A review by sarahemily0425
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

Wow. I’m a big RF Kuang and this novel had me constantly at the edge of my seat. I felt like I lived years with Rin while reading this novel. What an epic tale with fascinating arcs and complicated characters. I caution some against reading for some heavy themes,

the final 1/4 of the book has some horrifyingly vivid descriptions of war, death,  genocide, and torture that I may never forget

This novel feels like a very violent, dark, and fucked up mixture of Harry Potter (except written by a non TERF) and avatar the last air bender. I usually have no interest  in series but I am excited to read more of Rin’s world of magic and gods. A stupid question, why does this cover have a girl with an arrow? Rin mainly wields a sword. A spoilery/maybe stupid question:

were Altan and Chaghan romantically involved? I hope so

amazing book, can’t wait to read the next 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism