Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

Опиумная война by R.F. Kuang

543 reviews

kp_reads_in_the_dark's review against another edition

4.0

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: Complicated

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On the whole, a good read. I felt pulled along with the protagonist, and appreciated that the author doesn't shy away from difficult or complex topics. Definitely some particularly sad and shocking moments, so be mindful of the content warnings from this and other reviews. Interesting intersection between historical fiction (ish) and fantasy action genres.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

I felt the end coming and still somehow felt surprised and dismayed when Rin essentially nuked the entirety of Mugen. I'm really interested to see what comes next, but also anxious about how dark things had become by the end. I almost don't want to consider how much worse it can get in the rest of the trilogy, especially considering how all? descriptions of violence (minus the magically inflicted kind) are based on actual war crimes. It's definitely sobering.

standshort's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War

persephone__'s review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional sad 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail

maddiiec's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Honestly… it was fine. I liked the beginning a lot, I love a strong FMC, a boarding school/training arc, and the magic system is unique and thoughtful - more than just “hooray! you have magic!”. I like magic systems with balance and consequences to the magic. 

The amount of suffering and trigger warnings in this book was a little much (see content warning list below) - although I know that it’s the point of the book and important to the world and characters. 

RF Kuang has made strides in her prose and writing since The Poppy War (I adore Babel). I’m going to finish this series but I don’t think I would reach for this book again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Classism

lbara33's review against another edition

3.75

dark

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Genocide, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, War

Moderate: Animal cruelty

ruune's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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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Not for everyone. Pay attention to the content warnings, but if you are okay with them, it is an incredible read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail

ebreheny25's review against another edition

4.5

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: Complicated

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I’ve wanted to read this book for ages and it has lived up to all expectations. I feel like Rebecca dropped you in the middle of Rin’s world in a way that was not harsh, but it was exhilarating. I am so excited to read the rest of the trilogy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, War

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Infertility, Rape

Minor: Confinement

milena99's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Torture, Blood, Grief, Murder, War

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Animal cruelty

everlymayreads's review against another edition

3.0

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, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Infertility

em_of_swags's review against another edition

4.5

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what if I also combusted 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Racism, Kidnapping

Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Self harm, Gaslighting