Reviews with content warning for Fire/Fire injury - The Poppy War (Perang Opium)

Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

The Poppy War (Perang Opium) by R.F. Kuang

1000 reviews

fortunetree's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Alright, this is going to be the kinda unhinged and long (I am sorry) but welcome to my review on Poppy Wars. So to summarize my opinion I would like to quote my man Kitay: Whoever came up with that plan must have been high. And I think the same thing is kind of true for this book, was the author high when she wrote this? Not that this is a bad thing though, I liked the book enough to binge it within 24 hours (I would not recommend that though, by the end, I was rambling stuff like the Phoenix is coming for you, Sunzi writes take better care of the pig).

Story review:
I would say I liked the pacing of the story and I preferred the first part of the book. First of all, what I liked about the pacing is that the author doesn't spend unnecessary time establishing her life before the actual story starts. She arrives at Sinegard quite quickly and what continues to happen is all pretty much what you would expect. Also, this kind of reminded me of a shonen-style anime, I mean the whole she is the underdog, who looks different, gets into a petty rivalry (

who later becomes her friend

), only has one friend and then everyone is kinda surprised when she is suddenly better than everyone else.

And we get a training ark, and the whole arena thing.

Also, who thought the first time they read this and heard about Lore that this is what she will pledge, cause I was like if everyone thinks the Lore Master is crazy then that's what she will pledge.
Shout out to Jiang by the way (I love his character).
So while some might think it would be a bit boring to basically have half the book spent on her training I think this also solves as a way to world build which was done quite beautifully. You get a lot of insight into the politics and history of this world (

and the whole shaman thing of course

). In some sense, I also think it was necessary to spend so much time on it because some things can seem really complicated and

, especially everything about the Shaman Lore and speaking to the gods, getting high, and taking drugs seemed like it was written by someone high. It was easy to lose track of what was going on and what the meaning behind a lot of the things said would be. But I still think you could follow the main storyline even if you stepped out on the existential philosophical debates at some times.

The second part of the book was a bit more serious and in some sense dark. It was quite exciting to read and the mood set was pretty grim.

I was a bit startled by this because the mood really completely shifted, which also made me a bit sad because every character I liked started to become either mad or died. And the whole situation at Golyn Niis just made me sick. However, I felt considering the amount of time we spent in the first half of the book the establish the world, I think we could have spent a bit more time on some of the characters in this part. Especially, the Cike. Their introductions felt a bit superficial to me, considering that they seemed like they are going to be part of the main characters now. And also, what is with that almost everyone she knew at the academy had to have a very horrible fate. Especially, Venka, I hope she gets better in the future books, no one deserved this.

Finally, I would say that this book was more story-driven it was also very focused on developing Rin's character (more on that later). So if you would like to read something that is going to feel a bit like a shonen Anime, mixed with Chinese mythology, weird stuff on Shamans and Gods which then turns into a horrible war with Game of Thornes type of messed up shit constantly happening to your favourite characters I would definitely recommend this book to you. Just be warned everyone is kind of is a drug addict or simply crazy.
The only thing that some people might miss is the lack of a romance plot in this book, I feel like it probably would not fit Rins character or the general focus on the more important things in this world but it would have helped to lighten the mood in the second part of the book.

Character Analysis (cause why not, I have time and I have opinions...):

Atlan:
So first of all I would like to say, Justice for my man Atlan

which he sadly never got. Considering his life I feel like this was the best we could have hoped for, it was made very clear that every moment he spent alive was more painful than death. It almost, felt like it was a salvation for him that he was finally granted a death, and a meaningful one at that as well. Personally, I would have liked to see a redemption or healing ark for him but I think if you look into what he went through the people in this book were right, he was broken beyond repair.

Now people say that if life gives you lemons then you should make lemonade. Atlan thinks this is bullshit because life gave him

opium and so he became addicted. Not that I blame him, he really went through shit and considering this I think he was saner than you would expect anyone to be in a situation like this. Thus, even though I had some hate for the man because of how he treated Rin when he lost control and how he kind of became something different than I expected I don't feel like this anymore. He was treated horribly by everyone in his life and somehow he still wanted to do good and fight for "his country" (the people who literally also sold out his people, and continued to make him addicted to opium to have him forged into a weapon). So justice for Atalan because this kind of felt like his entire character was just written for Rin to idolize someone, whose death would then further her hate for the Emporess and everything. I feel bad for him...

I already said that this book lacked romance but I felt a bit like Rin definitely had feelings for him and either he was too broken to realize that or listen to my unhinged theory... So remember before he went off to be a martyr and she thought he would kiss her. Well, the only reason in my book why he might have not is that he was in love with Caghan. So the only thing I am basing this off is probably sleep deprivation from when I read this and the whole story behind that Caghan was not mad that he was not made commander even though he had seniority. I mean come on they went into the woods for three days and afterwards Caghan was his willing "servant". What did you do to this man in the woods Atlan? What did you do? .....

Nezha
Now also, Justice for my man Nezha

because why, this man gets kicked in the balls, slapped in the face, almost killed and still poor guy. I am pretty sure though that he is not dead. If he is then I don't know why they would hint at the fact that he is a shaman and then do not go further into that. Also, he did not really get a proper death, it was more like a boom gas, he is gone, and Atlan is being an ass, so now we cannot find him so he must be dead. I really hope he will show up again in the future books

Rin
So while I like Rin and her determination, I am also like girl get a grip on your character. It is said that she is impatient and rash but girl.

One moment she is like, Atlan he is our commander. How can he do this to us? (Smoking opium). And literally, two seconds she is like, let me smoke too and also I totally get why you do it.

I am also looking forward to seeing how she is going to be in future books because basically, most people who meant something to her died a horrible death because of the Empress so revenge ark incoming. I mean it is already hinted that she is crazy (like everyone else in this entire book)but burning yourself to feel pain to be awake to study, what was that? Also, I know this is a book but if you constantly study like a crazy person, no sleep, no food with no proper rest, then maybe you can do that one or two times when you are young but if you don't recover not only will you not learn anything because well the brain needs sleep to consolidate memories but also you are going to get very sick.

And please please if he is alive give Nezha and her a better relationship, they need to talk about things and like just become better friends.

Jiang
I love this man, he is the coolest edge lord (very anime sensei coded) but also hilariously funny. I mean like he is described as a mad man but he truly is one of the few and only sane characters in this book

and I am saying that even though he currently locked himself into a mountain because he thinks he will go crazy

. I feel like he should have a bigger role in the future because he is simply funny, he be like

carry a pig up a hill its good for you or I don't know why Jun hates me, they tell me I killed his man in the last poppy war but truly no clue. Proceeds to casually get high while walking around campus naked.

Content Warnings