Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

374 reviews

theshanana's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Minor: Child death and Forced institutionalization

sierraclimbs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I did not enjoy the first half of this book. It was just the same thing over, and over, and over. War, war, war. I was honestly confused a few times wondering “how could we possibly have moved on so fast to battle just to have the same conflict in a slightly different context” 
But for a second book, overall it was quite good. I’m feeling more & more attached to these flawed characters. Again, very Game of Thrones esque.

You also need to be careful getting attached to characters… like in Game of Thrones

There was also a kinda sorta enemies to lovers thing going on that I loved! It’s refreshing to read something where romance isn’t the primary focus, not even the secondary focus, but is still acknowledged.
I’m so interested to see how this story ends…

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Slavery, Vomit, and Alcohol

If you’re here, presumably you’ve read the first book. I would say this second book has moments where it is harsher than the first… more graphic. But if you were able to handle the first book, you should be fine.

adisiki's review against another edition

5.0

So good!!!!!!!!! I’m so obsessed with Rin’s journey, her friendship with Kitay is so sweet and her complicated relationship with Nezha is so well-done. The writing is so good, the pacing was great in this one, there was a never a dull moment for how long it is, and I can’t wait to see how the series wraps up. This story brings out such strong feelings in me, the racism and religious zealotry of the Hesperians is so real and parallels to our real world in a sickening, sad way.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Gore, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War

voypel's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny medium-paced

• 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

4.75

Summary:
The Dragon Republic is a great military fantasy sequel of „The Poppy War“. Decidedly less explicit but just as dark and full of strong character development, it draws not only a compelling fantasy story, but also a twisting caricature of past and modern history. If you liked the first part, you will probably also enjoy this. Rebecca Kuang  kept her enthralling and merciless writing style, leaving one reeling after the read.
.25 were docked for some strange pacing and interrelation in the middle part.

Storytelling & Characters:
This book has even more of the cold tactical realities the first book already employed, making this even more into a military fantasy. The  change between withdrawn top down perspective during tactical meetings and close reality of the strong characters is really well executed.
I loved the character developments

especially Venka and Nezha, these two are so strong. I never read a kinda enemies to lovers/friends as good and realistic as Rin and Nezha.

, and after losing herself completely in the first book, this one focusses on Rin trying to find herself and a sense of living. Also, I always respect seamless introduction of new important characters and the killing off of liked ones.

Pacing:
Really good pacing, plotwise more medium fast, but the tension points are placed so well that you basically can’t lay it down.

Tldr:
Good book, please read it. Equally ruthless and dark as the first one but not es explicit, it catches you completely.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Racism and Rape

anitaboeira's review against another edition

4.5

It's gritty. But it's also better fantasy world building and plotting and characters than Martin and Jordan could even dream of. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Suicide attempt

margarcia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

pettypierrot's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, and War

cryptofauna's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

i didn't like it as much as the first one but it was still decent! 
i am generally not a fan of a protag whos just a downer (and i hate self loathing in first person especially) so that was kind of a drawback of this book. her grief and anger were all valid which made it more bearable to read but still just not my favorite ever. 
interesting plot and twists but just generally didn't feel that enthused because its so much of rin just being a problem and being manipulated by ever military man whos ever met her. its like her main flaw, and wasn't terrible but she just makes the same mistakes over and over which was a little frustrating. 
i liked the characters and stuff and the writing as always is very strong. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Self harm

leonief's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad fast-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, and War

syddey_syd's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

3.75

BRUTAL. 

Kuang has the ability to keep me on my toes with this series. I never knew what was coming next, but I did always know it wouldn’t be good. 

Rin is a difficult character to like (in my opinion). Her decisions often baffle me, but they fit her character. The brutality of war is very manifest in this book; possibly a little less graphic than the first, but not by much. Racism, classicism, sexism—all of the isms are present. It made for a ponderous read, and I often had to take breaks because the subject matter was so heavy. 

In terms of moving along the series, this was a fitting sequel to the first book. Rin had some character development, Nikara politics thicken, and even more outside forces come into play. I’m very interested to see how Kuang ties up the series. Reading is like watching a train wreck—it’s terrible and messy, but I can’t seem to look away. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Gore, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Rape