_alexrated 's review for:

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

4.5

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I had heard how gut-wrenching this story was, but I was still left shocked by the intensity of the story. Half the time, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. The first part of the book, while tackling heavy topics, also had unexpected moments of humor. I’ve never disagreed with a character’s choices and thoughts as I did with Rin, yet I found myself compelled to keep reading to see what she would do next. Her unpredictability and complexity made the book impossible to put down. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series brings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Gore, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood