(Instagram @elle_reads)

BOOK REVIEW
[The Poppy Wars] A war orphan goes farther than anyone anticipated.
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WHAT I LIKED
The cultural references in Kuang's writing were ecstatic! I want more diverse fantasy books like this! Truly wonderful - see my previous two posts.
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Kuang's play with drugs and magic is dynamic. I like how easily it lends itself to the dangers of power. /
(small first chapters spoiler) I love a good categorized school set-up. Runin's years at the school were definitely my favorite. I want to know more about the different tracks students can choose! I wanted more interaction between Runin and the other students so reader could see how each student grows!
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WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
I got too epic and too tragic after a certain point. I wish Kuang would have taken more time with Runin's schooling years instead of passing a few by within a few chapters. I would have made the events afterward more impactful if readers had even more connections to the characters. It needed more of this foundational love.
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I wouldn't reread this book, but I do plan to recommend it to my school library purchasing list. I'm interested to see what my Taiwanese students would think of this read!
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The Poppy Wars (R. F. Kuang) ⚡️⚡️⚡️3/5
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