Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

402 reviews

roget's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

A compelling, complex story of warfare, survival, ambition, and desperation that takes place in a living, breathing world. Brutal and unforgettable, tensions around race, class, imperialism, and violence bring the story to a boiling point. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Minor: Infertility

adri_enne's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

gkgkgk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Medical content, and Classism

artmuseam's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.0

this book was definitely one of the darkest and heaviest themes i faced when reading a historical-fantasy novel. while it had a fast-paced action sequence that had me hooked throughout the story, i was more interested in the character of rin and loved the challenge set by the author to decide whether i supported rin or not. i eventually found that answer later on, but i think this book wasn’t as compelling as i expected it to be for me to want to read the rest of the series. i still appreciated the grim realities of war that rf kuang did not shy away from within this book, as it serves as a reminder to the tragedies people had to face during those times. overall i would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in east asian history and fantasy. 4/5 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

estherk809's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Violence, and War

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Medical trauma

michealasharp's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and War

exeidur's review against another edition

4.25

A solid first part of a trilogy. I absolutely loved the start and was drawn in quickly. Rin is a very strong character, and different from a lot of fantasy protagonists - she goes further in her rage and vengeance, she will do anything to achieve her goals, but she is also massively insecure and desperately seeks validation from her teachers. It is interesting to see how war both enhances and changes her characteristics.

Great cast of characters - though there were a bit many to remember at some point -, a solid writing style, and a well-structured plot with some twists and turns that do ultimately make a lot of sense. 8,5/10

I could've done with a little less horrifying descriptions of dead babies near the end, but you can't say Kuang is pulling any punches. And since its sadly based on reality, I can't really complain.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Medical trauma, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Confinement, Drug use, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

meganpbell's review against another edition

challenging dark informative tense 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

4.5

Everything you’ve heard about this brutal achievement of an epic fantasy is true—it’s grim, dark, and will leave you gutted. Inspired by the events of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the most ghastly aspects of The Poppy War are horrific because they’re based in historical truth. Through following Rin from child to student to soldier to shaman, R. F. Kuang graphically demonstrates the evils of imperialism and war, as well as rage and vengeance. I’m scared and a little sick to my stomach, but let’s start the sequel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Drug use, Genocide, Torture, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Infertility, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

bootsmom3's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail

miciahsreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.25

characters - 1
worldbuilding - 1
writing - .75
enjoyment - .75
plot - .75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Child abuse and Rape