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Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
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
Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt
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: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Genocide, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment
There is a bit of buildup before the magic system is established to the reader and characters are deep into the plot, but once everything starts unraveling it doesn’t stop.
I look forward to reading more books by M L Wang. I listened to the audiobook and will be seeking out other books read by narrator Moira Quirk.
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Violence
Moderate: Death, Gore, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Classism
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Alcohol
Wanted to absolutely hit someone with their sexism and racism, and I loved her rants to
Kind of sad
Would recommend to people
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
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
As the wheels of innovation turned, power stayed the same.
I honestly don't have much to say about this book that's not effusing praise. I have no reason to be giving this a 4.5 stars instead of 5 other than it just didn't give me that 5-star feeling. It's nothing to do with the quality of the book—the characters, setting, worldbuilding, prose, and plot are all top notch. I really enjoyed that this book leaned heavily into the academia part of dark academia and didn't just use it as an aesthetic. The magic system was so interesting and unique; I've never seen anything like it. Be warned: the ending was incredibly sad, but also hopeful. I also loved the romance
If you like morally grey characters, dark academia and incredibly unique magic systems, this should be your next read. I'm mostly surprised you haven't read it already, given the hype. I think it lives up to it. I highly recommend!
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Bullying, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Gaslighting