Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

948 reviews

thee_maxwell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Gore, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, and Fire/Fire injury

lmilfort's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? No

5.0

[a war orphan from the south tests into the country’s most prominent military academy and learns she’s from a lost race of powerful shamans, she learns the depths of her power and it becomes essential when the country is embroiled in war] R. F. Kuang is amazing as usual this book is amazing especially if you enjoy historical fiction. The story telling and world building is immaculate as usual 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

wesleykutler's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape

lobotomynow's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

i don't know what to say to be very honest. i feel like i need years to process everything but oh my god. this book ruined me. i genuinely don't think i've ever cried so much while reading a book ??? pls pls pls be aware of the trigger warnings for this one, it's about war and r f kuang does not shy away of the violence of war, but if you find yourself interested and able to read this i swear it's so fucking worth it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

hayreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Holy shit, I cannot believe this was Kuang's first book. The emotional impact was insane, and I loved (and hated) watching the main character. Only very minor critiques - some vagueness surrounding the timespan in the academy section, a one-off comment about Nezha not being human that never goes anywhere, etc. It tells a compelling story and I'll absolutely read the next books. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

bazer63's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Drags a bit in the middle but otherwise deeply fucked up in a good way. Heed the trigger warnings though.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Racism, Torture, Excrement, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape, Vomit, and Pregnancy

amberinbookland's review against another edition

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

runealin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

cedence's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

5.0

I suspected this would be a five star read on chapter one, and it did. The Poppy War revealed itself to be phenomenal at every instance. This book is a EPIC (high) fantasy in every honor of that word. Over an hour after I completed this book, I still don't know what to do with myself. I'm exhausted and I'm thrilled. 

However, I want to take a paragraph to say that this is an adult(?) high fantasy inspired by 20th century Chinese history. The main character is 14years old when the book begins, but the story lasts for several years and turns closer to an adult grim dark fantasy halfway. Genocide(s), racism and justice are themes on the forefront of this book. Chapter 21 will put it full-blown on the page in great detail. It's grusome. I suggest skipping that chapter if descriptions of unthinkable violence and cruelty against people of all ages (and animals) is not on your budget for the day. Please, use the TWs. There are a lot going on in this book. 

The main character is not easily likeable as her sense of injustice fuels her need for power. And the price of power may be distrastous. 

A must-read for anyone who enjoys high fantasy, military fantasy, Chinese-inspired fantasy, and just spellbinding storytelling. I recommend going in as blind as you can so every twist takes you by surprise. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Genocide, Infertility, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

makmammalattack's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It’s incredible to read a book that appeals to YA fans but hits much deeper. Kuang doesn’t shy away from describing hardships, trauma, and the horrors of war which is both devastating and refreshing as a fantasy reader. Rin is a character that even by the end, I don’t know if I like. I don’t know how much she’s grown as a person and I don’t agree with many of her decisions but it’s so exciting to read from a character perspective that isn’t some perfect heroin with a clean and palatable character arc. The Poppy War feels like it’s about people not just characters. Kuang’s nuance in balancing caricatures versus the characters we get to know brings a spotlight to the power of propaganda and racism in a way that feels obvious but never heavy handed or dumbed down.

Not definitive spoilers, but Kuang also manages to lay the perfect web of foreshadowing and smoking guns throughout the book. It felt like a spy film - the agent gets a cool gadget, the bad guy talks about his evil plan, the love interest mentions some event and suddenly you know how act 3 plays out. And just like a spy movie, it’s so exciting. It’s the buildup on a rollercoaster. You know what’s coming but it’s so fun to feel the build up and get to the part where it all comes together. The few moments that I would call “plot twists” felt so right, like I couldn’t believe I hadn’t realized it sooner. The story feels focused but still educates you on a long geopolitical history without ever feeling like it’s useless lore dumps. 

So glad the second book is already published. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism