Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Poppy War - Perang Opium by R.F. Kuang

287 reviews

greatlibraryofalexandra's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Delighted that I finally read this book. It's absorbing and worth the read and I loved immersing myself in it - R. F. Kuang pays homage to the classic tenants of fantasy while infusing it with Eastern influence and fresh real-world inspiration that diversifies and and accentuates a genre that is often stale with Medieval European re-tellings. 

I'm invested in where this is going, I'm very interested in continuing to unravel the lore, and hopefully more of Rin's origins - I genuinely expect the following two books to be infinitely better, and I found this one really good to begin with. I love that it is YA, but it is bloody, brutal, unafraid to use vulgar language, and not entirely sexless - the only YA I ever read that came close to this sort of trust in its young readers to understand/cope with the realities of a dystopian landscape was The Hunger Games, and Kuang trusts her readers even more. YA should be more understanding that teenagers swear and curse and experience sexuality and violence and mature themes, while still holding space for the coming of agent narrative that makes it YA - Kuang does this so well - it was done well in Babel, too. 

One thing I really adored: Rin immediately sterilizing herself. While I think its ridiculous that the narrative leaned towards implying women who are on their periods can't function/can't work, I do want to see more fiction in which young women firmly take charge of a child free life early, ruthlessly, and without hemming and hawing.

It's a wildly violent book that takes inspo directly from the Rape of Nanking and the atrocities of Unit 731, historical events that no one should be learning about f or the first time from this book -- but if they do, then Kuang gets kudos for leading readers to fill that gap in their education. On par with Red Rising, I actually do think some of the violence included here is gratuitous. 

I do think the pacing of this story was choppy and difficult to adjust to. The three parts felt like three separate books; I wanted more political foundation on why the war was breaking out, and I felt jerked around by how fast Rin went through the Academy -- two years felt glossed over in a handful of paragraphs. Then immediately Rin was on the front lines. 

I also felt like the relationships could have been fleshed out more - I felt little emotional impact when Nezha died, because the "resolution" of several years of intense sociopathic bullying happened so quickly I was unconvinced they were actually friends. Since Rin interacts with Atlan maybe once at the Academy, and then essentially builds up her "ideal" of him, I never bought into any sort of close relationship between the true - it felt like Kuang was relying on a) that they were from the same clan and b) she'd informed us they were close / Rin loved him - but Rin never knew Atlan, and time was not spent much on their relationship.

Right now I'm thinking I'd happily spend 7 books in this world, so I'm not sure why the first was so essentially rushed along - even for YA, its a little absurd how quickly all the adults/mentors disappeared and left a pack of like 20 brand new teenagers in charge (especially since several of the students survive despite all the veteran generals being immediately killed).

I've grown fond of Kuang's fearless reflection on violence, its effects, and its uses, though; the work is evident here, and possibly more mature in Babel, but I'd have to finish this trilogy to compare with any seriousness. 

One odd thing I noticed in some critiques of this book - accusations that Kuang "stole" things in her book from Chinese war theorists or sino history, but that's a weird thing to comment on. Kuang is obviously - and even states bluntly - inspired by Eastern history, but the paragons of the fantasy genre (Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time, Game of Thrones, even newer works like The Stormlight Archives_ are all expected re-imaginings of feudal Western Europe with magical twists. Kuang has ever right to use the same metric to produce representative fantasy - it makes it new, it makes it innovative, and it makes it inclusive and unique and interesting. Unless you're going to critique Tolkien by sniffing "he just stole this from World War One Era Europe" ... you're not really coming from a genuine point of view. 

Additionally, several comparisons to Patrick Rothfuss' "The Name of the Wind" - I read "The Name of the Wind" in January, and the first part of this book reads like a female, Eastern parallell of it -  I wouldn't argue that. Right down to an eccentric, Yoda-in-Empire-mentor to a insta-rivalry with an elitist asshole. However, while I read Rothfuss' book, I was pleasantly interested but not invested; the stories were appealing, but it was also just another white male fantasy story with a Mary Sue main man who needed to be taken down a notch, and even after hundreds of pages I didn't know what its thesis was or where it was going - and I have that book 4 stars, too! Even with similarities, Kuang's book is more nuanced, fresher, comes from a more varied and complex perspective, etc. and to just compare it to "The Name of the Wind" as a derivative work is reductive...because at the end of the day, all fantasy work is derivative of something, and any work that includes a "chosen" main character, a magical school, an orphan, and a great destiny is arguably a rip off of Harry Potter. I don't agree with anyone brushing this book off as derivative; this book is a first of its kind type of Eastern influenced provocative fantasy.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

magspaggs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

While I enjoyed this book, I think there is something incredibly flawed about Rin, which I know I the point. It’s just frustrating. There was also a few things that I felt weren’t conveyed as well as they could have been. Namely why Rin was so ready to be a soldier for a country that didn’t want her. She spends most of the book bemoaning anything that isn’t the war or goes against being a “good soldier” and I do not understand why. Where does her loyalty to her country or from? I hope that is explored a little bit more. 

Overall though this book made me literally cry, something that hasn’t happened in a while. Interested to see where the series goes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kat1105's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism and Animal cruelty

Minor: Pregnancy

hailsatan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

ha1yan's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.0

This book was brutal. At its core, it's a story about war and colonization and includes many gruesome details of the atrocities that come with them. Please keep in mind that the warfare in this books is heavily influenced by the Japanese colonization of China during World War II/pre WWII-- I was caught off guard by the parallels. I found Rin to be an interesting character as she truly gets to channel and unleash her rage.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Excrement and Vomit

lferris's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.25

The decisions made by the main characters were infuriatingly illogical and childish more often than not. 

The trigger warnings are also a must - this book has immensely graphic details of rape, violence, and torture in it. This normally wouldn’t deter me from reading a book, but I found it to be too much for me.

Overall, the world building, fantasy, and lore I enjoyed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and War

minxtte's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Excrement, and Classism

Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy

jetix's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infertility, Vomit, and Death of parent

mgmotley's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

praaliine's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.5

this book…i mean wow. i have so many thoughts but i’ll cut it short, it was everything they said it would be but at the same time it wasn’t. the book was so incredibly written and the plot and characters were so intricately developed, the story unfolded in a way i didn’t expect. i honestly don’t think i’ve ever had such an immersive reading experience before. yes it was as dark and violent and gory as they said, i was warned but i didn’t listen (i beg you, heed the tws, especially for the infamous chapter 21). now this is what it wasn’t: they love to rave about how rin is such a badass etc. but this is not what this book is about, it’s nothing short of a TRAGEDY! the heaviness of this makes my head swirl with a million thoughts.
so much for keeping of short lol.

i actually mourn for rin the most, i feel like she’s turned into something from a nightmare, sigh

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship