A review by benyoda95
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark emotional lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book is a little dark for my taste and a little overhypped, but it was a good book and I'm a sucker for a

magical school with a tournament arc.

Once again, Kuang approaches topics of racism, misogyny and classism superbly well, and the exploration of what is moral in war was handled well as well. Not one I'd recommend to everyone, check the trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma