From the Bookshelf of Ranters and Reviewers…

The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1)

R.F. Kuang

Start date: March 1, 2021

Finish date: March 31, 2021

Discussion: BOTM

Why we're reading this: March Diverse BOTM
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November 2021 Series BOTM Suggestions
By Sofia , duckish things · 9 posts · 19 views

last updated Oct 21, 2021 11:56PM

October 2021 Continuation BOTM: The Wicked King
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What Members Thought

Jan 10, 2021 Sofia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: graphic, actually-gray-characters, love-of-my-life, favorites, depressing, dark-dark-dark

This book thoroughly destroyed me.

This is dark and heavy and not at all an easy read. It’s a story of vengeance, hatred, and manipulation. Added to the bleak retelling of the darkest period in Chinese history, it’s a painful book to read. But it’s so, so good.

Rin, a peasant from the south, is a ruthless, determined, ambitious character who craves power over all other things. She’s a student at Sinegard, a prestigious military academy, but she stands out because of her dark skin and accent. She ...more

401 likes · Like · see review

Jan 11, 2021 ☆Pelumi☆ rated it it was amazing

OUT OF FIVE
RATING: 4.5 stars
PLOT: 4
CHARACTERS: 5
WORLD BULIDING: 4
MY FEAR: 300

*takes a deep breath*
This is very well one of the HARDEST REVIEWS I have ever had to write.
Why? This book is so dark and deep that I fear I may not even be able to convey everything I feel in just one review.
It felt like I read an entire series in just this one book, it was so rich!

There is a moment in life when you realise that you have been wasting your entire existence. There is a moment in life that your entire exi ...more

164 likes · Like · see review

Feb 06, 2021 Moony 394 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What just happened??

Synopsis:

The Poppy War is a grimdark military fantasy. It is highly inspired by the Second Sino-Japanese War, which was one of the darkest, bloodiest periods in Chinese history. It is the first in a trilogy. The book is set in an alternate Asia. The main character, Rin, is a war orphan. Her guardians hope to marry her off to further their criminal enterprise. She realises the only way to get out of her situation is to get into the most elite military school in Nikan - Sinegar What just happened??

Synopsis:

The Poppy War is a grimdark military fantasy. It is highly inspired by the Second Sino-Japanese War, which was one of the darkest, bloodiest periods in Chinese history. It is the first in a trilogy. The book is set in an alternate Asia. The main character, Rin, is a war orphan. Her guardians hope to marry her off to further their criminal enterprise. She realises the only way to get out of her situation is to get into the most elite military school in Nikan - Sinegard. It is a shock to everyone when she actually manages to get in.
But there are disadvantages to her acceptance into Sinegard Academy. She is a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south and she is immediately targeted at Sinegard for her colour, gender, and poverty.
Rin finds out that she has a lethal, unearthly power. She has an aptitude for Shamanism, a mythical art. She explores her gift with a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances. She learns that Gods - Gods that were thought long dead - are actually alive. To master control over her powers means a lot more than surviving school.
While the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lies across a narrow sea. They occupied Nikan for decades after the end of the first Poppy War. They only barely lost it in the second one. Most are happy to go about their lives, but others are aware that the third Poppy War is just a spark away.
Rin’s powers may be the only way to save her people. However, as she finds out more about the god who has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her her humanity. It may already be too late …

Book Review:

“Children ceased to be children when you put a sword in their hands. When you taught them to fight a war, then you armed them and put them on the front lines, they were not children anymore. They were soldiers.”

This book is very enjoyable and exciting. It also really hits your emotions. There is lots of violence, and the author isn’t afraid to torture and kill her characters. She creates a really realistic view of war, and shows the tragedy and horror of it.
All the deaths destroyed me … I still haven't recovered, even though I gave myself a lot of time to recover at least a bit before I wrote the review 😭😭😭😂
There are many content warnings for this book that you should be aware of before reading it. These include war themes, drug abuse, animal cruelty, bloody imagery, sexual assault, physical abuse, murder, suicide, self harm, genocide, and racism.
This book starts off a bit slow, with Rin learning at the Sinegard academy, but it quickly changes in parts II and III, becoming a more fast paced, action packed story.
The main character is very interesting. She is a bit of an anti-hero - She would do anything to protect the people she loves, including killing innocent people. However, you still root for her throughout the book. She is a very strong female character and goes through great character development. The other characters are really great and I loved seeing them forming friendships throughout it.
The world building is really well done and detailed. There are a lot of Chinese and Asian references.
I definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy young adult fantasy books. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review