Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

366 reviews

marisnini's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous challenging dark 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, War

inthemoonforcheese's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

fedekanejbrainrot's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective 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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if this isn't the best fantasy you've ever read, then what the hell did you read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion

coligmueller's review against another edition

5.0

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This book made me think of that tik tok sound: 

“It’s so great to meet you. I love your book! … you scare me a little.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

inlaraland's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark 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: Complicated

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I don't even think I have the words to describe how much I love this story. I've heard only good things about this series, and picked it up after someone I knew started reading it themselves. I'm so glad I did because I'm pretty sure this is my five star series pick of the year.

This is a story about a young girl fighting for a better life for herself, about the devastations of war and how it impacts the people, about lore and power. Our protagonist, Rin, is formidable, strong and a little naive - but the development of her character over the course of this book is one worth reading. The world building is fantastic - there is so much detail, but not in a way that overwhelms you. You find yourself completely immersing your mind into the story, and it's quite an experience.

My heart broke, I clung onto the hopeful moments, and found myself unable to point down the book about halfway through. The writing is beautiful, the emotions the author manages to evoke are all too real, and you find your own opinions growing alongside the stories of each character.

I can't wait to read The Dragon Republic next, I'm very excited to see how Rin's story will develop!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, War

Moderate: Racism, Sexism

capaurus's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Torture, Violence, War

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

georgia7's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation

Minor: Vomit

rnbhargava's review against another edition

4.5

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: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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

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.

sacredgayometry's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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

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

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

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.

clemencepct's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Self harm, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War

Moderate: Sexism, Slavery, Vomit