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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: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicide, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation
A bit more predictable than The Sword of Kaigen, but not in a bad way, and also more polished (though I wouldn't say the less-polished nature of SoK is a bad thing either!). This was a fantastic tale with fascinating world-building and a truly explosive (and satisfying) ending, but the best thing about it was Sciona as a protagonist...complicated and difficult, at times you hate her but you're also urging her on, and her growth is incredible.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment
Minor: Mental illness, Miscarriage
Moderate: Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Infertility, Sexual assault
There was only one point in the book where the conversation between the main characters dragged on for a bit too long.
I did love the addition of small excerpts from the "sacred texts" at the start of each chapter, even though they made my physically repulsed (more so because I know there are many real people who believe this exact same crap).
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Infertility, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Cultural appropriation
I loved this standalone dark academia fantasy. The magic system was so complex, detailed and well-thought out. The worldbuilding was amazing, built brick by brick with societal issues that cut deep - the negative effects of patriarchy, greed, ego, misogyny, sexism, classism, racism. So many topics to unpack with a dash of magic that just added another high-stake power in this book's dynamic.
We follow two main characters, Sciona and Thomil. My favorite character from the beginning was Thomil. I loved his grit, his love of culture, him as a whole. Sciona had a lot of character development and by the end of the book, I was sobbing because of everything she was able to accomplish.
I feel like this story was exactly what I needed at this time. With the way the world has been lately, I toast to the same thing as Sciona and Thomil at the end, "To hope."
This book was very heavy on my heart and should be given a proper amount of time to fully absorb and go through in order to savor reading it for the first time. So many aspects of hard to stomach moments, including abuse, murder, and sexual harrasment, but overall, I'm glad I was able to bear witness to this story.
I loved how this story felt really full circle, whenever an author alludes back to moments that happened in the beginning of the book at the end, as well, I always feel so much nostalgia. Like the crossing, the toasts that Sciona and Thomil had made, so many details that tugged on my heartstrings as I watched the characters I love go through so much hardship.
Such a good book I highly recommend this. This story also reminded me of Shingeki no Kyojin and Those Who Walk Away from Omelas.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Rape, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Pregnancy
A very driven young lady, rejects the crushing male dominance of her society to prove herself amongst the top magic wielders. Only to find out that the magic she has loved above all else comes with a deadly cost. Good does not always win. Books don’t always have happy endings. Some are just sad tales of what could easily become our realities, and in someways were and still are.
Phew.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
The only thing that I have some form of criticism of is that the discussions of feminism, racism, gender equality, colonialism, occupation etc. are a bit heavy handed. At some points I kept thinking, yes I get it men hate women. Having said that it was important to the progression of the novel so I understand to an extent.
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, Classism