A review by cassidyehm
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Rin’s path of destruction is unavoidable because of who she is. It’s like how Othello and Hamlet are doomed by the narrative because of their character traits, but would totally survive if they swapped stories. It’s a mark of a good writer where a protagonist can make judgements and choices that have me saying “girl WHAT are you DOING” without making me want to DNF the book. 

There are no heroes in this story (well, maybe Kitay). Only villains. I’m not sure if there’s a lesser of all the evils here. 

I do love how Rin is horrified when she sees her first Hesperian and immediately assumes they are monsters only to have someone more worldly than her say “girl no that is just what white people look like.” Might be the only funny part of what is otherwise a grim book. 

Oh, Fang Runin. What could you have grown into if you had a stable, peaceful upbringing? There’s only one more book in this series, it’s actually impossible that this will end well for her or anyone in her immediate vicinity. 
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