Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Im Zeichen der Mohnblume - Die Kaiserin by R.F. Kuang

329 reviews

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

5.0

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

elenikin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-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

Great sequel, and even better than the first book! I thought Rin really grew up in this book, and I enjoyed following her journey. The battles were really interesting and well written. The plot was well written, with many unexpected twists and turns! I am so looking forward to the last book of the trilogy! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and War

Moderate: Sexual violence

Minor: Abortion

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.

beingbeck's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

lindsaybethlyons's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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

5.0

Although very brutal and violent, I really like this series. Now that I’ve read almost all of R.F. Kuang’s books at this point, I can say she’s one of my favorite authors of all time! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Abortion

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

wylanslcve's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

oh this was truly phenomenal. with the poppy war already being so strong in so many aspects, I was admittedly a tad bit apprehensive going into the dragon republic as is usually the case whenever I start a sequel - however, it only took a single page for all traces of apprehension I felt prior to starting this to dissipate pretty much instantaneously.

in many ways, the dragon republic is a significant improvement from the poppy war, taking what was already one of the greatest fantasy books I've ever read and somehow going beyond that. any pacing issues I'd had with the first book were practically nonexistent in this instalment, and somehow the characterisation managed to stay as hard-hitting and intricate as it was in the first book. rin is such a fantastic protagonist in, and kuang handles her development from the first book (for better or for worse is up to you to decide), as well as her complicated relationship with altan, with such meticulous care, and not a day has gone by without me thinking about the progression of kitay's arc throughout this book. I've always had a soft spot for him, but the way kuang handled his progression from the boy we see in the poppy war to the hardened, furious version of him in the dragon republic is so incredibly devastating but oh so incredible.

even though this took me literal months to get through, the dragon republic is a fantastic and gut-wrenching sequel that will certainly stick with me for a while. I don't think I'm ready for what might unfold in the burning god (I'm preparing myself for the worst, but I have a feeling that isn't going to help much given kuang's track record).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Vomit, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Cultural appropriation

crystalsbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense 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

it’s been a long time since a book was capable of making me laugh, gasp and cry. r.f. kuang you’ve outdone yourself once again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

katina_liest's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.75

The pacing a bit slow, but the characters made up for it. 

Reading about Kitay, Venka and Nezha again felt like seeing old friends again! And I love the Cike!

(The ending broke my heart! Not Ramsa! :,( )

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and War