Reviews with content warning for Blood - The Poppy War

I'm not sure if I wasn't concentrating or if this is a mess. In places the writing is great, the story is interesting.... And then it all gets in a jumble, rushed, and head in a spin - what is happening? Why did this character just do that? Why is this storyline being skimmed over? I much preferred the first part in the war college to the later parts when they were actually at war.

Reading this at the same time in listening to the audiobook of Iron Flame is also a mistake, because both are about war college with unlikely, physically weak, heroines who find their niche ... And The Poppy War does not compare well to Iron Flame unfortunately (and surprisingly).

Babel demonstrated a much improved writing style for Kuang. Still contemplating if I'll read books 2 and 3 (for a book club)

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kimreads14's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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? Yes

3.75

First rating 3.75⭐️… but I think I need to digest it a bit more before sticking to a final rating.

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voypel's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.75

If you read this review before you read the book:
Pay attention to the content warnings. This book is very explicit in some tropes.
The chapters:

Chapter 21: All the warnings below apply heavily in this one.

Summary:
The Poppy War is, in my opinion, one of the best fantasy epos debuts of the last few years. People who like fantasy concepts with a dark reality behind and grand strategy elements will love this book.
Yes, it’s dark, horrible and sometimes downright depressing, but this instills realism, high stakes and emotion into this book, something I personally have missed in recent times.

I docked .25 stars for the really heavy content this book carries, I believe a similar effect could have been created without this level of explicitness. However, I concede the point the author tries to make, applaud her even for integrating it seamlessly into the story, but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

In times when genocide and extremist politics become socially acceptable again, this book narrates a clear warning.

Storytelling & Characters:
I have seldomly read such a compelling plot in a fantasy debut. The main character steadily evolves throughout the story, taking you with her through her darkest times. Even the „explicit scenes“ are integrated so well, that it doesn’t feel like splatter or gore but more like the horrible reality of an Auschwitz documentary. The plot is heavily driven by all the different actors in such a realistic, even historically accurate way, that it resonates heavily after.

Pacing:
It’s great, I read this in two days, couldn’t really lay it aside.

Tldr:
Great book. Honestly, one of the best ones I’ve read in the last few years. Big recommendation.

Short Note:
I have read many reviews that criticise the war/post-war scenes as completely needless. I understand that to some degree, but you probably didn’t grasp the clear political and humanitarian statement 🤷‍♀️. A documentary about concentration camps or modern day China genocidal activities without some explicitness is a euphemism of reality.

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ayanna7700's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense slow-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

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xelanimation's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

On the back of this book, there’s a quote that says “I thought myself prepared. I was not”. That statement is entirely correct. This story was fantastic, the characters were achingly real, I understood each of them. Despite the many moving pieces, I understood everything I needed to about what was going on, which I sometimes need to take time to do with fantasy epics, which goes to show R. F. Kuang knows how to keep her writing clear. The first half of the book I would say was simply enjoyable, a classic tale of a student leaving behind and escaping her life with a bleak future for the promise of a bright future at a renowned school. Learning about the world through her, watching her work hard, it was all exactly the kind of thing I’ve loved before. But while the second half is just as good, if not significantly better, you should know it’s completely different. It’s harrowing, with vivid, disturbing imagery and descriptions, that can only be described as devastating. There are high levels of violence, of all kinds, so just proceed warned and with caution. All of that being said, R. F. Kuang is a fantastic writer, and clearly has been since she began publishing, I will read anything she writes. But I hope she understands that I need a break of a few fluffy books before reading the next instalment of the Poppy War.

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