Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

242 reviews

emvdw's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I absolutely loved te first half of this, but thought the second half was decidedly weaker, especially in terms of characterisation. The pacing grinds to a sudden halt, events become somewhat confusing and the character motivations did not make always make sense to me - and I've noticed that that is a real dealbreaker for me. The first half of the book is for sure 5 stars, the second half maybe 2,5-3. Sequels may clear things up though, and I feel it's definitely worth picking them up to see where this goes.

I also go back and forth on how I feel about the horrific events

depicted in Golyn Niis, based on the Massacre of Nanjing. On the one hand, there is something to be said for this level of explicit horror never being necessary to depict, just like some people feel depicting sexual assault should never be necessary. On the other hand, the massacre is a piece of unknown/forgotten history and I understand the author wanting to shine a spotlight on the issue, as she says in her afterword

. But I'll be very happy if there's nothing as terrible in the next books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Drug abuse, Rape, and Sexism

demyajanayxo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

this book is not morally grey in the slightest. it’s morally black. we see rin’s background and upbringing which almost allows us to sympathize with her actions. then boom. my girl is fueled by this need for revenge. but she can’t help it. she’s just a girl, from a people of revenge seekers. so so detailed.

especially chapter 21, made me SICK.

ten out of ten read tho. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Genocide, Death, Drug use, Colonisation, Body horror, Classism, Sexual assault, Self harm, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Addiction, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

cubbywasabear's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Self harm, Torture, Xenophobia, Child death, Classism, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Blood, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexism, Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and War

Moderate: Animal death, Slavery, Death of parent, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts

The content warnings are absolutely no joke. This is a brutal read, with a section that is

a retelling of the Rape of Nanjing. Read with care.

chronicacademia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Drug use, Genocide, Kidnapping, Abortion, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Death, Gore, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, War, Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Ableism, Colonisation, and Fire/Fire injury

mir_frog73's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

5.0

This book man. Chapter 21 has probably the most gruesome account of war I’ve ever read or been told about and the fact that it was based on true events is horrific. I’m naming my bat rin because she’s an icon. Part 1 was incredible I read it in one day, the school setting was so much fun to read and learn about everything. Part 2 felt a little long but the end of part two was very intriguing. I enjoyed the plans and strategies. Part 3 was horrific, I also read it in one day I’ll never get over venka’s dialogue. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Vomit, War, Abandonment, Body horror, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Sexism, Trafficking, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Violence, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, and Cursing

weareinheritors's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Hoo boy, this book.

Hated the first half. I don't like academy/school fiction. This book had most of the tropes (plain girl good at everything, abusive curriculum, shitty teachers, two gorgeous boys (a rich Malfoy and a dark stranger)—thank goodness there was no romance, goofy best guy friend, etc). It was a slog and I nearly DNFd it, if not for the supposed promise of the better second half...

Which. My goodness, the whiplash. 

The second half is not for the faint of heart, from the (TW)

Rape of Nanjing sequence to the descriptions of actual rape to full-on genocide

. 

It's an okay book, but Rin is so damn unlikeable. The surrounding cast are decent at their best, but Rin is so detestable that she drags them all down with her. The ending feels like she's gonna

start a revolution

or something, but I don't see anybody rallying behind her for any reason other than maybe fear.

I'll get to the sequel eventually. Maybe.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Addiction, Genocide, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Gore, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

trashgobby's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, Child death, War, Blood, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, Racism, Drug abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Bullying, Slavery, Classism, Cursing, Sexism, and Alcohol

Minor: Infertility, Medical content, Death of parent, and Racial slurs

taemd58's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Murder, Rape, Infertility, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Body horror, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Classism, Cursing, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Violence, Vomit, War, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, and Hate crime

convalaria98's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This book is HEAVY. I read it the first time a few years ago and was unprepared. The depiction of war and violence is visceral. I put the book down and was unable to finish the first time. Coming back to it now, I do think the books is well written with some very poignant themes and messages. Head the trigger warnings!!! Much of the violence, genocide, & rape happens ~technically~ off page; but the aftermath is gruesome and vivid.

That aside, I love the nuance the author provides. None of the characters or sides in the war are the 'good guys'. The main character is frustrating and makes many decisions the reader can't agree with. But her mental state and motivations are shown so well that we see why she did these things and all the forces that pushed her into them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Genocide, Drug use, Blood, Death, and War

Minor: Self harm, Sexism, Classism, Colonisation, Addiction, and Grief

grandiose_r's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book really gripped me and shook me to my core. I recognized so many things from what my father told me from his time growing in immediate post WW2 China (born on the exact day of Japan's official surrender), and his growing up hearing first hand accounts of the Nanjing Massacre as well as further atrocities commit by remaining soldiers even after the official surrender.

On a different note, I loved the novel's approach to drugs and gods and hope it's explored further in the following parts of the series.

R.F. Kuang did an amazing job with this debut novel and I will definitely be returning to this series, but I'm gonna have to take a break from this kind of war literature that hits a bit too close to home for a while. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Torture, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Drug use, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Medical content, Vomit, Violence, Addiction, Child death, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, War, Death, Genocide, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Infertility, Excrement, and Confinement