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fruitea's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
the depiction of war and conflict is brutally blunt, i said this in my review of the dragon emperor as well. some books tend to… romanticise war, turn it into some dramatic love story where the characters are invincible and benevolent and altruistic. but there’s none of that bullshit in this book, because war isn’t pretty or glorious, the people who suffer the most during wars are innocent civilians, who starve so the soldiers can have their rations, whose towns are pillaged, who are mercilessly killed by the enemy soldiers, even if they’re defenceless. the book constantly reminds you of this fact. you can’t forget it or ignore it like the big important political people who sit on their thrones waiting for the army to win the war for them.
i think what i appreciate most about the trilogy is the brutally realistic portrayal of the people. not their abilities, but the way they live their lives, how they react to things. sure, we like to think that we’re good and kind, but realistically, if we were in a war zone, starving and desperate and afraid, we would be utterly selfish. we wouldn’t share resources with the other innocents, wouldn’t jump in front of a blade to protect a stranger. regardless of who wins, a lot of people would accept the victors because they’d do whatever they had to to survive.
yes, it’s disheartening, more so because we see it from the perspective of someone who is on the frontlines and has seen first hand the cruelty of the enemy. these poor kids, i know they’re a couple of years older than me and aren’t really kids by the end, but… they’re so traumatised. they suffered throughout their entire lives. they’re so young. the things they’ve experienced have shattered their minds, but that’s the bitter truth of any war - no one emerges unscathed.
anyway i went on a. tangent. my brain is scrambled with the emotions i am feeling and also the fact that it is now 24 minutes to 1 am so i will end it here.
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
ghulsona's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Rin's gradual slip into insanity is something that I predicted from the first book, but it still gutted me to read about her downfall in this book. Do you know the tumblr post that goes like "i am a war criminal i am clinically insane & the next virgin mary & i am never going to die etc etc"? I feel like that is the exact embodiment of the character Rin becomes over the course of this book. Reading about her descent into madness was extremely interesting - she's already thinking of herself as this legendary figure that history will sing about before they've even won the war! The hubris! Her love for Kitay being a tether to her humanity made me so so so sad. The last scene truly destroyed me. I get why a lot of people wouldn't like her character, but I found her her thirst for vengeance and her struggles with identity (who is she without a war to fight for?) so fascinating. She's definitely a character that I will think about for a long time.
Kitay, Kitay, Kitay. I loved him so much - his genius, his ethics, how he loves and loves Rin despite everything and cannot deny her anything. "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." Wow!
The Trifecta finally coming together was something that I was really excited to read about. Jiang! I missed him dearly and felt Rin's heartbreak when he really isn't the man we met in the first book anymore. I also grew to like Daji more than I thought I would. I was expecting Riga to be horrible, but his monstrosity cannot be understated. I wish we could've gotten more of them - their time was up almost as soon as we finally had all 3 of them together, and it doesn't make that much sense considering how powerful they were? Oh well, I did really enjoy the little that we got of them.
For the other characters: Rin finally realizing that Altan had been extremely flawed, but still heeding his words and keeping his memory and voice alive in her mindspace was interesting. Venka! I'm heartbroken about her end, but I loved the small moments she had with Rin. I didn't see much of Nezha so I don't have much thoughts to offer about him, but I'll read "The Drowning Faith" soon to get his perspective. The mastery and execution of his powers was really cool to read about, and the last scene really hit home how young he is despite the burdens placed on his shoulders (how young all of them are, really).
There are some things that I wished were explored more. For example, Speer! I am honestly left with more questions than I had before. How did Rin survive the genocide? I want to know more about Hanelai! Also, I thought the subplot about Chaghan's people would be tied into the story, not solved outside of the text. Speaking of Chaghan's people, I thought we would get more about Tseveri! I also wish there could've been more exploration of the vengeance and violence that takes ahold of the South following their liberations. What were the fates of Kesegi and maybe even Tutor Feyrik? Also, what is up with the Hesperians!?! How did they even find those god-neutralizing weapons? This was definitely intentional, but the uncertainty of Nikara's future by the end of the book really had me distressed.
Misc moments that I really liked: Rin's small memorial to Jiang at the base of the mountain and her last thoughts to her old mentor. Her last thoughts about the endless circle of violence and her thinking about others who once stood in her place to make the choice she had to make. Rin's mentoring of the new shamans (I wish we had gotten more of them as well, but alas)! "Dying was easy. Living was so much harder—that was the most important lesson Altan had ever taught her". Rin finding the poppy fields outside of Tikany and having that brief burst of hope. Rin getting her revenge on Sister Petra!
Overall, I really did love this book. I haven't picked up a book in a long time that's captivated me as much as this series has, I'll probably think of it for a long time. Read the Poppy War!
Graphic: Blood, Death, Body horror, Grief, Mental illness, Racism, Gore, Murder, Religious bigotry, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Animal death
redthistle'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
All of the characters developed in ways I had hoped and looked for in the other two books. If you liked the first two I highly recommend finishing the series with this one.
The end absolutely devastated me but in the best way possible. The writing was stunningly beautiful and I am in awe.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Violence, Vomit, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
plumpaperbacks'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, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cannibalism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Ableism, Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Slavery, and Trafficking
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Characters: 10
Plot: 7
Setting: 10
General appeal: 9
Writing style: 7
Originality: 9
Ending: 10
Spoiler free, Poppy War series review: https://youtu.be/H0xdme4atzo
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia
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, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cannibalism, Cursing, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Vomit, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Excrement
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, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Incest and Vomit
liteartha's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Violence, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Cannibalism, Rape, Torture, and Vomit
Minor: Alcoholism
leannj'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: Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism and Vomit