Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

472 reviews

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

---

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 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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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 against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

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. 

---

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

lauragracel's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Rape, War, Violence, Torture, Murder, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

indrabindra's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I appreciate that there is no romance plot!

Quite graphic, handles grim themes responsibly. Not as sophisticated as her more resent works and waxy at times. Engaging nonetheless! I will be reading on in the series

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Infertility, War, Medical content, Racism, Abandonment, and Drug use

coballe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Genocide, Rape, Gore, Vomit, War, and Violence