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hanloc's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Abortion, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
gbalcazar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
danae111's review against another edition
5.0
god i love this book so much. the writing alone was so eloquent that it hurt so bad at times to read. i felt reflected in many parts of it being a woman who is not perceived with womanhood and everything HURTS AHHH IM GOING TO MISS THIS SERIES UNTIL I RE READ IT EVENTUALLY TO HURT ALL OVER AGAIN.
adenevosirch's review against another edition
4.0
4.5*
how can a book so beautifully written be so depraved and heartbreaking
how can a book so beautifully written be so depraved and heartbreaking
eleanorfranzen's review against another edition
Loved this sequel to She Who Became the Sun—think queer medieval Chinese Game of Thrones with less gratuitousness (though, I would argue, just about as much violence). Although I was never really in doubt that Zhu, our hero(ine), would win the throne, Parker-Chan did sow quite a lot of uncertainty about how that would happen, and about how much of herself Zhu would have to lose or sacrifice along the way. Where Sun was about superior strategy and tactics on the battlefield, World is about who has the better strategy and tactics in “soft skills”: leadership, diplomacy, and manipulation. Effete administrator Bang Waoxiang and eunuch General Ouyang both make returns, each seeking vengeance to the point of losing all other sense of self. We also get a new point of view character, Madam Zhang, who is almost preternaturally good at consolidating power in the hands of the men she’s attached herself to, but who never realises that being subordinate to a powerful person isn’t power at all. It’s only Zhu who is able to hold in balance, or ignore, or integrate—depending on your perspective—the traditionally “male” and “female” roles of their society, and win through to (hopefully) make a better world. (Though Zhu is based on this historical figure, so I don’t want to count on it. Probably best that these books remain a duology.)
constantlyclumsy's review against another edition
3.0
Do you like watching terrible things happen to terrible people? Do you like your books to show you that terrible things can happen to people that make them sympathetic, but understand that this fact doesn't take away all of the awful things they've done? Well, this book may be for you then.
I mean, the book is well written. I wouldn't argue with anyone saying this is a 5* book. I just personally don't enjoy books whose entire point is to showcase the brutality of the world.
I mean, the book is well written. I wouldn't argue with anyone saying this is a 5* book. I just personally don't enjoy books whose entire point is to showcase the brutality of the world.
sarahhelmarr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
ririsou's review against another edition
5.0
une pépite !!
lu en 2 mois (pile) et pourtant j’ai pas vu le temps passer, tout était si bien !
je pense que je pourrais lire n’importe quoi de Shelley Parker-Chan, même sa liste de course, et quand même adorer !
c’est écrit avec une justesse impressionnante : on voit qu’elle connaît parfaitement l’aspect historique et qu’elle sait tenir son lectorat en haleine
tout est super bien rythmé (si on aime ce genre d’œuvre évidemment)
groooos point positif sur la psychologie des personnages qui est INCROYABLE
je suis triste de quitter ce beau monde et cette belle histoire <33
lu en 2 mois (pile) et pourtant j’ai pas vu le temps passer, tout était si bien !
je pense que je pourrais lire n’importe quoi de Shelley Parker-Chan, même sa liste de course, et quand même adorer !
c’est écrit avec une justesse impressionnante : on voit qu’elle connaît parfaitement l’aspect historique et qu’elle sait tenir son lectorat en haleine
tout est super bien rythmé (si on aime ce genre d’œuvre évidemment)
groooos point positif sur la psychologie des personnages qui est INCROYABLE
je suis triste de quitter ce beau monde et cette belle histoire <33
franklc29's review against another edition
5.0
I had trouble sleeping last night because I couldn't stop thinking about this book and, as I woke up this morning, I realized that the review I wrote last night, while I had a migraine, was woefully inadequate.
This book is a stunning achievement. Every single character is tragic (except maybe Zhu) and they somehow manage to be extraordinarily sympathetic beings despite the fact that they are, for the most part, awful monsters. Ouyang has let his myopic quest for revenge define his entire life. He has tortured, killed, and maimed to get what he needs. He killed the only person that ever loved him (and that he ever loved) to achieve his ends. Yet, despite all of it, he is one of the most tragic and sympathetic characters I've ever read. His ending is horrific. Does it make up for his crimes? Of course not but you can't help but be wrecked by his story. Baoxiang has turned the world's hatred of him into a weapon that he will use to destroy everything that has ever wronged him. Baoxiang plots, betrays, murders, tortures, etc. and yet he is maybe the most tragic character of them all. The author's ability to get me to care about and buy in with these characters that are true monsters is stunning.
This book, and this series, wrecked me. It is not an easy read. The characters are monsters, but monsters that you can't help but feel for. The world is bleak and awful yet it feels so real. I would not recommend this book to everyone because this is a difficult and, at times, painful read. Despite all of it I loved this book and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to live in this world and be with these characters.
This book is a stunning achievement. Every single character is tragic (except maybe Zhu) and they somehow manage to be extraordinarily sympathetic beings despite the fact that they are, for the most part, awful monsters. Ouyang has let his myopic quest for revenge define his entire life. He has tortured, killed, and maimed to get what he needs. He killed the only person that ever loved him (and that he ever loved) to achieve his ends. Yet, despite all of it, he is one of the most tragic and sympathetic characters I've ever read. His ending is horrific. Does it make up for his crimes? Of course not but you can't help but be wrecked by his story. Baoxiang has turned the world's hatred of him into a weapon that he will use to destroy everything that has ever wronged him. Baoxiang plots, betrays, murders, tortures, etc. and yet he is maybe the most tragic character of them all. The author's ability to get me to care about and buy in with these characters that are true monsters is stunning.
This book, and this series, wrecked me. It is not an easy read. The characters are monsters, but monsters that you can't help but feel for. The world is bleak and awful yet it feels so real. I would not recommend this book to everyone because this is a difficult and, at times, painful read. Despite all of it I loved this book and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to live in this world and be with these characters.