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652 reviews by:
abby_ace_of_books
The first time I finished this series, I was shocked. The second time I finished it, I was twice as devastated.
As the final book in the Poppy War trilogy, The Burning God acts as a stunning conclusion to what has to be one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. I think it was better on a second read-through because knowing what would happen only made the themes so much stronger. It's gonna take me a while to recover again (if it's even possible to "get over" this series).
Following the betrayal of the Yin family, Rin has decided to gather her own army to fight the Republic and their Hesperian allies. With Rin now in a position of power, the dynamics from the previous books have changed drastically. While I think this is the best book of the series thematically and in terms of endings, I think the events in the middle drag a bit more pacing-wise, but that's kind of the point. Still, the style of the writing kept me intrigued, and, like I said, the whole storyline is just so powerful, and it hurts way too much.
The characters in this book are not the same ones we met in the first book. The character arcs of Rin's peers from Sinegard are intriguing and wonderfully well-written. I love seeing Rin grow into her role as a leader and face the consequences of her actions. I love seeing Nezha's internal struggle with who he is and where he's from versus what the colonizers want him to be. I'm glad Venka was more relevant, and I love seeing her companionship with Rin (they're chaotic together, and it's great). Kitay and Rin's friendship is probably my favorite platonic friendship ever. I love seeing how characters from previous books continue to haunt the narrative while new characters are also introduced.
The Burning God is the epic conclusion to the Poppy War series, and I implore all fantasy fans to pick it up immediately.
4.75/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
R. F. Kuang, you owe me for the therapy I will inevitably need.
If I hadn't read this book on my phone, spines would've been snapped.
Spoiler
"...because Rin and Kitay were bonded in a way that he could never understand, and there was no world where Rin died and Kitay remained alive. Because Kitay - the third party, the in-between, the weight that tipped the scale - had chosen to follow Rin into the afterlife and to leave Nezha behind. Alone."
Just thought I'd share one of my favorite quotes from this series.
As the final book in the Poppy War trilogy, The Burning God acts as a stunning conclusion to what has to be one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. I think it was better on a second read-through because knowing what would happen only made the themes so much stronger. It's gonna take me a while to recover again (if it's even possible to "get over" this series).
Following the betrayal of the Yin family, Rin has decided to gather her own army to fight the Republic and their Hesperian allies. With Rin now in a position of power, the dynamics from the previous books have changed drastically. While I think this is the best book of the series thematically and in terms of endings, I think the events in the middle drag a bit more pacing-wise, but that's kind of the point. Still, the style of the writing kept me intrigued, and, like I said, the whole storyline is just so powerful, and it hurts way too much.
The characters in this book are not the same ones we met in the first book. The character arcs of Rin's peers from Sinegard are intriguing and wonderfully well-written. I love seeing Rin grow into her role as a leader and face the consequences of her actions. I love seeing Nezha's internal struggle with who he is and where he's from versus what the colonizers want him to be. I'm glad Venka was more relevant, and I love seeing her companionship with Rin (they're chaotic together, and it's great). Kitay and Rin's friendship is probably my favorite platonic friendship ever. I love seeing how characters from previous books continue to haunt the narrative while new characters are also introduced.
The Burning God is the epic conclusion to the Poppy War series, and I implore all fantasy fans to pick it up immediately.
4.75/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
R. F. Kuang, you owe me for the therapy I will inevitably need.
If I hadn't read this book on my phone, spines would've been snapped.
Spoiler
"...because Rin and Kitay were bonded in a way that he could never understand, and there was no world where Rin died and Kitay remained alive. Because Kitay - the third party, the in-between, the weight that tipped the scale - had chosen to follow Rin into the afterlife and to leave Nezha behind. Alone."
Just thought I'd share one of my favorite quotes from this series.
Was it great? Not exactly, but I'll do anything to fill the hole in my heart that was left by BBC's Merlin .
I have three words: shapeshifter murder mystery.
I first read Empire of Exiles last summer, but with the sequel on my ARC list, I decided it's time for a reread. Everyone say hello to the book that got me into fantasy mysteries as a genre. I think a part of me forgot how complex and crazy this book is.
At the basics, it's a murder mystery...except we watch the murder happen. The issue? Shapeshifters and mind control (two of my favorite things in books). I love the concept of this book so much. Admittedly, the two maps and six pages of important characters plus three or so chapters of worldbuilding are a bit daunting, but once you get into the story, it's paced quite quickly and the ending is amazing. I literally didn't want to put it down (and my roommate can attest to that).
And if that weren't enticing enough, found family and multiple POVs completely seal the deal. Quill and his POV were probably my favorite just because I felt bad for him (he's so precious) and he was always in danger for something he didn't do. Yinii really grew on me this time and I like her character design. Amadea is also super neat and her backstory combined with her personality makes her a favorite adult character of mine. Richa, too, was super cool and I hope he joins the found family in the next book. Of the remaining side characters, I liked pretty much all of them except for Ibramo, just because we didn't get enough info on him for me to trust him.
I am so excited for the sequel, and all I'm saying is that if you like fantasy mysteries or you're looking to try out a new genre, Empire of Exiles is so freaking cool.
4.5/5
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Fantasy meets murder mystery as a found family of scholars try to solve a whodunnit? Sign me up!
I'll admit that the first few chapters were daunting and I found myself questioning why I'd wanted to read this so badly by chapter five, but then the plot picked up the pace and after that, it became a constant stream of twists and turns.
It felt like a mix of The Gilded Wolves and Strange the Dreamer, but with its own unique twist.
Definitely worth a read for anyone interested in a mystery story with fantasy elements (with a found family as bonus)!
I first read Empire of Exiles last summer, but with the sequel on my ARC list, I decided it's time for a reread. Everyone say hello to the book that got me into fantasy mysteries as a genre. I think a part of me forgot how complex and crazy this book is.
At the basics, it's a murder mystery...except we watch the murder happen. The issue? Shapeshifters and mind control (two of my favorite things in books). I love the concept of this book so much. Admittedly, the two maps and six pages of important characters plus three or so chapters of worldbuilding are a bit daunting, but once you get into the story, it's paced quite quickly and the ending is amazing. I literally didn't want to put it down (and my roommate can attest to that).
And if that weren't enticing enough, found family and multiple POVs completely seal the deal. Quill and his POV were probably my favorite just because I felt bad for him (he's so precious) and he was always in danger for something he didn't do. Yinii really grew on me this time and I like her character design. Amadea is also super neat and her backstory combined with her personality makes her a favorite adult character of mine. Richa, too, was super cool and I hope he joins the found family in the next book. Of the remaining side characters, I liked pretty much all of them except for Ibramo, just because we didn't get enough info on him for me to trust him.
I am so excited for the sequel, and all I'm saying is that if you like fantasy mysteries or you're looking to try out a new genre, Empire of Exiles is so freaking cool.
4.5/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fantasy meets murder mystery as a found family of scholars try to solve a whodunnit? Sign me up!
I'll admit that the first few chapters were daunting and I found myself questioning why I'd wanted to read this so badly by chapter five, but then the plot picked up the pace and after that, it became a constant stream of twists and turns.
It felt like a mix of The Gilded Wolves and Strange the Dreamer, but with its own unique twist.
Definitely worth a read for anyone interested in a mystery story with fantasy elements (with a found family as bonus)!
All I've learned from dark academia is that you should never, ever join a secret college society (especially if it's filled with super smart kids that study the "classics" or have an interest in the occult).
This is probably one of my favorite fairytale retellings of all time for no reason other than I love Briar Rose and Fi and you can fight me on that.
To be quite honest, I find the marketing a bit misleading for Sons of Liberty. It's compared to Six of Crows and Red Queen, and while I think it has elements of both, to compare it to those books does this one a disfavor because Sons of Liberty is so much more than a heist with some magic thrown in.
The characters are definitely the highlight of the story. I didn't know it was multiple POV until I started reading it and was pleasantly surprised. Hamilton was my favorite character, but I liked them all (and I can't wait to see them truly develop in book two).
Definitely worth a read for anyone looking for a fantasy heist novel with hints of a revolution!
The characters are definitely the highlight of the story. I didn't know it was multiple POV until I started reading it and was pleasantly surprised. Hamilton was my favorite character, but I liked them all (and I can't wait to see them truly develop in book two).
Definitely worth a read for anyone looking for a fantasy heist novel with hints of a revolution!
Why does the main character have so many similarities with my best friend? Is it a sign that my friend is going to fall in love with a prince? Does that make me Bonner or Signe?
Every time I think I'm over my dragon phase, I find a book like this.
Spoiler
Why did Shadow have to die? Why? Don't kill baby dragons!
I will never not enjoy mind-control books...
Spoiler
and you can pry the "mind-controlled friends fight each other" trope from my cold, dead hands. Justice for Dal and Signe.
*sighs and adds Shen Lo to the list of fictional characters too good to be real*