa had just become so dear to me I loved them. Their deaths were just devastating. I will not recover from that.
In conclusion, I liked the book. I am going to start The Burning God immediately.
I also had to deal with my feelings about the central characters throughout the book. Rin was a mess. And I'm not talking about her opioid addiction, or her crazy thirst for vengeance, I'm talking more about her
I really hope Jiang comes back because firstly I cannot just accept that his arc ends like that I am sooo sure we're going to see the Trifecta in the next book, and I also want her to gain back a father figure (of sorts) who can put some sense in her because this girl is going through some shit.
Now, I think I've complained enough, so I now will address the better parts of this book.
It was so much fun. Not for the characters, but to read. R. F. Kuang knows how to create and tell a story. Some of the formatting could be done different to make her intentions for suspense more impactful, but I could imagine the intended effect and that worked fine. And although we all knew the ending would rip everything to shreds, it was still gutting. I was genuinely debating giving the book 3.75 stars but the ending was too good. My jaw was hanging for the entire part about the aftermath, and that is a good sign. What an ending!
Kuang is insanely good at getting you to care about the characters. Each betrayal, each confession, every single decision they made got me to react viscerally.
In conclusion, I liked the book. I am going to start The Burning God immediately.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
I can't even think straight. I could not put this book down despite having other extremely important things to do. I'm sitting here, shell-shocked because that was a journey. Something new and worse at every turn, endless misery, and so. much. burned down.
The story is so heartbreaking, and the characters are compelling. Rin's descent into madness and vengeance was so scary and I was begging her to make a different decision while knowing what she would do. I'm still not ready to accept Nezha and Altan's deaths. I hated Nezha and still don't really like him much but I can't believe his death happens like that! No. And despite multiple characters believing Altan to be dead, it is not once explicitly confirmed and that's the sort of thing I think the Phoenix would confirm. Also Chaghan and Altan have far too much to resolve for that storyline to end this abruptly.
My one qualm is that I wish the book was longer. I wish the first part was expanded and written with more detail and description. At times I wanted to see the passage of time, be shown what was happening rather than just be told. For a book that deals with mature themes the simplicity of the prose at times made it read like a Y/A novel. Especially part 1. Although it would make for a longer and slower reading experience, I feel that is the one thing that would really elevate the book so much more.
I am regardless excited to finish the trilogy. Not knowing what is to come is burning me. Ha!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The story is so heartbreaking, and the characters are compelling. Rin's descent into madness and vengeance was so scary and I was begging her to make a different decision while knowing what she would do. I'm still not ready to accept Nezha and Altan's deaths. I hated Nezha and still don't really like him much but I can't believe his death happens like that! No. And despite multiple characters believing Altan to be dead, it is not once explicitly confirmed and that's the sort of thing I think the Phoenix would confirm. Also Chaghan and Altan have far too much to resolve for that storyline to end this abruptly.
My one qualm is that I wish the book was longer. I wish the first part was expanded and written with more detail and description. At times I wanted to see the passage of time, be shown what was happening rather than just be told. For a book that deals with mature themes the simplicity of the prose at times made it read like a Y/A novel. Especially part 1. Although it would make for a longer and slower reading experience, I feel that is the one thing that would really elevate the book so much more.
I am regardless excited to finish the trilogy. Not knowing what is to come is burning me. Ha!