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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… In my opinion, there are two ways to read TPW trilogy. The first is to read it as any other fantasy novel, and the second is through an analytical lens and understanding of the history it discusses. This is a series that has touched the hearts of many Asian readers, especially children of diaspora because it takes the stories we’ve listened to growing up and weaves them into an epic fantasy. An original and engrossing tale of the coming of age of a talented young soldier amid the horrors of invasion and genocide. Anna Stephens One of the standout features of the Poppy War series is its deep and complex characters, who are not simply heroes or villains but are instead multifaceted individuals with their own motivations and flaws. Rin, in particular, is a complex and morally ambiguous character who undergoes a tremendous amount of growth and development over the course of the series. Readers will be invested in her journey and root for her, even as she makes difficult and sometimes questionable choices.
Liptak, Andrew (2018-12-21). "Our favorite science fiction and fantasy books of 2018". The Verge . Retrieved 2019-12-27. Both The Poppy War and The Dragon Republic were recently placed on TIME’s list of Top 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time. Whilst other titles on this list are contestable, these two deserve their places entirely. An original and engrossing tale of the coming of age of a talented young soldier amid the horrors of invasion and genocide.”— Anna Stephens, author of Godblind But everything is about to change as Emperor Vaisra announces The Selection for his now heir to the throne, Yin Nezha. An opportunity for women to compete for the prince's hand from across the empire, but Rin vehemently opposes the whole idea.
Publication Order of Anthologies
The bulk of Book 1 follows the Second-Sino Japanese War between the Republic of China and Imperial Japan in what was essentially WW2 in East Asia. It’s important to note that while Kuang does not shy away from depicting the atrocities that imperial Japanese soldiers committed, she makes it a point to mention in interviews that the series is not meant to vilify any specific country or to glorify violence. A young woman’s determination and drive to succeed and excel at any cost runs into the horrors of war, conflict and ancient, suppressed forces in R. F. Kuang’s excellent debut novel, The Poppy War. The Skiffy and Fanty Show Kuang’s descriptive storytelling reveals the grueling psychological and material cost of war on combatants and those they are supposed to protect. Fans of epic military fantasy will be eager for the next volume.” Booklist The last 40% of the book is excellent, genuinely. The Dragon Republic has some striking themes that continue to parallel history, one of the most notable ones being colonisation and western imperialism. Pale-skinned Hesperians arrive in Nikan, and from the moment they set down, they are enforcing their beliefs on everyone else and insulting the appearance and intelligence of the Nikanese population. It is genuinely an excellent opportunity to see colonialism occurring through the eyes of the ones being colonised, which is a perspective often erased in history but allowed to thrive here under the thin guise of fantasy. The book starts as an epic bildungsroman, and just when you think it can’t get any darker, it does [...] Kuang pulls from East Asian history, including the brutality of the Second Sino-Japanese war, to weave a wholly unique experience. Washington Post
This isn’t just another magical, fantasy world with artificially fabricated stakes. Rin’s journey and the war against the Federation feel incredibly urgent and powerful [...] R.F. Kuang is one of the most exciting new authors I’ve had the privilege of reading. The Roarbots The Poppy War was a fun, engrossing, journey to a world I wish I could visit and a school I wish I could attend. With its strong characters, interesting world building, and intriguing plot it is a great read that I would recommend to anyone. The Quill to LiveEven after 20 years, Fang Runin, Yin Nezha and their iconic Sinegard Arena concert is one of the most talked about music performances in Nikan history. As her power and influence grow, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it? The Poppy War is the first book in a fantasy series inspired by Song dynasty and the Second Sino-Japanese War in mid-20th-century China when presents a mix of adventure, shamanism and classical Chinese legends.
GODS! There’s a fascinating pantheon within the worldbuilding of The Poppy War trilogy. Rin is chosen by the Phoenix, which gives her powers of fire, but to connect with her god, she (and most other shamans) will ingest opium. A blistering, powerful epic of war and revenge that will captivate you to the bitter end. Kameron Hurley Ultimately, she says, she loves the series for the ways it examines race and power. For instance, she has a quote from Rin in the second book up on a corkboard: "I've seen how power works. It's not about who you are, it's about how they see you. And once you're mud in this country, you're always mud." During Rebecca’s lecture “The Poppy Wars and Asian American Speculative Fiction” at Institute for the Humanities – University of Manitoba (UMIH), she mentions how “Sinegard” which is the elite military academy that Rin is accepted to actually doesn’t sound like a Nikara word. The reason for this is because most of the prestigious academies in China were named by westerners.This book is a dramatic and strong launch to Kuang’s writing career. Rin’s character radiates an extraordinary vitality and her arc is simply nothing short of astounding due to the amount of years the book covers. She is not someone who gives up, and goes through quite a lot to achieve what she wants. Here is a breathtaking, spectacular, and epic read that is tough to put down. This is a book about the brutality and reality of war. The adaptation is currently early in development and looking to identify a showrunner for the project. Who’s in the cast?
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