Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment
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
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: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Violence, Suicide attempt, Abandonment
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Cannibalism
Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Death of parent
I also think that while yes Sciona is intelligent, she's a really good example of int and wis being completely different stats. She's also incredibly stunted and awful with people, and I do wish there was more of her trying to be good to others. It can be argued that that's sort of the point, but I think it would have helped the novel have a more satisfying resolution.
I did like the way that magic worked- basically as coding rather than what we typically see as magic where it's ✨OtHeRwOrLdLy✨ or a "gift from god". I also thought that having Sciona teach Thomil about magic and thus us as readers was very effective.
Overall I thought it was a good read. I wanted to vomit and physically became ill when I figured out the twist and subsequently was right. I don't often like dual perspectives, but it was used sparingly and effectively.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism
Graphic: Hate crime, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Violence, Mass/school shootings
Minor: Body horror, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment