Reviews

Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

awagnergaines's review

dark sad 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Murder, and Violence

thebookishbint's review

5.0

“In calligraphy, as in life, we do not retouch strokes, Master Wang often said. We must accept that what is done is done.”

I was not expecting to be such a heavy read but it was and it had me teary. I was not aware of the origin story of this book so that made things even more depressing. Daiyu is such resilient young girl that has to battle against so much of the issues that she experiences. Zhang beautifully writes in a way that you feel you are living with her, hoping that her next encounter with a person is a good one.

The writing was atmospheric and melodious to some extent especially with the way calligraphy plays such a huge role in it. As well as that, I have never heard about the persecutions that Chinese people has experienced in the 1880s in America. Subhanallah, there is just so much that we do not know and thankfully through works of literature like this, we can educate ourselves. Please read trigger warnings before reading as it deals with emotive topics.

athomehangel's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Murder

mcfarlse195's review against another edition

inspiring 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? No

5.0

klooneykanz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Death, Racial slurs, and Racism

wynnepei's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

yoorazan's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

matticatti's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-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? No

3.75

rebeccavpark's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, and Racism

iphigenie72's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative 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

4.5