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

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

Contains maybe the most brutal description of the evil of war, genocide, hatred, and torture I have ever read in a book.  However, it's not just brutal and grotesque for shock value, it very much serves a purpose and gets you in the same headspace as the main character so you can understand why she makes some of the worst possible decisions again and again.  Hatred is a strong theme in this book and it's fascinating to explore and watch the train wreck unfold.  The polar opposite of a pacifist/love thy enemy mindset this book explores the implications of hating an enemy so much you would destroy yourself to destroy them.  Themes of gods, why bad things happen to good people, the impact of deciding someone is less than human, the cost of war, and revenge, are all explored.  What starts as a typical "smart character gets sent to military academy" fantasy trope ends as a brutal artifice of war.  The book tackles several historical issues in a very clever way and really makes you think.  I really enjoyed.  Slight knock for me for the over-explanation of war tactics and strategy.  If you're into that kind of thing, this is a five star book, it just makes me glaze over.
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