Well, I've finished The Poppy War- but at what cost? My mental health has surely left!

The devastation this book leaves you with is tremendous. I do not believe any content warnings could accurately prepare me for the final quarter of this novel. It was painfully graphic and tragic. This book absolutely lives up to its dark reputation. The depraved content is extreme, but with a purpose. Kuang completely ensures that the reader understands the realities of war and the impossible decisions people must make while in horrendous situations. It was difficult to read, but that was the intention.

On top of that, the pacing was excellent. Years passed within the story, but I never felt like the story excluded important details nor did I ever feel the story dragging. When I wasn't reading, all I wanted to be doing was reading this book. The beginning and end felt like entirely different worlds, but we were seamlessly brought to that ending. The kernals of immorality from Rin were exciting to track and I'm both terrified and excited to see where her story goes.

Absolutely incredible that this was a debut novel for Kuang, because it is a masterpiece.