The Poppy War
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4.1 • 194 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Winner of the Reddit Fantasy Award for Best Debut 2018
‘The best fantasy debut of 2018’ – WIRED
A brilliantly imaginative epic fantasy debut, inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic.
When Rin aced the Keju – the test to find the most talented students in the Empire – 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 had hoped to get rich by marrying her off; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free from a life of servitude. 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 the depths of her gift with the help of psychoactive substances and 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 Nikara 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…
About the author
Rebecca F. Kuang immigrated to the United States from Guangzhou, China, in 2000. She has a BA in International History from Georgetown University, and she will pursue her graduate degree in Modern Chinese Studies at the University of Cambridge on a Marshall Scholarship in 2018. Her research focuses on Chinese military strategy, collective trauma, and war memorials.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
The first instalment of an ambitious fantasy trilogy, The Poppy War is also an impressive debut novel. R.F. Kuang’s story draws parallels to Chinese history and politics, using some of the country’s most violent moments to craft an intense tale about colonialism in an alternate Asian empire. The hero is teen orphan Rin, who escapes a bleak future by nailing a notoriously difficult exam to train at a rigorous military academy. As Rin begins to grasp a whole new world of gods and magic, she also witnesses the confronting toll of war, both immediate and long-lasting. Kuang doesn’t pull any punches, and this cinematic story is as harrowing as it is rewarding—all the way to its artful cliffhanger ending.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Debut novelist Kuang creates an ambitious fantasy reimagining of Asian history populated by martial artists, philosopher-generals, and gods. War orphan Fang Runin ("Rin") escapes abusive foster parents by gaining admission to the Nikara Empire's prestigious military academy. Though stigmatized because of her peasant background, she earns top grades and wins the annual martial arts tournament. But she refuses a typical apprenticeship and instead goes to study with the academy's disreputable Lore Master Jiang, who despairs of reviving the discredited shaman traditions. Finding her way to the home of the gods, Rin is forced to choose between obeying her master's warnings against abuse of power and unleashing divine retribution when the island nation of Mugen, armed with chemical and biological weapons, invades and massacres civilians. Kuang highlights the horrors of war, especially the moral and emotional toll on combatants who employ scorched-earth strategies. Heroic responses pale in view of the collateral damage that they trigger, and the novel does not allow its characters to slough off their culpability for channeling godly powers. Readers may empathize with Rin's desire for vengeance, but any thrill at her success is matched by horror at its costs. This is a strong and dramatic launch to Kuang's career.
Customer Reviews
The Poppy War
I’ve read this book again and again honestly my fav book and I read a lot, the characters intertwine so perfectly, the ending was a it disappointing but I’m so keen to read the trilogy
Brilliant
I’m surprised by some of the reviews of this book.
The author has beautifully weaved together historical facts with myth.
I highly recommend this book!! I couldn’t put it down and loved the way the characters are written.
What happened
What happened? What happened! WHAT happened.
You had me at poor orphan trying to escape a bad situation through education and hard work. Boom! A great beginning to a story.
Now she’s smoking opium and is a shaman defending the world and all this stuff.
No.
Won’t be reading the next one.
Sounds even more ridiculous.