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therandomblossom's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Genocide, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Violence, Child abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, War, Blood, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape
milaju's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, Drug abuse, Child death, Addiction, Sexual violence, Torture, War, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Genocide, Rape, Drug use, Animal death, Blood, and Sexual assault
clandis0926's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Torture, Violence, Sexual violence, War, Xenophobia, Addiction, and Murder
ariangel'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
4.25
Graphic: War, Torture, Sexual violence, Self harm, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Gore, Child death, Violence, Trafficking, Racism, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Grief, and Genocide
drjoannehill's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Reading this at the same time in listening to the audiobook of Iron Flame is also a mistake, because both are about war college with unlikely, physically weak, heroines who find their niche ... And The Poppy War does not compare well to Iron Flame unfortunately (and surprisingly).
Babel demonstrated a much improved writing style for Kuang. Still contemplating if I'll read books 2 and 3 (for a book club)
Graphic: Death, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Animal death, Racism, War, Torture, Drug use, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, and Confinement
kimreads14'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
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Grief, Self harm, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Animal death, Blood, Xenophobia, Violence, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Torture, War, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Colonisation, Drug use, Excrement, Genocide, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
voypel'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
4.75
Pay attention to the content warnings. This book is very explicit in some tropes.
The chapters:
The Poppy War is, in my opinion, one of the best fantasy epos debuts of the last few years. People who like fantasy concepts with a dark reality behind and grand strategy elements will love this book.
Yes, it’s dark, horrible and sometimes downright depressing, but this instills realism, high stakes and emotion into this book, something I personally have missed in recent times.
I docked .25 stars for the really heavy content this book carries, I believe a similar effect could have been created without this level of explicitness. However, I concede the point the author tries to make, applaud her even for integrating it seamlessly into the story, but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
In times when genocide and extremist politics become socially acceptable again, this book narrates a clear warning.
Storytelling & Characters:
I have seldomly read such a compelling plot in a fantasy debut. The main character steadily evolves throughout the story, taking you with her through her darkest times. Even the „explicit scenes“ are integrated so well, that it doesn’t feel like splatter or gore but more like the horrible reality of an Auschwitz documentary. The plot is heavily driven by all the different actors in such a realistic, even historically accurate way, that it resonates heavily after.
Pacing:
It’s great, I read this in two days, couldn’t really lay it aside.
Tldr:
Great book. Honestly, one of the best ones I’ve read in the last few years. Big recommendation.
Short Note:
I have read many reviews that criticise the war/post-war scenes as completely needless. I understand that to some degree, but you probably didn’t grasp the clear political and humanitarian statement 🤷♀️. A documentary about concentration camps or modern day China genocidal activities without some explicitness is a euphemism of reality.
Graphic: Blood, Addiction, Child death, Torture, War, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Death, Genocide, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, and Violence
xelanimation'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: Murder, Blood, Animal death, War, Racism, Grief, Genocide, Death, Violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Colonisation, Child death, and Addiction
molaviola's review against another edition
Graphic: Murder, Classism, Colonisation, Addiction, Child death, Death, Slavery, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Infertility, Deportation, Death of parent, Violence, War, Sexual violence, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Abortion, Torture, and Racism
closet_of_socks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Torture
Moderate: Drug abuse, Violence, and War