Review: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang | A Brilliant, Asian-Inspired Fantasy, Full of Warfare and Fire

Yes, I have finally read it. The Poppy War has been on my TBR for the longest time; I saw it first on Cherelle’s blog, most likely, and then it started popping up on a bunch of other blogs, with the most positive things to say about it. So I knew I had to read it. It was totally worth it. So, without further ado, onto the review!

Title: The Poppy War
Author: R.F. Kuang
Genre: Fantasy, Adult
Series: The Poppy War #1
Page Count: 527 (Paperback)

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.

Content Warnings

war themes – death/murder – rape/sexual assault – genocide – drug use – substance addiction – bullying – torture (graphic) – mutilation – human experimentation

Full List

There are no spoilers in this review.

It’s been a month since I finished The Poppy War and I have not been able to write a review. It’s like I have no words for this book, but there’s also so much to say about it.

We follow Rin, a dark-skinned war orphan and peasant girl from the rural town of Tikany. When she manages to pass the hardest test in the Empire, earning her a spot at Sinegard, the top military academy, it shocks everyone. When Rin begins her training, she finds that being in Sinegard isn’t so easy. People don’t believe that a girl like her could get into such a prestigious school. Even though she has to deal with prejudice from her classmates about her skin color and economic status, none of this stops her from working her hardest. When she discovers she has shamanic powers, war is on their doorstep, and she is forced to become a solider and fight for her country.

“War doesn’t determine who’s right. War determines who remains.”

Rin’s character development in this book was incredible. She goes from a young, worthless peasant girl to a headstrong solider who is feared upon for her immense powers. Rin is impulsive and hotheaded, very stubborn and extremely determined. She goes as far as to burn herself with candle wax when studying in order to stay awake. She has got to be one of the most powerful characters I have encountered in reading.

Another major character was Altan, the famous wonder at Sinegard. He’s a role model to everyone at the school, including Rin. He’s got a complicated background; Altan has suffered his whole life and Nikan did one of the worst things to him: they made him a military pawn. He and Rin are quite similar, both with that same desire for power and acceptance. They’re treated as if they’re tools–used when needed and then disposed of when the job is done.

Kitay and Nezha, the smart one and the school bully, respectively, were important characters as well. They both played a secondary part in The Poppy War. I think they had a lot more character development in the second and third books, where they were more involved.

“Great danger is always associated with great power. The difference between the great and the mediocre is that the great are willing to take the risk.”

Have I mentioned the worldbuilding? R.F. Kuang fully formed the Nikara Empire, set with twelve provinces and a full government and complex history. I like how she incorporated aspects of real places into her world, mainly from China, Japan, and the West. There is a lot of information thrown at you in this book; I’ll admit, I didn’t remember all of it even if I had read it only pages ago.

Kuang did not pull away from the brutality of war. There were some parts of this story that were a bit hard to read, which is the main reason why I took off half a star in my rating. She takes a lot of what happened in the Poppy War from real events, such as the Opium Wars, the Sino Japanese War, and the 1937 Nanjing Massacre. These things actually happened which is horrible to think about. The fact that we as humans have the capability to do such damage to others is astounding.

“Children ceased to be children when you put a sword in their hands. When you taught them to fight a war, then you armed them and put them on the front lines, they were not children anymore. They were soldiers.”

As of writing this review, I have finished The Dragon Republic and am over half way through The Burning God. I can say with complete confidence that this trilogy is going to become one of my favorite series. Everything about it is done so well: the worldbuilding, the characters, the relationships between the characters. I love it all so much.

My Rating: 4.5/5 dragons

---

Have you read The Poppy War? Is it on your TBR?
What are some fantasies you recommend?