The Kingmaker By YouCanCallMeCorn Genre: fantasy, adult Content warnings: death, violence, slavery, racism, ethnic discrimination, colorism, classism, sexism, imperialism Description: “Kuroko Tetsuya hasn't experienced true freedom in years. But when Crown Prince Akashi Seijuro offers him an opportunity to break free from slavery, he knows he must take it. That is, if he makes Aomine Daiki, the cursed prince of their rival kingdom, a king.” If you have a Wattpad account and you haven’t read YouCanCallMeCorn’s fantasy novel The Kingmaker yet, then you should definitely get started! This novel, using the names of characters from the manga Kuroko no Basuke, is a compelling story that grapples with the intricacies of power among those who have it and those who do not, the complex effects of systemic discrimination on the psyche, as well as how love becomes complicated by and endures through all of these intricacies and suffering. While at the time of this review, only twenty-eight chapters are out, I still found myself gripped by everything I read. What I enjoyed: -The strength of this novel comes from its characters. Each character from main character Kuroko to his sworn brother Ogiwara to the three princes Kuroko encounters to the pirates, servants, and other officials we meet are portrayed in such a nuanced way that allows their strengths, weaknesses, and stories to really engage with the reader. I loved how YouCanCallMeCorn uses perspective to its full strength. The author expertly uses unreliable narration as well as the simple fact people can never know what another is truly thinking to their advantage. Throughout the novel, we are constantly only getting one perspective of a conversation or situation and this only further complexifies the characters and the story overall. By grounding itself in the complexities of its cast, The Kingmaker strengthens its worldbuilding, conflicts, and themes. -Additionally, by focusing much on the relationships between the characters, the novel highlights how uneven power dynamics due to slavery, imperialism, and discrimination along class and ethnic lines affects those with much and little social power and traps everyone within an abusive system. We see this both at a smaller scale within the castle Kuroko is enslaved within as well as through the legacy of the Northern Kingdoms’ imperialism in the south. By exhibiting these dynamics through character interactions and relationships, these vicious systems become more personal to the reader’s eye and therefore, more reminiscent of the real violent systems of racial, ethnic, and class discrimination in today’s world as well as their damaging psychological and interpersonal effects. -The fact this novel wrestles with so much complexity and pain, only makes the moments where it feels the characters are having a genuine connection matter even more. The love between Kuroko and Ogiwara was simultanously so heartwarming and so heartbreaking to read. I do not want to say much in order to allow future readers to come across this story on their own terms, but I truly loved reading about these boys’ relationship as they try to be together in a world that is cruel. What I thought could be better: -I found nothing major that kept me from reading this book. I will say, if you are looking for a fantasy adventure, you may want to keep in mind that this novel’s strength is in its characters and their relationships, so this book may come off as a little slow to you. Even so, I highly encourage you try this novel out. Additionally, keep in mind that you will see depictions of racism and classism that are not overtly challenged by the characters, yet, if you read more closely, are challenged through the overall themes of the novel. It is incredibly clear that YouCanCallMeCorn spent a lot of time and effort on their worldbuilding and thematic undertones and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to read this book. YouCanCallMeCorn’s The Kingmaker is a powerful read that masterfully tackles complex characters, situations, and themes and I highly recommend this novel to anyone that is looking for a fantasy novel that will really make you think.
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AboutI'm Darcy Hongyue, appreciating stories that whisk me away to new horizons. I mostly review fantasy and realistic fiction. They/them [Image Description: black background with the words "Social Justice and Mental Health Resources" in white in the center /end ID]
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