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bridgetebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
rnbhargava's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
All of these triggers are evident in this narrative whether they’re something that happens to the main character, someone she knows, or is just generally part of the world. It is a brutal world that is in the midst of war and the protagonist is part of a group that’s kind of feared. All of the brutality is mentioned quite specifically in increasingly dark detail as you progress in the novel. Be aware, it doesn’t hold back.jlautry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Infertility, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
onucfs's review against another edition
- 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 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.
Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Self harm, Violence, and War
Moderate: Drug use and Toxic friendship
thebookworm777's review against another edition
- 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
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
Graphic: Addiction, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical trauma, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Misogyny and Cannibalism
gardenofroses's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and War
stephanieridiculous's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
eanna's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and War
navayiota's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Infertility, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
reddeddy's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Self harm, Excrement, Police brutality, Trafficking, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, and Alcohol