grizzlysnack's review against another edition
- 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
Pacing was wonderfully done as well! As soon as you got a taste for what was about to happen, you're being punched in the gut with what's going on in front of your very eyes. And then you're asking another punch in the face.
The way that emotions are written in this book are beautifully composed. If you're not having the same feeling as a given character in this book, then you're going through your own emotions trying to understand how much cruelty, hatred, or anguish one character could hold inside or inflict on another.
Graphic: War, Rape, and Genocide
Moderate: Death, Drug use, and Addiction
Minor: Animal cruelty, Vomit, and Infertility
This book is not a 'happy, feel good' read. There are chapters that will mentally drain you, and those chapters are based on real events in China, during World War II. Don't read this if you're in a bad headspace.shannon336's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Animal cruelty, Child death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Torture, Violence, War, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Blood, Colonisation, Addiction, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
melizzya's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The narrative doesn't shy away from harsh realities, particularly the parallel to the Rape of Nanjing in Chapter 21. This section was especially difficult to digest due to its graphic depiction of war crimes, making me wish I could have skipped it. However, it did contribute to Rin's character development, and helped me better understand her character arc, so I didn't find it completely unnecessary.
Unfortunately, I didn't connect deeply with most characters, except for Rin, and I hope they'll develop further in the second part. Despite this, I couldn't put the book down and loved the blend of history, shamanism, and ancient gods. It is not an easy read, definitely not for the faint hearted but I still recommend giving it a try.
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Genocide, War, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Rape and Self harm
khall123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Genocide, Blood, Animal cruelty, Rape, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Torture, Violence, Death, Child death, and Body horror
bakkuababy's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Spoiler
the parallel of rin from when we first meet her to when the story ends is fucking crazy she did a whole 180. basically became altan which is rlly sad bc that man SUFFERED. he wasn’t the most likeable character but it was very easy to empathise with him. Also did nezha die or what like I believe this man is a shaman like I need more of him
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Sexual assault, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Murder, Rape, Genocide, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, and War
all the trigger warnings….cowardlyteaman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
There's so much to say here that I'm sure other readers in these reviews can express much better than me.
Currently in history class, we're learning about the history of Emperial Japan (where much of it is also taught from the perspective of the Chinese), and the parallels are prominent. Sometimes it becomes hard to distinguish between what is real and what is fiction, because just like the Mugenese, the Japanese soldiers were terrible—terrible—terrible.
There's so much of this book to praise, and I did love Rin for a while. However, as she continued to go against her master's advice, I continued to dislike her. I see where her need is coming from, but it was very frustrating and frankly quite uninspiring to read about these very predictable consequences to her horribly naïve decisions.
This, however, is the ONLY complaint I had about the book, and I still very much enjoyed the book. I am looking forward to the coming books!
I deeply recommend this book, but be aware of the warnings. Many of the warnings are descriptions and mentions made from character's rather than the direct actions, but they can still be disturbing.
Graphic: Abortion, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Misogyny, Rape, Blood, Animal death, Body horror, Miscarriage, Torture, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Racism, Suicide, Self harm, Animal cruelty, and Classism
Minor: Excrement, Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, and Vomit
bigoffka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Blood, Abortion, Colonisation, Misogyny, Murder, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War, Physical abuse, and Sexism
spacelazor's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Genocide, Rape, Body horror, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Child death, and War
winterwoodbooks's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Whlile I always want to give the benefit of believing that maybe that was just how the character felt, this does not seem to be the case here.
Spoiler
The Fact, that there were mere chapters between the setup of the facility and arriving there annoyed me SO much. And then they were out again just as fast, ughOne of the strongest parts of this book is the bluntness of talking about themes- as well as just vivid and brutal pictures, actually depicturing horrors and topics often glossed over. I have to mention the feminism here, loved everything about it!
Overall a great book with some annoying points, I am interested to see more and hope for an in depth journey of the mind of our main character!
Spoiler
The worst part were the animal deaths tho :cGraphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Animal death, Suicide, Slavery, Blood, Death, Abandonment, War, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Murder, Infertility, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Cursing, Body horror, Hate crime, Violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Rape, Mental illness, Excrement, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Animal cruelty, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Drug abuse, Child death, and Abortion
kesreads13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Murder, Blood, Violence, War, Vomit, Genocide, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Drug abuse, Confinement, Colonisation, Addiction, Torture, Slavery, Rape, Gore, Child death, Death, and Animal cruelty