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julesadventurezone'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Minor: Body shaming, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Medical content
le_mur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria
bibliomania_express'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail
tbd24's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail
cheye13'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? No
5.0
I also don't think this book was pitched to me correctly. "A fantasy Mulan retelling" is very far from what this actually is. There's very little fantasy (more in the realm of magical realism) and the story is much more in the spirit of intricate political historical fiction. The book itself has a broader scope than just Zhu Chongba's perspective, and I found it riveting.
The nuanced depiction of gender identities as well as cultural identity in a period of colonization was expertly done. The physical proof of the Mandate of Heaven was an excellent choice and offered a significant thought exercise. The various sympathetic perspectives in war time made the story feel full and rounded. An expertly crafted piece of fiction. I plan to read the sequel in hopes that it lives up to its predecessor.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Genocide, Sexual content, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
numerous instances of amputation, including genitalstiernanhunter'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Genocide, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Classism
thewitchwhoisabook's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Grief, and Toxic friendship
jodean's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Excrement and Vomit
raeb'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
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Genocide, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Excrement, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
nicnevin's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism