Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

115 reviews

greciamj1958's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I really like the way Kuang handles topics like grief and depression, I love her writing and how that it was the main focus of the story. It was fun to revisit certain characters and some really grow on me like Kitay. However, I felt that in the middle was very repetitive on Rin's obsession with Altan, and I guess that’s the point of it, but it was hard to care lol. I really love the ending, it made me tear up and almost throw the book across the room, but it’s fine. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Addiction, Classism, War, Violence, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Racism, Body horror, Sexual harassment, Blood, Body shaming, Child death, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Murder

mpbookreviews's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Racism, Vomit, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Addiction, Animal death, Confinement, Classism, War, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

btrz7's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Classism, Genocide, Grief, Islamophobia, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Death, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Rape and Religious bigotry

Minor: Abortion

thebookaholic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow. Like... Holy SHIT WOW!!

I started this a few days ago with the expectation of it taking at least a week or two to finish due to it's length and complexity, but I just finished it in my third sitting by reading 440 pages straight to the end because I didn't want to put it down (and also I was blessed with a day free of any and all responsibilities but still).

I did read the first 50 or so pages a few months ago and dnf'd it because I found it incredible hard to read at the time as I wasn't in the mood for how dark it was. But I picked it back up and found that although that first bit was genuinely hard to read due to the sheer intensity of heavy themes, particularly

Spoiler

Rin's opium addiction

, I felt more prepared for it this time and found that on the other side of that first section, while the heavy themes continued (and how RF Kuang handles them is one of the reasons this book is so incredible) the cast of characters and plot picked up in a way that had me constantly needing to know where the story would go next. It went to places I didn't expect, many places that were hard to read about, and many places that I absolutely loved including the relationships these characters develop both with themselves, and with others; shoutout to

Spoiler

Rin & Kitay's renewed and grown friendship and ANCHOR BOND

. 

I am the opposite of a history buff, and in particular I am woefully uneducated on history outside of North America and Europe (thanks capitalistic white-centered education) so my knowledge of 20th century China is essentially non-existent. Due to that, there is a huge element of this book that I don't feel I can truly speak on, but I do want to mention that the perspective used and the way that historical elements are woven into this fantasy setting, and the unapologeticness in talking about the realities of war, class relations, race relations, geo-politics, and many other topics that are shied away from is incredibly commendable and I thank her for it because honestly, I probably wouldn't know a lot of this if it wasn't set out to me in this way as a starting point. 

Overall, this book is simply an absolutely incredible adult fantasy and if you're interested in getting into something dark, gritty, and wholly complex from plot to characters to religion and other ever-unanswered questions, I highly recommend The Dragon Republic and I for one, cannot wait to read The Burning God to see where this story ends up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, War, Blood, and Classism

jessicaludden's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-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

“So do not shirk from war, child. Do not flinch from suffering. When you hear screaming, run toward it.”

This book had me stressed the ENTIRE time. I’m still stressed. I never knew how Rin was gonna get out of any of those situations. I still don’t, but I am sooo pumped for the next book. This was so good. The war and politics, the power struggles, and the PAIN. Rin finally realized that Altan was no hero and effectively moved on from him. R.F. Kuang did an amazing job portraying Rin’s love and disdain for Altan as she let go of him and refused to let him have anymore power over her. The way this book ended had me screaming with excitement. Rin was betrayed. Again. But this time she’s taking matters into her own hands. She’s finally not taking orders from anyone else and I am SO here for it. Overall, this series continues to live up to expectations and I cannot wait for the finale.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Suicide attempt, Violence, Vomit, War, Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Abortion, Alcohol, Animal death, Child death, Classism, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Miscarriage

lizziaha's review against another edition

dark

4.25

oh I feel sick to my stomach finishing this book. It’s an interesting and depressing and unfortunately accurate view of power and the things people do to acquire and keep power. I was happy that we got to see more of Venka in this one, although I understand that the overwhelming amount of male characters is a statement in and of itself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, War, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Classism, Confinement, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Vomit

brianneh's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Classism, Rape, Violence, War, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Cursing

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Vomit, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Genocide, Grief, Drug use, and Gore

meliflowers's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I started reading this book a year ago and only finished it now. 

Kuang does not spare details when describing horrific events and actions. It was really hard to get through the graphic writings about the substance use abuse and PTSD. But once I did, the story rapidly moved along. 

The trauma and pain of the characters aren't used as a prop for the story but are actually explored as consequences of war. Through the story, we explore the consequences of war to the mind and to the civilisation, how people with low socio economic status/ racial appearances are always exploited and sacrificed for the seemingly greater good and the role colonialism plays within war. 

I could go on an endless rant to talk about all the aspects of the story which Kuang has clearly constructed carefully and thoughtfully. Some parts of the story did feel redundant (I assume it's meant to be a basis for the next book) and repetitive, however. 

Regardless, it was still a really enjoyable book and although I want to start reading the next one immediately, for my own well-being I decided to wait it out a bit... 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Rape, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Addiction, Racism, Body horror, Abortion, Death, Classism, Alcoholism, and Murder

Moderate: Classism

It's a heavy book that describes the consequences of war graphically. I do believe it's a great and insightful read but do be warned of the topics aforementioned.

shalladin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Murder, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Violence, Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, War, and Torture

bites_of_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am immediately starting The Burning God.

Talk about character development, complex relationships, both with family, friends, and even enemies! Twists? Check! Reveals? Check! Incredible suffering? Absolutely. 

I said it in my thoughts about the previous book, if you can't read about war and horrible violence, don't even try this one. 

While some stories that have military tactics and such aren't my thing, I was on board with this one. I needed to know exactly what and why certain things needed to happen. I was intrigued from the first page since we do get more backstory on characters from the first book while continuing with Rin's story. Rin... oh Rin, where will you end up? I'm terrified for her and also cheering for her to no end. 

Now, I could go to bed, but I'm starting the next one now. Wish me luck. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Rape, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Child death, Colonisation, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Confinement, Torture, and War