Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Wojna makowa by R.F. Kuang

739 reviews

anxiousshorebird's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

This book was difficult. I found myself rolling my eyes and struggling to continue through the first half. At one point I resigned myself to reading purely out of curiosity, rather than enjoyment. Normally I would DNF a book loke that, but I've seen trusted reviewers praise this book and I was curious about the mysteries slowly being uncovered. Then about half way through I couldn't stop reading. 

This book suffered from mismatched tone and some bad pacing. It felt like a YA magic school novel (complete with a Draco Malfoy type character) for way too long. Then by the end it was a grim dark, violent, war torn character study. It felt like an abrupt shift. Looking back, I see some merit to experiencing the MC's journey from determined teenager to hardened soldier along with her. While reading it, however, I found myself wishing her origins were told through intermittent flashbacks. 

I really enjoy the world that Juang created. I love that she hasn't shied away from a DEEPLY flawed main character. Frankly, I don't even like this MC. But o sure loved reading her story once I got passed the slog of her schooling. 

All in all, it's far from a 5 star read for me, but it's a very commendable debut novel. I won't hesitate to read the rest of the trilogy. I plan to read a light romance before the next Poppy War book though, because this shit got DARK. 

Speaking of, please check the content warnings. Since the beginning is so much more tame than the rest, it's worth the risk of spoiling yourself a bit to make sure you know what you're getting into. I recommend skipping chapter 21 if you're someone who can take a lot, but have a limit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, War, Body horror, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Violence, Drug abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, and Torture

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Addiction, Excrement, Animal death, Infertility, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcohol, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Trafficking

tne_network's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

This book got me back into reading. I could not put it down. The author has a way of writing that sucks you into the mind of this young woman and you understand why she chooses the choices that she does. Through circumstance after circumstance that she has been thrown into, this coming of age story is less about the character's maturity developing, but finding the power inside and facing the demons within and outside herself. I have been fully consumed by the main character's emotions and it has been hard to pick up other books after finishing it, so I have decided to finish the trilogy before starting another book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: War, Gore, Violence, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug use

Minor: Murder, Racism, Infertility, Vomit, Child abuse, Self harm, and Confinement

kashna83's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

Es difícil describir este libro porque como ya pasaba con Babel, es como leer varios libros en uno. En general, me ha gustado... le pongo 4 estrellas bien puestas... Pero tiene PEROS...

La ambientación es una China medieval ficticia, aunque hay eventos históricos basados en hechos reales. Hay algo de fantasía, pero es arriesgado ponerle esta etiqueta. Pongamos que tiene... rasgos fantásticos, o más bien, mitológicos. 
La protagonista es Rin, una campesina huérfana que su sueño es entrar en la academia militar de Sinegard, para labrarse un futuro que no sea ser esposa o prostituta. Es fuerte, valiente y tenaz. Aunque también le mueve la venganza. Ese es un rasgo que no me suele gustar demasiado en los personajes, pero en este libro no me ha costado entender sus motivaciones como me pasa en otras novelas.
Si tuviésemos que poner una etiqueta, además de la "fantástica" sería "bélica". Hay mucha guerra, y guerra de verdad: no batallas. Guerra. Guardias eternas y solitarias, enemigos sin rostro, miedo, crueldad, y en algunos momentos, una violencia brutal.

Me ha gustado: 
- La parte de Dark Academy, muy entretenida.
- Los personajes que aparecen y lo que representa cada uno de ellos.
- Como escribe Rebecca Kuang. Simple y contundente.
- Toda la crítica y reflexión sobre temas muy actuales como: la brutalidad de la guerra, la justicia, la venganza, el uso de las drogas, el colonialismo, el genocidio... No te deja indiferente.

No me ha gustado tanto: 
-La parte bélica se me hace un poco larga en algunos momentos.
-Mis altísimas expectativas. El otro libro que leí de la autora es Babel, y me voló la cabeza. Y pensaba que este me gustaría más... y no. Me ha gustado, un poco menos. Pensaba que tendría más reflexión, más posicionamiento ideológico, y lo tiene... pero comparado con Babel, se queda corta.

Aun así es muy buena novela y cuando pueda leeré la 2a parte!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Torture, Violence, War, Death, Addiction, Blood, and Hate crime

ldod's review against another edition

dark fast-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? Yes

4.0

Became much more brutal than I expected. Well written but not going to read the next books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Genocide, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Murder, Xenophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Child abuse, War, Torture, Sexual violence, Racism, Sexual harassment, Mass/school shootings, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Colonisation, Death, Violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, and Drug abuse

arguhlincozzi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Child death, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Body horror, Classism, Racism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Torture, Violence, War, Gore, Body shaming, Child abuse, Grief, Murder, Rape, and Emotional abuse

crystalsbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

if i could have i would have devoured this book in one sitting. thank you r. f. kuang.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Colonisation, Death, Sexual violence, and Genocide

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Racism, and Violence

jasmindragon's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.75

Mann, some chapters really need a warning, but i love my revengeful, power-motivated Rin who does a lot of wrongs that we all turn a blind eye to. Such amazing plottwists and you NEVER see them coming, it's like your blind spot when you're driving.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Child death, War, Sexism, Torture, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Self harm, Violence, Racism, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Drug use, and Death

annjulia's review against another edition

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

kmarie341's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

i’m not okay rn

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Drug use, Genocide, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual assault

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