sierraclimbs 's review for:

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

4.25

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I enjoyed this book much more upon re-read. I think the first time I read it I wasn’t well informed about the adult nature of this story & therefore was pretty taken aback by the violence & tragedy of it all. But going in to it a second time knowing what to expect I really really enjoyed it. 
It feels like an Asian version of Game of Thrones. Creative, heart wrenching, unexpected twists, complicated human relations, magic, it’s got it all.
This story is not for the faint of heart. It’s about young children/ young adults going through terrible things. But I think it does an amazing job depicting the truly contradictory nature of humanity. Nothing is black & white. People change their minds. The human condition is complex & doesn’t always do what is right.  
Excited to have reacquainted myself with the story & characters so I can read the next two. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Abortion

This is a book about war… and it does not take that lightly. It is very graphic & very raw. There is also heavy drug usage

it’s connected to the magic system