Name: The Poppy war
Rating: 4.358764135702747 (1238 reviews)
ISBN: 9788412194920

R. F. Kuang

The Poppy war

Mackenzie Shah

Christine Kraus

Yenale

Sílvia

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. 

Natalia Melike

Chloe Heisserer

Megan Lapides

khwaiish 

abi a

sabs :)

Syrina

Julia <3

rhianna 

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

Steph

How do i even begin to review this book? The Poppy War is perhaps one of the most violent books I've read. It's a book about war and RF Kuang did not shy away from showing us the spoils of war. The atrocities of it. How a war could break a person. What it'll do to the innocents. She laid it all down for us to read. It was uncomfortable. It was a hard pill to swallow. I had to take so many breaks from reading the last 40% of the book because it was just too much to handle. Especially that scene in Golyn Niis. That chapter is the hardest to read. Venka's stories about the children and the women. It seared into my brain. It'll probably take me months to get those images out of my head. In a way, I get Rin's anger. I felt it. Maybe because she's the MC and we see things through her and thus we can sympathise with her reasonings. But I do see it. If I have to witness so much pain and suffering, I'd see red too. If I have to watch all of my friends and people that I care about perish because of a god damn war. I'd burn the world down too. I'm not saying what she did was right, but I get it. War aside, I truly enjoy the fantasy element of the story where shamans can call upon Gods to borrow their godly power which comes with a price. So often in fantasy genre, we see people wielding magic like they're born with it. But in this book, if you want to be great, you have to sacrifice something. With great powers come great responsibilities and all that jazz. But it's also tragic that all shamans in the book are bound to go insane eventually. It's like you want power, you can tap into it, but not for long, because the Gods will invade your mind, making you lose your sense of self and go insane. It's as if the book serves as a cautionary tale that we as humans are not meant to wield so much power. We're not supposed to play God. I'm still having chills thinking about this book. And I bet that this book will stay with me for a long long time. I don't know if I'll be mentally prepared for book 2 because I know Rin will only descent into madness, seeing how she's already making rash decisions. And I was told that book 2 is the hardest book to read. So no, I'm not prepared.

When Rin aced the Keju, the test to find the most talented students in the Nikara Empire, it was a shock to everyone. 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. Fighting the prejudice of rival classmates, Rin discovers that she possesses a lethal, unearthly power - an aptitude for the nearly mythical art of shamanism. Exploring her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive - and that mastering these powers could mean more than just surviving school.
For while the Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most people calmly go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away...

erin

i always find it hard to review the books that i loved because wdym what did i like?? everything!!!! this hurt my soul on unprecedented levels, and then it hurt me even more because the events are raw and cruel and disturbing and they are real. they happened before and they happen now and they will continue happening, because wars will always be waged. w o w. 

bonus points for the doomed yaoi. i was kicking my feet. sorrrrryyyyy. also, <spoiler>nezha can't be dead, right?!?</spoiler> i refuse to believe it.

The Poppy War - Perang Opium

this book got me out from my reading slump. and I see myself in Rin when she start questioning the existence of God and seeing this dunya is the same as hell already. 

eevah

Poppy War

extremely sad and graphic in the latter half but easy to get through because it is interesting. I appreciate the 180 of rin and the foreshadowing leading up to it. characters are pretty inconsistent and actions/motivations often don't make sense given the circumstances. not reading the series but this book alone is Not Terrible. while reading u have this feeling throughout that's like... good idea but this could've been done better. in pretty much every chapter.

vindhya

A Library Journal Best Books of 2018 pick! Washington Post "5 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel of 2018" pick! A Bustle "30 Best Fiction Books of 2018" pick! “I have no doubt this will end up being the best fantasy debut of the year [...] I have absolutely no doubt that [Kuang’s] name will be up there with the likes of Robin Hobb and N.K. Jemisin.” -- Booknest 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.

A Novel

Oh my GOD. Do not read this unless you are emotionally stable

Sabrina Spada

The book that got me out of my reading slump. I still yearn for fiction after all, but WHAT THE FUCK

Circinatus

Might I say one of the best books I’ve ever read

Tiffany 🍒

I just finished this book and it was even brutal than Blood Over Bright Haven. It's so violently tragic that it stops being sadness and turn into something sharper, something furious. At some point, it stops being sad altogether. The grief burns itself out, and what's left is rage—the kind that makes you want to tear through the silence and scream into the void until it answers back. And what happened to Venka only makes it worse, like there's no end to how much can be taken, no limit to cruelty. I understand Rurin's rage. 

Anastasiia 

MY FIRST 5/5 BOOK IN 2024! Seru bangeeeet jir. Jadi awalnya, ada cewek namanya Rin, Fang Runin. Dia itu yatim-piatu korban perang. Jadi lah, dia di adopsi sama Keluarga Fang dari Tikany. Nah, di Keluarga Fang ini dia disuruh jaga toko obat (psikotropika) Keluarga Fang. Dan sampe di umur 15/16, dia disuruh nikah sama tipikal laki-laki kaya di kampung tapi udah tua dan istrinya banyak. Dan dia gamau. Jadinya dia belajar buat ikut keju (semacam snbt gitu, buat masuk sekolah di Nikan). Turns out, dia berhasil. Rin dapet peringkat 1 se-provinsi Tikany, dan dia berhak masuk sekolah di Sinegard, sekolah terbaik di Nikan. Tapi dia disana dibully, soalnya kulitnya gelap dan dia dianggap sebagai 'orang kampung.' Lagipula, rata-rata orang yang sekolah di Sinegard itu kalangan pejabat atau anaknya prajurit perang kelas atas gitu lah. Jadi ya udah pada punya dasar ilmu bela dirinya. Apalagi latarnya TPW ini kan pasca Perang Opium ke-2 ya, jadinya ilmu bela diri tuh dianggap sebagai ilmu yang penting banget. Derajat lu tinggi, kalo lu jago ilmu bela diri. Rin kesusahan ngikutin pelajar awalnya. Tapi Rin bukan satu-satunya yang kesusahan ngikutin semua pelajaran di Sinegard. Hampir semua murid juga ga bisa menuhin ekspektasi master disana. Cuma ada satu orang yang bisa menuhin semua ekspektasi itu. Altan Trengsin namanya. Kakak tingkatnya Rin, cowok, tinggi dan kulitnya gelap. Dia orang Speer, bangsa paling kuat di Nikan, tapi mereka dibantai sama Federasi Mugen (mantan penjajah Nikan). Dan Altan ini satu-satunya yang tersisa dari Speer. Nah, terus yaudah Rin ngikutin aja semua subjek sekolahnya sampe dia diterima jadi murid magangnya salah satu master disana, Master Jiang. Terus, dia lulus secara paksa karena pecahnya perang. Dan dia jadi syaman. Pengguna kekuatan dewa. Terus gabung divisi ketigabelas. Ketemu Altan (lagi). Banyak banget peristiwa disgusting selama perang that might trigger some people such as rape, sexual harassment, violence, etc. Banyak juga plotnya... dan masih bersambung ke buku berikutnya. Can't wait lah (belum gw baca). Personally gw suka banget sama Rin. My favorite genre of a girl. Girlboss!!! At some point emang Rin terlalu naif sih, but that's the art of teenager. Poin ini malah bikin ceritanya lebih realistis, penulisnya pinter banget menggambarkan emosi remaja yang selalu menggebu-gebu dan gak stabil. Banyak ngajarin gw juga kalo semuanya tuh bisa didapat lewat usaha, bukan cara instan. Segala sesuatu yang didapat dengan terstruktur itu pasti hasilnya lebih baik daripada cara instan yang udah di simplifikasi sedemikian rupa.

Life long reader.

Kuang seems to be hung up on revenge plots! I enjoyed the book for the world building and the effort it took to build the fantastical stories which support the characters. I dont feel like i was engaged with the protagonist as in Babel but rather an observer to the world and the tribulations of Rin 

Usman Merchant

An interesting fantasy novel with a good mix of Chinese history, but I sometimes butt heads with the two concepts of "fantasy mild romance and playfulness" and "extreme brutallity" mixing together. Some parts felt weirdly placed, and I think overall the book would've been better off without any mention of "this boy is cute" as the story really wants you to see a brutal side of real life history. Overall, still a fun read and will potentially continue the trilogy!

Max Riley

Kaitlyn

Really good for the most part but that ending is ASSSSSS

Finnegan Cole

YEARS-OLD REVIEW i’m putting it here for the record

(bear with me, my memory is that of a goldfish and the review will likely be lacking)

finally dipped my toes into reading historical fantasy and i don’t think i could have chosen better. every arc had me conjuring parallels in my head to actual human history and the marks made by war. story aside, the characters attached themselves to me in ways i didn’t expect from this genre (then again, to be expected as a fan of found family tropes). lastly, kitay, you have my heart.

p.s. i have no idea if the start date is right… i put this off for so long.

rini

YEARS-OLD REVIEW i’m putting it here for the record

(bear with me, my memory is that of a goldfish and the review will likely be lacking)

finally dipped my toes into reading historical fantasy and i don’t think i could have chosen better. every arc had me conjuring parallels in my head to actual human history and the marks made by war. story aside, the characters attached themselves to me in ways i didn’t expect from this genre (then again, to be expected as a fan of found family tropes). lastly, kitay, you have my heart.

p.s. i have no idea if the start date is right… i put this off for so long.

jade shen

Incredible world-building and fascinating parallels to Chinese history. Very raw. 

Clara

Very well written book. Well thought out.

I loved how Rin destroyed a whole island and I also love how she kept herself away from the Phoenix 🐦‍🔥 for a long ass time. Honestly respect.

One thing that disappointed me was that Nezha died and also I didn’t really understand Rin being slightly in love with Altan. 

Ester Waclavova

Very well written book. Well thought out.

I loved how Rin destroyed a whole island and I also love how she kept herself away from the Phoenix 🐦‍🔥 for a long ass time. Honestly respect.

One thing that disappointed me was that Nezha died and also I didn’t really understand Rin being slightly in love with Altan. 

Jillian Roberts

The book started with great potential—I was hooked from the very first pages. However, after Part 2, something shifted. The story lost momentum and began to feel suspended in midair. Despite the ongoing war and constant conflict, the plot barely progressed.

Rin, the protagonist, seemed poised for a powerful transformation, rising like a phoenix. But her growth never quite took off. So much happened, yet it all felt superficial—like the story skimmed over the surface without diving deeper.

Rin herself is frustratingly insufferable, and her relationships feel hollow. What happened to the “friends” she once fought alongside? Their absence and lack of emotional connection made the narrative feel even more disjointed.

Even Altan’s backstory, which could have added meaningful depth, felt thin and underdeveloped. In the end, I’m left disappointed—and unsure if I’ll continue with the second book.

Bilge Ince

The book started with great potential—I was hooked from the very first pages. However, after Part 2, something shifted. The story lost momentum and began to feel suspended in midair. Despite the ongoing war and constant conflict, the plot barely progressed.

Rin, the protagonist, seemed poised for a powerful transformation, rising like a phoenix. But her growth never quite took off. So much happened, yet it all felt superficial—like the story skimmed over the surface without diving deeper.

Rin herself is frustratingly insufferable, and her relationships feel hollow. What happened to the “friends” she once fought alongside? Their absence and lack of emotional connection made the narrative feel even more disjointed.

Even Altan’s backstory, which could have added meaningful depth, felt thin and underdeveloped. In the end, I’m left disappointed—and unsure if I’ll continue with the second book.

That was incredible! Absolute cinema. Devastating, but incredible. Infinity stars! I LOVED it!! 

Aims

♾️⭐️ 

That was incredible! Absolute cinema. Devastating, but incredible. Infinity stars! I LOVED it!! 

“I have no doubt this will end up being the best fantasy debut of the year [...] I have absolutely no doubt that [Kuang’s] name will be up there with the likes of Robin Hobb and N.K. Jemisin.” -- Booknest A Library Journal, Paste Magazine, Vulture, BookBub, and ENTROPY Best Books of 2018 pick! Washington Post "5 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel of 2018" pick! A Bustle "30 Best Fiction Books of 2018" pick! 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.

Reminds me of Attack on Titan. I like there is no true villain or hero. 

Tabitha Rone

...almost 4 stars. I don't like cheeky dialogue in my war epics. Also traumatized tortured men are of very little interest to me, but it makes for a great unreliable narrator bc girrrlll

The Poppy war

Reviews

Highlights