Reviews with content warning for Xenophobia - The Poppy War

This is one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in a long time. And while the plot felt respective sometimes it’s a 5 star for the absolute brilliant writing and how horrific it is. This book is dark. Kuang takes a no holds bar look at genocide and makes you look at it from every angel

Rin is a complicated character. She’s written so well. She’s just a girl, forced into lives she doesn’t ask for to make choices she doesn’t want. I hate what she does and at the same time I don’t blame her.

there was a few chapters I had to put the book down before reading it. That’s how you onow a book is good

“And she would call the gods to do such terrible things”

Cannot wait to read the rest of this series. Keep in mind the content warnings it’s a brutal dark book. But one I think everyone should read

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pillowoo's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

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cepbreed's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I'm still processing. To think that this book is a debut is insane to me. R. F. Kuang can do no wrong. I love her storytelling but I am so glad I started the Poppy War series after reading her two standalone novels. I fear the others would have disappointed me if they followed a read of this.

The first half of the novel felt slow. I wasn't able to get into the storyline because it was so glaringly unoriginal. There, I said it. Sure, a tried and true plot is only tried and true because it works, but I picked up this book expecting more. It took weeks to find that more thanks to my modules and plain disinterest. Smack dab in the center of the book lies that gritty tonal shift that I could really sink my teeth into. I appreciate so much that Kuang is a historian because she never shied away from the brutality of war. The inspiration drawn from the atrocities committed by the Japanese made me sick to my stomach.

Venka, and the real women who were forced to become "comfort women" bring out a deep hatred for men within me.

That quality saved a novel that plateaued in the first half. I understand a world like this needs exposition and I also get that for that shift to take effect the beginning would have to be more tame in comparison (I'm struggling to find the right words here because I don't think "tame" correctly describes a girl

removing her own uterus

but alas). I can forget all of my grips with this book because any ending that makes me feel like this one did is deserving of innumerable praise. I balked when I turned the page and "Acknowledgements" stared back at me. I'm simultaneously thirsty for more and unbelieving that a book such as this one should or could be followed up. In a way, even with the loose ends in the plot, I think I would be content if the story just ended here. I thank Kuang for never being afraid to

kill off main characters, but at the same time, nearly all of the original cast is gone. New characters won't endear themselves to me in the same way the academy kids did. In the Tiktoks I sometimes get about this book people seem to have endless praise for Nezha so maybe he isn't dead? But that's lowkey overkill because c'mon, no way one teenage boy can miraculously dodge paralysis and death consecutively. Then again it is mentioned he's hiding something, maybe he's got like healing powers thanks to his family god or something.

The power system of this universe is convoluted in the best way. However, I can't entirely wrap my head around it so the confusion is getting to me.

In the wake of the new Avatar live-action series I hope this never gets greenlit for any sort of on-screen adaptation. Not to deprive Kuang of her bag, but there's just no way in hell any show or movie would do this book justice. If they do make one though trust I will be watching the second it comes out.

Song:

Lipstick on the Glass - Wolf Alice

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thegr1mreader's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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? No

3.0

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withlivjones's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced

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

4.5

You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain

WOW. Mind-blowing. HOW was this Kuang’s debut novel?? Rin is such a fascinating protagonist, she’s so driven and has so many wants and makes so many bad decisions because of that, and she is just unbelievably human. You’d be mad to agree with everything she does but you can’t help but root for her anyway. And Kuang doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to depictions of the horrors of war - this book is awfully gruesome at times but it’s pretty realistic (since much of the book was inspired by events that actually happened in history), even when you add in the fantasy elements.

Also, as a final note, it’s so refreshing to read a fantasy book where there’s absolutely no romantic subplot. I need more of those please!

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