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fullmoonisreading 's review for:
The Poppy War
by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well. I don’t have anything to say, good or bad, about this book that doesn’t involve swearing.
At first I was struck by the similarities with the Kingkiller Chronicles. Impoverished orphangets into magic university, happens to be better, cleverer and more hardworking than their rich peers. Gets banned from the one thing they really want to do because of a snobbish enemy they have made and so ends up studying with the quirky wizard who is possibly a bit mad and annoys all the other tutors by never taking on any students plus japes. And then it goes to places I am more than happy for Patrick Rothfuss to never go.
The main character is difficult to say the least, I don’t think anyone is likeable but also I don’t think that’s the point. This feels like it’s about choices and the choices people make when they feel like they have no choice.
It’s not fun, not much about this book is fun. There were parts that felt like my brain was on fire they were so hard to read. However. I will absolutely be reading the rest of the series, with some fluffy brain cleansers in between. I don’t even want to think about which bits of this are based on real events.
Will I reread? Awfully probably yes.
Would I recommend it? Yes but with lots and lots of content warnings.
Will I read more by this author? I’ve already read and liked Babel, and I will try to read the rest of this series so yes, any other R F Kuang that crosses my path will get a go.
At first I was struck by the similarities with the Kingkiller Chronicles. Impoverished orphan
The main character is difficult to say the least, I don’t think anyone is likeable but also I don’t think that’s the point. This feels like it’s about choices and the choices people make when they feel like they have no choice.
It’s not fun, not much about this book is fun. There were parts that felt like my brain was on fire they were so hard to read. However. I will absolutely be reading the rest of the series, with some fluffy brain cleansers in between. I don’t even want to think about which bits of this are based on real events.
Will I reread? Awfully probably yes.
Would I recommend it? Yes but with lots and lots of content warnings.
Will I read more by this author? I’ve already read and liked Babel, and I will try to read the rest of this series so yes, any other R F Kuang that crosses my path will get a go.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, War
Moderate: Genocide