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faelle'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Minor: Infertility
val_theburrowofstories'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
4.0
This book was SOOO good, it was 4 ⭐ for me.
Despite the story, I find the narrator’s voice soothing and I love how she makes a different voice for each character.
I did not expect the story to go so quickly. I’m used to books where stories usually happen in such a short amount of time but this was maybe 3-4 years? I think if the author would’ve decided to make 1 book for each year of her in the school I would’ve read them too and they would’ve been great.
The first half is Rin basically preparing for school and then getting in and being a very good student to keep her place there. I liked it so much because I was proud of her and it felt like learning history with all the information about the other Poppy Wars.
Maybe she didn’t know completely what she was doing, but I admire her for literally eliminating menstruation and all that shit to be unstoppable. I’ll be needing the formula lol
Once the war started I was so in shock that I could not even cry from the horrors (check trigger warnings!), I wonder what the author has prepared for the next books.
I want to know more about the 13th division, I want to get to know them all because I think she might be spending so much more time with them and well I need to connect to someone to cry when they die lol besides their powers seems interesting.
The only two I kinda care about if something happens to them are Kitay (bc that’s maybe her only true friend) and Ramsa (he’s literally just a kid!)
I’m so ready to see how Rin will burn the enemy to the ground 🔥
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death and Infertility
Please be sure to check ALL the trigger warnings by all readers because a lot of things happen and I imagine the next books will be even darker.
- Menstruation / Infertility: She got her first period in the school, and what’s shocking is how she drank something to stop it forever, basically killing that organ.
- Death / Murder / Genocide: because of the war
- War: it’s literally on the title lol, it mostly happens in the second half of the book
- Injury / blood / gore: when they find all those people in the end...
- Animal death: She killed a dog to defend herself
- Rape: Someone she knows was raped and she describes how so many other women too. It's pure horror.
- Addiction / Drug use: They take a drug to be able to connect with the Gods?
imds'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, and War
anxiousshorebird'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? Yes
3.5
This book suffered from mismatched tone and some bad pacing. It felt like a YA magic school novel (complete with a Draco Malfoy type character) for way too long. Then by the end it was a grim dark, violent, war torn character study. It felt like an abrupt shift. Looking back, I see some merit to experiencing the MC's journey from determined teenager to hardened soldier along with her. While reading it, however, I found myself wishing her origins were told through intermittent flashbacks.
I really enjoy the world that Juang created. I love that she hasn't shied away from a DEEPLY flawed main character. Frankly, I don't even like this MC. But o sure loved reading her story once I got passed the slog of her schooling.
All in all, it's far from a 5 star read for me, but it's a very commendable debut novel. I won't hesitate to read the rest of the trilogy. I plan to read a light romance before the next Poppy War book though, because this shit got DARK.
Speaking of, please check the content warnings. Since the beginning is so much more tame than the rest, it's worth the risk of spoiling yourself a bit to make sure you know what you're getting into. I recommend skipping chapter 21 if you're someone who can take a lot, but have a limit.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Self harm, Excrement, and Pregnancy
Minor: Racism, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
tne_network'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Infertility, Racism, Self harm, Vomit, and Murder
renorsomethin'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Infertility, Self harm, Xenophobia, Vomit, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
chrisb913'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Rape
Minor: Animal death and Infertility
beforeyouandidie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i absolutely adore rin, despite (or maybe because of?) all her flaws - it’s so rare for me to read about a character that’s this violent, cruel, and vengeful and still understand them so well. as i was reading, i was feeling everything rin was feeling and making every bad decision along with her.
terrified of reading the sequel because of how magnificent this was.
Graphic: Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, and Drug use
Minor: Infertility
good_names_dont_exist'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
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Genocide, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Slavery, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility and Vomit
chlschn'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Genocide, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Murder