A review by xsamwise
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I think most people who give the Poppy War a glowing review prefer the 2nd half of the book which is where I found the most contradictions and issues with mainly Rin. I tore through the first half of this book, I enjoyed Rin's life at school and learning
There are multiple instances where Rin sees problems with Altan and his path of rage, yet she constantly chooses to follow in his footsteps despite identifying the glaring issues. While in the Chuluu Korikh she seems to have another realization that Jiang was right all along, but she contradicts this yet again. And there are multiple other examples of Rin having moments of clarity and then immediately doing the exact opposite.
While in the temple she shifts all blame to fate, that she hasn't made a single choose on this path of destruction. The Phoenix corrects her, she has made every single choice that has led to this moment, had been given multiple chances to choose a different path... yet here we are. And then after everything she as seen, in the end she naively thinks she can control the gods. The gods may act at the discretion of the shamans, but not without great sacrifice (ultimately themselves). It's also glaringly obvious that the will of the gods takes over their human minds and they act with only the wishes of the gods.
Rin is so painfully naïve, hypocritical and stupid, but I guess that's what happen when children are the only ones left with connections to the gods... they make childish decisions without any real understanding of the dire consequences.
Spoiler
from Jiang. And the more I found out about Lore, the more I thought Rin would be the voice of reason and Altan would inevitably destroy himself in vain. Unfortunately, I was very wrong. Through out the latter half of the book I kept waiting for Rin to realize their errors, and she voiced them many times, but still somehow ended up down the completely wrong path.There are multiple instances where Rin sees problems with Altan and his path of rage, yet she constantly chooses to follow in his footsteps despite identifying the glaring issues. While in the Chuluu Korikh she seems to have another realization that Jiang was right all along, but she contradicts this yet again. And there are multiple other examples of Rin having moments of clarity and then immediately doing the exact opposite.
While in the temple she shifts all blame to fate, that she hasn't made a single choose on this path of destruction. The Phoenix corrects her, she has made every single choice that has led to this moment, had been given multiple chances to choose a different path... yet here we are. And then after everything she as seen, in the end she naively thinks she can control the gods. The gods may act at the discretion of the shamans, but not without great sacrifice (ultimately themselves). It's also glaringly obvious that the will of the gods takes over their human minds and they act with only the wishes of the gods.
Rin is so painfully naïve, hypocritical and stupid, but I guess that's what happen when children are the only ones left with connections to the gods... they make childish decisions without any real understanding of the dire consequences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Body horror, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Abortion, Rape, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Drug use