rrio's review
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
screaming crying throwing up
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
droopyswan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
(didn’t find the main character lovable at all but I think I do find him compelling — & I definitely pity him)
admittedly, I went into this thinking it was merely fan service, expecting I’d like it less than I did. but I found it to be an interesting & emotional character study. the writing is beautiful, nezha’s tragedy is heartbreaking (though his confinement to duty & his evil parents can’t make me not hate him for parroting their beliefs and ideals). these three “stories” do a really good job at fleshing out his character, & I’m probably saying this because I just finished the second book in the original series, but I really wish they were incorporated into the novel(s) somehow. I wouldn’t want to break the original series’ structure & include another POV besides rin’s, but it feels like there’s enough material in “the drowning faith” to include just enough of nezha’s POV in “the dragon republic” where it’s not disrupting the structure. the prologue already opens with nezha’s POV & it’s stylistically very similar to this text, so “the drowning faith” already feels like a part of the book.
f*ck nezha but still I really enjoyed this writing!! my favorite part that I feel like sums up his duality very well:
admittedly, I went into this thinking it was merely fan service, expecting I’d like it less than I did. but I found it to be an interesting & emotional character study. the writing is beautiful, nezha’s tragedy is heartbreaking (though his confinement to duty & his evil parents can’t make me not hate him for parroting their beliefs and ideals). these three “stories” do a really good job at fleshing out his character, & I’m probably saying this because I just finished the second book in the original series, but I really wish they were incorporated into the novel(s) somehow. I wouldn’t want to break the original series’ structure & include another POV besides rin’s, but it feels like there’s enough material in “the drowning faith” to include just enough of nezha’s POV in “the dragon republic” where it’s not disrupting the structure. the prologue already opens with nezha’s POV & it’s stylistically very similar to this text, so “the drowning faith” already feels like a part of the book.
f*ck nezha but still I really enjoyed this writing!! my favorite part that I feel like sums up his duality very well:
She’s everything he’s not: unbound, reckless, free. He’s never known anyone like her. She terrifies him, and he loves her so much it hurts.
In all of his worst nightmares, she’s dying. She’s fading away in his arms, helpless and whimpering, while hot, dark blood spills over his fingers.
This, he tells her.
He doesn’t tell her that his hand holds the blade.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
shainalite's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
alternative title : aku tenggelam dalam lautan luka dalam
i'm glad this book is this short, or it would finish me when I try to finish it
i'm glad this book is this short, or it would finish me when I try to finish it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
katiemcgregor's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
NEZHAAAA :'(
R.F. Kuang really just hit us with
"She's the only divine thing he's ever believed in. The only creature in this vast, cruel land who could kill him. And sometimes, in his loveliest dreams, he imagines she does."
and
"In all of his worst nightmares, she's dying. She's fading away in his arms, helpless and whimpering, while hot dark blood spills over his fingers.
This, he tells her.
He doesn't tell her that his hand holds the blade."
This is painful.
R.F. Kuang really just hit us with
"She's the only divine thing he's ever believed in. The only creature in this vast, cruel land who could kill him. And sometimes, in his loveliest dreams, he imagines she does."
and
"In all of his worst nightmares, she's dying. She's fading away in his arms, helpless and whimpering, while hot dark blood spills over his fingers.
This, he tells her.
He doesn't tell her that his hand holds the blade."
This is painful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts
lujisa's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Death, and Violence
doodeedoda's review
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, War, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Grief, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cursing, Death, and Kidnapping
solouncapitulomas's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
therapy who needs that?
"But Nezha knows divinity. It’s fathomless. It is not something that can be measured or studied; can’t be described through meticulously constructed logic. The forces that dreamed up this world are the opposite of rational. Divinity isn’t knowable. It’s the Dragon in the grotto. It’s the Dragon inside him. It’s the three madmen who united a nation and tore themselves apart. It’s pain, eternity, and terror. It’s endless, all-consuming fire.
It’s her"
pls someone kill i will not survive the burning god
"She’s going to kill him. She might actually kill him." i don't wike it
"Rin is alive. He’d never feared for a day that she was dead, because creatures like Rin are impossible to kill."
"He wonders sometimes if Rin even cares what she’s fighting for, so long as she gets to fight."
"Duty is not a concept she understands, because she is beholden to no one. She’s tied to nothing. There’s no weight sinking her down. She has her secrets, her painful memories, but she doesn’t drown in them. She ignores them, shoves them aside, sets them on fire.
Nezha wonders what it’s like to be that reckless, that free." you know nothing, yin nezha
"He loves her laugh; that sharp, sudden sound; the cynical laugh that always comes too
quick, like it’s ripped out of her. He loves her quick, confident grin. He loves her resilience, her bravery, even her impulsiveness." oh my gods i will need sm help after the last book
"She’s everything he’s not: unbound, reckless, free. He’s never known anyone like her. She terrifies him, and he loves her so much it hurts."
"He can’t take his eyes off of her. She’s the most magnificent thing he’s ever seen."
"They are, both of them, bound by forces far behind their making: vicious paths that put them in this spot, across each other, never on the same side. Their visions of the future don’t include each other. There is no compromise or neutrality. Only her way."
"It doesn’t matter that he loves her. It doesn’t matter. It’s never mattered."
"Oh, he thinks. But history moves in such cruel circles."
"Because his resolve is only so strong, and if she utters another word then he’ll be lost."
"They can’t say her name in his presence. He’s never made this a rule. But for some reason, none of them dare."
"She’s the only divine thing he’s ever believed in. The only creature in this vast, cruel land who could kill him. And sometimes, in his loveliest dreams, he imagines she does."
"But Nezha knows divinity. It’s fathomless. It is not something that can be measured or studied; can’t be described through meticulously constructed logic. The forces that dreamed up this world are the opposite of rational. Divinity isn’t knowable. It’s the Dragon in the grotto. It’s the Dragon inside him. It’s the three madmen who united a nation and tore themselves apart. It’s pain, eternity, and terror. It’s endless, all-consuming fire.
It’s her"
pls someone kill i will not survive the burning god
"She’s going to kill him. She might actually kill him." i don't wike it
"Rin is alive. He’d never feared for a day that she was dead, because creatures like Rin are impossible to kill."
"He wonders sometimes if Rin even cares what she’s fighting for, so long as she gets to fight."
"Duty is not a concept she understands, because she is beholden to no one. She’s tied to nothing. There’s no weight sinking her down. She has her secrets, her painful memories, but she doesn’t drown in them. She ignores them, shoves them aside, sets them on fire.
Nezha wonders what it’s like to be that reckless, that free." you know nothing, yin nezha
"He loves her laugh; that sharp, sudden sound; the cynical laugh that always comes too
quick, like it’s ripped out of her. He loves her quick, confident grin. He loves her resilience, her bravery, even her impulsiveness." oh my gods i will need sm help after the last book
"She’s everything he’s not: unbound, reckless, free. He’s never known anyone like her. She terrifies him, and he loves her so much it hurts."
"He can’t take his eyes off of her. She’s the most magnificent thing he’s ever seen."
"They are, both of them, bound by forces far behind their making: vicious paths that put them in this spot, across each other, never on the same side. Their visions of the future don’t include each other. There is no compromise or neutrality. Only her way."
"It doesn’t matter that he loves her. It doesn’t matter. It’s never mattered."
"Oh, he thinks. But history moves in such cruel circles."
"Because his resolve is only so strong, and if she utters another word then he’ll be lost."
"They can’t say her name in his presence. He’s never made this a rule. But for some reason, none of them dare."
"She’s the only divine thing he’s ever believed in. The only creature in this vast, cruel land who could kill him. And sometimes, in his loveliest dreams, he imagines she does."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Alcohol
readandfindout's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
4.25
Style/writing: 4 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Worldbuilding: 5 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Worldbuilding: 5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death
some_random_person_hi's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
3.0
I...I feel numb.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
hayleyvem's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War
Moderate: Death, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, and Physical abuse
Minor: Alcohol and Forced institutionalization