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A review by err0011
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I'm really conflicted on this one. I really loved some parts and then really struggled through others. It's a very long book with very long chapters that spans a long time period, 4 years pass over 500 pages. One entire year of that is skipped over in a single paragraph. Pacing was a big issue for me. This was my same complaint with Babel, too much telling and not enough showing. That leant itself to me having a somewhat poor understanding of Rin. Her motivations and wants kind of bounced around inconsistently. One minute she's desperate to use her new found power at any cost then the next she's terrified to lose control of herself. She swings back and forth on that pendulum multiple times. Part of me wanted to believe external forces were manipulating her, but it's not that complex. Rin is always thinking for herself. While I love that Kuang is telling stories and histories that need to be heard, her main characters suffer for it.
I'm invested in this world she's created, though. The interplay of divinity and the mundane is fascinating so I will keep reading for that. Also, the side characters are more consistent. They bring a much needed relatable counterpoint to the almost academic prose.
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