Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

780 reviews

thereadingmarshmallow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Violence, Vomit, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Ableism, Child death, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Slavery, Torture, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Animal death, Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Cursing, Dysphoria, Drug use, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, War, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt

angelizamo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Death, Confinement, Torture, Genocide, War, Rape, Colonisation, Physical abuse, and Violence

labricoleuse's review against another edition

Couldn’t take the brutality anymore 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Gore, Rape, Violence, Classism, War, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Excrement, Sexual assault, Addiction, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Genocide, Blood, Bullying, Drug use, Self harm, Torture, Sexual violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Mental illness

paperbacksandsnacks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

This is one of the most complex books I’ve ever read, but because of that I couldn’t possibly give it anything less than 5⭐️. The writing was STUNNING. The talent pouring from these pages is honestly mind blowing! 

 I did find this book dense and slightly challenging. But not because of how it was written, I think the story was told wonderfully and clearly, I just had to re read parts as there is A LOT of information to take on board. So this is definitely a book that requires focus. 

The characters are all super complex. You’re constantly battling conflicting feelings for them and whether you agree with the way they’re conducting themselves. The elements of mystery and the curiosity it invokes in the reader is super clever. 

 I enjoyed the few (small) moments of humour and thought they did break up the heaviness well. Because take this as a warning, this book is HEAVY. It is a story spanning years that are filled with violence, war, fighting and so many horrors. 

Whilst a beautifully written tale, it is not the fun fantasies we may be used to. It is no ACOTAR, and you will need to enter this having read the content warnings. It is a real and vividly honest depiction of war, interwoven with friendships, found family, and fantastical/magical elements. 

If you’re in the market for a new fantasy to get your teeth stuck into, with a complex world and story then this might just be for you. But I would advise protecting yourself against the very harsh content and only reading if you feel safe to do so. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Bullying, Murder, Physical abuse, War, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Racism, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

jpshell's review against another edition

dark

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Very graphic. I went in blind and I wish I had known how graphic it was going in. Good book but go in prepared. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Gore, Rape, Violence, Animal death, Torture, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Trafficking, War, Murder, Blood, Death, Body horror, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, and Self harm

cora_aossey's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.0

I would’ve enjoyed and appreciated this book so much more if it wasn’t falsely sold to me as enemies to lovers  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Violence, Cursing, Child abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Racism, Slavery, and Rape

tinyplanet's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Blood, Misogyny, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Murder, Self harm, Sexism, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Hate crime, Violence, Addiction, Body horror, War, Physical abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Rape, Suicide, Infertility, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Classism, and Alcohol

Minor: Abortion, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Excrement, Ableism, Fatphobia, and Sexual content

meli3s3s's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Colonisation, Gore, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, War, Murder, Sexual assault, Slavery, Blood, Hate crime, Torture, Violence, and Genocide

Moderate: Infertility, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail

lemoon99's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Addiction, Genocide, Grief, Violence, Animal death, War, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Slavery, Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, and Rape

stephhamp's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

5.0

This was an amazing start to what I’m sure will be an amazing trilogy. With that being said, prepare yourself. This has a compelling and universal story involving colorism,  class, war, and death. Heact trigger warnings for some of the most specific, harrowing, bleak, and unfortunately accurate depictions of the horrors of war.
Some of the lore (🙃) and world building requires more explanation in my opinion but I’m sure it will be more clear after another read. Which i will not do for a while for my mental health. This was a brilliant but heavy read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, War, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Torture