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xalrynne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The Burning God is just as dark and violent as the previous two books. War is raging in Nikan, and the Nikara are up against not only the Dragon Republic but also the foreign Hesperians with their new technologies.
This book focuses on Rin and Nezha, allies-turned-enemies on opposite sides of a war that neither of them wants to fight.
This book takes a look at what it means for invading forces to completely take over your city and your country and put you under their rule without your consent. Rin is both awed and terrified by the Hesperians’ technology and doesn’t know whether to embrace it or shun it, but ultimately the Hesperians are the colonizers, and they obviously don’t take into consideration what’s best for the people they’re colonizing because they think their own way of life is the best and the Nikara are subhuman at best. It’s interesting to see colonization from the other point of view; so often in school what we learn was written by the victor—by the people and forces who took over—but this book shows us what it’s like for all the other people on the inside.
We see new types of shamans in this book, which I loved. I won’t explain anymore so as not to spoil, but I’m super glad they were introduced so we could see wider implications of this magic than just Rin’s abilities.
This isn’t my favorite fantasy series out there but I can’t deny how well it’s written and the impact of its harrowing story. None of the characters in this series are particularly likable and there isn’t a whole lot of hope, but I still enjoyed the journey nonetheless. The Poppy War trilogy is way darker than I normally prefer my books to be, and I want to emphasize the huge amount of trigger and content warnings in this series. It is full of horrific and descriptive scenes of war and all the brutalities that happen because of that. Basically if you can imagine a trigger warning, this series probably has it, so make sure you’re in a good headspace before you start reading it.
My Book Blog: Storeys of Stories
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
fiveredhens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"Jinzha?" Jiang frowned, digging his little finger into his ear. "The older Yin brat?"
"Yes," Daji said.
"I think taught him at Sinegard. Utter asshole. Whatever happened to him?"
"He got plucky," Daji said. "I turned him to mincemeat and sent him back to Vaisra in a dumpling basket."
Jiang arched an eyebrow. "Darling, fucking what?"
"It's a bad guest that shows up
unannounced," Daji said.
"Not if a third guest is holding a knife to the host's throat," Rin said.
"This analogy has lost me," Jiang said.
How many chances, asked Altan, are you going to throw away?
At least one more, she thought, and ignored his jeering laughter.
Their eyes met. She felt a shock of horror. She recognized the way he was looking at her. It was how she'd once looked at Altan. It was the way she'd seen Daji look at Riga—that look of wretched, desperate, and reproachful loyalty. It said, Do it. Take what you want, it said. I'll hate you for it. But I'll love you forever. I can't help but love you. Ruin me, ruin us, and I'll let you.
good pacing, good exposition, and an end i can't tell if i loved or hated
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Racism, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Colonisation
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Genocide, Gun violence, Infertility, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
bookishjd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, and Medical trauma
olivialandryxo's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Representation
- amputee protagonist of color
- side characters of color
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Cannibalism, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Ableism, Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Slavery, and Trafficking
goldengirlbookclub's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Murder
janinab's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder
kaylamoran's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This sounds like a negative review. It's not. For a book to get me to react this strongly to it, it has to have really meant something to me. This series is incredible, easily one of the best I've read. I just don't know if I can bear to reread it.
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, and Murder
tinytrashqueen's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical trauma, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Cannibalism, and Medical trauma
m_________'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Minor: Incest and Vomit
camilleareads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma