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

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Yeah this was fire. I don't think I've ever read a depiction of war like this in fiction, let alone fantasy. It's so nuanced and realistic and painful. It sucks you in with one story and leaves you standing amidst the wreckage of another. This is a master class in fantasy writing!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Mental illness, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Rape and Death of parent