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

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A book of three parts. In the first third it's almost a young adult book, the plucky orphanage in a magic boarding school. Then it has an extended, even bloated middle section which is very modern fantasy band of brothers style adventure. But then at 70% through it suddenly switches to a very dark and brutal introspection of the atrocities committed by Japan and to Japan in the second world war. It is very dark and totally not in keeping with the beginning of the book. I did not find the characters likeable but I tore through the book. Very curious to see where it goes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Grief, Genocide, Physical abuse, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, and War