Scan barcode
katiemontour'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
4.5
PERIODT
rinezha so doomed by the narrative
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Rape, Self harm, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
meg_'s review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
seasoledad's review against another edition
- 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 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
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
thehannahclaire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Miscarriage, Torture, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
queensplay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm disappointed that Rin didn't have her powers until more then half-way. I was really looking forward to see her at her peak, and then she lost her powers.
I also didn't like that she was under the command of someone. I guess I'm used to mcs being their own people, but it especially didn't feel right with her. The only good thing Vaisra did was get her off of the opium, but other then that, for the longest time I didn't know if he was good. And if he was, I was really hoping that Rin could trust someone other then Kitay. But Rin is her own person, she deserves her own command, deserves to do what she wants. I hope she gets that in the next book.
But her and Kitay are amazing together. He is amazing.
Ok.
Let me tell you - since the first book, I have been ROOTING for Nezha and Rin. Like, full on kicking my feet whenever they smile at each other. I loved them so much, and I know they loved each other. There were so so many scenes of them in this book. I could read and reread and reread their scenes together. I'm a slowburn girl, and this hits. Perfectly.
I really want to be mad at him. I really do. But it also doesn't feel like him. Because after all he did for her, for him to go and ruin it, it seems like something else is at play. And he tried to warn Rin before, so I'm sure he knew that Vaisra was bad. So why would he do that? And THEN let them go?? Something isn't adding up.
Don't talk to me about Suni and Baji. Don't. Talk. To. Me. Damn it, Kaung, why would you do that???Why would you break my heart like that??
What hurts so much, is that Suni was the complete opposite of his god. His god was to be big, strong, powerful and break things, and then Suni is this quiet, kind guy. I feel like he always tried to be different from his god on purpose, because he didn't want people to think he lost control. That's what gets me - he tried so hard. He tried so hard to fight his god, so hard to be the opposite of his god, tried so hard so that when people looked at him, they saw him, not his god (I could be wrong, but that's how i interpreted it). And at the end, people only saw him for his god. And they killed him for it. Damn it damn it.
I just can't get over the paragraph: "Four staggered shots punctuated the air. Baji's body jerked from side to side in a horrible dance with each bullet..." That scene. That paragraph. I can't get it out of my head. And Rin had to watch.
And then, like that wasn't enough, Kuang had to hit me with Ramsa. Like I wasn't already broken already. He sacrificed himself for Rin. He died for Rin. Because apparently Suni and Baji weren't enough.
There's a hashtag on tiktok that sums up this story perfectly: #rfkuangwillpayformytherapy
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
kp_reads_in_the_dark's review against another edition
- 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
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
potatolord's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
gabicaldas'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
4.75
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
- 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
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).
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
ringofkeyz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Rape, Torture, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Miscarriage and Slavery