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A review by charliauthor
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This started out well but by the 40% mark I grew quite bored and struggled to get through the rest of it without any real interest.
Our FMC Rin, has grown up as an orphan raised by mean people and she has no idea where she came from or who she is but is very smart. To avoid being married off and abused, she decides to take some super hard test to get into a super hard school that will give her the opportunity to live a life not on her back. She gets into the school - obviously - and when shes there, is treated shit by the other, richer students who don't like her because she's poor and apparently dark skinned. Though in an East Asian setting, it was a bit unclear how dark this would actual mean. Not that it really matters, its just one of many things I found a bit unclear.
Anyway, Rin learns how to fight and endless lore about The Poppy Wars that her country has been a part of, although I couldnt tell you why they were called this or why everyone was and is seemingly on cocaine or heroine and teachers are getting high and being weird all in the name of calling higher powers and finding some super power that is locked inside Rin.
All that to say, it started out very interesting and I was intrigued to learn what that power was and why but for me, the excitement of that story was lost with endless lore and discussion and moaning from Rin.
I usually hate the term show and dont tell because as i writer, sometimes you need to be told and as a reader, i want to be told lol but with this, there was too much telling me how dangerous the war was without actually showing me any of its devastation. When she did finally get to it, while i was shocked at the brutality of the people they were fighting, it honestly came to late in the book for me to actually care. She'd spent so long talking about different language dialects and provinces we'd never visit, that the real meat of the story, the cruelty and sinister tones of the war and the person who betrays them was just lost. There is some truly horrific content in one passage of the book that I wont bother repeating her but it was terribly sad and if what ive heard about the rest of the series but much of the same, then i'd rather not go on with it.
I love building worlds. i love all the information, the bloodlines, the prequel texts, give me it all but in a way that feels exciting and not like a history lesson which is ultimately all this was. On top of that, Rin isnt even that likeable. She's rash and toxic and power hungry and its just not particular redeeming for her throughout the book.
I won't be continuing with the series unfortunately. While the writing style/technique etc. is great, Kuang is a wonderful writer, its just not a style that prompts much excitement for me or will to turn the page.
Our FMC Rin, has grown up as an orphan raised by mean people and she has no idea where she came from or who she is but is very smart. To avoid being married off and abused, she decides to take some super hard test to get into a super hard school that will give her the opportunity to live a life not on her back. She gets into the school - obviously - and when shes there, is treated shit by the other, richer students who don't like her because she's poor and apparently dark skinned. Though in an East Asian setting, it was a bit unclear how dark this would actual mean. Not that it really matters, its just one of many things I found a bit unclear.
Anyway, Rin learns how to fight and endless lore about The Poppy Wars that her country has been a part of, although I couldnt tell you why they were called this or why everyone was and is seemingly on cocaine or heroine and teachers are getting high and being weird all in the name of calling higher powers and finding some super power that is locked inside Rin.
All that to say, it started out very interesting and I was intrigued to learn what that power was and why but for me, the excitement of that story was lost with endless lore and discussion and moaning from Rin.
I usually hate the term show and dont tell because as i writer, sometimes you need to be told and as a reader, i want to be told lol but with this, there was too much telling me how dangerous the war was without actually showing me any of its devastation. When she did finally get to it, while i was shocked at the brutality of the people they were fighting, it honestly came to late in the book for me to actually care. She'd spent so long talking about different language dialects and provinces we'd never visit, that the real meat of the story, the cruelty and sinister tones of the war and the person who betrays them was just lost. There is some truly horrific content in one passage of the book that I wont bother repeating her but it was terribly sad and if what ive heard about the rest of the series but much of the same, then i'd rather not go on with it.
I love building worlds. i love all the information, the bloodlines, the prequel texts, give me it all but in a way that feels exciting and not like a history lesson which is ultimately all this was. On top of that, Rin isnt even that likeable. She's rash and toxic and power hungry and its just not particular redeeming for her throughout the book.
I won't be continuing with the series unfortunately. While the writing style/technique etc. is great, Kuang is a wonderful writer, its just not a style that prompts much excitement for me or will to turn the page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, War