'The Poppy War' by R.F. Kuang is a fantasy novel based on Chinese history, featuring a protagonist named Rin who rises from being an orphan to excelling at a prestigious military academy. The story takes unexpected turns diverging from typical YA fantasy tropes, delving into themes of tragedy, war, and morality. The book incorporates elements of Chinese culture and history, drawing parallels to real-world events such as the Japanese occupation and the Second Sino-Japanese War. The writing style is described as detailed, immersive, and thought-provoking, providing a fresh take on epic fantasy with strong themes and messages.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The Poppy War includes numerous content warnings related to graphic violence, war crimes, sexual assault, genocide, self-harm, and drug use.
From The Publisher:
A brilliantly imaginative talent makes her exciting debut with this epic historical military fantasy, inspired by the bloody history of China's twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic, in the tradition of Ken Liu's Grace of Kings and N.K. Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy.
When Rin aced the Keju-the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies-it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn't believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin's guardians, who believed they'd finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard-the most elite military school in Nikan-was even more surprising.
But surprises aren't always good.
Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power-an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive-and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.
For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away . . .
Rin's shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late.
Ratings (208)
Incredible (50) | |
Loved It (62) | |
Liked It (40) | |
It Was OK (32) | |
Did Not Like (18) | |
Hated It (6) |
Reader Stats (627):
Read It (212) | |
Currently Reading (9) | |
Want To Read (315) | |
Did Not Finish (17) | |
Not Interested (74) |
16 comment(s)
Amazing read!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Excellent book. Horrifying, especially when you realize that it was partially based off real events.
I’m glad that the whole series it out now, so I can read it after I read a palate cleanser (trust me, after the way it ends, you need one).
A compelling, complex story of warfare, survival, ambition, and desperation that takes place in a living, breathing world. Brutal and unforgettable, tensions around race, class, imperialism, and violence bring the story to a boiling point.
This was amazing!!
Stupid protagonist
This is Harry Potter and Fourth Wing all over again. (I realize Fourth Wing was written after this, but I just finished Fourth Wing and can't do another one of these right now) Same formula of orphan gets placed with a family that hates her, then has the talent or sheer will to get into a school she "doesn't belong", then immediately meets someone who hates her just for existing.
I'm only 8% in and I'm sure she'll rise to the top after struggling her whole way through school. Which is always conveniently split into multiple years so it can be across several books. She'll team up with other outcasts, or the super popular guy will see something in her and take her under his wing. Probably won't be overly public about it if that's the case.
At this point, I don't even care what the Poppy Wars are about or who the "real" bad guy is that's invading the land or calling some curse upon whatever province/city/school we're dealing with. If we're going to keep going with this formula, at least have the guts to go all GoT and kill off the main character.
****4.0****
Dark-skinned peasant girl and a War Orphan Rin doesn't want to get married. To escape this and also to earn she dreams big. She dreams to join Sinegar, which offers free military education for the toppers. And Rin joins Sinegar as a topper (for which she studied ruthlessly).
At Sinegar she is one of the 3 females in her year and the only one who is from a poor background. She endures/fights the scorn of other students but also make some friends. But importantly she is introduced to Shamanism and there is no turning back there. And also there is the War which is threatening the Empire.
Actually I liked the first half of the book and second half was actually a blur. So many things happen in second half, my mind never rested. So much blood and gore with war. It's kind of dark, military fantasy. Nice plot, good characters with a good narration.
Happy Reading!!
3.5 stars
4.5 out of 5 stars
I won a digital copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway, and I'm so happy I did cuz otherwise there's no telling when I would have gotten around to reading it.
The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang was nothing short of amazing, and it deserves all of the praise that it's been getting. I was quickly hooked on this book from the very first page and had a hard time putting it down. (I'm sure I would've finished
The Poppy War much sooner had I not been reading 2 other books at the same time.)
Kuang's writing flows quickly and easily, and overall this is a pretty fast-paced book. With that said, never once did the story feel rushed or poorly formed. The pacing was perfect, and I'm honestly amazed by how much Kuang was able to fit into this story. And although this book is well over 500 pages, it didn't feel nearly that long.
As many reviewers have already pointed out, this is a dark book. Kuang pulls no punches in depicting the atrocities of war and genocide. If you are someone who is easily upset by monsterous acts of dehumanization, then this will not be an easy read. But I think it's important that Kuang included these scenes. This book is a fictionalization, but it's based heavily on facts and unfortunately we live in a world where this has happened and continues to happen. Kuang did not include these scenes as some kind of gore or torture porn, but instead to draw awareness to this reality. The reality being that civilaztions have endured this trauma before.
There were many times that I felt sick while reading this book; it's not an easy topic. But it's incredibly important.
Besides war and genocide, there is a vast array of other difficult themes that this book explores, and I love it. I'm still wrapping my head around the ending. I think something else that Kuang characterized quite well are the cycles of hatred, anger, dehumanization, and systemic trauma.
I'm eagerly looking forward to finishing this series and seeing the directions that Kuang takes the story and the protagonist, Rin.
What can you read after
The Poppy War?
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