Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

681 reviews

ariangel's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Torture, Sexual violence, Self harm, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Gore, Child death, Violence, Trafficking, Racism, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Grief, and Genocide

drjoannehill's review against another edition

dark fast-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

3.0

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)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Animal death, Racism, War, Torture, Drug use, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, and Confinement

kimreads14's review against another edition

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. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Grief, Self harm, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Animal death, Blood, Xenophobia, Violence, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Torture, War, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Colonisation, Drug use, Excrement, Genocide, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization

xelanimation's review against another edition

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.   

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Animal death, War, Racism, Grief, Genocide, Death, Violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Colonisation, Child death, and Addiction

molaviola's review against another edition

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Classism, Colonisation, Addiction, Child death, Death, Slavery, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Infertility, Deportation, Death of parent, Violence, War, Sexual violence, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Abortion, Torture, and Racism

hannnrodriguez's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Grief, War, Xenophobia, Violence, Torture, Pregnancy, Slavery, Murder, Sexual violence, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Rape, Addiction, Gore, Blood, Animal cruelty, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Genocide, Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Police brutality, Child death, and Child abuse

abridges2954's review against another edition

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

3.75

I can't say I enjoyed the experience of reading this, but it was well-written and well-crafted. The characters were very nuanced and flawed, and I experienced a lot of emotions while going through the story. It's not a feel-good tale, but it is well done. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, War, Death, Murder, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Classism, Drug abuse, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Infertility, Addiction, and Emotional abuse

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

---

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

angelizamo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Death, Confinement, Torture, Genocide, War, Rape, Colonisation, Physical abuse, and Violence

bag_end_library's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Drug use, Genocide, Colonisation, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, War, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual assault, Vomit, Sexual violence, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Confinement, and Self harm