Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

475 reviews

beanformation's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Drug use, Cursing, Blood, Sexual content, Murder, Sexual violence, Slavery, Genocide, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Death, Trafficking, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Cannibalism, and Body horror

vanemar04's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A challenging read that one should not dive into lightly, especially when considering the heavy subject matter of war, genocide and atrocious war crimes. Our main character, Rin, has been teetering between the label of protagonist or antagonist throughout the progression of the war, and has left me questioning whether to support her actions. I am curious to see where her journey in the war continues, and appreciate the fantastical twist associated with the gods incorporated in the lore of her people. I am curious to see how and why certain people can reach the Pantheon and others cannot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Rape, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Genocide, and Sexual violence

good_names_dont_exist's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Addiction, War, and Genocide

Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Slavery, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit and Infertility

julee_melii's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, War, Death, Sexism, Blood, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Child death, Addiction, Body horror, Genocide, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Torture, Animal death, Colonisation, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault, Slavery, Kidnapping, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pregnancy

annjulia's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Child death, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Violence, Murder, Racism, Rape, Animal death, Blood, War, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Addiction, Drug use, and Genocide

kariatnip's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Blood, Gore, Sexual assault, War, Colonisation, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Genocide, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Child abuse

melitrophium's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, War, Animal cruelty, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Death, and Drug use

Moderate: Rape, Racism, Self harm, and Sexual violence

Minor: Slavery, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts

yoliesbookdates's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Slavery, Mental illness, Death, Animal death, Abandonment, War, Violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Confinement, Grief, and Forced institutionalization

cjsimpson234's review

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Physical abuse, War, Xenophobia, Slavery, Rape, Racism, Genocide, Blood, Child death, Sexual assault, Death, Violence, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Colonisation, Gore, and Addiction

sierraclimbs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I enjoyed this book much more upon re-read. I think the first time I read it I wasn’t well informed about the adult nature of this story & therefore was pretty taken aback by the violence & tragedy of it all. But going in to it a second time knowing what to expect I really really enjoyed it. 
It feels like an Asian version of Game of Thrones. Creative, heart wrenching, unexpected twists, complicated human relations, magic, it’s got it all.
This story is not for the faint of heart. It’s about young children/ young adults going through terrible things. But I think it does an amazing job depicting the truly contradictory nature of humanity. Nothing is black & white. People change their minds. The human condition is complex & doesn’t always do what is right.  
Excited to have reacquainted myself with the story & characters so I can read the next two. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Death, Drug abuse, Blood, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Violence, War, and Colonisation

Moderate: Physical abuse, Addiction, Self harm, Slavery, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Sexual assault, and Abortion

This is a book about war… and it does not take that lightly. It is very graphic & very raw. There is also heavy drug usage

it’s connected to the magic system