The Poppy War audiobook

ARC provided by the publisher—Harper Voyager—in exchange for an honest review.I have no doubt this will end up being the best fantasy debut of the year. No no, scratch that understatement. Ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you a review for The Poppy War, a book that will go down as one of the best grimdark/military fantasy debuts of all time.Once in a while, there comes a book that you just know will be a fantastic book just from the premise or the cover; this was one of those books for me. I’ve been eyeing this book ever since I stumbled upon the gorgeous attention-grabbing cover by Jung Shan. (Seriously, check out her artworks. They’re incredible.) Reading that the book is highly inspired by Second Sino-Japanese War also the Rape of Nanking—please look this up if you don't know about it so you’ll have an idea of how dark the book will get—sparked my interest even more. However, although I had a good feeling about this debut, I certainly didn’t expect it to be THIS incredible. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that this is literally THE best grimdark/military fantasy debut I've ever read; even better than The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie or Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher, and this author only turns 21 years old this year! How awesomely talented is she!?Before I begin my long review, I will clarify that I’m an Asian and my review for this book will be affected by my experience growing up as one. Then, I need you to consider these two questions:1. Do you enjoy or are you okay with reading books with a lot of violence? Because this book contains plenty of vividly brutal scenes. The author doesn’t pull any punches and the violence was handled splendidly, not only for the purpose of showing the horror and tragedy of war but also to let these scenes become a huge part of characters’ developments.2. If the answer to question one is an absolute yes, I’ll ask you this: "are you ready for this book to go into your favorites of all time shelf?" because there’s an incredibly high chance that it WILL happen.The Poppy War is a debut by R.F. Kuang and it's a coming-of-age grimdark military fantasy. It's a book about empires, drugs, shamanism, and gods, and it's highly inspired by Second Sino-Japanese War, which is one of the darkest and bloodiest periods in Chinese history. I grew up learning about this war and it gave me great satisfaction to read an epic fantasy book inspired by it; one that was written exceptionally well, too. Considering the root of inspiration for the book, it's obvious that there will be a lot of allusions to China and Japan (I’ll get into them more later) and that this will be a violent book. This is not a YA book; there are a lot of scenes that are definitely only appropriate for adults to read and there are tons of content warnings (I’ll list them at the end of my review) in part III. This is also not a happy-go-lucky story to read. Also, this is literally the first time I’ve read a fantasy book written by a female author that doesn’t feature ANY romance in it. (Thank God!) “If there is a divine creator, some ultimate moral authority, then why do bad things happen to good people? And why would this deity create people at all, since people are such imperfect beings?” As a Chinese myself, I have my own reasons for believing that The Poppy War is an Asian inspired coming-of-age grimdark military fantasy done absolutely right with finesse. Part I (roughly 40%) of the book may lead you to think this will be strictly an epic/high fantasy with a complete focus on learning, but this isn’t really true. Yes, the story does start with our main character, Fang Runin (Rin), learning tons of skills and forming friendships in a military academy called Sinegard. However, the storyline immediately took a different approach and became a complete grimdark/military fantasy in Part II and III. This won’t be a situation like Kvothe from The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss where after two installments he’s still in the University (I love this series so much though). Story structure wise, this book actually reminds me a lot of Blood Song by Anthony Ryan (another of my favorite debuts of all time), where the first half revolves around the character in a battle school and the second half revolves more around war and battles. This book alone feels like a trilogy in itself due to the sheer amount of monumental events that take place. Kuang did what a lot of authors try to do in the scope of a trilogy within the span of ONE book. Kuang’s prose was easy to read, simple, and most importantly, VERY engaging. Her writing never gets in the way of her story and it was truly compelling to read.I need to give another reminder that part III in particular was filled with brutal scenes. These scenes are written exceptionally well; the author clearly shows the horrors of war and please do remember, like I said before, these scenes aren’t just there for the sake of making the book darker. The scenes are all there for the purpose of the story, characters development, and world building. In fact, this book just wouldn’t hold the same powerful impact without these scenes. The pacing was also brilliant. There wasn’t any chapter that bored me, none whatsoever. This is truly a story with a fine balance of heart, emotion, brutality, and action scenes that were only possible because of how magnificently written the author wrote all the characters, action sequences, and world-building. “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.” Rin has seriously become one of the best female heroines I’ve ever had the chance to encounter. She’s a highly well-developed character, multi-faceted and simply kickass. Her rise from a mere peasant, oppressed and hated by everyone because of the color of her dark skin and her low status, to becoming what she has to be as the story progressed. This was one of the most well-written developments of a heroine or any character I’ve ever read. She makes brutally tough choices, she rises to any challenge that comes her way, and she never gives up. She’s fierce, she’s badass, and she demonstrates that being a strong woman character doesn’t only mean being physically powerful but mentally powerful, as well. Even though we see the story unfolds solely from Rin’s perspective in third person narration, the author does a fantastic job in making sure we’re really inside Rin’s head at all times. At one point, I actually forgot that I was reading the book in third person point of view as Rin’s character and personality were so well explored that I felt like her story was being told in first person POV. Besides that, all the other supporting characters' personalities were so well fleshed out because Part I was used VERY effectively to establish the characters’ introductions and world-building, making rooms for developments in the second half despite the story being in the middle of all the chaos. There’s always something new to discover on every page, and no words are wasted.No military fantasy will ever reach greatness without intricate war tactics or extraordinary action scenes, and this book simply scored wonderfully on both counts. Every action sequence, whether it’s the martial arts battle or the magic system, was vividly written. The scale and scope of the action relentlessly escalate with each page turned. The magic users in this book are called Shaman—those who commune with the Gods to use their power—and Kuang did a terrific job researching Shamanism. Coincidentally, during my time reading this book, I received an email from one of my favorite artists, Noah Bradley, on his new art piece for Magic: the Gathering and somehow, it completely fits some of the action scenes in this book. Check out this picture below to give you an idea of how wildly the action scenes escalated.Picture: Jaya’s Immolating Inferno by Noah BradleyLastly, I want to talk about the world-building. The history in the world of this book is filled with constant warfare, and this is also where the Asian influences really prevailed. There are TONS of Chinese and Asian influences in this book; I’m going to mention only a few of them here so you can experience the rest on your own:-The provinces in this book are named after the twelve Chinese Zodiacs.-The four cardinal mythological Gods are named exactly after the same Four Symbols of Chinese constellations creatures: the White Tiger of the West (Byakko), the Black Tortoise of the North (Genbu), the Azure Dragon of the East (Seiryu), and the Vermilion Bird of the South (Suzaku).-The creator of the military tactics book named Principles of War in the story is called Sunzi, obviously named after the famous Sun Tzu and his Art of War.-I’m a Buddhist (I think this is the first time I mention my religion in a review) and I’m pretty sure that Kuang used the name Bodhidharma intentionally to harken to Buddhism. In Buddhism, Bodhi means enlightenment and dharma means cosmic law. Considering the nature of Shamanism in this book, this naming and its meaning is very appropriate.-Ki derives from Qi/Chi which means life force.-Federation of Mugen, the name of the group of antagonists in this book, in Japanese means Infinite/Fantasy/Dream and they resembled the Japanese code of war where they are simply tools for the Emperor to use.-Just one look at the map and you’ll also know that the world is based on China and Japan.-Then there’s also talk of the legend of Monkey King from Journey to the West.Believe me, I’m holding myself back here; I’m pretty sure I found almost all the Asian influences in this book and I could talk about them in detail but I want you to experience them for yourself too. I spent four hours writing this review and it has been long enough already. In fact, this is actually my second longest review of all time. I really wish I could talk about how amazing this book is but I have to make sure my review is spoiler-free enough for readers to experience this debut with maximum results. You simply have to read and experience this greatness for yourself.The Poppy War is an astounding debut and one of the greatest starts to a series I’ve ever read. It’s a shining treasure of fantasy, literature, history, and culture. R.F. Kuang is truly a new author to watch. If this doesn’t become a one-hit wonder and she continues writing as her career, I have absolutely no doubt that her name will be up there with the likes of Robin Hobb and N.K. Jemisin, and maybe even better. I’m already waiting for the second book eagerly. I don’t even know how Kuang will top this debut; it’s a magnificently written debut that will stay in the heart of readers. By this point in my reviewing career, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to my followers that I’m quite stingy with giving a full five-star rating, but this book simply deserves a full five stars.The Poppy War is a book truly worth every second of your time. It’s a profound blending of history into military fantasy. It’s a relentlessly tension-packed book. Rin will capture your heart, embrace it. The Poppy will make you high, accept it. The War will break you, face it. The Poppy War will most likely be included in your favorite books of all-time list, get it. Come May, buy and read this superlative page turner immediately. This is the beginning for a new queen of fantasy and you should consider yourself damn lucky to have the chance to witness it.The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.Trigger Warnings: Rape, self-harm, drug abuse, genital mutilations, and many more. Basically, you name it and there's a chance it's here.Official release date: May 1st, 2018 (US) and May 3rd, 2018 (UK).You can pre-order the book HERE!You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest

“But I warn you, little warrior. The price of power is pain.” Holy hell, what did I just read??➽ A fantasy military school➽ A rich world based on modern Chinese history➽ Shamans and gods➽ Detailed characterization leading to unforgettable characters➽ Adorable, opium-smoking mentorsThat's a basic list, but this book is all of that and SO MUCH MORE. I know 100% that The Poppy War will be one of my best reads of 2018.Isn't it just so great when you find one of those books that completely drags you in, makes you fall in love with the characters, and demands that you sit on the edge of your seat for every horrific, nail-biting moment of it? This is one of those books for me. And I must issue a serious content warning: this book explores some very dark themes. Proceed with caution (or not at all) if you are particularly sensitive to scenes of war, drug use and addiction, genocide, racism, sexism, ableism, self-harm, torture, and rape (off-page but extremely horrific).Because, despite the fairly innocuous first 200 pages, the title speaks the truth: this is a book about war. All of its horrors and atrocities. It is not sugar-coated, and it is often graphic. The "poppy" aspect refers to opium, which is a big part of this book. It is a fantasy, but the book draws inspiration from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Rape of Nanking.It begins with one of my favourite things: a downtrodden orphan attends a fantasy boarding school. However, Rin doesn't get to attend her school by being "chosen" or "special". She works her ass off studying for the Keju test, which allows her to go to the prestigious Sinegard - the best military school in the country. I absolutely love the message this book sends about the merits of hard work and perseverance over genetics and natural specialness. Nothing is handed to Rin on a plate.This first part is much lighter than the rest of the book, but I enjoyed it immensely. And there are still many challenges to be faced in these early chapters. Rin must go up against school bullies and racist teachers who don't want a backwater war orphan in their classes. But she also encounters friendship and delightfully quirky teachers who like to get high on opium. And secrets. Secrets like that of the shamans who can conjure gods and use their powers - but those are just a myth, right?But there's trouble brewing outside the school's walls. War is coming and Rin and her classmates will be put to the test again and again. If she went with him, she would help him to unleash monsters. Monsters worse than the chimei. Monsters worse than anything in the Emperor's Menagerie-- because these monsters were not beasts, mindless things that could be leashed and controlled, but warriors. Shamans. The gods walking in humans, with no regard for the mortal world. This is where things get very dark. The strong world-building and carefully-crafted characters set us up to care even more when the action really kicks in and lives are threatened. It is the very opposite of the "mindless action scenes" I have been complaining about recently in fantasy novels. I cared so deeply about the characters that the action scenes were extremely tense and terrifying.I feel like my heart was pounding for the majority of this fantastic story. I can hardly recall the last time I was this engrossed in a book, and I am so so glad there will be more books to come. It's just a perfect blend of action, memorable characters, vividly-imagined setting and a look at humanity at its very worst. There's no romance, but there is a wonderful enemies-to-friends relationship that I can't wait to read more about.I am so very excited about this series and seeing where the author takes us next.Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

You think I torture my characters? Pffft. I am a rank amateur compared to R.F. Kuang! Set in an alternate Asia and inspired by the Opium Wars and 19th Century colonialism in China, The Poppy War is the story of Rin, a small-town orphan whose only chance to escape poverty and an oppressive arranged marriage is to score top marks on the government’s exams and earn a place at Sinegard Academy, where the Nikara Empire’s best and brightest are trained for leadership. Imagine a combination of West Point, Oxford and Hogwarts, and if that sounds intriguing, it is! Just don’t get too attached to the place, because Rin’s training at Sinegard is only the beginning of our story. Nikara (think Qing dynasty China), a vast but disorganized empire with out-of-date technology and many warring internal factions, is on the verge of war with its old nemesis the Mugen Federation (think Imperialist Japan). Rin and a few other ragtag misfits with an aptitude for shamanist magic may be the only secret weapon that can stop Mugen from completely destroying their homeland. The problem is the type of magic Rin summons cannot easily be controlled. It could drive her crazy, take her over completely, or, you know, possibly start Armageddon. But other than that, I’m sure everything will be fine!Not really. Though the beginning of the book may read like the fantasy narrative we all know and love — obscure girl goes through training to discover she is the Chosen One — Kuang subverts that narrative and quickly turns our expectations upside-down. She shows us how sinister a training academy can be, how it can be used for nefarious purposes, and how easily the teacher-student relationship can turn abusive and traumatizing. Who are the good guys here? Are there any? Kuang gives us no easy answers, but she lets us feel sympathy for our young protagonist Rin and her comrades. The cruelty and horror of war are vividly described, so be prepared for violence — graphic and awful, but entirely appropriate to the narrative. The big question becomes what Rin will choose. Is victory worth the price of her soul? No one is spared in this book. Everyone is beat up, orphaned, traumatized, killed, gravely injured, driven insane, dehumanized, abused and/or tortured. I loved it! I mean . . . I didn’t love the horrors described, or the vast amount of suffering, but the stakes were real, the story was grimly compelling, and the characters stayed with me long after I finished the book. Highly recommended. Now I am going to take a deep cleansing breath and prepare myself for more painful enjoyment (enjoyable pain?) in Kuang’s two sequels!

Hi, there!THE POPPY WAR is my book, so I'm obviously a bit biased. I wrote it over three months during the winter of 2015, signed with an agent in February 2016, and sold the book to Harper Voyager during my birthday weekend in May 2016. It's been nearly two years since then, so I'm terribly excited for it to finally go out in the world! I'm going to use this space to tell you a little about THE POPPY WAR in case you're wondering whether you might enjoy reading it. This book is not a romance story. This is not a YA fantasy school story (sorry. I love those too.) Yes, there's a school, and we learn some things at the school, but please don't let that description deceive you as we leave that setting quite quickly. This is, as I've always conceived it, a war story. It draws heavily on the Second Sino-Japanese war which–if you know anything about Asia–was one of the darkest and bloodiest moments in Chinese history. It grapples with the Rape of Nanjing. It deals heavily with opium and drug use. (Opium was a source of Chinese weakness. This book asks what would have happened if opium were instead a source of shamanic power.) This book is primarily about military strategy, collapsing empires, mad gods, and the human ability to make awful, ruthless decisions. It's about how dictators are made. To be entirely frank, if you're turned off by violence, I might pick up a different book. But! If you liked Avatar the Last Airbender but always wished it were a little darker and more fucked-up, you might like this. I think everyone writes, unconsciously or not, from the sources they loved, and this book ended up being my creative smorgasbord of ATLA, Ender's Game, The Grace of Kings, and Game of Thrones. I'm not saying THE POPPY WAR will necessarily read like those books. But geopolitical dramas mixed with brutally cruel choices is something I loved about all of those works, and I really hope that's reflected in the writing. Thanks for stopping by, and I really hope you enjoy the book

Hands down Best Fantasy of 2018!This was such an amazing read and cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of the trilogy. The books will be insta buys for me!War, school, magic, no freaking romance... This book kept me on my toes.I have no doubt this series will become huge and I'll make sure to rave about it until you all read it!PS. Just wanted to add that there are trigger warnings for... well everything. Self harm, drug use, rape, etc. It's a pretty dark book!

wooooooooow Lots to unpack here but overall I really respect the approach the author took.

This series is wonderful. Straight into the sequel for me.

I barely know how to read.Even at my most literate, the best thing a book can be is under 300 pages. There is nothing more appealing in the world than a tiny little volume of literary fiction: I get to feel smart twice over (because I'm reading a capital-B Book in a day).So when I even pick up a book that's over the 350 mark, that's high praise already.And I have long thought I've grown out of my fantasy stage of life, instead preferring depressing lit fic and boring old classics and however way I can be pretentious.So the fact that I read this book, a 550-page monster of my least successful genre, in a couple of sittings, should say it all.And the fact that people call this boring is the dumbest thing I have ever heard in my life.It has FIGHTING BOARDING SCHOOL that is also MAGIC BOARDING SCHOOL. It has nemeses. It has unlikely friendships. Most importantly, it has an incredibly compelling and important fantasy depiction of imperialism, violence, colonization, and war, through the lens of the Rape of Nanking.Per the advice of the brilliant and amazing Lily, I read this shortly after reading Iris Chang's The Rape of Nanking. I recommend everyone do so.It's tough reading, but it's necessary reading.Bottom line: Redefined my idea of what fantasy can even be.-------------------pre-reviewholy hell.how do people call this book boring?review to come / 4 stars-------------------currently-reading updatesme reading normally: time to pick up yet another 200 page book!me during a readathon when i'm supposed to read as much as possible: this is a good time for the longest books i ownclear ur shit prompt 3: a book you were recommendedfollow my progress here-------------------tbr reviewthis is your reminder that you are allowed to like or dislike whatever book you want, but the language you use when discussing it MATTERS.especially if you are a white person reading an own voices narrative about an entire nation's trauma.because apparently that needs to be said.

Pretty Sure Wonder Woman Wrote This BookRin, a war orphan, is facing a poorly arranged marriage unless she scores extremely well on an upcoming test, the Keju. Against all odds, she places into a slot at a prestigious military school. However, Rin’s time at the school is cut short as the third Poppy War threatens her very way of life.R.F. Kuang is also known as Rebecca F. Kuang. She has attended Georgetown University, University of Cambridge, Oxford University, and Yale University. Kuang was born in 1996 and began writing The Poppy Wars while she was 19 years old during a gap year in China. The Poppy War was subsequently published in 2018 while Kuang was approximately 22 years old. How absolutely remarkable. Most veteran authors could not have produced a novel to the caliber of The Poppy War. This book has all the hallmarks of an exceptional novel. It has imperfect characters doing their best and great storytelling. The Poppy War has a female lead who is having important conversation (not just talking about men or nail polish). While the book is fast paced, it also has incredible rivalries and interesting backstory. R.F. Kuang also established the groundwork to entice readers into the next book of the series. The first book was satisfying yet there were a couple of open plot points to lead to the next book.My only complaint is that Book 1 contained the part where Rin is at school. Recently, I have read 3 other fantasy novels that involve overcoming obstacles to go to school: Harry Potter, The Name of the Wind, and Skyward. Although I understand that attending school is a highly relatable right of passage to many readers, I was craving something a bit more original given my current reads. Overall, an exceptional fantasy novel, and I am excited to read more from R.F. Kuang.2023 Reading ScheduleJan Alice in WonderlandFeb Notes from a Small IslandMar Cloud AtlasApr On the RoadMay The Color PurpleJun Bleak HouseJul Bridget Jones’s DiaryAug Anna KareninaSep The Secret HistoryOct Brave New WorldNov A Confederacy of DuncesDec The Count of Monte CristoConnect With Me!Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta

this book has done irreversible damage to my mental health, see you all in therapy

TW: child abuse; self harm; death of animals; VERY graphic violence; gore; graphic torture; graphic deaths particularly of women and children; rape; self-sterilization; opium use (Note that this is not throughout the book; the torture and graphic death are mostly present in 2 chapters) This is a adult grimdark fantasy inspired by the historical events of the second Sino-Japanese war. It weaves the fantastical elements of magic and gods with the grim realities of war. I adored our characters and how their history impacts their motivations. Rin is one of my new favorite characters. I’m looking forward to the rest of this series!

The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1) by R.F. KuangGods, magic, and war. A military fantasy where the atmosphere inspired by Song Dynasty and the conflict in the book based on The Second Sino-Japanese War, you can be sure that this book won't be an easy one. Brutal story. Incredible world-building. Excellent writing. This is a story that asks us to examine how we weigh the life of ‘the other’, how we justify atrocities, and what it means to be human. Definitely wouldn’t recommend for a younger reader. War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who remains. Great dark story.

”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.”This book. I mean… THIS BOOK! *sighs deeply and shakes head*There is so much to be said about “The Poppy War” and I’m afraid I won’t even be able to put at least half of my thoughts into decent sentences. Because after finishing this book about a month ago (A MONTH AGO!!!) I still have troubles to sort out all of my feelings and thoughts. “The Poppy War” is a great book but it tackles a lot of serious topics and I guess that’s the reason why my heart always feels kind of heavy when I think about it. Of course there is a war raging in this book but there happen so many other things that it’s almost impossible not to flinch when you reach those final 40%. Think about every atrocity that’s ever happened and you get a good idea about what you’re going to read in this book. There’s genocide, rape, torture, self-harm… and that’s just me naming a few of the triggers that might come your way. ”War doesn’t determine who’s right. War determines who remains.”Let me tell you this: The longer you continue the worse it gets and even though this was masterfully done and I loved the world building and all the characters, there is still this strange undercurrent of heavy sadness and dread. Golyn Niis was so tough to read, I still get goose bumps when I think about it. This chapter was so, so, so, so damn hard to get through and I can’t remember the last time I read a book and felt that way. Maybe I never felt that way reading a book before. At least I can’t remember a single book that actually made me feel like this. I swear my stomach turned and I had troubles to breathe. I was feeling nauseous reading a book! Yes, it was that heavy! Everyone who already read the book will know what I’m talking about and to those who didn’t: It’s really as bad as everyone claims it to be! I got plenty of warnings but nothing prepared me for Golyn Niis!”Amateurs obsess over strategy, Irjah had once told their class. Professionals obsess over logistics.”Still, despite this heavy feeling of uneasiness that always overcomes me when I think about “The Poppy War” this book was definitely worth reading! I loved the fantasy elements and the idea of powers from the gods! Plus I really enjoyed the chapters at Sinegard Academy and the chimei! What I loved the most was the representation of human nature though. I might be alone with this but it’s obvious that R.F. Kuang put a lot of effort into her characters and you could see it in the way they grow, develop and change. Their character arcs were so amazing to follow, I’m in awe! And before I continue to gush about them here, I might as well move to my character section instead. ;-PThe characters: This is my spoilery spoiler section and if you didn’t read the book already you better turn around and leave. If you’re still curious and don’t want to heed my warning you may proceed at your own risk! I mean I warned you, right? ;-P Rin:”No – they couldn’t just do this to her. They might think they could sweep her away like rubbish, but she didn’t have to lie down and take it. She had come from nothing. She wasn’t going back to nothing.”Oh gods! Rin! I can’t believe what she did in the end and I can’t wrap my head around the fact that such a sweet and innocent girl could change that much! But it still happened and her descent was so heavy to watch. >_< I guess that’s what happens when you play with fire, quite literally in her case. She got addicted to the power and I’m so damn afraid of what she’s going to do next! I loved her defiance and strength at the beginning of the book, how she wanted to learn and did everything possible to achieve her goal. She was so determined and strong-willed! But then the war began and all those things happened and with every chapter Rin changed! She became something different, she hardened her heart, she lost her moral compass and made decisions that got her deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole! And then she did the unthinkable and I’m not sure if she’ll ever be able to return from that darkness again. T_T The ending broke my heart, for Rin, for the person she could have been for everything she HAD been before she came to Sinegard. She’s not the person she used to be and I find myself weeping for everything she lost and for what she became. =((( ”She didn’t want to be possessed. She wanted to remain free.””Then I will die on my feet,” she said. “I will die with flames in my hand and fury in my heart.””My god didn’t make me do anything,” she said. “The gods can’t make our choices for us. They can only offer their power, and we can wield it. And I did, and this is what I chose.” She swallowed. “I don’t regret it.””She was sane, she was convinced of it. She was whole. She had lost much, yes, but she still had her own mind. She made her decisions. She chose to accept the Phoenix. She chose to let it invade her mind.”Altan:”We’re the final front,” said Altan. “If we fail, this country’s lost.” He clapped her on the shoulder. “Excited?”Altan broke my heart. At first I had the same impression like everyone else: That he knows what he’s doing, that he’s in control and a perfect student/soldier but the more we got to see from him, the more it became obvious that he’s far from all those things! This boy was broken beyond repair and he hid it so well that no one ever noticed until it was too late! I can’t say that I liked his actions but I could understand why he acted the way he did! He was lashing out at everyone because he was like a wild animal that only saw threats and didn’t know how to react to kindness. Altan was unable to see that not everyone who confronted him wanted to do him harm. Which makes me sad on so many levels. =( That poor, poor boy! To be tortured like this, to get out of it alive, to live with his past and the knowledge that it might happen again. Just to live with everything he went through! To draw breath every day and to continue, to keep on moving! I can’t even begin to comprehend how he must have felt and I can’t put into words how strongly I feel for him. T_T And I don’t want to believe that he’s dead! He can’t be dead! >__< I really hope Nezha will magically reappear in the second book! =)”But I saved your life. Doesn’t that make us at least a little square?”Square? Square? She had to laugh. “You almost got me expelled!”“And you almost killed me,” he said. That shut her up.“I was scared of you,” Nezha continued. “And I lashed out. I was stupid. I was a spoiled brat. I was a real pain in the ass. I thought I was better than you, and I’m not. I’m sorry.”Altan & Chaghan:”They had come to an understanding, she and Chaghan. They were no longer opposed, vying for Altan’s favor. They were allies, now, bound by the mutual atrocities they had commited.”I’m going to be honest here: I’m such a sucker for Chaghan!!! I love his character!!!! And is it just me or did I actually feel some gay vibes between those two?! Altan and Chaghan definitely had more chemistry than Rin and Altan ever had! *lol* And they didn’t even have all too many scenes together! I got the distinct feeling that something happened when they spent those three days in the valleys and I’m not talking about Altan winning a fight between them, feel me? *wriggles eyebrows* Haha! ;-P Gosh, I really would have loved to find out more about their relationship and this is just one more reason why Altan can’t be dead! I just ship him and Chaghan too much to accept his death! Period! XDConclusion:“The Poppy War” was an amazing and sometimes truly revolting dark tale about a young girl that follows her own path and fights for what she thinks is right. It shows us how people can grow and how their circumstances and perceptions can change them. For better or for worse… This tale isn’t over yet. In fact it just began and I can’t wait to read what’s going to happen next. Let’s continue to hope for the best while we expect the worst, because apparently that’s the only attitude that will get you through this series. ;-)”And she would call the gods to do such terrible things.”

This book thoroughly destroyed me. This is dark and heavy and not at all an easy read. It’s a story of vengeance, hatred, and manipulation. Added to the bleak retelling of the darkest period in Chinese history, it’s a painful book to read. But it’s so, so good.Rin, a peasant from the south, is a ruthless, determined, ambitious character who craves power over all other things. She’s a student at Sinegard, a prestigious military academy, but she stands out because of her dark skin and accent. She has to fight twice as hard to get to the top. Along the way, she discovers a power within herself that is fueled by her own anger. She longs to unleash it and burn the world down, but the gods are never to be trusted, and nothing comes for free. The grey morality is excellent. "'They were monsters!' Rin shrieked. 'They were not human!'Kitay opened his mouth. No sound came out. He closed it. When he finally spoke again, it sounded as if he was close to tears.'Have you ever considered,' he said slowly, 'that that was exactly what they thought of us?'" Altan, the only survivor after his entire race was butchered in a previous war, is a complex and layered character. He’s filled with a hatred so strong it manifests itself in his fire, but he hides it deep within him, using it to fuel his brutality. He’s a raging force of nature, a sly, cunning commander intent on revenge--but his weaknesses and his strengths both lie in his fury. This book does not romanticize war, and I’m thankful. We live in a culture where fighting is glorified and praised as heroic. The Poppy War presents a brutal, raw, and honest perspective where war is seen as the horrific, cruel act it truly is, instead of being glossed over. It’s a commentary on the horrors of human brutality and the violence we are capable of. “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.” This is about strategy, politics, sacrifice. It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s intense, bloody--but extremely intelligent. Only a portion of the book is spent in the academy, but the lessons are well-researched and incredibly thoughtful. This is not your typical fantasy school story. It’s not really a fantasy school story at all. It’s a reflection on the ethical dilemma of sacrificing everything for the greater good, despite the unthinkable costs. “Those weren’t lives.They were numbers.They were a necessary subtraction.” The Poppy War is difficult to read. It’s a page-turner, but a dark one. The questions it raises are relevant, heartbreaking, sometimes controversial. But I promise you, it is worth it. 5 stars

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. “But I warn you, little warrior. The price of power is pain.” First and foremost, please go read one of my best friends in this entire world’s review: Petrik’s review is not only amazing, he is also an ownvoices Chinese reviewer. Next, I just want to warn you guys that this is a very dark book that is heavily inspired by the Nanking Massacre. Please use caution and know that this book has major trigger and content warnings for war themes, drug use, substance addiction, self-harm, racism, misogyny, genocide, bullying, abandonment, abuse, animal death, animal cruelty, brutal torture, brutal killing, brutal rape (off screen, but still maybe the worst I’ve ever read), mutilation, very graphic depictions of how children and adults died, experimentations on people against their will, colorism, colonization. Again, this is a very dark book that carries some very dark themes. Please use caution. “War doesn’t determine who’s right. War determines who remains” The Poppy War is a fantastic debut that I feel so very privileged to have received an ARC of. This is the first book in an ownvoices Asian inspired fantasy story, and this first installment is told in three parts; each getting darker and darker. But in part one we meet our main protagonist, Rin, who is a war orphan who is living with a foster family that was forced to adopt her. Rin has been working at the family’s local business, while also being forced to deal drugs. That is, until one day her family decided that it would be more in their interest for them marry Rin off to a man who is much older than her and who she has never met before. Rin is then forced to do the only thing that will allow her to not have this life forced upon her. “Well, fuck the heavenly order of things. If getting married to a gross old man was her preordained role on this earth, then Rin was determined to rewrite it.” In this world, children will study their entire lives for a test called the Keju. And the top fifty students in the country will be allowed to go the empire’s capitol to study at the best military school in the world. There they will be able to become the world’s best generals, tacticians, soldiers, and more. And all the students wish to one day be warriors for the Empire. And Rin dedicates herself to studying so that she can not only escape this marriage, but to also escape her abusive foster parents, and the entire town that has treated her awful just because she was born a war orphan. And against all odds, Rin gets accepted. But once she gets to the school, she soon realizes that her spot isn’t guaranteed to last. At the end of the year, the different teachers will pick which students they wish to have study under them. And Rin soon starts to see that most of the school is not only very privileged, but also have power just from their last name and who their family is already in the current military. And the reason part one of this book is hands down my favorite is because I love this school setting so much. And like many other reviewers have already said, it is very reminiscent of The Name of the Wind. From the attending kids that have been born with a silver spoon in their mouths, to unexpected companionship, to horrible teachers, to wonderfully odd teachers. And Rin becomes obsessed with not only impressing these teachers and her peers, but to prove that she is also deserving of her spot. “You’re a war orphan. You’re a southerner. You weren’t supposed to pass the Keju. The Warlords like to claim that the Keju makes Nikan a meritocracy, but the system is designed to keep the poor and illiterate in their place. You’re offending them with your very presence.” And while Rin is working to become the best at her school, terrible things are brewing outside the walls of the academy. Terrible, unthinkable things, that are about to impact the whole world. And Rin is forced to quickly learn about another world all together, where gods can make a person a shaman that can wield that power, but at a cost. And Rin has to discover for herself if the price is worth it. “The nature of this god is to destroy. The nature of this god is to be greedy, to never be satisfied with what he has consumed.” This is an action packed read, with beautiful writing that feels like a treat to read. This is a story filled with twists and turns, and you might think you know where the story is going, to only be completely dumbfounded. I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough. Also, there is sort of an enemies to friends (maybe lovers eventually) element in this book, and I’m dying to see more in book two. Like, there is going to be more of it? Right? Please. Seriously, what God do I have to let inhabit my body? I need it. “Because I can,” she said. “Because he thought he could get rid of me. Because I want to break his stupid face.” And ultimately, this is a story about a girl who has been given nothing but pain in a world that constantly reminds her that she is lesser. And she overcomes every single hurdle and becomes not only what the world said she couldn’t be, but she becomes what she wanted to be. Like, this book is powerful, empowering, and a love letter to all girls that are told they can’t do something daily. Overall, I really enjoyed this one, even if it got even a little too dark for me at times. I think this is a really amazing set up for what is sure to be an impressive debut fantasy series! I cannot wait to see what R.F. Kuang does next, because I really think The Poppy War is a bright shining star in 2018 releases. Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Youtube | Twitch The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.Buddy read with Jules! ❤

When you are so hyped for a book you’re practically giving helium a run for its money, there are only 3 possibilities:☆ You write a pungent review, crushed beneath the waves of disappointment.✯ You write a loving criticism, pleased that it was good but displeased that it was not that good.★ You write a gushing piece, declaring your heart stolen and your soul sold.I was hoping for the third.But I’ll settle for the second. Credit: Jhoca “You will be offered power beyond your imagination. But I warn you, little warrior. The price of power is pain.” Even as The Poppy War was not the perfection I’d dreamt it would be, I could not help but be awed by the exquisite detail of this rigorous craft where no misstep is excused and no strategy overlooked. From economy to dialects and sources of prejudice, Kuang has considered everything in spinning this yarn of war orphans and martial artists, with gods that were only relics of the past peeking their insatiable heads and demanding blood as worship, and life beared in all its sheer dreadful abomination where an accident of birth makes all the difference because power, dolorously, dictates acceptability.Through the duality of hallucinogens and the precarious line they make one dangle on, to studying opaque syllogisms and the intricate science of fighting at a ruthless military academy where girls cannot succeed unless they give up any future of motherhood, embarking on philosophical debates I craved to insert myself into on reality, brutality, and divinity, this debut mixes history and myth with fiction to paint an ancient China anew. “The fish does not attempt to fly. The polecat does not attempt to swim. Only when each being respects the heavenly order may there be peace.”Well, fuck the heavenly order of things. But you cannot write military fantasy in all its glorious deception and spark a grim war’s inception without delving into tactics and logistics, and TPW is more analogous to a game of Go, treading strategy rather than direct confrontation to achieve dominance—despite the present action. This is an empire that can never be ready to face the enemies within and without; this is a song of vengeance horrendous and wondrous in its entirety. What Kuang does, in the end, is to depict the invidious truth that war is not about rightness but survival; and as she would tell you, to explain gravity to a child you will first have to let them fall. Credit: Jhoca Sadly though, I did not close the book with everyone’s shared what did I just read sentiment but with a sigh of ugh finally, since the plot of the book was not all that unexpected due to most of the twists having been revealed to us before they were to the characters, and their eventual deliverance was not dramatic enough to warrant true shock. I admittedly preferred the engrossing trials of Part I to the passivity of what followed. CW ➾ racism, colourism, colonisation, abuse, bullying, misogyny, use of psychedelics, drug addiction, self-harm, animal cruelty, nonconsensual human experimentations, torture, rape, burning, massacre, genocide, mutilation Which Is It: Grimdark or Wuxia Fantasy? It’s rather bewildering to see various readers shelving the same book under 2 genres as fundamentally different as grimdark and wuxia fantasy. Like, what the hell? I’ll tell you what the hell.✿ What is grimdark and is this it? Adam Roberts puts grimdark as “where nobody is honourable and Might is Right,” declaring the world a “cynical, disillusioned, ultraviolent place.” Or as Genevieve Valentine puts it, grimdark dives into “the psychology of those sword-toting heroes, and the dark realism behind all those kingdom politics.” Even more complete is Jared Shurin’s 3 key components: a grim and dark tone, a sense of realism, and the agency of the protagonists versus predestination. Yes, this can all apply to TWP, especially if you consider the final theme that heroes inevitably let you down and gods have no agency and it is you who will forge the path. But in truth, TWP is not amoral or violent for the majority of the book. Why?Because even as characters hold on to their anger throughout, they are so very concerned with morals and it’s only at the very end where they truly find law inconvenient in the face of their revenge. Because while there is violence aplenty in these pages, and while the logic of violence is explored and deaths are avenged, that violence is noted as wrong and intentional brutality warned against on principle—it’s not until the very end where the protagonist looks at that violence and sees it as right.My favourite definition of grimdark is Liz Bourke’s, “a retreat into the valorisation of darkness for darkness’s sake, into a kind of nihilism that portrays right action as either impossible or futile.” But this definition can only describe the end of TWP, which is just not enough. I would say, pick this up for something grim and dark, but not for grimdark. “I am a mortal who has woken up, and there is power in awareness.” ✿ What is wuxia and is this it? Wuxia is a primarily historical genre of Chinese fantasy about a martial artist who follows the code of xia (its 8 common attributes being: benevolence, justice, individualism, loyalty, courage, truthfulness, disregard for wealth, and desire for glory). This theme of chivalrous righteousness might seem the opposite of all this book stands for, but wuxia heroes also remove oppressors and bring retribution for past misdeeds, and those 8 criteria are the focus of the first part of TPW—before they’re twisted and turned on their heads for a darker approach, that is.One type of wuxia fiction more common in the era of anti-Qing revolutionaries (which is the era that inspired this series) goes like this: A hero from the lower social class of ancient China is denied admission into a martial arts sect, so she experiences hardships and trains secretly, waiting to surprise those who looked down on her; the plot will meander to a final showdown between the protagonist and her nemesis. As you can see, this is the structure of TPW Part I and its themes are taken along throughout the military path of the book even as they are ingeniously reversed. “You’ll die.”“Then I will die on my feet,” she said. “I will die with flames in my hand and fury in my heart. I will die fighting for the legacy of my people.” ✿ Conclusion? If I were to shelve this genre-bending debut, the first 50% would be wuxia, the next 40% military, and the last 10% grimdark fantasy. Ultimately, this book might be grimly stark, but it’s not grimdark. Perhaps more a wuxia gone dark. Asian Influences: Historical & Mythological Starting from basics, compare this map with East Asia but keep in mind that the author said all resemblances to real-world countries are “completely unintentional” so shhhh: Unfortunately, I can’t hush.❀ Nikan is China ➾ Evident in the usage of Chinese zodiac cycles for marking the passage of time and signs for naming the provinces; cì kè (lit. assassin) for the Cike; qi or ch'i (life force or energy flow, the central principle in Chinese martial arts) for ki; the expansionist policies and civilising mission alluding to the Qing dynasty (the last imperial dynasty of China, 1636-1912); Ke Ju (the national examination system that became ossified during the Qing dynasty) for Keju; The Art of War by Sun Tzu (pinyin: Sūnzǐ) for Sunzi’s Principles of War.❀ Federation of Mugen is Japan ➾ Due to themes of militarism and beliefs in the meaninglessness of the lives of soldiers and inhumanity of the non-Japanese, as well as the divinity of the Emperor practiced in Japan before the reconstruction.❀ Speer is Taiwan ➾ Mostly geographically but also Taiwan’s fight against colonisation by China.❀ The Hinterlands are Mongolia ➾ Both nomadic people with an integral horse culture and a prominent Buddha (Bodhidharma in TPW, both focused on the refinement of the individual) following, ruled over by the Qing dynasty/Nikara Empire.❀ Bolonia & Hesperia are America & Europe ➾ Strawberry blond pale skinned busybodies constantly “helping.”I should note that TPW is inspired by the Second Sino-Japanese War, sparked when a dispute between Japanese and Chinese troops escalated into a full-scale invasion some scholars consider to have been the start of WWII. In TPW, Kuang grimly rewrites Rape of Nanjing (an episode of mass murder and mass rape committed by Imperial Japanese troops), revisiting the pain and consequences of those atrocities, and proceeds to finish her smaller World War II with thousands of Japanese soldiers remaining in China and a retelling of Hiroshima. Credit: Ashley Hankins History aside, there is dangerous magic in TPW as much as there is war, and the author is just as thorough in capturing the mystical shamanic powers.Often associated with indigenous and tribal societies, shamanism is a system of beliefs surrounding a spirit world that a shaman can interact with through altered states of consciousness. Not only does Kuang portray this fascinating practice as accurately as possible, she also includes the structural implications of colonialism and imperialism and how rare and limited these communities have become. Characters: Development & Relationships Rin is an ambitious, vicious, stubborn character I immediately fell head over heels for, cheering as her cunning grew—that is, until she became a passive moon circling Altan.I understand her need to belong leading to her nonsensical obsession, but not having a front row seat to her fantasies made the whole matter underdeveloped. Neither did it help that, while I get the suffocation of his repressed rage and wanted to pet his solemn head for his pain, Altan’s farce of patriotism was intolerable—don’t paint vengeance in flowers please. Honestly, he was too tired to fit the legendary shoes Kuang had him walk around in. 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. Credit: Nan Fe Jiang’s eccentric head stuck in the clouds was fortunately a rare reprieve next to Nezha’s efficient development (surprisingly, as I initially loathed his idiotic, egoistic, unworthy arse). But really, I just needed my manipulative, raging Rin back in action as a walking disaster and am pleased to announce her eventual realisation satisfied me. But Time For Criticism: Why Not Five Stars? There are 5 things I want from my adult fantasy, be it light or dark ➾ ❶ a careful plotting, ❷ a detailed craftsmanship, ❸ an immersive storytelling, ❹ a unique world building, and ❺ a layered theme; TPW meets 4 of those criteria with exceptional talent, yet falls flat with a disappointing thump in ❸. The issue is not that Kuang’s writing is easy and unnoticeable like YA, it’s that her storytelling technique is more telling than showing.Putting aside the few moments of eloquence where, after incessantly knocking on the door I was allowed in to explore, immersive description is a rare thing to stumble upon in this book, with the unfolding deaths of millions summarised to a few sentences and Rin realising she’d been hearing a voice addressed as forgot to mention I’ve been hearing this since before so know this exists even though I ain’t gonna describe what it’s like m’kay? I mean?? Hello? Hi. Yeah. Her telling style did not allow for a thorough exploration of some facets of the book, such as Rin and Altan’s dynamic, and that’s just a pity because this could have been so much more.Additionally, when writing a book you make a choice between fast or slow pace and stick with it, but Kuang refused to do this and got stuck somewhere between the extremes of the two, too scared to dwell too long and yet too focused on slow strategy to run fast. TPW spans across 3 to 4 years and Kuang’s method for handling this—writing only short selective scenes—both helps avoid dragging the tale and hurts the book by making it disjointed, underdeveloped, and incapable of building momentum. We are repeatedly told time is passing and, just as we are getting comfortable in the story, we get kicked out and thrown back in weeks later. It was perhaps akin to attempting to climb a magical mountain where your handhold vanishes after a few seconds; so the only way to get to the top and finish the book is to plunge in, climbing fast and without pause, because if you pause...well if you pause you’re done for.But this was a promising debut and from the talent Kuang displayed in her first work, I know the next one is going to be magnificent. I can feel it in my bones. Companions: Playlist & Related Reviews Book series playlist: Spotify URL Books in series: ➴ The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1) ★★★★☆➴ The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War, #2) ★★★★✯➴ The Burning God (The Poppy War, #3) ★★★★★