Reviews tagging 'Schizophrenia/Psychosis '

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

75 reviews

jaji's review against another edition

challenging dark informative tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This starts off as bog standard epic fantasy. I think I compared Part 1 to reading Brandon Sanderson. This part is almost half the novel and we get some nice worldbuilding and a cruisy pace.

Part 2 was more complex, as it explores wartime, but was I felt still pretty standard fare. It was in this part I realised this novel is was a WW2 retelling from the perspective of China.

Part 3 examines the worst parts of the WW2 conflict, and you'll need a strong stomach. The author doesn't exaggerate - she is unflinchingly accurate in her depiction of fictional Nanking. 

This book examines the futility of war, how it corrupts, and the impacts of colonisation and racism. However it's not for the faint of heart - genocide, torture and medical experimentation are all depicted.

I wouldn't say I enjoyed the book, I don't think I can given the content. I can say RF Kuang is a good writer and this is an excellent debut novel.

Edit to add: part 3 of this book fucked me up for a few days afterwards. I ended up going on a sweet, frothy reading binge to recover.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Infertility, Mental illness, Torture, War, Xenophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Slavery, Bullying, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Racism, and Rape

antoneh's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Genocide, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Torture, Hate crime, Abortion, Rape, War, Suicide, Slavery, Sexual violence, Racism, Grief, Drug abuse, Addiction, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pedophilia, Gore, and Drug use

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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

4.5

This book, a fantasy, fictionalized variation on China in WWII with the aftermath of the Opium Wars also in the mix, is frankly amazing. The writing becomes more dark and elaborate as the protagonist Rin ages and becomes less innocent through fighting in war at much too young of an age. The mythological aspects are very inventive and refreshing. The Cike is like a sort of Thunderbolts from Marvel or Suicide Squad from DC, if you’re familiar with these comic book teams. All of the characters that Rin is mentored by and/or befriends brings different aspects of her developing personality to the fore. I can’t wait to see what choices Rin makes in “The Dragon Republic” for better or worse. All of the characters are so intriguing and many of them easily could have been protagonists in their own rights. I got quite attached to everyone. This book is an experience. My only slight gripe is that many characters that the protagonist knows have a sort of low key plot armor so that they can be used to illustrate certain aspects of war later in the novel despite it seeming that they shouldn’t have survived some earlier world building regarding how the war is playing out in different fronts. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Torture, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Racism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

All of these triggers are evident in this narrative whether they’re something that happens to the main character, someone she knows, or is just generally part of the world. It is a brutal world that is in the midst of war and the protagonist is part of a group that’s kind of feared. All of the brutality is mentioned quite specifically in increasingly dark detail as you progress in the novel. Be aware, it doesn’t hold back.

julia1579e's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

what the fuck

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Violence, Bullying, Death, Genocide, Gore, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Addiction, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Vomit, and War

sacredgayometry's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

Beautifully written and culturally expansive- the world building and magic system are fascinating. There are some very dark and upsetting moments that feel difficult to read, but the overall result is a great read with incredibly complex characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Murder, Rape, Infertility, Gore, Violence, War, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical trauma, Ableism, Animal death, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, and Grief

Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Trafficking, Slavery, Sexism, Bullying, and Forced institutionalization

If you have trauma related especially to heroin or opioids, they are often mentioned and abused and this may not be the book for you. There is also heavy allegory to the conflicts in China and Japan surrounding opium and colonization and the wars that have occurred especially during feudal periods. I found it reminiscent of the Vietnam war and World War II. War crimes are a heavy theme. Very well written but can be a very difficult read.

lmanor's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

The graphic scenes were a lot, but as they were based in history I commend the author from not shying away 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, Gun violence, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Gore, Body horror, Excrement, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racism, Mental illness, Mass/school shootings, Gaslighting, Bullying, Self harm, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Genocide, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, and Death

sterilization of a minor

_fallinglight_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, War, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Torture

emilyplun's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Child abuse, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Infertility, Death, Body horror, Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Murder, Sexual violence, Grief, Racism, Genocide, Gore, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Confinement, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Bullying, Animal death, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Blood, and Domestic abuse

anjasfairylights's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow, what a ride. This is one of the best fantasy novels I‘ve read in a long time. I can‘t wait to read the second volume but damn, first I need to take a break for my mental health. This book is no joke at all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Body horror, Blood, Child death, Death, Drug use, Genocide, War, Gore, Sexual violence, Torture, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Confinement, Vomit, Misogyny, Medical content, Sexual content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

reddeddy's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Death, Drug use, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Xenophobia, Addiction, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, War, Abandonment, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Excrement, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Trafficking, Abortion, Classism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, and Self harm

Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Police brutality, and Pedophilia