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

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-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

5.0

Okay, okayyy, OKAY!
This book is such a journey. It definitely isn't for the faint of heart, especially the later half of the book. it starts exploring some darker themes and some serious content warnings are required. When I say this is a war book this is a war book. It does not shy away from the terrible things that happen in war and the terrible people we become in it. In fact that is the entire point of the book summed up. The MC is one of my favorite female characters in a really long time. Her character growth
and moral decline
is so magnetic to read. I had to physically put the book down after a particularly heavy part
Golyn niis anyone?
. The ending had be in tears for many different reasons and at different escalations. I always knew this author was going to fuck me up, it's the reason I haven't read Babel past the first two chapters, it's this small feeling in your stomach where you know this book is going to change your life. And it did. I truly haven't stopped thinking about it since I finished it and I doubt I will any time soon. 

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