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A review by kyajreads
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
This was a great introduction to Rin's world in Nikara, who overcomes the challenges she faces as a girl, a darker skinned person than her peers, and a poor, uneducated war orphan.
I know it's the intent of the book (being based on the second Sino-Japanese war and mid 20th century China) but its very obviously drawing from real events which, as the reader, definitely made the events in the book hit even harder, knowing that there's an element of truth in the pages.
The way the story is segmented felt so natural, and despite feeling like 'hard stops' in Rin's arcs, it definitely helped to show the passage of time/major event/environment change. I loved this approach.
The complex levels of each character, both main and secondary, and their relationships with one another were fantastic, heartwarming, anger inducing, heart-wrenching, triumphant.
I know it's the intent of the book (being based on the second Sino-Japanese war and mid 20th century China) but its very obviously drawing from real events which, as the reader, definitely made the events in the book hit even harder, knowing that there's an element of truth in the pages.
The way the story is segmented felt so natural, and despite feeling like 'hard stops' in Rin's arcs, it definitely helped to show the passage of time/major event/environment change. I loved this approach.
The complex levels of each character, both main and secondary, and their relationships with one another were fantastic, heartwarming, anger inducing, heart-wrenching, triumphant.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Colonisation, Sexism, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, War, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Rape, Slavery, Child abuse, Racism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Genocide, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Self harm, and Torture