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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, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
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: Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
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, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
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: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
fiveredhens'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
"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, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, and Pregnancy
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, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Religious bigotry
m_________'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, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, and Excrement
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, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, and Religious bigotry