Reviews

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

punzy8's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Addiction, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, War, Classism, Drug use, and Grief

ariangel's review

dark 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Torture, Sexual violence, Self harm, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Gore, Child death, Violence, Trafficking, Racism, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Grief, and Genocide

linnearae's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.75

raiju01's review

3.0

A coming of age story about a girl who makes very questionable choices in a wartorn nation.

The pacing suffers a bit in the middle but the ending took me by surprise, even though I mistakenly read 60 pages of book 2.

adisiki's review against another edition

4.5

Wow I loved this! So glad I finally got around to reading this series, I knew I’d be obsessed with it. Reminded me so much of She Who Became The Sun which I love too. R.F. Kuang is one of my favorite writers, this was so well-written and full of interesting characters. The story is beautiful, tragic, and complex; I loved Rin and could see how she is slowly becoming a morally grey main character, I’m excited to see where her story goes along with everyone else.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Torture, War, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, and Rape

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, and Drug use

tshomo's review

adventurous dark emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

rach88's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

yasminkd's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

inblackink's review

5.0

Definitely this is going to be one of my favorite series

drjoannehill's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

3.0

I'm not sure if I wasn't concentrating or if this is a mess. In places the writing is great, the story is interesting.... And then it all gets in a jumble, rushed, and head in a spin - what is happening? Why did this character just do that? Why is this storyline being skimmed over? I much preferred the first part in the war college to the later parts when they were actually at war.

Reading this at the same time in listening to the audiobook of Iron Flame is also a mistake, because both are about war college with unlikely, physically weak, heroines who find their niche ... And The Poppy War does not compare well to Iron Flame unfortunately (and surprisingly).

Babel demonstrated a much improved writing style for Kuang. Still contemplating if I'll read books 2 and 3 (for a book club)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Animal death, Racism, War, Torture, Drug use, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, and Confinement