Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

366 reviews

major_tom's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Tiktok really didn't disappoint! I'm so glad I've decided to read this.
It is amazingly well-written. The complex world building doesn't leave you confused and exhausted - instead, you actually get right inside this new world and it's so easy to imagine what's written. The main character is what I would say is a very good example of YA heroine - she has her unique character with actual flaws, she's interesting to be with and you sympathize with what she's going through. 

I really enjoyed the description of

school and classes - the introduction of class difference as well as the intensive of the environment that Rin was in definitely prepared well for the next chapters. Even war description was engaging - it didn't leave you hanging and not understanding what the hell is going on. Just this is worth giving 5/5.

It's a story about overcoming, finding yourself and suffering. And I think if you even remotely enjoy YA genre, light fantasy and good plot, you should read this ASAP.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Self harm, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Sexism, Grief, Toxic friendship

Minor: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia

alexdicanio's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The world-building in this book is fantastic. The descriptions, especially regarding war, are brutal and graphic. She certainly didn't hold back. I found myself rooting for the characters yet frustrated with them simultaneously - it was an extremely engaging read. You are following the characters and seeing the consequences of their actions from tough decisions and circumstances. 

The Poppy War deals with essential topics in a historical, military fantasy world based on 12th-century china. And these topics are still prevalent today. This book is about so much more than war; it's about rage, grief, fear, pain, and trauma. I do highly recommend this book, but please check the trigger warnings first. 

This is an incredible debut novel. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Infertility, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Classism

triforcefusion's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 81%

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The pace and focus of the book takes a sharp turn in part 2. The main character's characterization swings wildly for narrative function and it rings untrue. There is extreme detail

on mass murder and rape

that feels wholly unnecessary. There is a lot of build up as to why people would be upset, vengeful, etc. The extreme detail just feel gratuitous. The story is not helped by the petulance of most of the main characters you are following in the 2nd part of the book. The final straw for me was the unbelievable nature

of two of the main character's classmates surviving and entire town's destruction

. The Deus Ex Machina of it all induced eye rolling. I found no one likeable anymore and while the world building is interesting, it became more exposition and less exploration like in Part 1. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use

elizmoe's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Sexism

trs01's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Ableism

donatio's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Murder, War, Classism

yomireads's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Rin is a character you root for and expect greatness from, only to be faced with the reality of a very human character reacting to a war that demands the worst of her. When I finished this first iteration I was left unsure how to feel, but the longer I say with it, the more I came to respect this read as being true to character, and immersively compelling. 

I knew going in this read would be dark, but I wish I'd understood better what that meant. R.F. Kuang confronts the gruesome realities of war, and refuses to let readers gloss over its depravity. Check the trigger warning and then buckle in for a high fantasy war epic that is as compelling as it is punishing to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War

evangelinereading's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Sexism

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

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this was an experience i struggle to put into words. this book was so eloquently written with abundant imagery, character development, and history. the amount of world building was intense but so rich. it felt as though it was a place i had moved to and was slowly discovering it myself. the characters were bursting with personality. while this book isn’t necessarily “enjoyable” (because of the incredibly devastating subject matter), it was was such an amazing reading experience and i really want to continue with the series! 

****check trigger warnings****

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

ingamaloy's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Sykt intens bok med mørk handling og intense tema. Den er ikke for sarte sjeler. Den er tøff å lese, men absolutt verdt det. Jeg liker at ingen egentlig er gode, men at man likevel har sympati for karakterene fordi de er så komplekse. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Genocide, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Infertility, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Vomit, Cannibalism, Medical trauma