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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
dark
The Poppy War is a gripping fantasy book. I found it hard to put the book down and it, surprisingly, read very quickly. There were a lot of really strong aspects of this book. The character work was very well done. Everyone felt incredibly alive to me, especially Rin. I really enjoyed seeing her descent into near-madness throughout the story. I also felt that we had a very strong sense of place in this story. The academy was well written and I felt very well established in it.
My biggest issue with this book was actually the thing I liked the most about Kuang's other work, Yellowface. I felt that the pacing was very choppy and I had the sense that we were dropped into the aftermath of the action scenes rather than living them. This worked very well in Yellowface because that book was very much a stream of consciousness from the narrator. In The Poppy War, it took away from the story in many ways. At the beginning, in the academy and in Tikany, it worked because there wasn't much action to be skirting around. Past the midway point, I found myself feeling like I was zoning out, but that was just where the scenes were beginning. This took away from the story for me because I started to lose my footing in the world. I didn't quite feel like I had a grasp on what was going on at any given moment.
That being said, the way this story represents history and deals with the topic of genocide makes it very hard to look away. It was poignant and very cutting. Learning about what happened to Venda was heart crushing. Kuang does not shy away from the hard topics and watching Rin come to terms with the decision she had to make had me on the edge of my seat.
I really enjoyed reading The Poppy War, I just wished things had been slowed down and more thoroughly drawn out. I would've liked more direct action around the midpoint and a bit more time at the academy. I will absolutely be picking up the next installment of the series.
My biggest issue with this book was actually the thing I liked the most about Kuang's other work, Yellowface. I felt that the pacing was very choppy and I had the sense that we were dropped into the aftermath of the action scenes rather than living them. This worked very well in Yellowface because that book was very much a stream of consciousness from the narrator. In The Poppy War, it took away from the story in many ways. At the beginning, in the academy and in Tikany, it worked because there wasn't much action to be skirting around. Past the midway point, I found myself feeling like I was zoning out, but that was just where the scenes were beginning. This took away from the story for me because I started to lose my footing in the world. I didn't quite feel like I had a grasp on what was going on at any given moment.
That being said, the way this story represents history and deals with the topic of genocide makes it very hard to look away. It was poignant and very cutting. Learning about what happened to Venda was heart crushing. Kuang does not shy away from the hard topics and watching Rin come to terms with the decision she had to make had me on the edge of my seat.
I really enjoyed reading The Poppy War, I just wished things had been slowed down and more thoroughly drawn out. I would've liked more direct action around the midpoint and a bit more time at the academy. I will absolutely be picking up the next installment of the series.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
I really want to love this bookand I do think the story is compelling, some of characters are very lovable or very fun to hate and the mythology and fantasy is really cool and interesting but for some reason I just couldn't get fully into it.
I think the problem is me for this, and the only thing I can really say about that is the pacing of the book felt of to me. But not like it was rushed or slow but like the story beats where off tempo kind of. I don't know how to really phrase it.
Seriously tho it's a really interesting world and story, so I would highly recommend reading it.
the themes of genocide, national pride and classism are done really well and do make you consider how history is written and why we view events in our history the way we do. The Main character's journey is intense and her hatred is understandable but I felt as though she should be able to see that it is being stoked and manipulated by the phoenix and she should know, especially after her lessons with master Jiang, to be careful.
I think the problem is me for this, and the only thing I can really say about that is the pacing of the book felt of to me. But not like it was rushed or slow but like the story beats where off tempo kind of. I don't know how to really phrase it.
Seriously tho it's a really interesting world and story, so I would highly recommend reading it.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If I could, I'd give this book 6 stars. An amazing book that criticises war, the atrocities humans are willing to commit and justify to themdelves, and genocide. It takes a look at trauma through the lens of the fantastical and make it so much worse.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Genocide, Rape, Self harm, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Infertility, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexism, Vomit, Pregnancy