The Poppy War | Spoiler Free Review | & The Influences from Chinese History

[@TheNerdyNarrative]

You literally just made me want to read this again..and since I just read it a couple months ago, that can only mean you did a FANTASTIC review!

[@kaylahicks1355]

Thank you 😭🖤 Reviews always take me so long so this warms my heart!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Such a great review, Kayla. I'm so excited to read this with everyone next month. I'm actually really glad more people are learning about Nanjing. I studied East Asia in college which is where I learned about it and was FLOORED that I hadn't learned about the horrors that took place there beforehand. Just bonechilling stuff.

[@kaylahicks1355]

Yeah. It was eye opening. Listening to everything described in detail in this book just had me railing. I couldn't believe so much of what I was learning when I finished this.

[@QuestLegacy]

I'm nearly halfway done with the book and honestly I'm not super sold yet. The first section just felt too familiar with Rin able to sort of overcome everything with a lot of "telling" of her training and no real failures at all. It sort of felt rushed also, but I am sort of glad it was rushed because it felt odd and very YA as you mentioned. I'm pushing through because I have heard so many positive things about the series and I feel like there is going to be that huge tonal shift so we will see how my opinion changes as I push through the second half.

[@kaylahicks1355]

I wasn't sure either. There's a larger plot that opens up the direction of the story. I gave it 5 stars but in retrospect I probably would say it's more like 4. I've seen the rushed criticism as well. I can agree with that also but I think Kuang's goal was to set up her main themes and ideas with the series. She was 19 when this was published. Before Dragon Republic, she took a writing workshop and I think her story telling and writing improved in it.

[@JessieMaeBooks]

This was a FANTASTIC review!!!

[@kaylahicks1355]

Thank you SO MUCH!

[@SkylerReads]

Looking for the Poppy War from my library now lol

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Been seeing this book pop up. Must be awesome. Smartly awesome. In a nutshell: smartly awesome.

[@kaylahicks1355]

🤣 Smartly awesome is a great description.

[@SufficientlyAdvancedLena]

eeeeee this review was fantastic!!! I love the Poppy War is just so good

[@kaylahicks1355]

Thank you! I agree, I really liked it and I just finished Dragon Republic and I think I liked it even more!

[@Kayla-rn3vq]

Great review! I have been thinking about reading this book for a while now!

[@kaylahicks1355]

Thank you! It's been pretty divisive I think but I really enjoyed the overall direction of the plot and where it is going.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Great review. So indepth! You're so pretty!😍

[@kaylahicks1355]

Thank you so much 🖤

[@tylerblack301]

Welp this has moved up to the top of my TBR list for next year! Lol

[@kaylahicks1355]

It's not for everyone but I really enjoyed it!

[@SaraMGreads]

Everyone and their mom seems to be reading this right now. I wish I had about 17 more hours per day to read.

[@kaylahicks1355]

Yeah I could definitely use some more hours in a day for reading lol So many books, so little time.

[@TheBookishMom]

I think this was one of my favorite books so far this year, except maybe the Dragon Republic lol Both of them are fantastic and I can't wait until Burning God!

[@kaylahicks1355]

I think so far I like Dragon Republic more. I have about 2 hours left and I think you can definitely see an improvement in her writing.

[@TheBookishMom]

@@kaylahicks1355 totally agree! I loved the dragon republic 🐉