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Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War
Kuang creates an immersive world full of conflict, war, politics, and destruction that you are thrust into from the very first sentence. Within her diverse and extraordinary world building, is complex and diverse characters navigating a cruel and dark world. She does not create a hero in the FMC - Rin - she creates a woman - in all her rights and horrible wrongs - flawed and imperfect, yet relatable and lovable still. History mixed with exaggeration and fiction with immensely creative fantasy and magic sets up The Poppy War to be on the best fantasy books you will ever read. Your heart will break, and your mind will be blown often, but one thing is for sure - this book will not leave you for a long time.
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
While I had a hard time agreeing with many of the choices made by Rin, they were necessary vessels to propel the story. I couldn't help but feel that they were often the wrong choice. This was frustrating at times, but not disatisfying as they were the conduit for the plot. I'm hopeful about the sequels and excited to see how Rin further develops.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
I knew even before starting this book that I would love it. I’m a big fan of dystopia and fantasy, and I had heard of her books and talent. But nothing could have prepared me for the experience that was reading The Poppy War.
It starts like any fantasy/dark academia vibe, with a protagonist coming from poverty and abuse that is suddenly in a place where everyone hates her for what she is. I absolutely loved the first part, I loved reading about the Academy and seeing Rin adapt to this new world. I was already sold. The book could have been 300 pages of only that and I would have loved it. The spiritual part was new for me, but I did like it.
And then all of a sudden, I understood that The Poppy War was not like other fantasy/dark academia. The second part happened and it’s like everything shattered. What once was a nice novel became a masterpiece. All of a sudden, everything I ever knew disappeared. My eyes truly opened and I saw the world for real, for what it was. I was reading part two and the only thing I could think about (except the genius of Kuang), was that it was reality. It’s happening right under our eyes, and no one is doing anything. The Palestinians are living a genocide and no one is lifting a finger.
Then part three came. Chapter 21. My soul imploded. I don’t have the words to describe the experience that was. This chapter changed me in ways I will never be able to explain nor understand. I once thought that all humans were fundamentally good, that evil was something we learned. But now? Now I know that human is selfish. Human wants one thing only, and it is to survive. Human would do anything, no matter the cost. Human will go extinct because they want to survive. Human abuse power and love. Human is the worst thing that ever happened.
After that review, it’s difficult to see how I would rate this book 5 stars. I mean, that review seems depressing. The book has literally all the trigger warnings. It is dark, darker than the darkest shade of black. This book will change anyone who reads it and who takes the time to absorbs it. As human, we never want to feel guilty. We never want to live with our mistakes. We blame everyone but ourselves. To comprehend this book, truly, you need to sit with your demons and drink tea with them. You need to confront everything inside of you.
This book was the best thing I have ever read and that I will ever read. Kuang is talent. Kuang puts words on pages that will destroy you just by being. I cannot describe how this book is simply everything and anything.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Torture, Xenophobia
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, War, Classism
Moderate: Bullying
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, War
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Trafficking
Minor: Cursing, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, War, Classism
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Torture, Violence, War
Moderate: Child abuse, Xenophobia
Minor: Trafficking