Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Опиумная война by R.F. Kuang

1878 reviews

toolnes's review against another edition

2.75

challenging dark sad medium-paced

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, War

kim_e_d's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark inspiring 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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Plot : Rin , a teenaged orphan, enters a military academy to try to escape her circumstances only to fight her way to excellence.  

Impressions : Words cannot begin to decribe how good this novel is - and to think this was a debut novel! The mix of mythology, historical facts and social realism makes for an extraordinary tale, full of vivid characters and impossible choices. A must read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism

Minor: Infertility

mrxdg's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional sad tense

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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At first, The Poppy War reads like a familiar coming-of-age fantasy—Rin, a determined orphan, earns her place at an elite military academy through sheer grit. The early chapters focus on training, strategy, and political maneuvering, making for a slow but engaging build-up. However, the novel takes a sharp and brutal turn in its third act, shifting from academic struggles to the horrors of war in a way that feels almost jarring. The sheer level of violence and darkness that emerges is unsettling, and the tonal shift is so drastic that it almost feels like a different book.

That being said, Rin’s character development is masterfully executed. She evolves from an underdog student to a hardened warrior, and her transformation is as compelling as it is tragic. Kuang does an excellent job portraying the cost of power and the impact of war on the human psyche. While the pacing shift may be off-putting to some, the novel delivers an unforgettable experience. It’s not an easy read, but it’s certainly a powerful one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail

fanchera's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous dark slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail

inaraaimee's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Wow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Suicide attempt

erinmichele_reads's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional tense

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A rough start to a trilogy that lingers a bit much in tropes I'm not fond of, but I can see the dominoes being laid for something incredible despite it being rough around the edges. The commentary over dehumanization and the justification if war crimes is certainly hitting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Infertility, Vomit, Alcohol

catherinebullions's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

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, Gore, Miscarriage, Rape, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

brightlyy's review against another edition

5.0

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This was so good. It was fast paced and kept you hooked all the way through. The characters are so well done and I also loved the world building and the parallels to modern Chinese history throughout. This book is really heavy though, especially nearer the end so I would recommend checking out the trigger warnings before starting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Classism

Moderate: Infertility, Misogyny

cornyylynn's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail

mosaic_orion's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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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This book challenged how I view politics, the world, and morality. I wish I could wipe my memory so I could read this book again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism