Loved itI knew I would love it. I read it in 2024 and no surprise, I did absolutely love it. But again, trigger warnings for sure.
Review 1 of 3
The Poppy War (2018)
Others: Mostly positive 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.
- ISBN:
- 9780008239848
- Length:
- 544 pages
Genres: fantasy
Lists: …
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Loved it
Loved itI loved the academy setting and getting to see the different classes that Ren was taking. If you're looking to dive into an epic series this year, The Poppy War is a great place to start.
Review 1 of 2
MixedI really liked the series actually when I read it, but then since reading it, I don't really have any desire to go back and reread it... the first book is probably my favorite one.
Review 1 of 3
MixedFirst like half I was just in it. I would get super invested in certain characters or certain ideas and then it would just kind of change like super fast... I might give this another try. I don't I'm not even going to say I don't like this. I just it didn't work out.
Loved itCan you see these tabs? I tabbed it up. Okay, absolutely obsessed with this book.
Loved itFair warning, this is grim dark, so it gets genuinely really dark, but never just for shocking purposes. It always is there to tell a story. It never glorifies war.
Review 1 of 2
Loved itI really like The Poppy War. I have people who watch that review video that like miss the fact that I say I give the first two books four stars...
Review 1 of 2
Not a fanI just don't understand poppy War I for ped my way through the first book and I just the World building in the magic system was fantastic but the main character was just absolutely insufferable
Loved itthe character work and the overall plotting and just the journey we go on with our main character Ren is just amazing
Review 1 of 8
Mixedone of the worst books I've ever read is the last book there but I don't hate the whole series I kind of like the first book
Review 1 of 7
Mixedpoppy war is not the place to start that is a very divisive series I was kind of in the middle I liked it I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either a lot of people hated that series
Review 1 of 4
Loved itI loved it I loved the complex characters I loved the world and the political aspects of it were really interesting as well
Loved itthis book is incredible in the sense that it makes you want to go and research that... what's amazing about this series is it's based on a non-western historical time period And I think that is so brilliant
Review 1 of 5
MixedI read the poppy war and I was a little bit disappointed I there are aspects that are brilliant they're aspects that just did not click with me
Loved itthis story has some really fantastic creative magic involving gods and powers and i love this one a lot
Loved itfavorite book of 2020 is The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. this is the book that I gave four and a half stars to that I think has the most potential to become a five-star book upon a re-read.
Mixedthe beginning was a five star read for me we are at this Academy with our protagonist who is a young girl who is trained to be a warrior in Asia somewhere it's a fantasy book so it's hard to pinpoint exactly where we are but then the book turns into something completely different it's about war well as you can tell from the title and I lost interest