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

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.75

What a read! I didn't know what to expect coming in to the book besides a few descriptions I had found about the book. Was I pleasantly surprised. R.F. Kaung takes us on the incredible journey of Rin (Runin), a young orphan from the township of Tikany. Throughout the book you see her grow and eventually grapple with the world around her and what must be done as war arrives. When you finally reach the conclusion of the book, Rin's growth is incredible. The ending feels well earned and will leave you wrestling with the choices that have been made and your personal feelings about them. An absolute page turner. I can't wait to see what happens in book #2, The Dragon Republic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use

Descriptions of war are prevalent throughout the book, but Chapter 21 is where there is a heavy concentration of death, gore, rape, and more, to include vivid descriptions of the death of children and women.