Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

377 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

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

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

caphine's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Colonisation, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racism, War, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Grief and Confinement

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

lydia203's review against another edition

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Vomit, War, Violence, Cursing, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Classism, Body shaming, Torture, Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Toxic friendship, Slavery, Animal death, Terminal illness, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Blood, Body horror, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Confinement, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny

f_m_12's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, Death, Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Drug use, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, War, Xenophobia, Genocide, and Trafficking

naemi_wn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Transphobia, Drug use, Classism, Death of parent, Mental illness, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Addiction, Gaslighting, Ableism, Racism, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Abortion, Death, Sexual assault, War, Physical abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Genocide, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood

jukebox1168's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

The book was somewhat dry. Run sees some terrible things and I never felt like she connected emotionally with what was happening. At times it felt like a list of things instead of the terrible things she witnessed. As this was a debut novel and Babel was so good, I will be reading the rest of the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Gore, Addiction, Body horror, Classism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Suicide, Drug abuse, Genocide, Murder, Sexual violence, Self harm, Blood, and War

arielthereader's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Torture, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Animal cruelty, Infertility, Bullying, Self harm, Blood, War, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Rape

noms01's review against another edition

adventurous 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Violence, Death, Drug use, Child abuse, Blood, Addiction, Classism, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, and War

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Abandonment, Medical content, Slavery, and Sexism