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theshelfarchive 's review for:
The Poppy War
by R.F. Kuang
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
This was a 5-star read, without question—but not one I’d ever describe as enjoyable. It’s confronting, brutal, and unflinching in its portrayal of war, trauma, and survival. It's one of those rare books that left me at a loss for words, not because it lacked anything, but because it delivered so much. Complex, disturbing, and deeply immersive, it feels like something that can't simply be summarised—it has to be experienced.
The story follows Rin, a war orphan raised by abusive foster parents who only keep her around for their own benefit. Determined to escape an arranged marriage, she throws herself into years of punishing study in order to earn a place at the Empire’s most elite military academy. Once there, she uncovers a dangerous affinity for the long-forgotten art of shamanism—a power that proves both intoxicating and destructive.
The narrative spans several years, but it never drags. Structured in three parts, it begins with her training at the academy, but quickly shifts into something far darker and more expansive. This isn’t a story about school or even personal triumph—it’s a story about war. Real war. Its costs. Its impact. Its utter dehumanisation. It doesn’t flinch from the horrors: genocide, torture, drug addiction, racism, sexism, ableism, self-harm, and sexual violence all appear, some in devastatingly graphic or visceral terms.
I was genuinely surprised that there wasn’t a content warning at the start of this book. The events depicted—including extremely graphic acts of violence against men, women, children, and infants—are not easy to read. This is not a young adult novel, despite how it might initially appear. And even as an adult, I found myself feeling emotionally gutted, shaken, and frankly, a little broken after finishing.
Despite that, the writing is masterful. The world-building is grounded in real historical atrocities, most notably the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Nanjing Massacre, giving the fantasy setting a raw, uncompromising realism. The integration of opium use and the spiritual/magical system built around shamanism is both original and harrowing, used to explore both power and consequence with incredible depth.
There’s no easy way to wrap up a review of a book like this. It’s brilliant. It’s horrifying. And it’s necessary. It doesn’t comfort, but it does confront. If you can stomach the darkness, you’ll find a story that lingers long after the final page.
The story follows Rin, a war orphan raised by abusive foster parents who only keep her around for their own benefit. Determined to escape an arranged marriage, she throws herself into years of punishing study in order to earn a place at the Empire’s most elite military academy. Once there, she uncovers a dangerous affinity for the long-forgotten art of shamanism—a power that proves both intoxicating and destructive.
The narrative spans several years, but it never drags. Structured in three parts, it begins with her training at the academy, but quickly shifts into something far darker and more expansive. This isn’t a story about school or even personal triumph—it’s a story about war. Real war. Its costs. Its impact. Its utter dehumanisation. It doesn’t flinch from the horrors: genocide, torture, drug addiction, racism, sexism, ableism, self-harm, and sexual violence all appear, some in devastatingly graphic or visceral terms.
I was genuinely surprised that there wasn’t a content warning at the start of this book. The events depicted—including extremely graphic acts of violence against men, women, children, and infants—are not easy to read. This is not a young adult novel, despite how it might initially appear. And even as an adult, I found myself feeling emotionally gutted, shaken, and frankly, a little broken after finishing.
Despite that, the writing is masterful. The world-building is grounded in real historical atrocities, most notably the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Nanjing Massacre, giving the fantasy setting a raw, uncompromising realism. The integration of opium use and the spiritual/magical system built around shamanism is both original and harrowing, used to explore both power and consequence with incredible depth.
There’s no easy way to wrap up a review of a book like this. It’s brilliant. It’s horrifying. And it’s necessary. It doesn’t comfort, but it does confront. If you can stomach the darkness, you’ll find a story that lingers long after the final page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, War
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Sexual violence