My ass cheeks were clenched.  Have you ever wanted to be stabbed by a book? If so, just read anything by R. F. Kuang. This is a cut throat satire about the publishing industry. This book is as humorous as it is brutal. I HATED every single character in this book with a passion that could win wars, but I could not put it down. It hits on incredibly hard topics about racism, artistry, and recognition while simultaneously giving us one of the most tense plots ever written. When I finished this book I realized I was holding my breath the entire time.