jelliestars'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? No
2.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Torture, Colonisation, Gun violence, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Murder, and Misogyny
Moderate: Gore, Torture, Child abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Classism, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, War, and Addiction
Minor: Child death, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Kidnapping, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Trafficking, Car accident, Genocide, Infidelity, Islamophobia, Vomit, Confinement, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, and Panic attacks/disorders
riverleafing's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Classism, Racial slurs, Racism, Emotional abuse, Violence, Death of parent, and Colonisation
audreading'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
5.0
Despite being about language and often delving into etymology, the book is in no way pretentious. It’s quite the opposite. Accessible literature is the key to liberation and Kuang shows us that with both the character’s journey and with the book itself. At times I did wish some footnotes were simply in the text above, as I lost my place every time I checked one. However, the footnotes did bring an even more intimate touch to the book and were sometimes helpful.
Spoiler
If I really scrape my brain to find anything not to like about the book, it is only in lack of setup for some key plot points. First, Letty. That witch. I’m not going to say I didn’t expect her to turn on them. Of course I did. But I felt it would have been more in character for her to simply turn them over to the police or call her dad and never show her face until the end. Killing Ramy??? (cried forever btw) I get she was in love with him, but she just doesn’t seem like she’d have it in her to directly do it. I mean that to say she’d take the cowardly way, but still betray them by turning them in. Even with that being said, I 100% agree with hammering in the point of the privileged white woman who will do anything to look like the victim while destroying others.The other part I felt needed a better setup was Robin and Victoire’s storm on Babel. It felt a little underwhelming and to be honest I don’t think so many people would be so easily convinced to go along with occupying the building, especially not Craft who we had never heard express discontent with Babel before, even though she knew everything they were doing. And I didn’t really get why they were so protected from the police. I know why they couldn’t kill them, but why couldn’t they enter the building? Not questioning the plot at ALL here. I think it’s so important to show strikers as the assets they are. Just commenting on some things I felt were a little confusing. All in all, these comments are just me coming up with the only tiny complaints I possibly could! The book is incredible!
Graphic: Violence, Classism, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Torture, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, War, Suicide, and Racism
Minor: Slavery
The list of content warnings seems long, but most of these things are tied intrinsically into the class themes in the book, on large scale and personal level. I’m very sensitive to triggering content and there were only a couple parts of the book that were hard to read. I try to include all content warnings to help people like me, but don’t be scared away from this book at all! Kuang handles everything in the best possible way.sarahhbo'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? Yes
5.0
Power could only be brought to heel by acts of defiance it could not ignore. With brute, unflinching force. With violence.
This book really spoke to every part of me. It was so well done.
Graphic: Suicide, Racism, and Violence
missmali's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Violence, Racial slurs, Suicide, Colonisation, Racism, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Bullying, Drug use, Death, and Sexism
fiagarrod96'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? No
4.25
Moderate: Violence, Death, Death of parent, Slavery, Murder, Racial slurs, and Sexism
mariavdl'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
3.5
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual harassment, War, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Racism, Misogyny, Slavery, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Suicide, Death of parent, and Grief
macykey'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Colonisation, Death, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Violence, and War
fluffyinsect'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Torture, Sexism, Murder, Gun violence, Slavery, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Misogyny, Grief, and Colonisation
Moderate: Classism and Blood
emily_zylstra02'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
4.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Bullying, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Blood, Emotional abuse, Classism, Slavery, and Racism