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faniladm's review against another edition
- 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
Fang Runin (Rin), a unexpected student who enrolled Military Academy—located in Sinegard, the capital of Nikan—that she didn't belong because in history there's no students who from outskirts like Rin. She bullied. But Rin is not a girl who would be shut up upon it, she fight back in order to belong.
Several years ahead war broken between Nikan and Federation, it is involved the students, included Rin. Along the war secret revealed about who Rin really are, and they afraid, scare, of her. Not why. But who are they, you should ask.
The Poppy War is written by R. F. Kuang who is asian and studies Chinese history—yup, there's history in it—Opium War. I called The Poppy War as historical fantasy. The Poppy War draws how war are fucked up, terrible, inhumane, and insanity. More you get into the story, more it get worse and worse. How Rin desperated about the war, she saw something that she didn't believe that war is like hell, truly hell. Very chaotic and destructive. A lot of innocent people involved.
I don't know why I enjoyed this book but I like it, totally captivating. The world building. The characters development. The fantasy. And the shamanism. All are fantastic. Even if it took me long time to finish because The Poppy War—thick book with long chapter—really intimidated me.
What a dark fantasy! This is such a masterpiece, someone managed to combine history and fantasy to be in one, in The Poppy War. Kuang really great author for this.
The Poppy War is not appropriated for young readers because has dark, explicit, and gruesome scenes of warfare and the aftermath. I wouldn't recommend for readers who under fifteen.
Last but not least, kalo kalian udah punya KTP dan masih ragu buat baca The Poppy War. Well, I will sit for you and talk to you why you have to read The Poppy War. Let's convince you to put this dark fantasy to your next TBR.
Graphic: Body shaming, Torture, Colonisation, Deadnaming, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Racism, Rape, Bullying, Body horror, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, War, Death, Drug use, Gore, Murder, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
mel_sh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
i've had this series marketed to me as YA fantasy but it is 1000% an adult series with adult themes so please do not go into this book thinking it will just be yet another tiktok recommended fluffy ya fantasy with magic. chapter 21 will forever be ingrained in my head as one of the saddest and most gruesome things i’ve ever read and it is not something that should be gone into blind.
that being said, there is no denying that this book is a masterpiece and i’m so upset it’s taken me this long to read this but also so happy because i feel like i wouldn’t have enjoyed this as much as a 16yr old as i did as a 19yr old. this was wonderful and life changing and i cannot wait to read the rest
Graphic: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, War, Addiction, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Grief, Violence, Animal death, Classism, Death, Genocide, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Bullying, and Child death
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Misogyny, Abandonment, Ableism, Infertility, Racism, and Emotional abuse
rnbhargava's review against another edition
- 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
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.reddeddy's review against another edition
- 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
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
keen's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Gore, Murder, Confinement, Blood, Animal cruelty, Addiction, War, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Animal death, Rape, Child death, Toxic friendship, Torture, Emotional abuse, Death, Bullying, and Body shaming
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Pedophilia and Trafficking
meetmeinthebookstore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Genocide, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Rape, Self harm, Addiction, Gore, Murder, Death, Child death, Blood, Drug use, Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, and War
Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Sexism, Bullying, and Racism
Minor: Cursing, Excrement, Infertility, Vomit, Body shaming, Pedophilia, Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
manonswife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
THIS BOOK, MY GOD.
this book and its violence and the deaths and the trauma. RF Kuang sure is not afraid to let her main characters like like ants, and characters die in general. I cannot even contain how this book made me feel. sad, angry, happy, remorseful. so many emotions.
Runin is THE ANTI HERO OF THIS DECADE.
Chapter 21 made my gut hurt.
Atlan dies, my god. I was spoiled for the ending but it still hurt like a bitch, how he sacrificed himself. Also the part 3 of this book is no joke, it has some terrible, very descriptive and violent scenes. traumatic. The part 1 and part 3 are SO SO different, I cannot even fantom that they are a part of the same story.
I know this book is not romance at all, and im so proud to read a book wit 0% romance after literally reading smut book ( made #2), but I still will be fucking mad if nezha is dead because I need enemies to lovers arc between Rin and Nezha.
Now, lets talk about Rin, my girl, my morally ambitious and grey girl did not hesitate to fucking burn an entire country and I dont have any words. I mean I dont even hate her, I LOVE HER, and I will justify what she did beach women committing violence is not really violence, bye, I said what I said.
The Cike, they are so unique with their cool ass powers and what not and Rin is their commander now, cool shit. The names of the characters in this book is very difficult but that is totally on me. Everything about the pantheon, the gods, the shamans, the speerly, I cannot wash to know more bayou this word and what the like do with the empress. also, the federation soldiers that are left must be angry as fuck. And, what happened to Venda ( that girl ) I dont remember her name made ma want to puke and everything, chapter 21 is just so traumatic, I cannot even begin to explain. The freaking Phoenix , whattt, need to know more about it.
Even tho it took me literal ages to finish this book, holy fuck I liked this book way too much. Bitch empress.
The wind god that escaped, THE GATEKEEPER IS JIYANG , like what . I knew he was sth powerful but the gatekeeper itself? holy hells. Also, Ramsa's shit bombs >>> hahaha.
The way Rin studied to pass her Keju is the way I was to start studying, literally. Goddess Rin , give me power.
If Nezha is really dead, RF Kuang is going to receive a very harsh email from me.
that is it, byeee.
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Vomit, War, and Xenophobia
foreverinastory's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Rep: Chinese coded cast.
CWs: Addiction, blood, body shaming (especially for having darker skin), bullying, child abuse, child death, colonisation, cursing, death, drug abuse, drug use, emotional abuse, fire/fire injury, forced institutionalization/medical experimentation without consent, genocide, gore, grief, infertility, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, medical content, medical trauma, misogyny, murder, physical abuse, racial slurs, racism/colorism, rape, religious bigotry, sexism, sexual assault, sexual violence, torture, violence, war, xenophobia.
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
afi_whatafireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book does not shy away from the gore and very graphic scenes of war, how brutal it can be to the survivors, and at one point, where everything has came to a standstill, all you had was yourself and a source of power that you don't understand, but is the only thing that can help you to save your friends and yourself. The Poppy War is one of the most well-constructed books I've read in a long time. With very powerful characterization of characters that are so-very-morally gray, where you'll doubt their actions to the maximum but you'll also understand why it is the way it is.
"Order is present in the earthly kingdoms when all beings understand their place. All beings understand their place when they fulfill the roles set out for them."
Kuang had shown a side of war that is brutal. The characters here are not people of power, but is from the perspectives of soldiers at the front of war, merely teenagers that were forced to grow up right after going out of school, and having through go such traumatizing events, there will come a time that we will emphatize with what they choose to do to survive. Fang Runin is a character that you can't help but love. Its like reading a very stubborn child grow up, where there are moments of vulnerability but there are times where you will question her judgment, but still, you can't help but just love her. Her strength and resilience to survive and her DESPERATION to prove to everyone around her that a war-orphaned, dark-skinned child like her can survive too in the very prestigious military academy and the war.
“War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who remains.”
There were two parts of the book that still broke my heart, even having read it the first time around. It was brutal and just very very graphic. The horror of war, the effects it will have on children and the living survivors, and mostly, what happens to each and every individual in handling war is just so painful to read, and one that I can't imagine going through myself. I love that Kuang does not shy away from showing how brutal war can be, and how someone can lose every piece of themselves, little by little until what remains is the act of vengeance.
“I have become something wonderful. I have become something terrible.
Kuang's writing is indeed exceptional, with very fast-paced plot, and almost none filler scenes, we will gobble her story right up. Despite being a grim-dark book, it also showcased friendship and comradeship among Rin and her friends. Her with her classmates, and her with her comrades after school, those are one of my favourite moments in the book. Even if short, those few chapters lived through to be support for me to keep going on .
I think my first review of this book, and even now, it does not does justice to the book. The Poppy War will remain one of the books that changed my life and reading game , in such a way that made me realize what I loved and craved in a book. Found family elements, politics and the rich history that was displayed, with the emotional toll that it left, it leaves to remain one of the books that I will still talk about in a long time.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Body horror, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, War, Abortion, Bullying, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Cursing, Drug use, Medical trauma, Violence, Genocide, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
meganlilyflower's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexism, Rape, Racism, Physical abuse, Murder, Infertility, Genocide, Drug use, and Drug abuse