Welcome to Litsy!

My #10beforetheend stack
MOSTLY 2025 releases I was excited for but haven‘t gotten to. & I have to make some headway on RF Kuang‘s backlog since she‘ll be visiting my town‘s library in June next year. + 2 books I am most hoping to finish for #hauntedshelf

The Dragon Republic by R. F. Kuang. Rated 8,4/10

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚
What are you reading?
#boleybooks #thedragonrepublic #rfkuang #bookbeast #bookbuds #bookchat #libby #bookstagram

An utterly enthralling and dizzying story of plot twists and betrayal for the heroine. Rin escaped her poverty-stricken youth to become a soldier at the nation‘s military academy. When thrown into a war, she discovered a power that turned her into a weapon. As Rin learns a jaded lesson in the corruption of power, she finds herself slowly discovering a path for herself—a path where she controls her destiny rather than being a pawn in her own life.

Third checkout is a charm. I only have a quarter of the book left. Hopefully, life will settle enough for me to knock this one out in a couple of nights.

The first 60 % of the book was SLOW! In the last part it started to be easier to relate to characters but I still feel like they were lacking something.

With all these battles this was pretty ugly book.

This could have been shorter, even though I understand why some things were told in the beginning: they played some part later. I really enjoyed the last 40 % and especially some twists.

#SeriesLove23

A cozy spot for a book that‘s anything but…
The last 50 pages had me absolutely breathless! I was more immersed and engaged in this sequel than with The Poppy War because I really didn‘t know what was coming next. Dark, intense, and heroless as always, but a masterpiece of military and historical fantasy.

Finally, the hold came in.

#BookBinge Day 23: I really love the #SmokeOnCover vibe of the entire Poppy War trilogy. Paired with this decadent sweet from one of our fave Indian restaurants in Dubai.

#VolumesAndVocals Day 1: There is an #EdgeOfSeventeenStevieNicks feel to the Poppy trilogy since the main character is a petulant unsympathetic teenager who also happens to be unflappably and unapologetically brilliant. Our Arabic dessert looks delicious, doesn‘t it? 💕🥰😘

#MayMontage Day 15: This is just the #Authors2ndBook yet it is so hands down brilliant. RF Kuang is a literary gem filled with rage. Well at least her characters are.

This grimdark military fantasy will spare no one. Be prepared to dive into the darkest depths of war, and all the chaotic and tangled relationships that come along with it. Choosing a side isn‘t so easy when friends are on the opposite one. But war is war, and Rin will live up to her full potential as a deadly shaman no matter the costs.

Review https://www.behindthepages.org/post/the-dragon-republic-by-r-f-kuang-book-review

reading the #library while my son plays #china #war #gruesome

#MarchMagic Day 11: Tagged book is Goodreads Choice Award for fantasy (2019), while book on the right won Goodreads Choice Award for Fantasy (2020) - and not just #NominatedForGoodreadsAward - I think I will crack these babies open tonight. Because, hey, why not? 💕

Second in the Poppy War series and there‘s a lot of stuff going on in these books! I have a little bit of a hard time transitioning between events and got lost a couple of times but the book definitely keeps you on your toes. A little graphic at times but seeing as they are in the middle of a war that‘s to be expected. Its not knocking my socks off but I‘m intrigued to see how the third one finishes.

Another great book for the series! The cast was on point and the plot keeled me interested the entire time. Definitely a worthy sequel to the first book

This series is just one gut punch after the next. Rin is filled with so much rage and a thirst of revenge. She wants to see the world burn, no matter what it costs. Often, as a reader this is very hard to swallow.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

#TheDragonRepublic #RFKuang

42 of 2022. #Booked2022 #setinchina ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am absolutely reeling from the end of this book. I never thought I would like military fantasy quite so much as I've loved the Poppy War trilogy so far, but as the stakes keep rising for characters I've grown to...not exactly “love“ so much as know as if they were real people since book 1, this entry is setting the stage for something equal parts epic and horrible in the conclusion.

That said, shit, I need a breather. This one was exhausting.

When I wasn't reading this book all I could think about was reading it. When I was reading this book I lost all sense of time (which did make me late for work on one occasion 😅).

Haunted by the terrible choices she had to make to save her people, Rin's only reason for living is to take revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold her homeland to its enemies.

After all, making war is all she knows how to do...

I enjoyed this so much, I completed two puzzles to just keep listening. This is book 2 in The Poppy War trilogy, which is a dark fantasy inspired by 20th century Chinese history. It is brutal and action packed and excellent on audiobook. 5⭐️

So after the incredible first book in series I was looking forward to the next installment. Once again, the narrator (I listened to audiobook) did an amazing job handling the large cast. But for me, this book struggled with a bit of middle-book slump. Several events needed to occur and be explained, but for me, I found myself in turns either bored with the narrative or annoyed by Rin. The ending was super strong though and I will continue reading.

Good second book in trilogy. A little battle / war heavy for me. But I still love how Kuang melds the fantasy elements with real Asian history. And Ren is a flawed heroine for the ages!

Forgot to post this, so if want the full review, scroll down a bit at https://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2022

I recommend reading this series by a young woman that obviously thinks about things in a way that I would not expect from a young woman. I guess that probably says more about me than young women. It‘s just so violently imaginative that I just wouldn‘t expect it.

I was not prepared for that ending!!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2588937665?book_show_action=false&from_rev...

A soft pick. The beginning and ending were great but there‘s a good 200 pages in the middle that, because of a stupid plot point, really dragged and we‘re frankly boring and annoying. It‘s very hard to root for Rin in this book and I loved her in the first book. Hmm.

This book was painfully good. Rin is such a gray character. I don‘t actually like her, but I can‘t help but see the justice in the things she does. I can‘t wait to see how this ends.

THE DRAGON REPUBLIC by R.F. Kuang
Fascinating main villain. Got to love a good villain! 😈
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#bookreviews #reading #epicfantasy #NetGalley

Full review at: https://lostnagoodbook.wordpress.com/2021/08/13/the-dragon-republic/

This trilogy is amazing. Over 600 pages and never a dull moment. #mustread #highlyrecommend

Super in the fantasy mood rn- these are some of the books on my immediate tbr - especially shadow and bone which I want to reread before the show comes out!!

I enjoyed this one more then the first. That ending🤯 Now I have really high hopes for book 3.

I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new - don‘t judge me I have a lot of books.
Join the fun if you want. This is day 63.
#bookstoread
#tbrpile
#bookstagram

Finally finished this. Not quite exciting as the first, most of it slugged on, until the ending. Putting off the third for awhile until I finish some other two I have.

Cheerful! And I‘m only on PAGE NINE...

UPDATE : it has been clarified that the uniforms were washed, some more than once before wearing. However some smells linger.

I‘m trying to psych myself up to read my #BookSpin book but so far I‘ve only gotten as far as trying this chocolate (delicious! thanks again @Lyssa131330 - the raspberry and rose combo is 👌) and drinking some peppermint tea...

I was hoping to get this finished for #JoyousJanuary but I didn't realize how long the audiobook was!
This is a great sequel. The ending doesn't scream "I need the next book now!" And I'm not really following intense love I've seen for this series, but it is well done and really enjoyable

#bingo 3 and 4!!

#jumpstart2021 #Over500pages #bookspinbingo #seriesread2021 @Clwojick @Lizpixie @TheAromaofBooks @TheSpineView @Andrew65

Ok my lack of focus/reading slump has been hitting me really hard but this was excellent and am finally moving on to the Burning God.

I just started and am already angry at the binding in my copy, I don‘t have an ebook to switch back and forth from like The Poppy War, and it‘s the longest book In the series. I guess we‘ll see how this goes.

Found this sequel to the Poppy War yesterday. Just what my overfill brain needs to escape(I hope:)

Excellent book! I didn't think I could love it as much as the first one, but it's even better. 💚

I love the world building, the action, and the flawed characters fighting for change. Rin is mouthy and hot-headed and I get so engrossed wondering what she'll do next.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

I have zero coherent thoughts about this. I loved it. It was traumatizing. Why do I have to wait until November for the final book?

• The Dragon Republic, A Song Below Water, and Toil and Trouble
• Lore by Alexandra Bracken
• while browsing, yes - I‘m more likely to pick something up if the cover catches my eye

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

I‘m taking today off from school and my original plan had been to spend the day reading in the sun, but now it‘s raining. Currently curled under a blanket, ready to be emotionally devastated this 🥰

Characters don‘t have to be likable for you to like a book. However, Rin, for me, was incredibly annoying so it was hard to really care. I skimmed as much as read to get through this one. For all my annoyance, I kept reading though and didn‘t just toss it at the wall. For that, giving it a so-so rather than a pan or bail.

One of my new favorite series! This is book 2 in The Poppy Wars trilogy. If fantasy is your jam, this series is pretty epic! Woven with Asian historical context and folklore, and packed with action and complex characters. Recommend the audiobook production as well!

oh man, what a book! not only did Kuang fix a lot of the glaring pacing/structural issues that plagued the 1st book, she focused a lot of the plot on a bonkers game of page-turning political chess. not to mention the last 5 chapters or so doing a massive 180 story-wise while Rin tries to figure out where her alliances lie. this sequel improves so much over the first book, and I think the author was more in her writing element here.

My plans for the day. Eat and read. 😆🍲📚

While waiting to see if my classes will be cancel because of the pandemic. I'll be at home, as always, reading this brick.

All schools are close for 2 weeks where I live, so I doubt they'll keep Colleges open.

The two books that have my attention this week.

Now that I have all my books in hand.
Here is my TBR pile for the #Marchunshelfing #readathon .

I also have The Crown of Feathers and Ninth House, on the side. I needed a break from these books. I don't plan, so far, to finish them this week.