laughingkatana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Colonisation, Confinement, Rape, Violence, War, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, and Panic attacks/disorders
ewinnk'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: Cannibalism, Confinement, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Torture, War, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Murder, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Blood, Addiction, Grief, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
_justjess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Gore, Addiction, War, Classism, Physical abuse, and Torture
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Abortion, Alcohol, and Cannibalism
cantfindmybookmark'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
4.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Rape, War, Addiction, and Torture
Minor: Colonisation
loup'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
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Death, Blood, Abandonment, Torture, Sexual violence, Animal death, Alcohol, War, Violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Gore, Vomit, Genocide, and Police brutality
mpbookreviews'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: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Racism, Vomit, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Addiction, Animal death, Confinement, Classism, War, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
emilyyyread'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: War, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, Addiction, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Sexual assault, Murder, and Torture
icepoppy'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: Xenophobia, War, Genocide, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Religious bigotry and Rape
btrz7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Classism, Genocide, Grief, Islamophobia, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Death, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Rape and Religious bigotry
Minor: Abortion
thebookaholic'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
4.5
I started this a few days ago with the expectation of it taking at least a week or two to finish due to it's length and complexity, but I just finished it in my third sitting by reading 440 pages straight to the end because I didn't want to put it down (and also I was blessed with a day free of any and all responsibilities but still).
I did read the first 50 or so pages a few months ago and dnf'd it because I found it incredible hard to read at the time as I wasn't in the mood for how dark it was. But I picked it back up and found that although that first bit was genuinely hard to read due to the sheer intensity of heavy themes, particularly
Spoiler
Rin's opium addictionSpoiler
Rin & Kitay's renewed and grown friendship and ANCHOR BONDI am the opposite of a history buff, and in particular I am woefully uneducated on history outside of North America and Europe (thanks capitalistic white-centered education) so my knowledge of 20th century China is essentially non-existent. Due to that, there is a huge element of this book that I don't feel I can truly speak on, but I do want to mention that the perspective used and the way that historical elements are woven into this fantasy setting, and the unapologeticness in talking about the realities of war, class relations, race relations, geo-politics, and many other topics that are shied away from is incredibly commendable and I thank her for it because honestly, I probably wouldn't know a lot of this if it wasn't set out to me in this way as a starting point.
Overall, this book is simply an absolutely incredible adult fantasy and if you're interested in getting into something dark, gritty, and wholly complex from plot to characters to religion and other ever-unanswered questions, I highly recommend The Dragon Republic and I for one, cannot wait to read The Burning God to see where this story ends up.
Graphic: Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, War, Blood, and Classism