The Poppy War
Author: R. F. Kuang
Published by: Harper Voyager
Pages: 530
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★★
Published by: Harper Voyager
Pages: 530
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★★
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 . . .
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 . . .
My thoughts:
R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy War, a fantasy novel inspired by the darkest chapters of China’s twentieth century, tells the story of small-town war orphan Fang Runin – Rin. Rin is a war orphan, trapped in a family who want to marry her off for their own advantage. Her only chance of escape is to get into a highly prestigious military academy, though her chances are slim at best. She's catapulted into an entirely new world she couldn't have begun to imagine.
Rin’s character radiates such an extraordinary vitality and her arc is fascinating. The character growth we see in the span of one book is fantastic, and the years that stretched between the book’s beginning and its ending feel impossibly vast, blending magical elements with a culturally vibrant cast of characters and creating a shadowy world dripping with blood and revenge.
Kuang makes sure we see the flaws in every character, the basics of human nature, the cruelty humans are capable of when they think others are lesser. One of my favourite aspects of The Poppy War was how Rin’s behaviour is so unpredictable. Give me a morally grey anti-hero any day of the week. So many books will tell you revenge is unhealthy, and we usually see characters learn this the hard way but ultimately adhere to it. It is rare to see a protagonist revel in it and accept it to the level Rin does.
I was relieved to find there is no romance subplot or love triangle in The Poppy War. There are relationships that could plausibly turn romantic, but they don't on the page. It sometimes feels like so many authors who write in this genre can be tempted to push the romance too much and detract from the central storyline, but here it is not an issue.
As the author has made clear in interviews about the book, “This is not a YA fantasy school story. It is a war story. It draws heavily on the Second Sino-Japanese war which was one of the darkest and bloodiest moments in Chinese history. It grapples with the Rape of Nanjing. It deals heavily with opium and drug use.”
Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Poppy War. It is an exciting debut full of epic historical military fantasy, magic and treachery, and inspired by the violent history of China’s twentieth century. Everything is carefully detailed and I very quickly found myself completely hooked.
Once I’d started reading I simply could not put it down. However, I did feel more engaged with some areas of the book than others. The first half focused purely on the development of the main character and her progress into who she is meant to be, which I loved. Sinegard was a wonderful setting and I enjoyed seeing Rin’s hard work paying off as she began her training at the academy. Then around halfway through the book, the war very suddenly began, and personally I felt there was a middle section of the story that just didn’t seem to hold my interest as strongly. Things changed so suddenly I was a bit taken aback. However, the final part of the story was engaging and had me on the edge of my seat and eager to read more.
All in all, I’d sum this one up as a brutal story, featuring incredible world-building, and excellent writing. This is a story that asks us to examine how we weigh the life of ‘the other’, how we justify atrocities, and what it really means to be human. It is incredibly moving.
I should point out that this book - while an enjoyable read - was also very hard to read at times. It portrays the very real horrors of war and there were moments I was deeply upset for all the suffering Rin had witnessed. The Poppy War won't be for everyone, as it really does not hold back. I would recommend paying attention to the many trigger warnings before diving in.
The ending is strong and worked well to tie everything in with a cliff hanger conclusion. I ordered a copy of the sequel at my local bookshop before even reaching the end, so I’m certainly going to continue with the series! I'm both excited and so nervous to read the sequel soon and see what happens next.
Overall reaction:
R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy War, a fantasy novel inspired by the darkest chapters of China’s twentieth century, tells the story of small-town war orphan Fang Runin – Rin. Rin is a war orphan, trapped in a family who want to marry her off for their own advantage. Her only chance of escape is to get into a highly prestigious military academy, though her chances are slim at best. She's catapulted into an entirely new world she couldn't have begun to imagine.
Rin’s character radiates such an extraordinary vitality and her arc is fascinating. The character growth we see in the span of one book is fantastic, and the years that stretched between the book’s beginning and its ending feel impossibly vast, blending magical elements with a culturally vibrant cast of characters and creating a shadowy world dripping with blood and revenge.
Kuang makes sure we see the flaws in every character, the basics of human nature, the cruelty humans are capable of when they think others are lesser. One of my favourite aspects of The Poppy War was how Rin’s behaviour is so unpredictable. Give me a morally grey anti-hero any day of the week. So many books will tell you revenge is unhealthy, and we usually see characters learn this the hard way but ultimately adhere to it. It is rare to see a protagonist revel in it and accept it to the level Rin does.
I was relieved to find there is no romance subplot or love triangle in The Poppy War. There are relationships that could plausibly turn romantic, but they don't on the page. It sometimes feels like so many authors who write in this genre can be tempted to push the romance too much and detract from the central storyline, but here it is not an issue.
As the author has made clear in interviews about the book, “This is not a YA fantasy school story. It is a war story. It draws heavily on the Second Sino-Japanese war which was one of the darkest and bloodiest moments in Chinese history. It grapples with the Rape of Nanjing. It deals heavily with opium and drug use.”
Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Poppy War. It is an exciting debut full of epic historical military fantasy, magic and treachery, and inspired by the violent history of China’s twentieth century. Everything is carefully detailed and I very quickly found myself completely hooked.
Once I’d started reading I simply could not put it down. However, I did feel more engaged with some areas of the book than others. The first half focused purely on the development of the main character and her progress into who she is meant to be, which I loved. Sinegard was a wonderful setting and I enjoyed seeing Rin’s hard work paying off as she began her training at the academy. Then around halfway through the book, the war very suddenly began, and personally I felt there was a middle section of the story that just didn’t seem to hold my interest as strongly. Things changed so suddenly I was a bit taken aback. However, the final part of the story was engaging and had me on the edge of my seat and eager to read more.
All in all, I’d sum this one up as a brutal story, featuring incredible world-building, and excellent writing. This is a story that asks us to examine how we weigh the life of ‘the other’, how we justify atrocities, and what it really means to be human. It is incredibly moving.
I should point out that this book - while an enjoyable read - was also very hard to read at times. It portrays the very real horrors of war and there were moments I was deeply upset for all the suffering Rin had witnessed. The Poppy War won't be for everyone, as it really does not hold back. I would recommend paying attention to the many trigger warnings before diving in.
The ending is strong and worked well to tie everything in with a cliff hanger conclusion. I ordered a copy of the sequel at my local bookshop before even reaching the end, so I’m certainly going to continue with the series! I'm both excited and so nervous to read the sequel soon and see what happens next.
Overall reaction: