The Poppy War

"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."-- Provided by Amazon

Published in 2018, The Poppy War reflects contemporary themes and storytelling that resonates with today's readers.

Rooted firmly in the Fantasy tradition, this book delivers what devoted readers of the genre expect while offering its own distinctive perspective.

Available on Bookble for readers looking to explore R.F. Kuang's work and build a focused reading list.

If you enjoy R.F. Kuang's voice, explore Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution and Yellowface from the same author to continue in a familiar style.

Within Fantasy, readers who liked The Poppy War often gravitate toward 1984, Project Hail Mary, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone — each sharing thematic DNA while offering a different perspective.