Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

2359 reviews

anxiousshorebird's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-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? Yes

3.25

This book was difficult. I found myself rolling my eyes and struggling to continue through the first half. At one point I resigned myself to reading purely out of curiosity, rather than enjoyment. Normally I would DNF a book loke that, but I've seen trusted reviewers praise this book and I was curious about the mysteries slowly being uncovered. Then about half way through I couldn't stop reading. 

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, War, Body horror, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Violence, Drug abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, and Torture

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Addiction, Excrement, Animal death, Infertility, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcohol, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Trafficking

mabi29's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

A história começou muito bem escrita, apresentando os personagens suavemente e desenrolando o enredo com calma. Quando iniciou a guerra a história deu uma acelerada abrupta e do nada ficava lento novamente, isso me incomodou um pouco.

Sobre a forma como a autora narra os terrores de uma guerra, achei muito bem escrito, ela passou a angústia da espera do início do combate, passou bem o medo e a raiva que todos sentem, e nos piores feitos ela não foi desnecessariamente detalhista. Ela narrou coisas horríveis, bem traumatizantes, mas parecia que ela mesmo queria que acabasse logo. 
A personagem principal tinha horas que me dava raiva, mas eu entendo ela, o que me estressada é que ela ficava trocando de opinião a cada minuto, mas sempre ia pro mesmo caminho.

Gostei do livro, acredito que vou ler os seguintes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Genocide, Rape, Child death, Child abuse, Death, and Torture

mollyjoy__'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Body horror, Child death, Addiction, Death, Suicide, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War

Chapter 21 of this book is especially hard to read and details recollections of extremely graphic violence towards women and sexual assault.

graceling_04's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

4.5

Most of the book was pretty good but part 3 was tragic and horrible and had me in tears.  Don't read if your squeamish!!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Drug use, Genocide, and Child death

katelyndepaul's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Murder, Genocide, War, and Sexual violence

bobaandcaffeine's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Drug use, War, Drug abuse, Genocide, and Gore

thejwq's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Child abuse, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Blood, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Gore, Murder, War, Slavery, and Torture

benji_dw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

4.5

Amazing debut novel. Almost historical fiction in a  grimdark world N.K. Jemisin could have written. Know the content warnings before reading though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Medical trauma, Genocide, War, Violence, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Eating disorder, Drug use, Child abuse, Blood, Death, Addiction, and Physical abuse

robinudell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.25

Amazing to me that Kuang wrote this at such a young age- it's dark and insightful and ambitious, and I'm excited to read the second two books to see how her writing develops!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Rape, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Self harm, and Torture

miranda_redmond'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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Torture, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Genocide

Moderate: Classism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Death, Self harm, Colonisation, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual violence