Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho

14 reviews

abarnakwn_ourcolourfulpages's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War

a2_rache11's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Deadnaming, Murder, Outing, and Colonisation

Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Religious bigotry, and Classism

odunayo_y's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

3.75

Short and sweet. An entertaining Wuxia inspired adventure story. I appreciated the casual queer representation. Major kudos for the transmasc-spectrum character to be older and stocky. 

The conflict resolution was strange. It was a bit convenient how everything wrapped up but i would not say it was convoluted. 

The little bits of worldbuilding were delightful. The Goddess’s Five Fingers was such a cool magic system a shame it only made an appearance towards the end of the book.

One major issue I had was the dialogue. One moment the characters will speak in a period appropriate manner the next it was joss whedon like millennial humor. Not only do I despise millennial cringe speak the tone was just off. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, and Colonisation

Minor: Xenophobia and War

blacksphinx's review

adventurous funny medium-paced

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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and War

Minor: Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

You know that thing that happens sometimes as a woman where you make it very clear to a man that you will not have sex with him, and he says that's fine and he understands? And then later reveals he's been seething with resentment this entire time about it, and accuses you of sleeping around with other men, and shows that your friendship means nothing to him because you won't have sex with him? Yeah. "Found family" book my ass.

chalkletters's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

2.25

In addition to being a book club book, The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water was recommended on a list of queer heist novels. I’m glad I read it for book club, and not as a fan of heists, because it’s really notwhat I want from that description. There are bandits, yes, and (debatably) stolen treasure and negotiations, but little of this is the result of forethought or organisation. 

Putting aside heist-y expectations, Zen Cho’s world-building is lovely. The religious Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water has a great name, and the details about the goddess and her followers are spread through the story, building up a background which feels significant and convincing. Without giving anything away, the religion-specific compliments and treasures were a really nice touch. 

Zen Cho’s pacing worked well, until the very end, which felt a little abrupt. While there had been hints about the relationships between different characters, these didn’t really have enough time to build before they were suddenly impacting the plot in surprisingly big ways. To a reader used to enjoying novellas, this might not be a problem, but in comparison to a full-length novel it felt somewhat light. While the prose of The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water didn’t stand out, it was pleasant enough, and a longer novel would be enjoyable.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence and Murder

Minor: Death, Abortion, and War

emily_mh's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

The shining star of this book is definitely the MC, Tet Sang. His narrative voice and internal world were great to follow as a reader. I also thought that the world-building was fantastic, especially considering that this is a novella. However, something about this read fell short for me overall. I think it either needed more plot tension, or more character development. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Deadnaming, and Transphobia

Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor warnings for gambling, theft, loss of a loved one, menstruation, deportation, capital punishment, bestiality. Moderate warning for mass death.

literaryliaisons's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and War

Minor: Deadnaming

thereaderfriend's review

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

Wish that there were some more explanations of things and explorations or characters. Plot was consistent, I liked that. Enjoyed that Guet Imm was a guide to one of the bandits (arguably should be called rebels). Discussed many topics well. I enjoyed it. Liked the spiritual and fantastical elements and how it was a side of the story, not the focal one.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Genocide and War

aardwyrm's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Skillfully sketched, immersive world in a slim volume, which is always nice, drawing on both real-world parallels and genre staples to do the lifting and really focus on the delightful characters. When you have a band of guys (soldiers, actors, office employees, whatever) it's very easy for all but the main ones to become a morass, but all the goofy secondary bandit guys have character of their own and help the leads really sparkle. Asks hard questions and doesn't really answer them. Cool martial arts action. Excellent time all around.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War

lacee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Genocide, Sexual content, Blood, and War