Reviews tagging 'Death'

Die Kaiserin by R.F. Kuang

576 reviews

kmart_ceo's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Honestly, I was kind of chugging along at the beginning of this book. I heard from a decent portion of people that this one was their favorite, and I felt like I was waiting for that to be proven true. Well, it certainly delivered.
This book was like a train picking up speed, faster and faster with no hope of breaking. All concluding with the most nail-biting, heart-wrenching, gasp-inducing last quarter of the book. 
To those who are about to start or have started but have lost momentum: PLEASE KEEP READING. 
This book left a beautiful set up for the finale, The Burning God. I’m ready for the tears. (No, I’m not.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Medical content and Medical trauma

Definitely look up the trigger warnings yourself. Take care of yourself while reading.

themoostconfused's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

katiemontour'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

4.5

they’re not the strongest force in the world,” she slammed her fist against the table. “i am.”

PERIODT

rinezha so doomed by the narrative

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Rape, Self harm, Grief, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

seasoledad's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

I’m blown away by this book, my god. This book is insanely dark, even more than the first book. 

I could write so many essays about this book. There’s so much to comment on. 

One thing I will comment on here: I adore the platonic love between Rin and Kitay T^T

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Chronic illness, Vomit, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

queensplay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

The beginning and the end of the book were really good, but the middle was slow. Its still a really good read regardless. 
I'm disappointed that Rin didn't have her powers until more then half-way. I was really looking forward to see her at her peak, and then she lost her powers. 
I also didn't like that she was under the command of someone. I guess I'm used to mcs being their own people, but it especially didn't feel right with her. The only good thing Vaisra did was get her off of the opium, but other then that, for the longest time I didn't know if he was good. And if he was, I was really hoping that Rin could trust someone other then Kitay. But Rin is her own person, she deserves her own command, deserves to do what she wants. I hope she gets that in the next book. 
But her and Kitay are amazing together. He is amazing. 
Ok. 
Let me tell you - since the first book, I have been ROOTING for Nezha and Rin. Like, full on kicking my feet whenever they smile at each other. I loved them so much, and I know they loved each other. There were so so many scenes of them in this book. I could read and reread and reread their scenes together. I'm a slowburn girl, and this hits. Perfectly. 

And thennnnn this fucking IDIOT goes and LITERALLY stabs her in the back. Like what?? You love her. Why would you do that? You were having a moment, you love each other. After everything you did? You called your god to save her, you protected her, and then you go and do this? 
I really want to be mad at him. I really do. But it also doesn't feel like him. Because after all he did for her, for him to go and ruin it, it seems like something else is at play. And he tried to warn Rin before, so I'm sure he knew that Vaisra was bad. So why would he do that? And THEN let them go?? Something isn't adding up.
Don't talk to me about Suni and Baji. Don't. Talk. To. Me. Damn it, Kaung, why would you do that???Why would you break my heart like that??
What hurts so much, is that Suni was the complete opposite of his god. His god was to be big, strong, powerful and break things, and then Suni is this quiet, kind guy. I feel like he always tried to be different from his god on purpose, because he didn't want people to think he lost control. That's what gets me - he tried so hard. He tried so hard to fight his god, so hard to be the opposite of his god, tried so hard so that when people looked at him, they saw him, not his god (I could be wrong, but that's how i interpreted it). And at the end, people only saw him for his god. And they killed him for it. Damn it damn it.
I just can't get over the paragraph: "Four staggered shots punctuated the air. Baji's body jerked from side to side in a horrible dance with each bullet..." That scene. That paragraph. I can't get it out of my head. And Rin had to watch. 
And then, like that wasn't enough, Kuang had to hit me with Ramsa. Like I wasn't already broken already. He sacrificed himself for Rin. He died for Rin. Because apparently Suni and Baji weren't enough.

There's a hashtag on tiktok that sums up this story perfectly: #rfkuangwillpayformytherapy

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

fe_fifi_fofum's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

THIS BOOK CRUSHED ME MORE THAN THE FIRST ONE.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

shelbyrodger's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-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

I haven’t cried so hard at a book ever and honestly that was rude and i have a lot more to say but i don’t think i can swear on this app so i won’t

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

pbevans's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

kp_reads_in_the_dark's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The Dragon Republic moved a little quicker in terms of timeline and action, which helped with the pace of the story. I appreciated how the various characters interacted more and had chances to develop, especially Kitay, Chaghan, Qara, and Venka. The battles continue to be graphic and heartbreaking. I have to also say that diving more into the domestic and international politics and history of this world is becoming more and more interesting. It all feels messy and unfair, which is kinda the point of this whole series, I'm thinking.

Actually, maybe the whole thing can be summed up by the quote (omen) "nothing lasts," as it says on the Red Cliffs...

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

I really began to hope for Nezha but, in the end, he really was what he always was - a spoiled aristocrat. Man, fuck that guy. I was so pissed, lol. Maybe there's a redemption arc coming in the last book, but at this point I've given up hope. Kuang seems to have zero qualms about "killing her darlings," so just beware (if the first book didn't teach you that already). As much as I am exasperated with Rin, I feel like I'm right there with her on the overwhelm, rage, confusion, and daddy issues 😂😭 my heart broke when Suni and Baki died; they did not deserve that death. And I already miss Ramsa. I feel batteree, but committed to see this through. I'm taking a few days, and then I'll start The Burning God.

gabicaldas's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.75

Que livro, meus amigos!! Novamente R F Kuang escreveu uma história incrível que me deixou em desespero praticamente o livro inteiro. Com MUITAS reviravoltas e perdas que não vou conseguir superar nem tão cedo, A República do Dragão consegue ser brutal, épica e realista ao mesmo tempo! Amei os paralelos com países e acontecimentos reais e a complexidade de uma guerra. A evolução do relacionamento de Rin consigo mesmas, com Altan e com Nezha pra mim foram os pontos altos do livro. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Colonisation