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A review by hanarama
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Blown away by how compelling this book is. I'm so excited to read the rest of the series.
Kuang is masterful at capturing the horrors and atrocities of war. She really highlights how hard it is to take moral actions in a war and really no one can claim a true moral high ground in this book. I found that this book is really great at laying out how the characters' choices lead them to where they end up. The characters are able to make really horrifying decisions and though the book makes it clear how terrible their actions are it's easy to see why they make these terrible choices.
I really loved the first part of the book where Rin is a peasant protégé at a prestigious academy. It really gets you invested in Rin's growth, while also foreshadowing the type of soldier she will become. The academy chapters also help to contrast with how horrific the later chapters are.
I wouldn't recommend this book to most people, despite the excellent quality of Kuang's writing. Definitely keep the content warnings in mind before going in.
Kuang is masterful at capturing the horrors and atrocities of war. She really highlights how hard it is to take moral actions in a war and really no one can claim a true moral high ground in this book. I found that this book is really great at laying out how the characters' choices lead them to where they end up. The characters are able to make really horrifying decisions and though the book makes it clear how terrible their actions are it's easy to see why they make these terrible choices.
I really loved the first part of the book where Rin is a peasant protégé at a prestigious academy. It really gets you invested in Rin's growth, while also foreshadowing the type of soldier she will become. The academy chapters also help to contrast with how horrific the later chapters are.
I wouldn't recommend this book to most people, despite the excellent quality of Kuang's writing. Definitely keep the content warnings in mind before going in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Confinement, Infertility, and Forced institutionalization
This book is very much about the brutality of war and everything that that implies.