R. F. Kuang

Winner of the Reddit Fantasy Award for Best Debut 2018 ‘The best fantasy debut of 2018’ WIRED

The Poppy War (The Poppy War, Book 1)

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

The Poppy War

Life long reader.

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.

lemon

“He's dead, Chaghan,” Rin said. She felt very tired. “Give it up. He's gone.” 

“But I would have felt it. I would have felt him go,” he insisted.

Altan Trengsin was not invincible after all.

He called the Phoenix and the Phoenix came; enveloping him, embracing him, loving him, bringing him back into the fold.

Altan was so solemnly competent, so casually brilliant, that all she wanted was to please him. He was strict in his command, sparing with his praise, but when he gave it, it felt wonderful. She wanted it, craved it like something tangible.

The fire doesn't give, the fire takes, and takes, and takes.

Small wonder he was addicted. Smoking the pipe had to be the only time he was not consumed with his misery, with scars that would never heal. The haze induced by the smoke was the only time he could feel anything, the only time that he could forget.

Altan was awful. Altan was beautiful. And as she looked into his eyes she realized the feeling that overcame her was not love; this was a total, paralyzing fear. This was the terror of a moth drawn to the flame.

But they were fundamentally irreconcilable because Altan’s nature was the same as the fire that had devoured him: if he didn’t burn everyone around him, then he wasn’t himself.

Kaitlyn

“Are we getting high?" Rin said. "Oh, wow. We're getting high, aren't we?"

"I'm getting high," said Jiang. “You're watching."

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...

Natalia Melike

It was simply, what happened when one race decided that the other was insignificant. 

The Federation had massacred Golyn Niis for the simple reason that they did not think of the Nikara as buman. And if your opponent was not human, if your opponent was a cockroach, what did it mnatter how many of them you killed? What was the difference between crushing an ant and setting an anthill on fire? Why shouldn't you pull wings off insects for your own enjoyment? The bug might feel pain, but what did that matter to you? 

To the Federation, to wipe out an entire race overnight was not an atrocity at all. Only a necessity.

"What did you ever do to make them hate you so much?"

 "It's not anything we did," said Altan. His left hand, Rin noticed, was shaking again. "It's how the Federation soldiers were trained. When you believe your life means nothing except for your usefulness to your Emperor, the lives of your enemies mean even less."

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.

Nuno Miguel Gonçalo Salgueiro

"The feeling of commiseration is the principle of. . "Benevolence,"«The feeling of shame and dis- like is the principle of righteousness. The feeling of modesty and complaisance is the principle of... the principle of, uh, propriety. And the feeling of approving and disapproving is the principle o knowledge."

"The Way of Heaven operates unceasingly, and leaves no ac- Cumulation of its influence in any particular place, so that all things are brought to perfection by it . . . so does the Way operate, and all under the sky turn to them, and all within the seas submit to them, "

Luoyi

"Have you ever considered, he said slowly, "that that was exactly what they thought of us?" They glared at each other, breathing heavily. Blood thundered in Rin's ears.

"Nothing is written," said the Phoenix. "You humans always think you're destined for things, for tragedy or for greatness. Destiny is a myth. Destiny is the only myth. The gods choose nothing. You chose. 

He leaned forward and grasped her face in both hands. She thought for a bizarre moment that he was going to kiss her. He didn't. He pressed his forehead against hers for a long time.

That's why the Speerlies became addicted to opium so easily, she realized. Not because they needed it for their fire. Because for some of them, it was the only time they could get away from their horrible god.

"I don't need your pity. I need you to kill them for me. You have to kill them for me" Venka hissed. "Swear it. Swear on your blood that you will burn them." "Venka, I can't.. "I know you can." Venka's voice climbed in pitch. I heard what they said about you. You have to burn them. Whatever it takes. Swear it on your life. Swear it. Swear it for me." Her eyes were like shattered glass. It took all of Rin's courage to meet her gaze. "I swear."

"How dare you," he said. His voice was overly loud, distorted through her thundering ears. "You misunderstand the nature of our relationship. I am not your friend. I am not your brother, though kin we may be. I am your commander. You do not argue with my orders. You follow themn without question. You obey me, or you leave this militia.

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.

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

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

Claire Jorgensen

I’ve said many times “everyone sucks, burn it all down”. This book really makes you face that statement and sit with it. Who is innocent? In war, what’s the difference between a murderer and a soldier? 

I now need to lie down for several days and stare at a wall to recover. 

Hannah Bateman

I’ve said many times “everyone sucks, burn it all down”. This book really makes you face that statement and sit with it. Who is innocent? In war, what’s the difference between a murderer and a soldier? 

I now need to lie down for several days and stare at a wall to recover. 

i took my time reading this book because i was aware of kuang’s goal to be historically accurate in her storytelling. despite the time period the underlying themes of racism, socioeconomic inequality, and the effects of war stand true in today’s world. i was intrigued by how kuang explored the ideas of both power and control, as seen through rin and atlan. atlan chose to harness his abilities, he was aware of his power but did not want to use it to his full capacity. whereas rin craved the full unleashed power, she wanted to avenge her people. although i was not immediately immersed in rin’s story i would love to see how she prevails in the second book.

elizabeth ❀

I love a complicated female main character, though Rin takes that a bit far!! I'm intrigued to see where her villian arc takes her

Caroline Piephoff

elly

i was gutted and distraught but i was also so enraptured in the beauty of the damn book. it’s amazing

The Poppy War (The Poppy War, Book 1)

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