Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

258 reviews

malwa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Rape, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Violence, Torture, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Racial slurs, Blood, and Abortion

rrio's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

i rushed through the last 150 pages at 2 am unable to put this book away and now i feel like i just ran a marathon i need to go for a walk i need to scream

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Body horror, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, War, Rape, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Death, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Medical content, and Sexual assault

janalg's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Rape, War, and Violence

Moderate: Colonisation, Confinement, Drug use, Sexual violence, Torture, Gore, and Murder

abhirupa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My god. I don’t even know where to start. At times I  wondered how RF Kuang could have come up with this plot and narrative but then I realized—the actual history of colonialism. The plot of this book is even more tightly wound than the last and all of the characters choices align perfectly with their motivations. There’s a crazy amount of tension sustained throughout the entire book, which is no small feat considering how much happens. Please don’t let the length of this series stop you from picking it up. I absolutely could not put it down and I am so so excited for The Burning God. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Genocide, Blood, War, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Rape

xuxy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Drug abuse, War, Addiction, Colonisation, Torture, Rape, and Genocide

emmagrace's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, War, and Violence

Moderate: Colonisation, Genocide, Drug abuse, Racism, Drug use, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Rape, Self harm, Blood, and Addiction

Minor: Vomit, Suicide, Torture, and Slavery

rinakei's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, War, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Racism

meliflowers'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

4.25

I started reading this book a year ago and only finished it now. 

Kuang does not spare details when describing horrific events and actions. It was really hard to get through the graphic writings about the substance use abuse and PTSD. But once I did, the story rapidly moved along. 

The trauma and pain of the characters aren't used as a prop for the story but are actually explored as consequences of war. Through the story, we explore the consequences of war to the mind and to the civilisation, how people with low socio economic status/ racial appearances are always exploited and sacrificed for the seemingly greater good and the role colonialism plays within war. 

I could go on an endless rant to talk about all the aspects of the story which Kuang has clearly constructed carefully and thoughtfully. Some parts of the story did feel redundant (I assume it's meant to be a basis for the next book) and repetitive, however. 

Regardless, it was still a really enjoyable book and although I want to start reading the next one immediately, for my own well-being I decided to wait it out a bit... 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Rape, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Addiction, Racism, Body horror, Abortion, Death, Classism, Alcoholism, and Murder

Moderate: Classism

It's a heavy book that describes the consequences of war graphically. I do believe it's a great and insightful read but do be warned of the topics aforementioned.

myk_yeah's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book kept me on the edge of my seat, so many twists and turns and it was a very exciting read. Somehow loved it even more than the first book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Murder, and Rape

Moderate: Torture, Racism, Self harm, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Body horror, and Abortion

Minor: Medical trauma and Colonisation

shalladin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Murder, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Violence, Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, War, and Torture