Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

354 reviews

khenny90's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Death, Grief, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Self harm, Addiction, Animal death, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Drug abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, War, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug use

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

kibiiiariii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Drug use, Slavery, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Abandonment, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Torture, Trafficking, Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child death, Toxic friendship, War, Xenophobia, Animal death, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Child abuse, Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Cursing, and Death

elyanna's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, War, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Torture, Gore, Death, Child death, and Blood

Moderate: Sexism, Self harm, Murder, Slavery, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Rape, and Suicide

Minor: Animal cruelty and Addiction

marcipanek7's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

If I could I would give this book 6/5⭐. 
I can't possibly describe the emotions I felt while reading this book. Especially chapter 21. (Who knows, knows.) 
I loved this with my whole heart. The best book I've read in a while. Big applause to miss Kuang, I LOVED IT! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, Murder, Rape, Blood, Genocide, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture, Addiction, Violence, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, and Slavery

thyprincess's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense medium-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

4.75

An incredibly strong debut, with vivid worldbuilding, interesting character dynamics, and a terribly depressing story of war amidst a magical fantasy world. Each chapter left me slack-jawed in shock, and my anxiety for the fates of our characters kept me turning pages. 

I would have liked more exploration of character relationships, especially concerning the events of Part III. There was such a sudden tonal shift, perhaps to reflect the realities of war, but I felt like there should have been an appropriate reflection of Rin's investment in the relationships she's held throughout the book. Though her dilemmas are the main focus of the story, as the heroine, it would have made it more heartbreaking to see more of our other side characters, particularly those she spent time with in the academy. Though I surmise we will learn more from them in the succeeding novels, which I hear are even better than this.

Overall, a highly recommended book for anyone with the stomach and will to see it through. Be sure to heed the trigger warnings before you dive into the lands of Nikara. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Rape, and Child death

Moderate: Blood, Torture, Gore, and Genocide

Minor: Slavery and Colonisation

Spoiler

If you are particularly squeamish, best to skip Chapter 21 due to graphic violence, gore and moderate sexual assault

lyrapollock's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, War, Racism, Physical abuse, Murder, Gore, Death, Genocide, Drug abuse, Torture, Drug use, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Colonisation, War, Torture, Slavery, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Abandonment, Violence, Racism, Murder, Dementia, Child death, and Blood

pili31's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense medium-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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, Child abuse, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and War

bakkuababy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this was INSANE 

Spoiler

the parallel of rin from when we first meet her to when the story ends is fucking crazy she did a whole 180. basically became altan which is rlly sad bc that man SUFFERED. he wasn’t the most likeable character but it was very easy to empathise with him. Also did nezha die or what like I believe this man is a shaman like I need more of him 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Sexual assault, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Murder, Rape, Genocide, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, and War

all the trigger warnings….

bookishreadersclub's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

When they say this book is dark, they mean it. Do not be fooled by the beginning chapters of this book that feign hopeful stories of aspiring soldiers. The darkness of this book has subjected itself to one specific chapter, chapter 21. There are gruesome, cruel, horrifying depictions of war crimes. Nothing will prepare you for it. Read trigger warnings. Please.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Mental illness, Abortion, War, Trafficking, Slavery, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gore, Grief, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death, Addiction, Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Vomit, Violence, Self harm, Genocide, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Racism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Murder, Forced institutionalization, and Cursing