Reviews tagging Medical trauma

The Dragon Republic, by R.F. Kuang

71 reviews

ruuntvoces's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Rape, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Medical trauma and Self harm

Minor: Religious bigotry, Cannibalism, and Colonisation

qani's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm not sure I always liked Rin, but I liked the Cike and Kitay and I think though it was brutal that it was brutally honest. About war, discrimination, crimes and colonialism. It's not beautified in any way and I think that's the only right way to tell this story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Animal death, Body horror, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Classism, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infertility, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

jcolvin's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

Heavy but good and more enjoyable than book 1

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Rape, War, Drug use, Death, and Racism

chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Rape, War, Kidnapping, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic friendship, Classism, Violence, Misogyny, Confinement, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Ableism, Pregnancy, Addiction, Drug abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Genocide, Excrement, and Cannibalism

pineappleboop's review against another edition

5.0

The Dragon Republic continues the story of Rin and Nikara, as the now broken empire after the third Poppy War tries exploring a chance at democracy and possible assistance from the Hesperians. Continuing to describe a very real and raw reality of war and its aftermath, The Dragon Republic expands the world of The Poppy War while remembering and referencing all that we already know. 

 

THIS BOOK. 

I came into this book not expecting much (aside from a great book considering everything that The Poppy Wars left as groundwork), but this, to be quite honest, blew my mind. 

Twice now Kuang had me coming into a book expecting it to go one way and yet expanding it so much more, and that's the only way I think I can explain the way I felt reading this book. It's been so long since I've enjoyed a fantasy series this much, and a series in general to be honest, and it's so fun to experinece. 

I love the way Kuang keeps on introducing a truly enjoyable (and at times hilarious) story while keeping in tact the absolutely horrifying reality of war it protrays. The Dragon Republic is about a country trying something new after a shattering war, realizing how corrupt power is and can make you, and how much loyality weighs. 

The truly strongest aspect of this book is how precise it is. It’s clear it was planned and the execution is near perfect. While reading this book I remember noting how it’s so rare to find a book where each and every word has so much meaning to the overarching story. 

Also, I never thought introducing Christians and white people to a fantasy book set in China inspired by the Opium Wars would work so well but it does???? I'm in absolute awe of the Christian storyline to be honest. I think a big part of why it works so well is everything we experienced of Christians throughout history (and this is not to bash Chistianity, more of how Christian white people took control of the world and never let go throughout history) and the absolutely terrifying hold they had of so much of the world. It may also be just great writing, who knows.

Another thing that's so important to note when discussing this book is the relationships between humans in this book. These relationships (between Rin and Kitay, Rin and Nezah, Rin and Venka, Rin and Viasra, etc.) are what supports this story so well. The worldbuilding and expansion is done so well, but what makes this story work THIS WELL, and leave such an impact are these relationships. They are what makes this story hit, or pack a punch if you will. 

So, because I don't want to go too much into the details and accidentally spoil The Burning God, I'll end this review by saying that this series is just truly one of the best I've read and it's so worth it. However it isn't worth it if these CWs are triggering and or damaging for you. Anyway, great book, love Rin and Kitay's relationship with all my heart. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Violence, War, Rape, Grief, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Racism, Genocide, Drug use, Abortion, Classism, Gore, Medical trauma, Self harm, and Drug abuse

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

The book is quite strong for much of it. However, in the tail end with excessive large battle scenes you lose a lot of the excellent character dynamics of more one on one battles, conversations and interrogation scenes that are Kuang’s strong suit. The Dragon Republic is strongest when focused on character dynamics in the face of the greater war politics. The inequalities and bigotries shown by different groups is quite prevalent throughout the book. Rin’s self hate toward her ethnicity is quite apparent through the narrative too. The book does a really good job of showing that all supposed great leaders ultimately have selfish interests. Some of the added backstory elements are really intriguing. The real life historical background references are very apparent if you know your stuff but it’s also got enough of a veneer of fictionalizing if you don’t. This middle book is a slight step back from “The Poppy War” but not by much and it’s mostly due to pacing hiccups. Please note the role that alcohol and drug use plays in the narrative if you are sensitive to such content. There’s a lot of it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Alcohol, Body horror, Body shaming, Classism, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Blood, Bullying, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and War

lynneliu's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Racism, Addiction, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Religious bigotry, War, Xenophobia, and Torture

Moderate: Injury/injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Abandonment, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Medical trauma

Minor: Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

fedekanejbrainrot's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

my favourite book in the series, loved the plot, the themes, the characters and relationships growth, and that last 3 chapters?  illegal

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Abandonment, Body horror, Blood, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Torture, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Drug use, Genocide, Racism, Trafficking, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

being_stupid's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

I have a love hate relationship with Rin, she's really well written. Like she has some kind of growth but refuse to reflect and stay really easy to manipulate due to her stubbornness. She's so full of herself that she refuses to believe she's wrong while simultaneously hating every part of her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Genocide, Sexual assault, War, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Blood, Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Abandonment, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Sexism

Moderate: Xenophobia and Slavery

cemeterygay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Self harm, Violence, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Torture, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Murder, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Xenophobia, and War

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Cannibalism

Additional CW: Scientific racism, Christian imperialism, and colorism