Seven Days in June is so good. Once it hooks you, it hooks you! I couldn't put it down (once I got to chapter 6. It did take me until then to be fully invested/to get used to the writing style). Great exploration of the impact of first loves, loving with chronic pain/invisible illnesses/unknown pain, generational trauma, navigating mental illness and addiction, and what it means to reconnect with your self and step out of your comfort zone. This is for sure a 4 chili pepper read (to me). Excited for the adaptation!

The Poppy War is an intense, historical dark fantasy that I couldn't put down, despite the fact that it so closely examines the realities of war, power, human nature, and revenge. Rin, our main character, embodies the devastating effects of systemic oppression and colonial violence. What makes Rin so compelling isn't that she's likable (even though I do like Rin even if I don't like or agree with all of her choices), it's that she's utterly human in her responses to impossible circumstances. Kuang doesn't ask us to approve of Rin's choices, but rather to understand the environment and experiences that shaped them. She's a product of an oppressive system that constantly betrays her and moves the goal post (when it comes to finding safety, community, freedom, etc.), and her evolution throughout the story is both heartbreaking and terrifyingly understandable. The genius of Kuang's characterization lies in how she makes Rin's most questionable decisions feel inevitable rather than shocking. We watch as trauma, rage, and the intoxicating promise of power slowly erode the idealistic young woman we met at the beginning, replacing her with someone capable of unthinkable acts. The Poppy War tackles weighty themes with remarkable sophistication. The way grief and rage intertwine throughout the narrative is particularly powerful. Characters don't simply move past trauma; they carry it with them, and it shapes every decision they make. The book examines how personal pain can become political action, and how the line between justice and vengeance can become impossibly blurred. Reading The Poppy War is an intense emotional experience. I found myself completely absorbed, unable to put the book down despite how emotionally demanding it was. Kuang takes readers through a complete spectrum of emotions, from hope to despair, from empathy to horror. It's the kind of book that stays with you long after you've finished reading, making you question your own moral certainties. Don't ignore the trigger warnings.