Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

2458 reviews

ebreheny25's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.5

I’ve wanted to read this book for ages and it has lived up to all expectations. I feel like Rebecca dropped you in the middle of Rin’s world in a way that was not harsh, but it was exhilarating. I am so excited to read the rest of the trilogy. 
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kenzieshea24's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
It just got way too dark for me. 
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lawofeyes's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad tense fast-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? Yes

3.5

The premise and worldbuilding is very intriguing, but the plot and characters to me felt just decent because of the writing. There was just a sense of amateur-ness to the writing style that was off putting to me, despite the overall plot point and developments being okay, and themes clear and powerful. The plot is also blazing fast and I think that was to the detriment of more immersive worldbuilding. However, the details when they come, like in the atrocities by the Mugen soldiers and the mental struggles Rin has, are very good. Overall, I intent to read the rest of the trilogy but am a bit cautious; this wasn't an automatic love, just a like.
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salma_175's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark fast-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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yoopiedoopie's review against another edition

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4.5

broke my heart genuinely. the first third is so necessary to fully feel the impact of the violence and cruelty that these kids(!!) endure. 

the theme of sacrifice is so prevalent, especially in the context of the supposed religion vs. secularism dichotomy. from the start rin is set up as the kind of person who believes pain, violence, and suffering can be redemptive and is even necessary. and the way this is brought out so terribly during wartime and the other people she interacts with was well done.

i really liked that rin was an unreliable narrator. as the reader you can tell that
the paranoia that altan feels is a side effect of being a vessel for the phoenix, but rin is so blinded by her conception of him that she cant possibly believe that him being violent with her and him seeing enemies everywhere isnt for good reason.


the way genocide and dehumanization was dealt with felt not very subtle, esp with some of kitay's dialogue. but thats fine.

i also liked that we heard different versions of this world's lore, filtered through various states' agendas. ofc different characters would know and believe different things due to state propaganda. this was a great thing to include.
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everlymayreads's review against another edition

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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? Yes

4.0

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jaqylantern's review

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emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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naddyratty's review

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fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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sawtrapz's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

very very good in a lot of areas!! falls a tiny bit short with its characters and their motivations/ the way they speak BUT they serve as a means to go into a bunch of really dark but interesting shit. i usually do not care for lore and world building and what have you as much as the characters but i found this fascinating and that was what had me so into this. i adored just how MUCH there was in the universe from the politics, history, social issues, religion.... and in the exposition stage its told to you really creatively in little bits and pieces and it works perfectly. no notes there. end isnt as good as the rest of it but this is still overall a good book!! 
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jbrgst's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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