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A review by trash_reader_
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I didn't appreciate how dark this book actually was until I started reading. R. F. Kuang built a beautifully grotesque story based on China's brutal history, and this tale sucks you in from the very beginning.
Even though the first half of the book takes place in an elite military school, Run suffers ostracization for everything that she is, but she doesn't let that deter her from achieving her goals. She does that by breaking rules, but hey - whatever makes you great, right? Rin's character development was amazing. You see her struggle through the consequences of being different both in school and outside of it. You see her try to fit herself into molds she thinks she has to fill to achieve what she wants. You see her realize who she is and what she wants to be. Rin's growth was amazing and I loved reading it.
R. F. Kuang did not pull punches when it came to pain, though. Her characters suffer, and in turn so does the reader. There are very gruesome scenes of death and torture, and it made it difficult to read at times. It is a dark war fantasy, so it isn't like I wasn't expecting some depictions of death, but it does hit you hard when you actually get to that point in the book. It doesn't last for very long, maybe 2 chapters, 3 at the most, but it's enough to turn some people off. Especially with how detailed the scenes are.
This was an amazing start to both a series and a war. I'm so excited to read the other two installments, although I don't think my heart can take much more pain. This book was a rough, painful read, but I couldn't find the strength to put it down, the hold it had over me was that strong.
Even though the first half of the book takes place in an elite military school, Run suffers ostracization for everything that she is, but she doesn't let that deter her from achieving her goals. She does that by breaking rules, but hey - whatever makes you great, right? Rin's character development was amazing. You see her struggle through the consequences of being different both in school and outside of it. You see her try to fit herself into molds she thinks she has to fill to achieve what she wants. You see her realize who she is and what she wants to be. Rin's growth was amazing and I loved reading it.
R. F. Kuang did not pull punches when it came to pain, though. Her characters suffer, and in turn so does the reader. There are very gruesome scenes of death and torture, and it made it difficult to read at times. It is a dark war fantasy, so it isn't like I wasn't expecting some depictions of death, but it does hit you hard when you actually get to that point in the book. It doesn't last for very long, maybe 2 chapters, 3 at the most, but it's enough to turn some people off. Especially with how detailed the scenes are.
This was an amazing start to both a series and a war. I'm so excited to read the other two installments, although I don't think my heart can take much more pain. This book was a rough, painful read, but I couldn't find the strength to put it down, the hold it had over me was that strong.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Genocide, Gore, Death, War, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Addiction, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, and Racial slurs