remasm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
like, when the author went on for 200 pages about the academy and rin's life there and then 30 pages later a new set of characters is introduced with little to no knowledge about them?? and also, in terms of East Asian history, i've heard mixed opinions.
like, the depiction of the speerlys (or taiwanese people) being considered evil and inhuman, and the author even reinforcing these stereotypes with the main character
Spoiler
when it's revealed that she's a speerly?and the rape of Nanjing being used as a gotcha! moment to further enhance the plot, and in the end when rin SUFFOCATES the people of mugen (japan) in the name of revenge for the genocide of Speer??
anyways, if this book wasn't based on the sino-japanese wars and was purely fictional, or was just chinese inspired, it could've been something great. i don't understand claiming the book as "more than fantasy" bc it references modern chinese history when you've changed the names of the nations, added a fanciful element that contradicts the history, and have watered down a few historical events.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Grief, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Gore, Rape, War, Eating disorder, Racism, Trafficking, Body horror, Addiction, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Genocide, Child abuse, Blood, Violence, Slavery, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, and Bullying
Moderate: Trafficking and Suicide
lavenderviolin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Drug use, Violence, and War
dennyiii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, War, Drug use, Abandonment, Addiction, Animal death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Violence, Gore, Racism, Sexual assault, and Body horror
aya1403's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Rape, Xenophobia, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Colonisation, Slavery, Suicide, Genocide, Infertility, Racism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Gaslighting, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, War, Bullying, Addiction, Cursing, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Body horror, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
pieeater97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, Murder, Racism, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Child death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Sexual violence, Suicide, Gore, Blood, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, and War
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Bullying, Animal cruelty, and Excrement
sweetnotbitter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, War, Suicide, Drug use, Addiction, Slavery, Sexual assault, Rape, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Hate crime, Gore, Torture, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
thewellreadlabrador's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The darkness and evilness of the atrocities of war is conveyed in such a descriptive and vivid way that it pulls you in and makes you feel like you are there and truly witnessing it all. The world building and character development are phenomenal. The pacing is fast, but the density of the material makes reading it slow.
This one is definitley worth a read, BUT make sure you check the content warnings and heed them. This book is incredibly graphic and is not for everyone.
Graphic: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Child death, Gore, Murder, Violence, Blood, Grief, Torture, War, Xenophobia, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Child death, Excrement, Animal death, Drug use, Medical content, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Addiction, Blood, Cannibalism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Abortion, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Body horror, and Vomit
eldritch_archivist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Classism, Colonisation, Self harm, Gore, Murder, Bullying, Body horror, Kidnapping, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, War, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Suicide, Torture, Child abuse, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Ableism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pandemic/Epidemic, Excrement, Miscarriage, Racism, Domestic abuse, Animal death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Pedophilia
lizziaha's review
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Police brutality, Self harm, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Slavery, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Death, Classism, Grief, Physical abuse, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Infertility, Vomit, and Misogyny
alex_75's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Torture, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Sexual violence, Rape, War, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Excrement, Animal death, Racism, and Toxic relationship