katastrophi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Colonisation
Moderate: Gore, Vomit, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Sexism, Stalking, Slavery, and Child death
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Infidelity
marigold_faye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Moderate: Miscarriage, Infertility, Murder, Death, Gun violence, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, Incest, and Child death
kikicochrane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Spoiler content below, includes end of book mentions.
Spoiler
While I agree with the other reviewers about being taken aback by the sibling romanticism and sexualization, by the end of the novel I came to understand that out of the main five characters, each had a pair. Ji Lin & Shin being step siblings but born on the same day, Ren & Yi being twins, Dr. William Acton & Lydia bearing the same Confucius virtue name. There were multiple warnings in the book that described that they each had something negative to watch out for within one another. Shin's possessiveness and indecency are the opposite of the integrity he is supposed to have given his assigned virtue. Ji Lin represents good behavior, her having romantic and jealous thoughts about her step-brother are opposite characteristics to that virtue. Knowing that they all had a flaw that could impact one another made me connect the dots to why Choo added this romance in detail. While I don't agree with pursuing a step sibling romantically, I understand why these characters developed those feelings with one another.Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Incest, Death of parent, and Sexual content
juliamb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Infidelity, and Murder