Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Опиумная война by R.F. Kuang

2250 reviews

bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition

2.75

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This was an interesting book. I enjoyed the historical elements and learning about the parallels to the second Sino-Japanese war. I wish more attention had been on that than on the mysticism aspect. I found many parts of the story to be overwritten and not really moving the narrative or themes. Would not recommend to most people. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Racism, Rape, Violence, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Infertility, Vomit, Classism

eedle_cacleberry's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, War

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Gore, Self harm, Torture

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Infertility, Vomit, Classism

darklordberto's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I really enjoyed this one. It was my first time reading R. F. Kuang and I was very impressed, the hype is true. I enjoy reading fantasy set in cultures that aren’t Europe with characters that aren’t just white men with swords and dragons. I enjoyed the Asian culture and mythology at play in this book although I did have to consult a pronunciation guide for some of the names. The story is very formulaic but in this case I found that to be a positive, the characters and story were engaging enough that I found myself enjoying them and looking forward to the next predictable piece of the fantasy epic puzzle. Despite some of the more dramatic turns the story takes as it goes along I didn’t find much to be surprising. That did make it relatively easy to read though. The world building is excellent and I enjoyed the descriptions of the magic and the shamans. There were some points where the descriptions of violence were quite graphic, even a few that made me cringe which is quite the accomplishment. Overall it’s a good story and I look forward to reading the sequels. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, War, Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia

Minor: Pedophilia

aclar43's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, Classism

popcornelia's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark tense medium-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

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Ooooooohhhhh yeah. I loved the first part. And then I loved the middle. And then came the last part which I also loved. That last part was so dark geeeez. The characters are greaaaaat.

Where is Niang? Did I miss something?

. 

I really enjoyed the school part. I always do. I also enjoyed the fighting scenes a lot. When Rin and Nezha teamed up that one time. I was having the time of my life

Don’t tell me Nezha is actually dead. Don’t. Just don’t, please.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Murder, War

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit

molly_storm's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

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Once again, I’m asking myself why I waited so long to read this book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Self harm, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma

Minor: Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Pregnancy

vadamv's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, War

chococattie's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-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

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R.F. Kuang created another literary masterpiece, imo.  this first book in the trilogy is heavy on the gruesome details of war and politics, with lots of world building. would not have expected to love a wartime book so much, but i truly can’t wait to pick up the next one

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Rape, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail

sanchopanza_dq's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I found myself frustrated with this story because so much of it didn’t make sense to me. Why did the Federation break the treaty? What was the point of Rin resisting the Phoenix if it would only get her and her friends killed in the end, what was her alternative?  Kuang is very intelligent, and this book shows her military strategy prowess, but everything felt “all of a sudden”.  I did enjoy it. More so in the last third. I’ll continue reading the trilogy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

mel9's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional informative mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Gore, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Grief