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A review by dragongirl271
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“‘War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who remains.’”
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Wow.
Okay, I can do better than that. Maybe. Seriously, I've been trying to figure out how to start this thing for ages. I can't believe I hadn't heard of R.F. Kuang prior to Babel going viral because this was one hell of a debut.
Coming in for my fantasy submission for the DecolonizeYourShelf2024 challenge by blackwalnutbooks is a book that doesn't shy away from the horrors of war. At all.
Kuang gives us Rin: a young girl who tests into the Nikan Empire’s military academy to escape the arranged marriage waiting for her. Her teachers and chosen mystical specialty challenge her in every way possible and force her to constantly find creative solutions to the problems presented. But war isn't theories in books or hypothetical strategy problems or perfect martial arts technique. It's brutal and desperate and horrific and heartbreaking. And surviving it is going to require every skill at Rin's disposal, including a god.
Kuang excels at writing imperfect characters who just feel so human and you can't help but love, even when you hate their decisions. Rin is messy. She's emotional. She's wicked smart. She's angry. She's powerful. She refuses to accept the fate others try to lay out for her, for better or worse.
This book is brutal. It takes major inspiration from the Second Sino-Japanese War and deals with atrocities like the Nanjing Massacre. Kuang doesn't pull back on graphically describing the horrors Rin and her companions go through and the humanity lost in war. This isn't for the faint of heart (or stomach) and I highly advise taking every content warning seriously.
3rd person POV. Very fast-paced. Very emotional. Feels much shorter than it is. I'm already ordering the rest of the series.
Wow.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Wow.
Okay, I can do better than that. Maybe. Seriously, I've been trying to figure out how to start this thing for ages. I can't believe I hadn't heard of R.F. Kuang prior to Babel going viral because this was one hell of a debut.
Coming in for my fantasy submission for the DecolonizeYourShelf2024 challenge by blackwalnutbooks is a book that doesn't shy away from the horrors of war. At all.
Kuang gives us Rin: a young girl who tests into the Nikan Empire’s military academy to escape the arranged marriage waiting for her. Her teachers and chosen mystical specialty challenge her in every way possible and force her to constantly find creative solutions to the problems presented. But war isn't theories in books or hypothetical strategy problems or perfect martial arts technique. It's brutal and desperate and horrific and heartbreaking. And surviving it is going to require every skill at Rin's disposal, including a god.
Kuang excels at writing imperfect characters who just feel so human and you can't help but love, even when you hate their decisions. Rin is messy. She's emotional. She's wicked smart. She's angry. She's powerful. She refuses to accept the fate others try to lay out for her, for better or worse.
This book is brutal. It takes major inspiration from the Second Sino-Japanese War and deals with atrocities like the Nanjing Massacre. Kuang doesn't pull back on graphically describing the horrors Rin and her companions go through and the humanity lost in war. This isn't for the faint of heart (or stomach) and I highly advise taking every content warning seriously.
3rd person POV. Very fast-paced. Very emotional. Feels much shorter than it is. I'm already ordering the rest of the series.
Wow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Classism