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Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Infertility, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Racism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Cannibalism, Car accident, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Deportation
i absolutely flew through this book.
and i really liked the bluntness of it.
my main critizism is the limitations and faults in the worldbuilding.
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Classism
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
this story and Babel are cut from the same cloth in terms of theme (exposing corruption, racism, xenophobia, etc) but I think where this story lacked a bit for me was the confrontation scenes and the info dumping.
It felt good to read about going up against powerful people and putting them in their place but it also felt almost too cathartic? very much like a "i thought of a fantastic one-liner after the moment happened" type of scenes and although I really enjoyed it, I feel like for how much this books was grounded in reality, it should've shown more people trying to cut ziona off in her justice speeches cause these men that she was going up against would never have let her go on for as long as she did
other than that, God, what a fantastic story. perfect pacing, character arcs, believable politics, worldbuilding, action, and so much more. quite literally would've been giving this book a 5 star if not for the scenes that I mentioned above because this story wasn't just fiction but a mirror to what our world is currently turning into and it didn't really shy away from how twisted people in power's logic is
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
I think everyone should read this book. It is excellent commentary on so many real-world issues told through a riveting story of flawed, raw characters that you want to root for. Wang tackles racism—specifically against indigenous people—, colonization, collective liberation, hypocrisy in religion, corruption in government, "benevolent" complicity, white guilt/tears, and so much more with such finesse. She asks us all to grapple with the questions: what is the cost of our comforts, and what is the effect on our humanity of the denial of those costs?
The story is a page-turner the whole way through, and hooked me within the first chapter. The magic system is extremely unique and interesting, and the world-building is so well-done. Both are intricate without being hard to understand (plus a handy pocket guide is included in the back!). The series of events is realistic as it pertains to the world/characters and the IRL issues the story seeks to tackle.
Graphic: Death, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation
Moderate: Body horror, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Suicide, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, War
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, War
Minor: Animal death, Miscarriage
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War
Given the patriarchal system in Bright Haven, I would have loved to see some more gender exploration there! I wouldn't be opposed to exploring a different, maybe gender non-conforming character in this same world in the future!
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, War
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
on a serious note, I think it’s a great story about intersectionality and how white women are not exempt from racism even with an oppressed gender identity. i thought it was a pretty sick as plot and developed in a way that i found both interesting and meaningful. the actual themes were good and could be impactful but obvi i’m true to this not new to this
Graphic: Genocide, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, War