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dorothyx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kkayla113's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
generally enjoyed the book and finished it pretty quickly. i liked the pacing and even if i disagreed with some of the choices the characters made, i couldn't look away. rin did feel a little mary sue at times and i didn't love the relationships (tbh would've liked more about nezha and rin's dynamic and how that shifted during school vs after; didn't really enjoy rin and altan). i liked rin's internal conflict and her progression. some parts were a bit too graphic for me and idk there's always a question of taste and appropriateness when using historical atrocities as the background for fiction (aot moment).
thatfrowardgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
2.5
nadilia_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-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
A bit of a slow start but once it picks up, it is so hard to put down!! Loved all the characters in this book and I am looking forward to the other books of the series.
dani_wag'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
5.0
audreychiao's review against another edition
4.0
A very engaging fantasy story that centers around power. I enjoyed this book because it was different from most fantasy stories. In most fantasy stories, the main character fights against the oppressive regime that they live in. At first, that’s where I thought this book was headed. However, despite checking all the boxes for being an unwanted citizen, Rin is incredibly patriotic. I enjoy stories where morality isn’t black or white- and I’ve found that Western fantasy stories paint the forces as such, whereas East Asian fantasy stories include a lot of moral nuance in the forces at play.
I really liked Rin’s character because she’s unapologetically hungry for power to a fault. Most main characters are lovable and have a mainstream moral compass. Rin is bloodthirsty and an avenger. The events she’s gone through have pushed her to grab power. She’s also very, very young- searching for external validation everywhere. And I thought the author did a great job of writing the character of this ambitious, insecure, naive young adult in an adult fantasy story.
The relationships were also very interesting to follow. It’s always so refreshing and heartwarming to see relationships deepen without them becoming romantic.
I also appreciated that there are moments focused on Rin’s greatness in battle, but these are at a small scale. She’s very hardworking and she’s gifted, but she’s not invincible. In bigger battles and conflicts, she’s not the center of the battle, and she often fails. I appreciate it when the main character isn’t invincible, or that the setbacks aren’t used as stepping stones to their invincibility. After all, she’s only begun her military experience.
This book is very, very long, but I still enjoyed it. There’s a lot to think about. The only thing is that this story is very dark and impacted my mood. I had to completely skip the passages that retold a character’s experience of sexual violence during the war. The opening lines of that passage still haunt me.
I’m looking forward to the next book!
I really liked Rin’s character because she’s unapologetically hungry for power to a fault. Most main characters are lovable and have a mainstream moral compass. Rin is bloodthirsty and an avenger. The events she’s gone through have pushed her to grab power. She’s also very, very young- searching for external validation everywhere. And I thought the author did a great job of writing the character of this ambitious, insecure, naive young adult in an adult fantasy story.
The relationships were also very interesting to follow. It’s always so refreshing and heartwarming to see relationships deepen without them becoming romantic.
I also appreciated that there are moments focused on Rin’s greatness in battle, but these are at a small scale. She’s very hardworking and she’s gifted, but she’s not invincible. In bigger battles and conflicts, she’s not the center of the battle, and she often fails. I appreciate it when the main character isn’t invincible, or that the setbacks aren’t used as stepping stones to their invincibility. After all, she’s only begun her military experience.
This book is very, very long, but I still enjoyed it. There’s a lot to think about. The only thing is that this story is very dark and impacted my mood. I had to completely skip the passages that retold a character’s experience of sexual violence during the war. The opening lines of that passage still haunt me.
I’m looking forward to the next book!
crader94's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.25
notmle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
aliferuz's review against another edition
5.0
Sejauh ini, buku Perang Opium adalah buku fiksi sejarah tentang peperangan yang paling gamblang menarasikan kebrutalan dan kebengisan peperangan. Bahkan, dari setengah bagian terakhir aku dibuat mual membayangkan peristiwa-peristiwa yang ada. Bayangkan saja, pembantaian yang dinarasikan di sini amat sangat deskriptif.
Hal yang lebih membuat tidak habis pikir adalah kenyataan bahwa beberapa adegan dalam buku ini dilatarbelakangi oleh peristiwa sejarah yang nyata, yaitu Perang Shino. Di bagian depan buku ini, R. F. Kuang juga menyebutkan bahwa The Poppy War didedikasikan untuk Iris, yaitu survivor insiden The Rape on Nankin.
Selain sisi gelapnya tersebut, novel ini juga memiliki pembangunan semesta yang detail. Terlepas dari penggambaran geografis yang merujuk pada kehidupan nyata, tema syamanisme dan mitologi juga sangat kental di novel ini. Bahkan, bagiku pribadi, Kuang juga menyinggung tentang teologi dan filsafat. Jadi, dalam novel dengan tebal 500 halaman lebih ini menyuguhkan hal yang sangat variatif dan kompleks.
Hal lain yang aku suka dari Kuang adalah cara dia bercerita dan menyelipkan sindiran di sana-sini. Ketika ada pembaca yang mengatakan bahwa R. F. Kuang adalah penulis yang terlihat sangat kompeten dan pintar, aku rasa hal itu tidak berlebihan. Dari Perang Opium saja, Kuang sudah berhasil menyinggung berbagai hal lewat narasi, alur, dan dialog antartokoh: mulai dari rasisme, politik, militer, ritual keagamaan, sampai kemanusiaan.
Terkait alurnya, novel ini memang memiliki tempo yang lebih cepat dibandingkan dengan novel fantasi yang lain, tetapi hal itu tidak lantas membuat jalan ceritanya terkesan terburu-buru. Sementara itu, terkait tokoh, hampir semuanya memiliki porsi dan andil yang siginifikan dalam jalannya cerita. Karakter yang dilekatkan pada mereka juga meninggalkan impresi yang kuat.
Reputasi The Poppy War sudah tidak diragukan lagi, tetapi membuat Perang Opium juga memiliki reputasi yang bagus, jelas membutuhkan pengalih bahasa yang berkualitas pula. Dan Meggy Soedjatmiko berhasil melakukan itu. Kalimat-kalimat yang digunakan lugas, tetapi masih luwes dan tidak membingungkan. Alhasil, suasana dan emosi tiap adegan tersampaikan dengan baik.
Yang terakhir, sampul Perang Opium tidak kalah memukau. Bahkan, Kuang sendiri dalam beberapa kesempatan menyebutkan bahwa sampul The Poppy War versi Indonesia adalah favoritnya.
Hal yang lebih membuat tidak habis pikir adalah kenyataan bahwa beberapa adegan dalam buku ini dilatarbelakangi oleh peristiwa sejarah yang nyata, yaitu Perang Shino. Di bagian depan buku ini, R. F. Kuang juga menyebutkan bahwa The Poppy War didedikasikan untuk Iris, yaitu survivor insiden The Rape on Nankin.
Selain sisi gelapnya tersebut, novel ini juga memiliki pembangunan semesta yang detail. Terlepas dari penggambaran geografis yang merujuk pada kehidupan nyata, tema syamanisme dan mitologi juga sangat kental di novel ini. Bahkan, bagiku pribadi, Kuang juga menyinggung tentang teologi dan filsafat. Jadi, dalam novel dengan tebal 500 halaman lebih ini menyuguhkan hal yang sangat variatif dan kompleks.
Hal lain yang aku suka dari Kuang adalah cara dia bercerita dan menyelipkan sindiran di sana-sini. Ketika ada pembaca yang mengatakan bahwa R. F. Kuang adalah penulis yang terlihat sangat kompeten dan pintar, aku rasa hal itu tidak berlebihan. Dari Perang Opium saja, Kuang sudah berhasil menyinggung berbagai hal lewat narasi, alur, dan dialog antartokoh: mulai dari rasisme, politik, militer, ritual keagamaan, sampai kemanusiaan.
Terkait alurnya, novel ini memang memiliki tempo yang lebih cepat dibandingkan dengan novel fantasi yang lain, tetapi hal itu tidak lantas membuat jalan ceritanya terkesan terburu-buru. Sementara itu, terkait tokoh, hampir semuanya memiliki porsi dan andil yang siginifikan dalam jalannya cerita. Karakter yang dilekatkan pada mereka juga meninggalkan impresi yang kuat.
Reputasi The Poppy War sudah tidak diragukan lagi, tetapi membuat Perang Opium juga memiliki reputasi yang bagus, jelas membutuhkan pengalih bahasa yang berkualitas pula. Dan Meggy Soedjatmiko berhasil melakukan itu. Kalimat-kalimat yang digunakan lugas, tetapi masih luwes dan tidak membingungkan. Alhasil, suasana dan emosi tiap adegan tersampaikan dengan baik.
Yang terakhir, sampul Perang Opium tidak kalah memukau. Bahkan, Kuang sendiri dalam beberapa kesempatan menyebutkan bahwa sampul The Poppy War versi Indonesia adalah favoritnya.
labricoleuse's review against another edition
Couldn’t take the brutality anymore
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Gore, Rape, Violence, Classism, War, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Excrement, Sexual assault, Addiction, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Genocide, Blood, Bullying, Drug use, Self harm, Torture, Sexual violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Mental illness