Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Опиумная война by R.F. Kuang

1141 reviews

cjsimpson234's review against another edition

5.0

dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Colonisation, War

madsteves's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation

Most of this book is about a war. While fantasy, the world is built around a true history and the atrocities described are based in fact. Although horrific, they are not written for the sake of graphic violence - but to further the plot and describe the real violence that comes with war.

sierraclimbs's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark emotional 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: Complicated

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I enjoyed this book much more upon re-read. I think the first time I read it I wasn’t well informed about the adult nature of this story & therefore was pretty taken aback by the violence & tragedy of it all. But going in to it a second time knowing what to expect I really really enjoyed it. 
It feels like an Asian version of Game of Thrones. Creative, heart wrenching, unexpected twists, complicated human relations, magic, it’s got it all.
This story is not for the faint of heart. It’s about young children/ young adults going through terrible things. But I think it does an amazing job depicting the truly contradictory nature of humanity. Nothing is black & white. People change their minds. The human condition is complex & doesn’t always do what is right.  
Excited to have reacquainted myself with the story & characters so I can read the next two. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Abortion

This is a book about war… and it does not take that lightly. It is very graphic & very raw. There is also heavy drug usage

it’s connected to the magic system

therandomblossom's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

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, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War

sayacanread's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Colonisation

bripcke's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

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: Genocide, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Grief, War

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Colonisation

ariangel's review against another edition

4.25

dark reflective tense 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, Classism

drjoannehill's review against another edition

3.0

dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I'm not sure if I wasn't concentrating or if this is a mess. In places the writing is great, the story is interesting.... And then it all gets in a jumble, rushed, and head in a spin - what is happening? Why did this character just do that? Why is this storyline being skimmed over? I much preferred the first part in the war college to the later parts when they were actually at war.

Reading this at the same time in listening to the audiobook of Iron Flame is also a mistake, because both are about war college with unlikely, physically weak, heroines who find their niche ... And The Poppy War does not compare well to Iron Flame unfortunately (and surprisingly).

Babel demonstrated a much improved writing style for Kuang. Still contemplating if I'll read books 2 and 3 (for a book club)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Racism, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

kimreads14's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging 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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First rating 3.75⭐️… but I think I need to digest it a bit more before sticking to a final rating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

xelanimation'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: Yes

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On the back of this book, there’s a quote that says “I thought myself prepared. I was not”. That statement is entirely correct. This story was fantastic, the characters were achingly real, I understood each of them. Despite the many moving pieces, I understood everything I needed to about what was going on, which I sometimes need to take time to do with fantasy epics, which goes to show R. F. Kuang knows how to keep her writing clear. The first half of the book I would say was simply enjoyable, a classic tale of a student leaving behind and escaping her life with a bleak future for the promise of a bright future at a renowned school. Learning about the world through her, watching her work hard, it was all exactly the kind of thing I’ve loved before. But while the second half is just as good, if not significantly better, you should know it’s completely different. It’s harrowing, with vivid, disturbing imagery and descriptions, that can only be described as devastating. There are high levels of violence, of all kinds, so just proceed warned and with caution. All of that being said, R. F. Kuang is a fantastic writer, and clearly has been since she began publishing, I will read anything she writes. But I hope she understands that I need a break of a few fluffy books before reading the next instalment of the Poppy War.   

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Racism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail