Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

91 reviews

stephsbookedout's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Sexual assault, Classism, Blood, Death, Drug use, Excrement, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, War, Body horror, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Grief, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, and Vomit

wingsofareader's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, War, Addiction, Genocide, Child death, Colonisation, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Xenophobia, Bullying, Suicide, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Rape, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse, Colonisation, Trafficking, Sexism, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Racism, Confinement, Ableism, Animal death, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Excrement, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Self harm, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Author R.F. Kung explains - in a note at the back of the paperback edition - that the vivid descriptions of war violence, including sexual violence against women and children, we’re taking from historical documents and personal accounts from World War II survivors. Kuang’s rating offers specific sensory imagery, alongside a listing of violence observed by the characters as a means of connecting the reader with both the profound horror and the casual brutality of wartime atrocities. These descriptions do not seem gratuitous, when taken as part of the overall level of description of character experience and visual detail throughout the novel, as well as the context of author, intent bring awareness of historic events and truths that are buying large ignored in the West. The details are, however, unflinchingly described, as are the characters emotional, mental and physical trauma responses to what they see and endure. Some readers may find detailed descriptions difficult to read or process, particularly depending on personal circumstance and experience.

estherk809's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, and Self harm

Moderate: Medical trauma, Sexual violence, and Rape

hermoninny's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Medical trauma, War, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual assault, Grief, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, and Gore

ataraxia96's review against another edition

dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, War, Violence, Torture, Racial slurs, Racism, Body horror, Sexual assault, and Rape

atomicrobin'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Animal death, Drug abuse, Death, Classism, Body horror, Blood, Infertility, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Violence, Sexism, Sexual violence, Bullying, Alcohol, Addiction, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, War, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

andilikepeaches's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

There were so many twists and turns throughout this book! I recognized scenes from WWII China immediately, and many of those moments were very difficult to read. I also got the sense as the story progressed that Rin was becoming something of an anti-hero, which turned out to be true. I found her choices at the end of the novel to be deeply disturbing and I really hope her growth takes an upward turn in book 2!

As an aside, I also hope Nezha is not dead (words I never thought I would say aloud).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Addiction, Drug use, Torture, Xenophobia, Death, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Bullying, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Genocide, Murder, Racism, and War

georgia_lou's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Murder, Body horror, Bullying, Addiction, Confinement, Genocide, Grief, Child death, Drug use, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Classism, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Xenophobia

lottielat's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Genocide, Death, Rape, Murder, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Slavery, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Infertility, and Grief

30something_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

5.0

What the actual fuck, Rebecca?

Damn.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Misogyny, Death, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, War, Racial slurs, Gore, Drug abuse, Child death, Sexism, Drug use, Cursing, Self harm, Racism, Rape, Genocide, Body horror, and Addiction