Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

367 reviews

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

jlautry's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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 A war orphan earns her way into an elite military academy, and becomes a shaman with the ability to call upon Phoenix, the god of fire. 

 

This is the first in a series of three books. It gets rave reviews so I thought I’d give it a try. It was a good, solid read, even for someone like me who doesn’t really read fantasy. The storyline was good, the characters were interesting, and the world development was great. While I thought this book was good, I probably will not finish the series. I found myself skipping the parts heavy on the fantasy because it didn’t keep my interest. It is a long read (530 pages, small font, narrow margins), and the chapters are long, both of which are things I don’t like in books. Despite those things, it kept me, the non-fantasy reader, engaged for most of the book. 

 

Bottom line: If you like fantasy, you will most likely love this book. Please check trigger warnings before reading as it checks off nearly every one of them. However, 95% is in chapter 21, so if you’re concerned but still want to read it, just skip that chapter. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, War

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Infertility, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment

garrettcz's review against another edition

3.5

dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

qilsu's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

lmanor's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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 graphic scenes were a lot, but as they were based in history I commend the author from not shying away 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

sterilization of a minor

janeanger's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War

neelamaxwell's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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R. F. Kuang how does it feel to know you've created something so inimitable and unbeatable. How does it feel to be toying with my heartstrings like playdo. How does it feel to be the most talented person on earth.

This book is fucking amazing!! It's been a while since I've seen a fantasy book so effectively tackle such complex themes, especially through such vividly developed and entertaining characters. It's everything I could want in a grimdark military fantasy and more. tpw i love you i love you i love you #SapphicsForAltanTrengsin

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Classism

Oh god it was so dark. Watch out

profdevochka's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-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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Poppy War did a great job at building the story of Rin, where the book begins with her stressing over a test, bullies, and adjusting to a new school. This school was preparing to be a general where the students go through mock strategy games and practice fighting each other.

Rin was quickly forced into reality where she faced war at her doorstep; watching her peers fight and be slaughtered. Towards the end of the book the character faces genocide, vengeful gods, and how it is up to her on how to handle it. 

Poppy War was a mix of fantasy that took real-life wars, reminding us that this is not simply fiction. The Federation is not some mythological evil people, they're humans and we have seen this type before. 
The characters were nuanced throughout the book; you may hate one at the beginning but as real shit happens the pettiness falls away and find you like the character. Rin was hard to appreciate at times, we seen her lose her cool and I was on the side of Jiang; don't do it!

I still have hopes for Nezha and Altan to be alive, we didn't see a body so I will patiently wait for a twist.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Genocide, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, War

Minor: Vomit, Grief, Fire/Fire injury

natnat_7's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Medical content, Grief

sunsetcity's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

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, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism