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soapsoapsoap's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, War, Classism, and Deportation
christine_s's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Started a bit slow but it ramped up quick! Interesting world-building and magic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Gore, Blood, and Cultural appropriation
pacc's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
annmeyer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
a very violent, very strong, and very well-written story with phenomenal world-building and a powerful ending. i was not expecting this book to be what it was (it truly puts the dark in dark academia), but i was genuinely impressed by it — and had a hard time not devouring it all in one sitting.
m. l. wang uses fantasy, specifically through a corrupt magic system in an urban setting, to explore colonization and the tools used to establish and uphold it, including misogyny (especially in terms of limiting educational access, reproductive control, and the weaponization of white femininity), racism, fascism, classism, environmental destruction, religious extremism, and so on.
i think that in many ways this novel speaks to the real world we live in, particularly in terms of the violent oppression of indigenous peoples (such as in the case of Palestinians, now and ongoing for nearly a century), which is partly what makes it so impactful. it also poignantly explores the power of protests and how the machinations of society often feed on flesh and blood — as well as the mixed reactions of "common civilians" to those harsh realities. i also think there's something to be said about the role that violent uprisings and (the cycle of) martyrdom play in creating hope for change for future generations in this book.
[anyways, i'm always in favor of a guillotine renaissance]
i highlighted so many passages and took so many notes while reading, so i'm saving some that stuck out here:
- After all, the true nature of Blight fit with everything he already knew of Tiran: that the city was a monster built by takers for takers. ... Somewhere in his time playing mage’s assistant, he had forgotten what he was: not a citizen of this city, just flesh that it fed on.
- The path to God wasn’t laid for women like her. It was laid on their backs.
- “That’s your idea of a nice day out with your mother? Plotting the destruction of a government?” “Why? You have a more fun idea?”
- "Hell, if more men were like you, I might not be so…” “So what?” “Vehemently opposed to them.”
- But the Kwen didn’t stop coming. Why should they? Their ancestral land was ravaged, their kin Blighted, their future stolen. What did they have to lose? And who in the wide world could tell them to stand down?
- “I didn’t want the innocent people of Tiran to suffer. But that collapse out there”—she gestured to the rising sounds of chaos from beyond the gates—“That was the inevitable fate of a rotten city built on lies.”
- Each gear turned tidily into its neighbor in a soul-grinding system designed to sustain the men who had named the pieces and made them so: damsel, devil, servant, wife.
- “It’s what she wants,” Carra said softly but with certainty beyond her years. “You understand that, right? She wants to die sticking it to those men.” “How do you know?” “Trust me, Uncle. It’s a girl thing.”
m. l. wang uses fantasy, specifically through a corrupt magic system in an urban setting, to explore colonization and the tools used to establish and uphold it, including misogyny (especially in terms of limiting educational access, reproductive control, and the weaponization of white femininity), racism, fascism, classism, environmental destruction, religious extremism, and so on.
i think that in many ways this novel speaks to the real world we live in, particularly in terms of the violent oppression of indigenous peoples (such as in the case of Palestinians, now and ongoing for nearly a century), which is partly what makes it so impactful. it also poignantly explores the power of protests and how the machinations of society often feed on flesh and blood — as well as the mixed reactions of "common civilians" to those harsh realities. i also think there's something to be said about the role that violent uprisings and (the cycle of) martyrdom play in creating hope for change for future generations in this book.
[anyways, i'm always in favor of a guillotine renaissance]
i highlighted so many passages and took so many notes while reading, so i'm saving some that stuck out here:
- After all, the true nature of Blight fit with everything he already knew of Tiran: that the city was a monster built by takers for takers. ... Somewhere in his time playing mage’s assistant, he had forgotten what he was: not a citizen of this city, just flesh that it fed on.
- The path to God wasn’t laid for women like her. It was laid on their backs.
- “That’s your idea of a nice day out with your mother? Plotting the destruction of a government?” “Why? You have a more fun idea?”
- "Hell, if more men were like you, I might not be so…” “So what?” “Vehemently opposed to them.”
- But the Kwen didn’t stop coming. Why should they? Their ancestral land was ravaged, their kin Blighted, their future stolen. What did they have to lose? And who in the wide world could tell them to stand down?
- “I didn’t want the innocent people of Tiran to suffer. But that collapse out there”—she gestured to the rising sounds of chaos from beyond the gates—“That was the inevitable fate of a rotten city built on lies.”
- Each gear turned tidily into its neighbor in a soul-grinding system designed to sustain the men who had named the pieces and made them so: damsel, devil, servant, wife.
- “It’s what she wants,” Carra said softly but with certainty beyond her years. “You understand that, right? She wants to die sticking it to those men.” “How do you know?” “Trust me, Uncle. It’s a girl thing.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual violence and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Infertility
pretty graphic portrayals of death immediately in the first chaptersarahbooger's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
odunayo_y's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
experfectionist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
How far would you go to discover, and honor the truth, even if it meant upending everything you know about history and god, and what is right and wrong?
Although light on detailed intricate world-building (eg., The Fifth Season Game of Thrones, etc.), everything else about this dark academia fantasy from Sword of Kaigen author M.L. Wang is top notch and is a 5-star book for me. Character development and depth, dialog and banter, unique magic system and depth, plot and story pacing and writing are all excellent. It was a page-turner for me, addictive and fast-paced despite the length.
The story follows a talented and ambitious young female aspiring mage named Sciona as she becomes the first woman ever to be admitted into the High Magistry in an industrial utopia called Titan protected and fueled by a unique magic system similar to coding and programming. Facing challenges and bullying from most of her new male colleagues, she does as she has always had to do - work twice as hard to get half the recognition and overcome their assumptions about whether a woman is even fit or capable of being a High Mage.
Along the way she is assigned a janitor as her assistant as part of their cruelty, a man who escaped the harsh winterlands and vicious Blight that killed everyone he knew in their trek to find refuge in the magic-protected city of Titan.
As they work together on a special project to expand the magical bounds of the city, they start to uncover an ancient secret that could change things forever, if it doesn’t drive them mad or get them killed in the process.
I think opinions will be mixed on how "happy" or "hopeful" the ending is, but just like in real life, I think some things can be both happy and sad, hopeful and tragic, redemptive and heartbreaking and thought-provoking, all at the same time. The truth of the past, the truth about history, is rarely golden and blemish-free, and uncovering the truth about the past can often be uncomfortable. It's what we do with that knowledge that matters, if we accept the status quo, or choose to do something with the knowledge, that makes us who we are.
Notes about content and themes:
There is some graphic depictions of violence that are central to the plot and the overall core of the world and struggle between the protected civilization under the dome and the people they exploit for resources, with strong themes of patriarchy and misogyny, genocide, exploitation, racism and xenophobia, classism, religious supremacy and intolerance, and hints and allusions to imperialism, colonization, that are reminiscent of the dark past of western history. Romantic elements are not overt -- there are feelings and inklings of love between several key characters in a doomed forbidden romance, but no spice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism
mmiamuse's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book grabbed me by the lapels and held on TIGHT! While reading this, I was consumed by it. I could not stop thinking about this at work, while driving...while existing lol. The writing is phenomenal, the character development is flawless. You will be emotionally scarred after reading this. This is a solid dark academia/fantasy stand alone. The MC is a woman in her mid 20's and I LOVED that. It made the character more relatable to me because I am the same age as Sciona (the main character). This is definitely added to the list as one of my favorite books ever...along with The Sword of Kaigen. I think I have a new favorite author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
taylorreads17's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Rape and Suicide attempt
ambar1337's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Hate crime, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder