The Poppy War (BOOK REVIEW)

 

This book is an absolute  masterpiece
“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.”
I cannot begin to describe how much I love this story- it was absolutely incredible. Some might hate the grimdark side of the fantasy genre but I thrive reading those books, the horror of reality played out in a fantasy setting is deeply fascinating to me and something I always want to read about.
The way war is written throughout The Poppy War is so grotesque and painful to read but completely in the realm of reality of real war.
R.F Kuang does not shy away from the devastation, loss, and monstrous emotions war brings out in people- and how far humanity is willing to go to survive.

“When man begins to think that he is responsible for writing the script of the world, he forgets the forces that dream up our reality.”

This book drags you into the depths of humanities terrors and asks you to consider where you stand in the most drastic and painful of situations. It asks you to question your perception on morality, the ethics of warfare, war crime, death, and religion in a very uncomfortable and startling way.

I think Rin is a brilliant character and seeing her struggle and grasp desperately for survival was tragic and painful. I loved every moment of reading about her and I can't wait to continue her story in the next book.

5/5