Welcome to Litsy!

There‘s a line from the TV show M*A*S*H: “War isn‘t Hell. War is war, and Hell is Hell. And of the two, war is a lot worse.” It perfectly sums up R.F. Kuang‘s hyper-realistic descriptions of the atrocities of war — so much so that it actually took away my enjoyment of the book and changed my mind about how I felt about the MC. I still overall really like this book.

Apparently my new favorite genre is Chinese military fantasy. Who knew?

I loved this book in print. I may love it even more on audio. Hearing all the names and places pronounced properly is wonderful.

I am not a fantasy reader but reading reviews of the Poppy War trilogy saying it is not a typical fantasy series and non-fantasy readers are enjoying this trilogy. What are your thoughts? Are you a non-fantasy reader that read this series? I would love comments as I am considering reading. Thanks everyone 🥰

I am just unsure about the words I can choose to talk about this book. It's horrifying, devastating, all consuming exactly like the Phoenix it speaks of. It's like a burning sensation I have swallowed. It turns my mouth into ashes. Yet, it was a necessary experience. To feel the pains of war. To know what man can do to man. And the horrors it wreaks.

Yes, late to this party 📚. Really enjoyed it, perfect no but went right out and bought the 2nd book in the trilogy. This was a debut 😯 pretty impressive 👏

#SummerSpecial Day 16: #SnakeDay seems apt for this first novel in the Poppy War trilogy with the betrayal, treachery, deception inherent in such a turbulent fantastical world. Kuang‘s world-building is exquisitely layered.

We're having a busy Sunday 📚🐾

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#MarchMagic Day 28: I am loving everything this brilliant #AuthorOfColor writes. I am reading her backwards - read her Babel first which I could not put down. Now this book has my heart racing like crazy. The plan is to read the trilogy while on Spring Break this week. Halfway through first book. I doubt I would be able to finish all 3 books this week, but good intentions count for something, methinks.

As a war orphan, Rin has little chance to escape her life as unpaid labor for her opium dealing foster parents, but she is bright & determined. Passing the Keju she earns a spot at the prestigious Sinegard military academy. There she learns military strategy & shamanism. When war threatens the kingdom, even students like Rin must fight. Great start, sags in the middle and arresting ending. Four⭐️s for this first in a trilogy.

#motherdaughterread
I‘ve literally just started the book I brought today….daughter reading Poppy War. We have booked to go and see Kuang talk in May.

This is really good with lots of moral ambiguity, but it pushed my tolerance for violence and grimness to the edge. Also, I feel fairly safe in giving this a content warning for pretty much everything you might consider warning someone about. GREAT narrator.

#MarchMagic Day 24: #CurrentlyReading - Rin is the perfect #KickAssFemaleHeroine - I have a feeling I would fall in love with this series. Is read RF Kuang backwards since I started with Babel which I devoured a few weeks ago. Tagged book is paired with piping-hot oven baked cheesy singary prawns. 🦐🍤

#20ThingsAboutMe @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Aelin (ToG series) - The journey she takes from book .5 to book 7 I think would break any other character. Strong, determined, fierce.

Rin (The Poppy Wars) - Quickly becoming a favorite character, Rin is fantastic. Witty, bold and takes no crap.

Tezza (Fate of the Fallen series) - Simply hilarious and strong willed.

#WonderousWednesday @Eggs

“Pain could make her focus….The day she took the exam, her arms were covered with burn scars.”

When you're trying to study but have temptation too close at hand... 🙄
I read this book a few years ago and loved it! Decided it warrants a reread before continuing with the series.

Wow there was a lot of book in this read😅 starting off as a lowly shop girl and ending several years later in a war torn country and that‘s all in the first book! Interesting concepts of shamanic power intertwined with Chinese history and mythology. I found I was much more interested at the beginning of the book and lost it a little towards the middle but the ending came back around. Look forward to the next one!

This was a beast of a book, but so engaging that it didn‘t feel long. Rin is an excellent heroine, who grows and changes so much during this epic tale. War, gods, shamanism, friendship and everything in between, it somehow didn‘t feel like too much to digest. And a really interesting part of world history that I didn‘t know anything about before, even though through a fictional lens. Can‘t wait to start book 2!

Absolutely love this book!!! With a great cast of characters and an interesting plot that keeps you interested the entire time. Definitely recommend this one

Wow. That was a lot, but it was wow. Definitely getting the second and third books asap.

"'Take your clothes off.'"

#FirstLineFridays

@ShyBookOwl

About 150 pages into this one and I'm loving it! The world, the writing, the characters are everything i love to find in fantasy.

Also, pictured above is a toasted marshmallow hazulnut latte and wow. A+.

I am RIDICULOUSLY excited for this one!

this seasons #bookclub read.. I‘ve been waiting on it from the library so let‘s see how fast I can read it

I liked #ThePoppyWar a lot more on my reread. The story seemed to make more sense, and I think I understand Rin a bit better now. I hope I will get to read the sequel soon, before I forget everything again!

#RFKuang

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

October 18 - The Daily Photo Challenge - Prompt: orange

🔴 6 points

#scarathlondailyprompts #orange #scarathlon22 #teammonstermash #scarathlon #sweetvenom #dailyphotochallenge #newpost #viral #spookyseason #halloweenreads #halloweenvibes #halloween #bookporn #trending #horror

I started out thinking that this book had a Hunger Games vibe. Was reading along and then by page 300 I didn‘t care what happened. 🥴. I think I needed a human connection in this story and that was not taking place. It‘s just not for me..half reading happens.

Wowwowwoww, this book almost hit the top ten book shelf, wonderful story writing with great character development. Had me reminiscing some of my favorite parts of The KingKiller Chronicles series but with it‘s own unique style. Started this series while waiting for Babel to release, but now looking forward to continuing this series in book 2!

I feel...conflicted. i really like the world building and even many of the characters but dang DANG BRO. I also just ended up really disliking some critical characters enough where I'm like "do i even like this book?!" I do but it just mentally exhausting ⚠️ extreme violence ⚠️ not throughout but at some point yeah, like think AoT and GoT #bookspin #bookspinbingo

'Parallels with modern Chinese history resonate deeply and darkly in this blood-soak epic of orphans and expresses, gods and shamans'

I listened to the audio and oh dang was this good! The narrator does an awesome job handling the large cast and this book is action packed and gory and gritty. It shows the horror of war against the background of a type of imperial culture and it was amazing. Please be aware of triggers!

⭐️3.6
Was expecting a lot more of this story since I‘ve heard good things about it. Although the characters in dept emotions were described in a real way and the historical background of this made me feel intrigued of the story. I wish the bromance or particularly “romance” would have been more built up. The narrator of the book were truly amazing and made the book more enjoyable during my commutes.
#bookspin #juneread #bookchallenge

Continuing with this amazing book, snuggling up with tea 🍵 and the audiobook. My double spin bingo
#bookspin #doublespin #thepoppywar #rfkuang #readingjune

🦋I‘ll give it 3 stars so far it‘s a solid read and I like the world building.
🦋 So far the best is probably daughter of the moon goddess
🦋I am grateful for the time I can spend doing what I want end of my senior year
#wondrouswednesday #challenge
Tagging @KristiAhlers @TheAromaofBooks @BookishRedhead

This was a second try book for me. I originally tried in print when it first came out. I listened to it on audio and man did it get dark. Especially when hearing it out loud. It started out as a boarding school book and then turns into a war story. I‘m interested to see where this series is going.

I‘m using it for #ownvoices #sff #pop22 prompt
#marvelousmay #readathon

An anticipated read, I‘ve heard well things about this book so looking forward starting to read it soon . What do you think about it? One of books for my bookspin 📖
#bookspin #thepoppywar #wednesdayread #blurb #rfkuang #historical #fantasy

4 out of 5!

This epic fantasy is solidly based in real China / Japan relations during the 20th century. At the same time, the main character has meaningful development as she transforms from a rural orphan to a military neophyte. She‘s charming and smart, if also completely beyond her depth. The fantasy aspects are rooted in Chinese culture and myth. Overall a win!

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2022
#setinchina #booked2022

Inspired by Chinese military history and Song Dynasty, Rin applies to an elite military school to get out of dire circumstances. But there is a big war on the horizon, and Rin has a more significant part to play than she even anticipated. If you like books that explore the corruption of power, lust for vengeance, and dark depths of humanity while intensely captivating, this is a book I highly recommend. Told in third person, limit point of view

Overall good book. I though begining was strong, middle fell off a bit for me but the ending was interesting. I think there are interesting themes explored but quite a heavy book that if your not in the mood for can not be enjoyable.

So I am reading this Book and I really like it. Its deep, its poetic, almost philosophical.

#Ithadtobeyou #flowers

Currently deep into The Poppy War world and not wanting to come out...

Sure hope that the 2nd and 3rd books are as good as this one is!! 🤞

When you love something, you give it new clothes. - me 😅

I picked this one up knowing it was loosely based on Asian history and folklore. Right around when the book gets to Golyn Niis it dawned on me what time period and history it was based on. About 20 years ago I read a book called The Rape of Nanking that has stayed with me because of how disturbing it was. I immediately knew the scenes this author was depicting were recreations of the true events chronicled in that book. Heavy stuff. (1)

Bring on the cold front.

We've had quite the drastic weather swing here. Nearly 90° yesterday and it's currently 42°. We are so ill prepared for cold weather that people are being asked to stay home if they can due to sleet. I'm looking forward to bundling up and getting some solid reading time in this weekend. The last time we had a cold snap our power went out across Texas and lasted for 5 days locally. Fingers crossed it doesn't get that bad this time around.