R. F. Kuang

An epic historical military fantasy, inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic.

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.

The Poppy War

Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal. 

1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation — also known as Babel. 

Babel is the world’s center of translation and, more importantly, of silver-working: the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation through enchanted silver bars, to magical effect. Silver-working has made the British Empire unparalleled in power, and Babel’s research in foreign languages serves the Empire’s quest to colonize everything it encounters.

Oxford, the city of dreaming spires, is a fairytale for Robin; a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge serves power, and for Robin, a Chinese boy raised in Britain, serving Babel inevitably means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to sabotaging the silver-working that supports imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide: Can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence? What is he willing to sacrifice to bring Babel down? 

Babel — a thematic response to The Secret History and a tonal response to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell — grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of translation as a tool of empire.

Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of The Oxford Translators' Revolution

Babel

What’s the harm in a pseudonym? New York Times bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel from R. F. Kuang in the vein of White Ivy and The Other Black Girl.

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars: same year at Yale, same debut year in publishing. But Athena’s a cross-genre literary darling, and June didn’t even get a paperback release. Nobody wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers to the British and French war efforts during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface takes on questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation not only in the publishing industry but the persistent erasure of Asian-American voices and history by Western white society. R. F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.

Yellowface

The searing follow-up to 2018's most celebrated fantasy debut - THE POPPY WAR.

The Dragon Republic

After saving her nation of Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead.

Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much—the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges—and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation.

Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners. As her power and influence grows, though, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s intoxicating voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it? 

The Burning God

The Drowning Faith

Katabasis

Hank Green

Martha Wells

Seth Dickinson

Kiersten White

Ballantine

From a Certain Point of View strikes back! Celebrate the legacy of the groundbreaking Star Wars sequel with this exciting reimagining of the timeless film. On May 21, 1980, Star Wars became a true saga with the release of The Empire Strikes Back. In honor of the fortieth anniversary, forty storytellers recreate an iconic scene from The Empire Strikes Back through the eyes of a supporting character, from heroes and villains, to droids and creatures. From a Certain Point of View features contributions by bestselling authors and trendsetting artists: - Austin Walker explores the unlikely partnership of bounty hunters Dengar and IG-88 as they pursue Han Solo. - Hank Green chronicles the life of a naturalist caring for tauntauns on the frozen world of Hoth. - Tracy Deonn delves into the dark heart of the Dagobah cave where Luke confronts a terrifying vision. - Martha Wells reveals the world of the Ugnaught clans who dwell in the depths of Cloud City. - Mark Oshiro recounts the wampa's tragic tale of loss and survival. - Seth Dickinson interrogates the cost of serving a ruthless empire aboard the bridge of a doomed Imperial starship. Plus more hilarious, heartbreaking, and astonishing tales from: Tom Angleberger, S.A. Chakraborty, Mike Chen, Adam Christopher, Zoraida Córdova, Delilah S. Dawson, Alexander Freed, Jason Fry, Christie Golden, Rob Hart, E. K. Johnston, Lydia Kang, Michael Kogge, R.F. Kuang, C.B. Lee, Mackenzi Lee, John Jackson Miller, Michael Moreci, Daniel José Older, Amy Ratcliffe, Beth Revis, Lilliam Rivera, Cavan Scott, Emily Skrutskie, Karen Strong, Anne Toole, Catherynne M. Valente, Django Wexler, Kiersten White, Gary Whitta, Brittany N. Williams, Charles Yu, Jim Zub All participating authors have generously forgone any compensation for their stories. Instead, their proceeds will be donated to First Book--a leading nonprofit that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to educators and organizations serving children in need. To further celebrate the launch of this book and both companies' longstanding relationships with First Book, Penguin Random House will donate $100,000 to First Book, and Disney/Lucasfilm will donate 100,000 children's books--valued at $1,000,000--to support First Book and their mission of providing equal access to quality education.

From a Certain Point of View: the Empire Strikes Back (Star Wars)

Wojna makowa

Betrayed and left for dead...Rin has returned to her roots, to the southern provinces and the village that is her home. Her new allies are sly, but Rin knows that true power lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess. Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic and the colonizing Hesperians. But, as her power and influence grows, will she be able to resist the voice of the Phoenix, urging her to burn the world and everything in it? 

A collection of scenes from Nezha's point of view throughout the first two novels in the trilogy, and in an opening scene of the final novel in the trilogy.

The Poppy War, #2.5

Roman

Im Zeichen der Mohnblume - Die Schamanin

R.F. KUANG BOOK 3

Republika smoka

Kisah Rin berlanjut dalam sekuel Perang Opium iniÑ fantasi epik yang menggabungkan sejarah Cina abad ke-20 dengan dunia dahsyat tempat para dewa dan monster. Tiga kali negara Nikan bertempur dalam Perang Opium yang bersimbah darah. RinÑsang syaman dan pejuangÑdicengkeram rasa bersalah dan tak dapat melupakan tindakan keji yang dia lakukan demi menyelamatkan rakyat. Gadis itu bertekad membalas dendam pada Maharani yang mengkhianati tanah airnya. Satu-satunya cara adalah bergabung dengan Panglima Perang Naga, yang ingin menaklukkan Nikan, menggulingkan Maharani, dan mendirikan republik baru. Namun Maharani dan Panglima Perang Naga tidaklah seperti yang dikira gadis tersebut. Semakin banyak yang dilihatnya, semakin Rin takut bahwa cintanya pada Nikan akan memaksa dia menggunakan lagi kekuatan dahsyat Phoenix. Sebab Rin rela mengorbankan apa saja untuk menyelamatkan negeri itu... dan membalaskan dendamnya. ÒKuang mengungkapkan efek psikologis dan material perang pada para prajurit dan orang-orang yang mereka lindungi. Penyuka kisah fantasi militer pasti takkan sabar menunggu kelanjutann kisah ini.Ó ÑBooklist (starred review)

Republik Naga (The Dragon Republic)

Semua orang terkejut ketika Rin berhasil masuk Sinegard, akademi militer elite di Kekaisaran Nikan. Tetapi, kejutan tidaklah selalu menyenangkan. Karena dianggap anak kampung miskin, Rin jadi bulan-bulanan. Apalagi karena ia perempuan. Dalam keadaan putus asa, Rin mendapati dirinya ternyata memiliki kekuatan supernatural yang mematikan—syamanisme. Di bawah bimbingan guru yang dianggap gila, Rin jadi tahu bahwa dewa-dewa yang selama ini dikira mati, ternyata masih hidup. Kekaisaran Nikan hidup damai, namun bekas penjajahnya, Federasi Mugen, terus mengintai. Kekuatan syamanisme Rin mungkin satu-satunya yang bisa menyelamatkan rakyat, tapi semakin ia mengenal sang dewa Phoenix yang memilihnya, dewa penuh kemurkaan dan dendam, semakin ia khawatir. Memenangi perang mungkin harus dibayarnya mahal dengan sifat kemanusiaan. Dan mungkin semuanya sudah terlambat. “Debut fantasi terbaik 2018.” - Wired

R. F. Kuang

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