The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
aileron's review
- 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: Blood, Death, Sexual violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Grief, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Dysphoria, Ableism, Transphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexism, and Misogyny
Minor: Animal death, Excrement, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death of parent, and Slavery
madmadmaddymad'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
5.0
I really liked how this book had more villains, and more queer people, and more intense moments of wondering if the ones we’re rooting for are really doing the right thing after all. Can fate can be ours to make, or does Heaven have it all planned out from the start?
Ouyang was my favorite character in this book. I loved how trans the book felt when it was told from his point of view, and how he always awarded Zhu he/him pronouns. He’s problematic as heck but I sure love him. And I also loved the very deeply uncomfortable moments of masochism, where Zhu needed to help him ground himself. I was really rooting for these two to get along, and I felt so betrayed when Ouyang left because he didn’t believe Zhu could become Emperor!Â
The ending tied it all together nicely but I still hurt for the things we lost when Ouyang lost faith in her.Â
Graphic: Death, War, and Violence
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
Minor: Suicide, Torture, and Slavery
tiernanhunter'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: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Self harm, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Drug use, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Torture, Violence, War, Blood, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Body shaming, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship
samants'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
Take a shot every time you read:
- "Hungry ghosts"
- "Trotted"
- "Behatted"
- "Curious"
Also: I think I would have liked this more if the absolute psychological torment undergone by the characters wasn't described so lushly. The prose got a little purple at times, describing people's internal suffering. It was a bit much.
Graphic: Violence, Transphobia, Blood, Death, Dysphoria, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, War, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Rape, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Body horror
kristinallard'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
4.75
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Blood, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Death, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny, Slavery, Pregnancy, and War
bootrat'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
Graphic: Blood, Violence, War, Self harm, Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, Murder, Sexism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Miscarriage
readingelli'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: War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
missindyrose'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: Self harm, Misogyny, Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gore, and Blood
leonormsousa'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
3.0
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Sexual content, Abortion, Classism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Infidelity, Body horror, Grief, Self harm, Sexism, Gore, Sexual assault, War, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Slavery, and Violence
leanne_miron'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, Death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Self harm, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, War, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Ableism, Genocide, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
Minor: Animal cruelty