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A review by natoriety
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
It has been a long time since I have read a trilogy that had me so utterly in its grasp and broke my heart so thoroughly.
The Burning God was a conclusion to Rin’s story and path to godhood with as much grandiose as she deserved. Still, I do believe an addition to the series from Nezha’s perspective after the events in the Burning God would suffice lovely and heal my broken heart even if by a bit!
As always Kuang did an amazing job keeping me entertained with each and every chapter while weaving complicating characters and their relationships with one another. The plot itself was beyond compelling and I would be mad to say that the ending didn’t make sense. Was it happy? No. Was it reasonable considering the situation and still slightly hopeful? Yes.
A detail I greatly enjoyed was the way that Kuang made me question whether Rin was going mad since almost the beginning of the book. A clear example of that was the question she so often asked herself: “What is wrong with me?” It might not have been conscious but I like to think she slowly saw herself descend into madness and caught herself a few times but ultimately failed to prevent it.
The deaths of Rin and Kitay were probably the most tragic moment in the book for me, second only to Nezha alone on the beach. The fact that Rin and Kitay had never before quarrelled to such a degree and still loved each other and sticked to one another until the end was just so heartbreaking. I loved seeing their friendship progress even if it had to end in such a tragedy. At the same time, seeing Nezha, alone on the beach, no father to guide him, no mother to scorn him, no siblings, no friends and no Rin, only a broken country to mend and a foreign force to exploit him, was at the same time somber and a tragedy of its own. I’d like to believe he paved happiness or a form of it for himself in the end but could never be sure. *cough cough* Kuang, please drop the book.
Overall, the Burning God was perfect in every way that mattered and I feel blessed to have had the chance to experience this world in such a way. I can only hope we get to see even more of it in the future!
The Burning God was a conclusion to Rin’s story and path to godhood with as much grandiose as she deserved. Still, I do believe an addition to the series from Nezha’s perspective after the events in the Burning God would suffice lovely and heal my broken heart even if by a bit!
As always Kuang did an amazing job keeping me entertained with each and every chapter while weaving complicating characters and their relationships with one another. The plot itself was beyond compelling and I would be mad to say that the ending didn’t make sense. Was it happy? No. Was it reasonable considering the situation and still slightly hopeful? Yes.
The deaths of Rin and Kitay were probably the most tragic moment in the book for me, second only to Nezha alone on the beach. The fact that Rin and Kitay had never before quarrelled to such a degree and still loved each other and sticked to one another until the end was just so heartbreaking. I loved seeing their friendship progress even if it had to end in such a tragedy. At the same time, seeing Nezha, alone on the beach, no father to guide him, no mother to scorn him, no siblings, no friends and no Rin, only a broken country to mend and a foreign force to exploit him, was at the same time somber and a tragedy of its own. I’d like to believe he paved happiness or a form of it for himself in the end but could never be sure. *cough cough* Kuang, please drop the book.
Overall, the Burning God was perfect in every way that mattered and I feel blessed to have had the chance to experience this world in such a way. I can only hope we get to see even more of it in the future!