A review by noorandbooks
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

5.0

There was literally nothing that could have warned me about this book and you know what? I don't care. I am certain this is one of the most important (fantasy) books, especially in these times, to read and being given any warning for how things went down would've been an incredible disservice to the horrors of this story.

That being said.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

They seemed eminently human—vulnerable and breakable.

(my favorite line from the entire book) yeah that's how I felt after reading this. instant favorite

I don't know what I liked the most. Was it the characterization? Fang Runin's fall from grace? Was is the relationships? How nothing ever lasts forever? Was is the worldbuilding? How none of the war was ever depicted as anything but destructive and horrible? Was is the magic? And the horrible, horrible price of power? Was it the fact that I genuinely never knew what was going to happen next and like how did we get here, how did we get here???

I don't know my brain is mush my hands are shaking... maybe one day I will write a proper review of this story. A review of the plot, the found family (and the destruction), the character struggles, the violence and how it can be reflected directly to the real world... UGH, so much to love!

Until then, a quote hall of everything that tore me apart.

"If you give me freedom," she snarled, "the first thing I will do is burn you alive.

haha,,, looking back on this now,,,

"You darling child," he said, spinning toward her. "You brilliant child."

Rin's face split into a grin.

Fuck it, she thought, and leaped up to embrace him.

I was lied to, I thought the book was going to be a story of the student suppressing the master. It was not that merciful

Spoiler

"And you almost killed me," he said.

That shut her up.

"I was scared of you," Nezha continued. "And I lashed out. I was stupid. I was a spoiled brat. I was a real pain in the ass. I thought I was better than you, and I'm not. I'm sorry."

Their relationship also tore me apart! I hated Nezha but more in the way of 'I only hate you because the MC hates you, I don't care for you' and then I fell in love with him and how much he tears me apart and hahaha.

"You can't kill me," Altan hissed. "You love me."

"I don't love you," Rin said. "And I can kill anything."

Altan. Altan. Altan Altan Altan I've said his name so many times in the last 20 minutes, I hate that guy (I love him so much), he tears me apart (that is true), I wish I could unread this book (I am deeply grateful I got to read this).

He was burdened with the legacy of a million souls forgotten by history, vengeful souls screaming for justice.

Altan Altan Altan Altan Altan Altan Altan Altan

Spoiler

"You are going to paint the world in Altan's blood, aren't you?"

"I'm going to find and kill everyone responsible," said Rin. "You cannot stop me."

Chaghan laughed a dry, cutting laugh. "Oh, I'm not going to stop you."

I'm 99% sure he is romantically in love with Altan and I hate that so much because now I'm a mess and now I just. I just.

Spoiler

She was no victim of destiny. She was the last Speerly, commander of the Cike, and a shaman who called the gods to do her bidding.

And she would call the gods to do such terrible things.

THAT IS HOW YOU END A BOOK, bone chilling and making me drop the book and just. stare at the ceiling. unable to process. 5/5