A review by bridget_cauley
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

5.0

Wow.

This book was captivating from the start and held my attention to the very end.

Everything that I like in a book was in this book. There's politics, dense world-building, realistic characters, and great writing. The Poppy War features a fictitious history so rich, I thought I was reading about an ancient country that I was never taught about in school. I became attached to every character, whether they were good or malicious. And the religion in this book was so fascinating! The start of the book felt more like a war/historical fiction, but the fantastical element slowly wielded itself into the story seamlessly. So good!

This is easily my favorite book I've read so far this year, and maybe even of all time.
And the fact that this is a debut novel makes it that much more outstanding.

"You're offending them with your very presence".