Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War
This book was very real, and reflective of not only the world's current state, but also brings back the atrocities of the past and reminds you that what may have been history is still repeating itself and it truly gets you to reflect.
The book itself surprised me with its light-hearted tone at the start, and I was laughing at bits and pieces, falling in love with Rin as a character and getting attached to others. I like to think I don't cry quite easily when it comes to books, happy tears are easier to elict from me than sad ones, and this book wasn't an exception.
R.F. Kuang is really good at capturing every side: the good and the bad, and honestly her ability to make me question whether we truly are on the good side is pretty damn great. I'm a bit more intrigued to continue and read the rest of the series.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Self harm
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Going into this book I had quite high expectations based on all the praise R. F. Kuang has received for this series, and I must say the praise is well deserved and my expectations were exceeded. Kuang has crafted a near perfect start to a series with The Poppy War. The plot, structure and pacing made the story flow smoothly and I couldn’t put this book down.
Her characters are complex and flawed which made them all the more relatable and real. I found myself captivated by not only the main character Rin, but all of the others she interacts with throughout her journey.
It is obvious an extensive amount of research was conducted while writing this book. The themes and messages woven throughout the entire story are so powerful and it is impossible to ignore how this fantasy world so perfectly mirrors our own, both past and present. Kuang did not shy away from the very real, dark and gut wrenching realities of war. This is a book that will stick with me for a long time.
While I 100% recommend this book, I highly suggest anyone considering reading it look into any and all trigger warnings.
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical trauma, Abandonment, War
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape
Graphic: Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, War
Moderate: Addiction
Graphic: Drug use, Genocide, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Infertility, Blood, Grief
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail