Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

The Dragon Republic, by R.F. Kuang

66 reviews

thiskelsey's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-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: Drug use, Violence, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Genocide, Drug abuse, Cursing, Colonisation, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Grief, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Racial slurs, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/injury detail, Torture, Emotional abuse, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, War, Classism, Blood, Gore, and Death

droopyswan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Murder, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Vomit, Genocide, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Racism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Torture, Drug abuse, and War

Moderate: Alcohol, Abortion, Cursing, and Blood

marah's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

I loved this book!! Rin’s character development was so satisfying to see. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Medical content, Addiction, Confinement, Gore, Murder, Violence, War, Blood, Child death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Racism, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Moderate: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Injury/injury detail, Suicide attempt, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Abortion, Self harm, Slavery, Vomit, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Child death, Police brutality, Bullying, Cursing, and Death of parent

I think that because of these topics, this book had potential to fall into trauma-porn territory but it definitely did not. R.F. Kuang writes about this material very well.

Spoiler

BUT ALSO THE DUMPLINGS PART WAS SO FUCKED UP

toriel_'s review

dark 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: War, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Blood, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Torture, Rape, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Racism, and Grief

Minor: Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, and Abortion

faroroshae's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Loved this book. It tore my emotionless heart into pieces, just what I needed. An all nighter well spent. Now I will sleep.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Confinement, Vomit, Torture, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Murder, Classism, Gaslighting, Blood, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Death, Racism, Religious bigotry, Gun violence, Child death, Violence, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Addiction, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Abortion, Alcoholism, and Miscarriage

shannahtan's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I thought this book moved much faster than the first one. Rin is really unbearable. She is completely unable to process emotion, and she really has no remorse for any of the shit she has done which includes genocide and  bad leadership leading to the Cike injuries and death but at the same time she’s so torn up about Altan dying. She blames herself for his death which feels like it doesn’t really fit her character. She would commit mass genocide on the Mugen again, but she also feels bad about it?! I do think it’s interesting how you can root for Rin at times while also hating her. I often wonder why the Cike stay with her, but I guess that’s similar to followers of Mao. Basically, everyone sucks, but you also kind of want them to turn it around. I guess I’ll read the 3rd to see if it happens. If you never learned about Chinese history, this might be an interesting foray for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Genocide, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Self harm, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Rape

missmali's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Racism, Sexual assault, Rape, and Addiction

donatio'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? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm not sure I always liked Rin, but I liked the Cike and Kitay and I think though it was brutal that it was brutally honest. About war, discrimination, crimes and colonialism. It's not beautified in any way and I think that's the only right way to tell this story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Animal death, Body horror, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Classism, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infertility, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

aspenpastore's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

loved it! Kuang is fantastic and am so invested in the characters. I like how rooted in history the book is and how it personalizes history while adding elements of fantasy. Such an amazing story!

I would say I liked this more than The Poppy War because the characters are all more developed, and we start to see them politicking, strategizing, and scheming. It gave Game of Thrones vibes for sure. The religious bigotry complicates the story and makes me absolutely hate the hesparians. I’m european and it forced me to confront the disgusting crimes and bigotry of my ancestors. Which is challenging but necessary. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, and Addiction

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Torture, and Rape

pineappleboop's review against another edition

5.0

The Dragon Republic continues the story of Rin and Nikara, as the now broken empire after the third Poppy War tries exploring a chance at democracy and possible assistance from the Hesperians. Continuing to describe a very real and raw reality of war and its aftermath, The Dragon Republic expands the world of The Poppy War while remembering and referencing all that we already know. 

 

THIS BOOK. 

I came into this book not expecting much (aside from a great book considering everything that The Poppy Wars left as groundwork), but this, to be quite honest, blew my mind. 

Twice now Kuang had me coming into a book expecting it to go one way and yet expanding it so much more, and that's the only way I think I can explain the way I felt reading this book. It's been so long since I've enjoyed a fantasy series this much, and a series in general to be honest, and it's so fun to experinece. 

I love the way Kuang keeps on introducing a truly enjoyable (and at times hilarious) story while keeping in tact the absolutely horrifying reality of war it protrays. The Dragon Republic is about a country trying something new after a shattering war, realizing how corrupt power is and can make you, and how much loyality weighs. 

The truly strongest aspect of this book is how precise it is. It’s clear it was planned and the execution is near perfect. While reading this book I remember noting how it’s so rare to find a book where each and every word has so much meaning to the overarching story. 

Also, I never thought introducing Christians and white people to a fantasy book set in China inspired by the Opium Wars would work so well but it does???? I'm in absolute awe of the Christian storyline to be honest. I think a big part of why it works so well is everything we experienced of Christians throughout history (and this is not to bash Chistianity, more of how Christian white people took control of the world and never let go throughout history) and the absolutely terrifying hold they had of so much of the world. It may also be just great writing, who knows.

Another thing that's so important to note when discussing this book is the relationships between humans in this book. These relationships (between Rin and Kitay, Rin and Nezah, Rin and Venka, Rin and Viasra, etc.) are what supports this story so well. The worldbuilding and expansion is done so well, but what makes this story work THIS WELL, and leave such an impact are these relationships. They are what makes this story hit, or pack a punch if you will. 

So, because I don't want to go too much into the details and accidentally spoil The Burning God, I'll end this review by saying that this series is just truly one of the best I've read and it's so worth it. However it isn't worth it if these CWs are triggering and or damaging for you. Anyway, great book, love Rin and Kitay's relationship with all my heart. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Violence, War, Rape, Grief, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Racism, Genocide, Drug use, Abortion, Classism, Gore, Medical trauma, Self harm, and Drug abuse