Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

1446 reviews

abridges2954's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I can't say I enjoyed the experience of reading this, but it was well-written and well-crafted. The characters were very nuanced and flawed, and I experienced a lot of emotions while going through the story. It's not a feel-good tale, but it is well done. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, War, Death, Murder, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Classism, Drug abuse, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Infertility, Addiction, and Emotional abuse

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

bag_end_library's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Drug use, Genocide, Colonisation, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, War, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual assault, Vomit, Sexual violence, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Confinement, and Self harm

elenagolub's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad 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: Grief, Sexual violence, Gore, Sexual assault, Genocide, Slavery, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Rape, Classism, Animal death, Racism, Blood, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, and War

cocokola's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Drug abuse, Colonisation, Murder, Genocide, Death, and War

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

zweinst's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, War, Torture, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

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

elle_g's review against another edition

1.0

I don't understand how this book had such high ratings - the main character was childish & irritating & made the worst decisions, the secondary characters & antagonists were one dimensional and largely used as props (i.e., bringing back a female character for the sole purpose of graphically describing brutal SA), the actual storytelling and pacing were messy, the story sometimes contradicted itself within a page or two. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Body horror, Child death, Death, and War

tonililian's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.0

I really enjoyed the poppy war!
Rin is a great, fascinating main character. Her strong will, craving for power, hot temper and the anger she feels made for a great, unique protagonist. Eventhough she and other characters of the main cast were definitly not always likeable moral characters, one could empathise and root for them. Altan, Nezha etc. Were also good characters.  Plotwise the storys progression was fitting and the worldbuilding was interesting, but not to complex to not be understandable. I couldn't put the book down. Towards the end though i must say it was quite brutal and gruesome. Eventhough i understand why that choice was made, i was not prepared and it was too much for me. I personally did not think the violence had to be that graphic and disturbing to fullfill its purpose. And be aware of not just violence and torture but also graphic retellings of sexual violence.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Genocide, Slavery, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence