eldritch_archivist 's review for:

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

4.5

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book is so fucked up. Truly do not read it if you are not prepared for graphic depictions of the horrors of war crimes and sexual violence. Left me asking: do I support women's wrongs? I just don't know but it sure was an incredible read. The author really took the main character and said "what if I made her so much worse?"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Trafficking, Abandonment, Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Pedophilia