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lostnfern's review against another edition
3.0
WE. GET. IT. Altman Trengsin is dead!!!
This book was unnecessarily long. Also I felt the romance(ish?) between Rin & both Nezha and Altman was not needed and didn’t add value to the plot. Felt like an afterthought.
That said, I really like the world Kuang has built here and most of the characters. Really a 3.5
This book was unnecessarily long. Also I felt the romance(ish?) between Rin & both Nezha and Altman was not needed and didn’t add value to the plot. Felt like an afterthought.
That said, I really like the world Kuang has built here and most of the characters. Really a 3.5
thuyan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
aliciajuseyo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
nancyrachel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
squid_vicious's review against another edition
5.0
I’ll give it to R.F. Kuang: she keeps me on my toes. After reading “The Poppy War” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2399591844) and falling in love with her amazing world building and unique coming of age tale, I was very excited to get my hands on the follow up installment – and she did not disappoint.
Rin is still recovering from the events of the first book, grieving for Altan and trying to keep it together despite an increasingly severe addiction to opium. But she is not given much time to recover: the Dragon Warlord is preparing a coup to overthrow the Empress Su Daji, and Yin Vaisra wants her to join his army in the oncoming civil war. While this would be a perfect way for Rin to exact revenge on the Empress, there is a price: Vaisra relies on help from the Hesperians, who are interested in examining Rin to try and understand her power, but they have their own agenda.
It’s impossible to summarize the story further without spoiling it, but trust me, this book is incredibly action-packed, emotionally devastating and very impressive in scope. Kuang addresses all the ugly aspects of war: the physical suffering, but also the psychological trauma, the impact on civilian life, the fickleness of allegiances and the heartbreak of betrayal.
I don’t even really like Rin, but her story had me enthralled, and the world she lives in, a thinly disguised version of early twentieth century China, is built in impressive details. Kuang is not afraid to show all the brutality of combat, the ugliness of colonialism and the devastating effects of violence of the psyche of young people.
I’m already looking forward to the conclusion of this story - even if I know it will probably be heart-breaking. A unique fantasy series for readers who aren't faint of heart.
Rin is still recovering from the events of the first book, grieving for Altan and trying to keep it together despite an increasingly severe addiction to opium. But she is not given much time to recover: the Dragon Warlord is preparing a coup to overthrow the Empress Su Daji, and Yin Vaisra wants her to join his army in the oncoming civil war. While this would be a perfect way for Rin to exact revenge on the Empress, there is a price: Vaisra relies on help from the Hesperians, who are interested in examining Rin to try and understand her power, but they have their own agenda.
It’s impossible to summarize the story further without spoiling it, but trust me, this book is incredibly action-packed, emotionally devastating and very impressive in scope. Kuang addresses all the ugly aspects of war: the physical suffering, but also the psychological trauma, the impact on civilian life, the fickleness of allegiances and the heartbreak of betrayal.
I don’t even really like Rin, but her story had me enthralled, and the world she lives in, a thinly disguised version of early twentieth century China, is built in impressive details. Kuang is not afraid to show all the brutality of combat, the ugliness of colonialism and the devastating effects of violence of the psyche of young people.
I’m already looking forward to the conclusion of this story - even if I know it will probably be heart-breaking. A unique fantasy series for readers who aren't faint of heart.
mkmatheson's review against another edition
4.0
A humanist epic that explores the traumas inherent in all parts of war.
fsantoriello's review against another edition
I just fell off. Wasn’t holding my attention at this moment, but I’ll probably go back to it when I have more time to focus on it.
lenci's review against another edition
adventurous
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
yunooooo's review against another edition
5.0
Easily one of the best second book I have ever read in a series. So many actions, war, and betrayal.
And the ending really sets up for the last and final book.
There are so many scenes that I love and many dark scenes that i couldn’t bring myself to read. Really dark and violent and lots and lots of betrayals, lemme tell you that. Plot twist after plot twist. Like Damn!’
5 ⭐️
And the ending really sets up for the last and final book.
There are so many scenes that I love and many dark scenes that i couldn’t bring myself to read. Really dark and violent and lots and lots of betrayals, lemme tell you that. Plot twist after plot twist. Like Damn!’
5 ⭐️
tien_'s review against another edition
5.0
this isn't okay anymore i need miss rf kuang to pay my therapy bills, i looked crazy finishing this at school