Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Republika Smoka by R.F. Kuang

382 reviews

katiemontour's review against another edition

dark 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

4.5

they’re not the strongest force in the world,” she slammed her fist against the table. “i am.”

PERIODT

rinezha so doomed by the narrative

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Content Warnings

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

thehannahclaire's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

fe_fifi_fofum's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

THIS BOOK CRUSHED ME MORE THAN THE FIRST ONE.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

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.

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

ringofkeyz's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

lilac_rose's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.5

I hate everyone including the main character they are all terrible people. That's why this books was great really made me feel the hate and tried to make me understand the hate. Now for something light and fluffy cause jesus that was dark.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and War

Moderate: Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation

saturnsheart's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Violence, Religious bigotry, and War

Moderate: Rape and Self harm

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Torture

_selene2500_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional tense fast-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Torture, Blood, and Classism

Minor: Sexual violence and Abortion