The summary of ‘Why was Silk Fire so bad? | RANT REVIEW’

The video discusses the book "Silk Fire" by Zombae Allure, criticized for orientalism and lesbophobia. The story involves elements like dragons, necromancers, and a matriarchal city. Key points criticized include pretentious elements, confusing and nonsensical plots, lack of depth in characters, inconsistent magic systems, and problematic gender dynamics. The speaker emphasizes the importance of historical context in understanding patriarchy and creating realistic depictions of matriarchies. Issues with representation, including slut-shaming and sexual assault scenes, are highlighted, resulting in a one-star review of the book.

00:00:00

In this segment of the video, the YouTuber discusses the book “Silk Fire” by Zombae Allure, which has received negative reviews for issues like orientalism and lesbophobia. The YouTuber shares their experience of trying to read the book for 16 days but ultimately giving up after reaching 64 pages. They critique the nonsensical nature of the book’s synopsis and express frustration with the confusing plot and lack of coherence. The synopsis describes a male courtesan’s quest for vengeance in a planet-sized matriarchal city involving dragons, necromancers, and power struggles. The YouTuber highlights the scene in an ancient tomb, which they find misrepresents the disturbing content in the book.

00:03:00

In this segment of the video, the narrator discusses a book with pretentious elements and difficult terminology. The story is set on a planet referred to as a city planet with various districts controlled by judges in a matriarchy. The districts were previously governed by dragon gods who are now dead. Magic called essence grants people abilities and is associated with brightness, with non-users labeled as dull. The main character, Corey, is introduced as self-loathing and driven by issues with his father and past romantic relationships. Corey decides to pursue involvement in political power dynamics, despite lacking experience and a solid plan.

00:06:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker criticizes the main character in the book for lacking a plan and fumbling around without direction. The plot of the book, which had started off promising with a character named Inej being highlighted for her skills, takes a disappointing turn as the main character wallows in self-loathing and lacks intelligence. There is a scene where the main character is misled into a sexual encounter instead of being tested for his abilities, leading to a series of bizarre and unfulfilling events in a temple setting. The speaker expresses frustration at the lack of depth and purpose in the storytelling.

00:09:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker criticizes a book’s confusing and nonsensical plot, describing it as poorly written and pretentious. The author introduces bizarre elements without adequate explanation, leaving the reader puzzled. The speaker likens the book’s content to a nonsensical dream idea hastily written down and transformed into a misguided narrative. Overall, the video highlights the frustrations and lack of coherence in the book’s storytelling.

00:12:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses their confusion and frustration with the portrayal of magic and elements in a book. The speaker points out inconsistencies in the magic system, such as necromancy happening before death and conflicting information about shadow magic. They express disappointment over the lack of clear explanations and coherence in the story, despite elements like polyamory representation that they usually enjoy. The speaker ultimately decides to stop reading the book due to the unclear and illogical depiction of magical elements.

00:15:00

In this part of the video, the speaker talks about some strange descriptions in a story they are discussing. They mention a scenario where a lizard comes onto a god’s altar and gives someone a dragon. The clothing descriptions are also highlighted, with intricate details given but not fully understandable. The topic of a matriarchy in the book is discussed, where women are expected to give their essence to their husband and children, and men face slut-shaming. The speaker finds this aspect of the story frustrating and unrealistic.

00:18:00

In this segment of the video, various points are discussed, such as the lack of respect for emotional men, implications of wearing a condom, excerpts in books lacking context, the portrayal of men under a matriarchy, and the complexity of gender dynamics. The speaker critiques the oversimplification of patriarchy in the text and emphasizes the need for nuanced exploration when discussing gender-related topics.

00:21:00

In this part of the video, the speaker emphasizes that simply swapping patriarchy with matriarchy without understanding the complexities of gender and historical context is inadequate. Experience alone does not guarantee a full understanding of patriarchy or misogyny. The speaker mentions the importance of researching beyond personal experience to create a fictional matriarchy realistically. They point out that patriarchy is not solely about men and that women can also perpetuate it. Historical context is crucial in comprehending the roots of patriarchy and gender dynamics. The speaker stresses that creating a matriarchy would require a deep understanding of its history, how it is upheld, and its implications on gender roles in that fictional world.

00:24:00

In this segment, the speaker discusses the importance of historical context in shaping individuals and societal structures, using examples like the impact of different colonizers on the United States and how it relates to racism today. They also critique a book for failing to address the complexities of patriarchy, suggesting the author may have overlooked key factors like intersecting identities. The speaker expresses strong dislike for the book and its portrayal of women, mentioning the presence of real-life matriarchies with positive outcomes. Additionally, they highlight issues with a sexual assault scene in the book. The segment concludes with the speaker giving the book a one-star review and inviting viewers to share their thoughts.