astridasa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Racism, Mental illness, Addiction, Torture, Sexism, Infertility, War, Xenophobia, Vomit, Violence, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, Medical content, Gore, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Murder, Medical trauma, Injury/injury detail, and Grief
ccpetrikas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, War, Cannibalism, Child death, Classism, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual assault, Drug use, Genocide, Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Cultural appropriation, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Addiction, Abortion, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
book_sense's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Abortion, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, War, and Xenophobia
rileysradreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Genocide, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and War
violaceae's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Body shaming, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abortion, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Mental illness, and Infidelity
Minor: Abandonment
igfromero's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Torture
rosequarterdrifting's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Spoiler
"Our dead don't leave us," said the Sorqan Sira. "They'll haunt you as long as you let them. That boy is a disease on your mind. Forget him."
"I can't." She pressed her face into her hands. "He was brilliant. He was different. You'd have never met anyone like him."
"You would be stunned." The Sorqan Sira looked very sad. "You have no idea how many men are like Altan Trengsin."
better than the first in the most brutal way possible
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Excrement, Grief, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, and Vomit
hanarama's review against another edition
- 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
- Well developed characters.
- Challenging topics, specifically concerning the cycles of war and violence.
- Engaging plot, keeps you wanting more.
The Bad:
- Characters are extremely morally gray (may be off-putting to some readers).
- Slower middle section.
The second installment of the Poppy War trilogy builds exponentially on the themes introduced in the first book. Even as the war ends, another begins while Rin struggles to strengthen and stabilize her bond with the Phoenix.
The story is an extremely frank depiction of wartime and the life of a soldier, while still integrating fantasy elements. Readers picking this series up should be extremely cautious for this reason. Additionally, even "good guys" commit heinous acts as a part of their effort to win. Readers need to be aware that the protagonists are not necessarily in the right or moral people. Kuang's world setting is very grey and morally complicated.
The character development in this book is excellent. Kuang is great at writing charismatic characters that are likable despite their evil actions. Likewise, she is excellent at subtly building up to twists in the narrative that are at once surprising, but totally in line with the characters as they have been written.
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
maggieslibrarycard's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Xenophobia, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Grief, Gore, Genocide, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Cursing, Confinement, Child death, Body horror, and Blood
Minor: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Bullying, and Alcoholism
kindredbooks's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Xenophobia, Violence, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Rape, Self harm, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Confinement, and Blood