Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

10 reviews

emkir's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

“A horror story about loneliness in a fiercely competitive industry” is how this book should’ve been marketed because my god… what an insane story. I absolutely hated June and I know that’s the point. It reminded me both of black swan and white lotus, the way she goes insane but also only cares for herself. I kept thinking alternate things were going to happen but was thankful R.F. Kuang did not go those routes, because they were far too predictable!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Rape, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

willow1113's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Bullying, Gore, Rape, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol

sierrabowers's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I thought this book was okay. The narrator was not likable at all and I think that was the point. The main character was unspeakable in her racism, bigotry, and entitlement. It opened my eyes to a lot and I think the main idea that the author was trying to get across was crystal clear. I think after a while, I was just so tired of the main character that the book wasn’t enjoyable anymore, but I think it highlights real life. Some people are like her, and it is monstrous. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

bookswithlauren's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kimveach's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

It's such an interesting book.   I wish I could put this story's intriguing ideas and viewpoints into words.  I loved that the story is told from the perspective of the author who steals another's work.  It dragged a bit in the middle but otherwise was a quick read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

stephmcoakley's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

espookita's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

R. F. Kuang’s Yellowface is a biting commentary on white privilege, entitlement, cultural appropriation, and the publishing industry. It explores the inherently exploitative nature of writing as a whole, and digs into ethical questions regarding storytelling. It is fast-paced, compelling, and impossible to put down. Our narrator is a Karen caricature unable to resist doom scrolling on Twitter, and the many social media and pop culture references are somewhat jarring. While the sharp critique on both the industry and whiteness were valid, I found myself wishing more of the relationship between the narrator and the victim of her theft was more drawn out. I feel I am left with more questions than answers—especially about what it means to be friends with someone whom you both fear and admire. Worth the read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and War

Moderate: Genocide, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation

scifi_rat's review against another edition

tense fast-paced

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

2.5

Plot: 2.5★
Prose: 2.75★
Pace: 3★
Concept/Execution: 5★/1★
Characters: 2★
Worldbuilding: 4★
Ending: 1★

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Grief, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, and Murder

heonytwist's review against another edition

dark funny reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Gore and Violence

clairew97's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Well if there was one way to get me out of a reading slump it was picking up this book. Rebecca has done it again. I read the entire thing in one sitting, I could not put it down.

The main character is as insufferable and delusional as you would expect. Her justifications for her actions were wild to me, but I also believe that there are people out there who think like June does. 

The exploration of racism within the publishing industry and the insight into the industry was incredibly interesting. Also, the exploration into the online world as a writer was an interesting take. The ending took me completely by surprise and I was hooked.

A completely satirical look into the publishing world and life as an author, I don’t think anyone else could have handled the premise of this book quite as well. A complete 180 from Babel, so if you’re looking for that type of book again this is definitely not it. I can’t wait to see where R F Kuang goes next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism