Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

490 reviews

snaileton's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

rf kuang the woman that you are.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Colonisation, Violence, Xenophobia, Death, and Genocide

Moderate: Drug use, Torture, and Rape

Minor: Sexism and Addiction

takarakei's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

(re-read) It was so interesting to come back to this story knowing where the series goes. I underlined so many things that I totally didn't pick up on my first time reading and really made me appreciate R.F. Kuang's ability to world-build with so much detail, history and lore. This book does read almost like two books, the first 1/3 to half-ish being almost dark academia-esque with our MC Rin getting into this prestigious military school and she is one of the only poor students whose family isn't well connected. Then a war breaks out and she along with her fellow students must join to fight against an invading country. The rest of the book really sets up the rest of the series.

Rin is a very... interesting main character to read as she is extremely morally gray. Is actually told constantly by her professor Jiang that the magic ability she is learning is dangerous, but she does not heed the warnings. This is an overall theme throughout the books, so it's important to know going in that she can be often unlikeable at times due to the decisions that she makes.

I really can't wait to continue my re-read of the whole series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Drug use, War, Colonisation, Racism, Violence, and Addiction

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture

Minor: Animal death

This book contains very graphic gruesome and hard to read passages of the effects of war and genocide.

azariamckay's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book truly exceeded my expectations! It’s extremely gruesome but the story of being fully consumed by revenge and power is just so good. Also the Chinese history that inspires Kuang in the world building is amazing. She truly created a terrifying and fantastic world with characters that’ll live with me forever. I loved this book but I will say the gruesome elements are A LOT! She does not shy away from imagery and there are somethings she describes that I’ll never get out of my head. I’m scared for the following books in the series. Please read trigger warnings before picking up this book, I beg of you! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, War, Colonisation, Body horror, Rape, Slavery, Addiction, Blood, Sexual assault, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism

Minor: Domestic abuse

beccabou's review

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? Yes

4.0

As the back cover says: “ Peasant. Student. Soldier. Goddess.” - love the sweep of this story and Rin’s journey! Gruesome and brutal war-time descriptions (with a recommended reading list from the author at the end on Sino-Japanese relations & WWII) - so check content warnings if needed!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Rape

Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Body horror, Genocide, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Sexual violence

Minor: Trafficking and Suicidal thoughts

lausiusplau's review

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Murder, Suicide, Gore, Body horror, Death, Racism, Hate crime, Addiction, War, Sexual violence, Genocide, Xenophobia, Torture, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Violence, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug use

emvanalt's review

challenging dark tense

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Drug use, Colonisation, Genocide, and Physical abuse

moonlighttreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

it was a journey. it started off exciting and fun and ended up shocking and dark. the writing was beautiful, the characters realistic and their inner worlds were explored in depth. the plot was fast paced and full. 

the .25 are for some part in the middle of the book where i felt like it felt a bit flat for a few pages. also the magic system could have been explored and explained more.

do recommend (check the tws though!!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Gore, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Murder, Blood, Death, Grief, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, War, Genocide, Xenophobia, Racism, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

lay_kone's review

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, War, Violence, Death, Child death, Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, Addiction, Drug use, Torture, Colonisation, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexual assault

vibingandy's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Violence, Rape, Genocide, War, Forced institutionalization, Torture, and Racism

joepyeweed's review

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I don’t know how to feel about this book. I liked the characters and the school/martial arts part. But the genocide was too graphic.

I did appreciate the way the author balanced Rin’s character development; even though she becomes more and more morally grey and winds up committing terrible atrocities in war, somehow I still cared about her. If anything, the trajectory of becoming both more powerful and more traumatized made her a more compelling character. I didn’t always like her, but I am invested.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Sexual violence, Blood, Death, Rape, Drug use, Gore, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Torture, Violence, and War