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

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Very good book. If you want to read, please please go through content warnings. I loved just about every character and also could not put this book down. It was very dark and very disturbing and intriguing. I don't think the summary does it justice - over half of the book is spent on war, not schooling. Honestly just want everyone to go to therapy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Sexism, Torture, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual violence, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

Maybe I forgot some? There's just a lot of traumatizing events and a lot of trauma that presents in a variety of ways. Since it's based on history, there is a chapter that graphically reflects the rape of Nanjing. also war is rough, there's a lot about corpses, drugs, opium use.