Reviews

The Complete Poppy War Trilogy: The Poppy War, the Dragon Republic, the Burning God by R.F. Kuang

dylanshoutsintothebookvoid's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A riveting world with fascinating possibilities. Interesting characters (most of whom I disliked), though dialogue was tiring and flat at times. The series is at it's best during nauseatingly intimate descriptions of atrocities, but the moments in between sometimes felt glossed over. Entire months or years could pass in the span of a page and the writing with a zoomed out focus of the war never captured the beauty of the times we zoomed in. But even for their faults, these three books made me react audibly and feel triumph, sorrow, disgust, and intrigue at every important juncture. I could not stay away for very long, even if Rin's actions often made me to gently place the book face down and walk away to regain composure and process what I had read. The series ends with a flourish that somehow wraps this monstrosity up with an effective and satisfyingly messy bow.

hmnborczon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-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? Yes

4.5

ellagella's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

dordveidhil's review

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

aander17's review against another edition

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

4.75

isaureeeee's review against another edition

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5.0

kitay

nocturnalowlette's review

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4.5

4.5 for the Burning God. Summed up in Olivia Rodrigo's song, Brutal. "'Cause who am I, if not exploited? /... / God, it's brutal out here." So overall it's a 4.5.

vanderbooks's review

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adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

frasquitita's review against another edition

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5.0

Loved this trilogy so much!

 I think reading it in its paper or digital form I would have abandoned but as an audiobook it is thrilling, excellent on the worldbuilding front. 

Even though FMC was mainly built on rage, which is not my favorite thing, in a world being colonized, misogynist and classist, I am all for it. 

I am looking forward to reading Babel and Yellowface! Her writing style is beautiful and I loved it.

sydnee_calhoun's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.75