Gagged, addicted and never moving on from this. First page got me good even.

If I lose my memory make me read this again because it broke my heart, shattered my soul and played with my will to live and I adore it for it, it has chipped me into something better. 

I cannot fathom the love I grew for this book, I was hooked from the getgo. The immersive world building, the incredible war details, the mythology, the fantastic spin on fantasy. The strong as fuck characters, the hilarious banter. All dialogue really. The friendship. The storyline. Scenes you didn't know you needed. Scenes you didnt need. The diversity. The realism. The subtle love, platonic and not. The worship. The war. All the small details. I wanna scream because I can't contain the feelings this books gives me😭

Like cmon, gotta love this. I'm wildly obsessed with the way she just so casually would depict swear words without drawing extra attention to it, overusing it or seeming unprofessional.
Like the attitude on Rin

Unmatched, brutal, perfect. I will worship her to the world ends, my baby made no mistakes everyone must love her🙇 my love for her can't cover a whole book. You might already have a favourite FMC who's badass, I dare you, they would cower at her feet or worship (with all due respect)

Not to talk about this book carrying fame for female rage but this is so intricate it's more than female rage, it's for pure hatred, it's for war injuries, trauma, it's for lost childhoods, it's generational hatred from oppression and racism. It's so much more rage than that.

Credit is due where credit is needed and kuangs rent was due, boy did she create life. AND SHE WAS ONLY 19?!? As well is critic due where its needed. I do admit with a dreadful heart, that i got some pointers. But I don't love the book DESPITE it I love it FOR it.

I have seen a lot of reviews dashing the pacing, fast, then slow, in odd places, and it's fair, it got me looking like a ? 4 times out of 5, but I wasn't mad at it, just not prepared. And then ofc suddenly there was heavy war detail that I struggled through. (WORTH IT) I would say that knowing a bit about the Chinese history and/or mythology can give you a headstart and a deeper understanding that just leaves more pleasure. But it's not needed to follow.

Then I saw someone sh!tting on the love interests, or lack there of. "If tHeRe wAs suPpoSEd tO Be sOmEthinG beTwEEn X and Y or Y and Z then you fAiLed miSeRAbly" Buddy boy you failed miserably to follow the fuck!ng exquisite agony of the love put in those characters, the chaos we all live through. Love is not bound by smut or confessions, grow up lol

This truly is a grim book, and there is heavy details on rape, murder and torture if not worse. War isn't pretty and Kuang knew how to slap you with it and make you thank her because it was beautifully horrid. But even then, she magnificently made room for humour and lightness. Cool right?

The way she writes is as if a world of it's own, so unique yet far from. There would be scenes she describes differently than Ur generic book standing on Ur shelf, probably bought because of booktok. But it would be the same thing happening. Just pretty?
Like for example, small snippets of sections of just normal explanation caught me bewildered 

Like HELLO??? So casually dropping bars???? That wasn't even the point you're trying to make😭

Rin is powerful, she is fierce, she is everything. And this book was not something I prepared for. I doubt you ever can prepare for it. Like gulon niis???😧 Got me shook bro

I will take my last breath defending this book and I quote it daily. Cuz if Rin could manage all this? I can do whatever RAH