Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

100 reviews

onucfs's review against another edition

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

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. The characters were very three-dimensional and fleshed out. I loved the complex, evolving relationships Rin has with several characters, especially Nezha and Altan. Her character development was brilliant throughout the book as well. And the worldbuilding too! Brilliant. 

I also felt like this book does a good job at promoting an anti-war message. The book briefly touches on how wartime propaganda works, and I'm excited to see that explored more in the following books. 

All that being said, this is definitely an 18+ book. The violence and rape in this are very graphic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Genocide, Violence, and War

Moderate: Drug use and Toxic friendship

thebookworm777's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book will have you on the edge of your seat, speed reading to find out what happens next.

Kuang beautifully blends historical events of the Sino-Japenese war (1937-45) with fantasy and lore in a way that pushes readers to question their own perceptions of this part of history and forces readers into a head-on confrontation with difficult concepts, such as, what actions are moral during war? The Poppy War features a strong underdog character who you can't help but root for and hurt alongside as she navigates a multitude of seemingly insurmountable challenges. This is a good read for anyone who enjoys L.A Meyer and Tamora Pierce and is looking for more mature content. 

Note, this book does not shy away from the atrocities of war, cw: graphic violence, sexual assault, racism, addiction, torture, ptsd

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, War, Sexual violence, Addiction, Blood, Violence, Rape, Medical trauma, and Torture

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Cannibalism and Misogyny

gardenofroses's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.0

 I had high expectations for this book because of the praise I’d seen on social media and I’ve got to say it didn’t disappoint.

I loved part I because it reminded me of training arcs that you see in shonen animes which I have a sweet spot for. But, I do have to admit once I got to part II I hit a reading slump that was extremely hard for me to get out of. It picked right back up in part III though and I couldn’t put the book down again.

Part III was definitely the hardest to get through in terms of writing only because of the vivid descriptions of war that I wasn’t as prepared for as I thought I was.

However, the internal struggles the character we're dealing with, especially Rin, as a result of the destructions they’d seen made them so much more real for me. I was in full stress mode throughout the whole book because Rin was making some questionable decisions that I knew would have irreparable consequences on not only her and the people around her but EVERYONE, but that’s what makes her such an interesting character.

I know it’s only going to get better (and gorier) from here. I’m apprehensive but also excited to see where Rin’s character goes from here. It’ll probably mentally and emotionally destroy me but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. I can’t wait to start the second book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, and War

stephanieridiculous's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

2022 review after re-read:
Trigger warnings for drugs abuse, child abuse, rape, gore, war, death, genocide, torture, etc.

I'm leaving this at 5 stars, although if I had read it anew today it might have gotten 4 instead. The first 300 pages are a delight to read - young girl ships off to school to find purpose for the first time in her life. It was fun to learn about the world as Rin did, and root for her as she overcame somewhat typical challenges that face young people coming into their own.

This takes a sharp turn in tone in part three, as war is wont to do. I think there's a balance to strike between communicating the horrors of whatever is going on in a story, and Kuang goes hard. I don't think the length and breadth of detail regarding the Federations massacre of Golyn Niis was necessary, and it's genuinely traumatizing reading it. 

I had forgotten that about where Rin lands at the end of the book, morally. I listened for the first read, and I think the narration detracted a little bit from the severity of the change in Rin (this isn't a fault, it just hit different reading printed words vs hearing a soothing voice speak them) and I think after this re-read I am less likely to recommend the series. It's dark, y'all. Hella dark. And while Kuang's writing is really good, I'm not sure it's worth the turmoil/weight/second hand trauma the book is likely to inflict.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Xenophobia, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, War, Racism, Self harm, Torture, Blood, Genocide, Gore, Colonisation, Cursing, Drug abuse, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Murder

eanna's review against another edition

adventurous 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Drug use, Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, War, Infertility, Rape, Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Blood, Genocide, Gore, Sexual assault, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Emotional abuse

navayiota's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

wow. wow wow wow!! I haven't been this obsessed with a book in a while. i finished it in two days, really. i'm so upset i procrastinated starting it for so long. i love everything about this. i love the attention given to the psychology of all the characters, the history parallels to real life, the fantasy elements, i love every part of this. it makes me want to learn more about the real life history that inspired this story, and i cannot wait to begin the next books. i strongly recommend this, but be wary of triggers, cause the author really didn't hold back.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Xenophobia, Animal death, Bullying, Abandonment, Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death of parent, Infertility, and Medical content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

reddeddy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Death, Drug use, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Xenophobia, Addiction, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, War, Abandonment, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Excrement, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Trafficking, Abortion, Classism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, and Self harm

Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Police brutality, and Pedophilia

toffishay's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book is brutal dude! The world-building is awesome, the character's feel so real. I put off reading it for so long because I knew that I would get sucked in and I literally read it all in a day. So much happens in this book and you are never let up for even a moment. If you are a fan of recent YA fantasy like Children of Blood and Bone or fantasy classics of Octavia Butler, particularly the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Talents then you will get sucked into this book too. Definitely check content warnings, because some parts are extremely difficult to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Death, Child death, War, Suicide, Death of parent, Animal death, Confinement, Colonisation, Blood, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Addiction, Sexual violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Xenophobia, Vomit, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, Torture, Self harm, and Physical abuse

Minor: Medical content, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Slavery, Sexism, and Religious bigotry

nickel_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Murder, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Racism, Blood, Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, War, Violence, Suicide, Infertility, Addiction, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Gore, Animal death, Genocide, Animal cruelty, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

ccpetrikas's review against another edition

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, War, and Xenophobia