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doodeedoda'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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, War, Child death, Classism, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Racism, Addiction, Cannibalism, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Suicide, Colonisation, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Genocide, Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual violence, and Child abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Miscarriage, and Misogyny
katiemcgregor'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
4.0
What this book did really well is evoke intense emotions and instill an overall feeling of impending doom due to enemies that our main characters potentially can't even compete with. They're battling the colonization and "natural progression" of the world and it's hard to imagine that being a fight that can be won under these circumstances. Throughout the whole book it just doesn't feel like things can end well. No matter how many victories Rin achieves, the writing does a really good job of conveying her hollow feelings associated with them.
I think the other thing I maybe wanted a little more of was action between the original trio. It was obvious that everything was going to come down to them in the end, but The Dragon Republic was filled with more collaboration, fighting, and tension between them. Since they're all spread out, especially Nezha, throughout this book it just didn't lend itself to the type of interaction I would have loved more of.
All that being, said, I'm kind of nitpicking here because it's been a long time since I've been this invested in a series. This book really is very good and I understand why this has already become such a renowned trilogy. It is an experience.
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Death, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Alcohol, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, War, Animal death, Colonisation, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, and Slavery
Moderate: Cannibalism
some_random_person_hi'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
Graphic: Cannibalism, Child death, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, and War
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Sexual violence, and Ableism
Minor: Toxic relationship
violaceae's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Death, Gore, Blood, Drug use, Murder, Child death, Genocide, Torture, Drug abuse, Cannibalism, Racism, Grief, Animal death, Body horror, Addiction, Rape, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Cursing, Self harm, Confinement, Animal cruelty, War, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Moderate: Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Outing, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, and Rape
isabellaft'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
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, and Xenophobia
ghulsona'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
4.5
Rin's gradual slip into insanity is something that I predicted from the first book, but it still gutted me to read about her downfall in this book. Do you know the tumblr post that goes like "i am a war criminal i am clinically insane & the next virgin mary & i am never going to die etc etc"? I feel like that is the exact embodiment of the character Rin becomes over the course of this book. Reading about her descent into madness was extremely interesting - she's already thinking of herself as this legendary figure that history will sing about before they've even won the war! The hubris! Her love for Kitay being a tether to her humanity made me so so so sad. The last scene truly destroyed me. I get why a lot of people wouldn't like her character, but I found her her thirst for vengeance and her struggles with identity (who is she without a war to fight for?) so fascinating. She's definitely a character that I will think about for a long time.
Kitay, Kitay, Kitay. I loved him so much - his genius, his ethics, how he loves and loves Rin despite everything and cannot deny her anything. "Take what you want, it said. I’ll hate you for it. But I’ll love you forever. I can’t help but love you. Ruin me, ruin us, and I’ll let you." Wow!
The Trifecta finally coming together was something that I was really excited to read about. Jiang! I missed him dearly and felt Rin's heartbreak when he really isn't the man we met in the first book anymore. I also grew to like Daji more than I thought I would. I was expecting Riga to be horrible, but his monstrosity cannot be understated. I wish we could've gotten more of them - their time was up almost as soon as we finally had all 3 of them together, and it doesn't make that much sense considering how powerful they were? Oh well, I did really enjoy the little that we got of them.
For the other characters: Rin finally realizing that Altan had been extremely flawed, but still heeding his words and keeping his memory and voice alive in her mindspace was interesting. Venka! I'm heartbroken about her end, but I loved the small moments she had with Rin. I didn't see much of Nezha so I don't have much thoughts to offer about him, but I'll read "The Drowning Faith" soon to get his perspective. The mastery and execution of his powers was really cool to read about, and the last scene really hit home how young he is despite the burdens placed on his shoulders (how young all of them are, really).
There are some things that I wished were explored more. For example, Speer! I am honestly left with more questions than I had before. How did Rin survive the genocide? I want to know more about Hanelai! Also, I thought the subplot about Chaghan's people would be tied into the story, not solved outside of the text. Speaking of Chaghan's people, I thought we would get more about Tseveri! I also wish there could've been more exploration of the vengeance and violence that takes ahold of the South following their liberations. What were the fates of Kesegi and maybe even Tutor Feyrik? Also, what is up with the Hesperians!?! How did they even find those god-neutralizing weapons? This was definitely intentional, but the uncertainty of Nikara's future by the end of the book really had me distressed.
Misc moments that I really liked: Rin's small memorial to Jiang at the base of the mountain and her last thoughts to her old mentor. Her last thoughts about the endless circle of violence and her thinking about others who once stood in her place to make the choice she had to make. Rin's mentoring of the new shamans (I wish we had gotten more of them as well, but alas)! "Dying was easy. Living was so much harder—that was the most important lesson Altan had ever taught her". Rin finding the poppy fields outside of Tikany and having that brief burst of hope. Rin getting her revenge on Sister Petra!
Overall, I really did love this book. I haven't picked up a book in a long time that's captivated me as much as this series has, I'll probably think of it for a long time. Read the Poppy War!
Graphic: Blood, Death, Body horror, Grief, Mental illness, Racism, Gore, Murder, Religious bigotry, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Animal death
redthistle'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
All of the characters developed in ways I had hoped and looked for in the other two books. If you liked the first two I highly recommend finishing the series with this one.
The end absolutely devastated me but in the best way possible. The writing was stunningly beautiful and I am in awe.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Violence, Vomit, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
podanotherjessi'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
4.5
Characters: 10
Plot: 7
Setting: 10
General appeal: 9
Writing style: 7
Originality: 9
Ending: 10
Spoiler free, Poppy War series review: https://youtu.be/H0xdme4atzo
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia
m_________'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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Incest and Vomit
miyaosamu's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Ruin me, ruin us, and I’ll let you.”
So all I'm feeling is an immense amount of pain. Thank you very much RFK for writing an ending so painful I’ll be recovering for years to come!! Where to even start? I'll try not say speak on major spoilers at this time and maybe update with a full spoiler review closer to release date. After mulling this over for a week and still recovering I finally attempted finishing writing this. These characters have definitely come a long way, and I have thoroughly enjoyed this journey of watching them grow but also fall apart. Part one of this book was an absolute exhilarating ride, I felt exactly what Rin was feeling which was riding the high of the war and consistent victories. Rin’s development from The Poppy War til now, and her arc throughout The Burning God was quite gripping to read. Her overall character arc was true to indications made on what was to come with foreshadowing in the Poppy War. Seeing her come full circle at specific parts of this book since the first book was very satisfying to read. Kitay, my best boy, his one-liners and caring personality really makes the reader laugh and forget about the despairing atmosphere of this book even for just a few seconds. He’s changed so much from the curious boy we met at Sinegard with what the effects of the horrors of war had on each of the characters. He’s hardened a bit, but still the caring, even smarter, and unconditionally loving Kitay we know. His platonic soulmate dynamic with Rin has been brought up front and center of the story in this one and seeing how their bond affects them both individually as the story goes on especially with Rin being on the battlefront. And then there’s Nezha, seeing where we left off with him in The Dragon Republic, he was the one I was most looking forward to seeing where his particular story goes and the actions he was going to take. When we do finally see him, the route he took for himself was both expected and unexpected due to his opinions on shamanism back in the second book. Broke my heart to see the impact as it further strained his relationship with both Kitay and Rin. With Venka I was soso happy we finally got to see more of her in a prominent role in this one, as she’s by Rin’s side after the events of The Dragon Republic. Her quick wit dialogue, and how her character has toughened but also strengthened to rise to her place in war and prioritizing helping Rin, Kitay and the Southern Army. These four characters are just so close to my heart and are truly on the top of my list of being some of my all time favorite characters. I’m just gonna miss reading about them genuinely so much. Some critique I had was that I was underwhelmed with some particular big plot points that I won't get in depth to unless I make a spoiler review. I think part two of the story slowed down the exhilaration of part one as it dragged on a bit. In addition there were some new info plot points that weren’t explained further and has the reader deduce their own conclusions.
But nevertheless, The Burning God was still an outstanding read during the third act of the story with profound moments the characters had being internal war of their own emotions and stability. Kuang captured a bleak, desperate atmosphere for the story that really has the reader fearing for their life for anything that could happen, and desperate in the sense of enduring how long the war has gone on just as Rin, Kitay, Nezha, and Venka feels as the plot furthers. Her stunning writing truly had me feeling what they were going through with the dread of thinking what will come next along with the unbalanced young minds trying to stay afloat thinking for their country with the fear of not knowing how to handle it all. Now excuse me while I continue to cry and try to process this book, specifically the last chapter and epilogue.❤️
“Oh, but history moved in such vicious circles.”
Graphic: Confinement, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Murder