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. 

R. F. Kuang’s debut novel, The Poppy War, is having a moment. It’s on so many “best-of” or “most-anticipated” lists. It seems to be on every bookstagrammer’s TBR. And all with good reason. This is a fucking epic start to a series…just a gutsy & brutal book one. I really loved this!

Inspired by actual events in Chinese history, (specifically the Nanjing Massacre) The Poppy War tells the story of Rin, a war orphan who seeks to rise above her situation by passing the Keju, a test designed to find the brightest & best students in the Empire. Although an overachiever in every sense of the word, Rin surprises even herself by scoring so high on the test that she is admitted into Sinegard, the Empire’s greatest military academy. 

The first chunk of this book is devoted mostly to character development & world building. A bit of a slow burn, which is something I really tend to love in the first book of a series. With the school setting & all these young people studying to be warriors of one kind or another, I was reminded (at least a little) of Blood Song and Red Sister (two of my favorite fantasy novels). The book makes some pretty big time leaps, which can be a little jarring, but it moves the plot along.

Rin’s training at Sinegard falls to the mysterious Lore instructor Jiang. His teaching methods are unconventional at best, and downright bizarre in other instances. Some of the scenes between Rin & Jiang are pretty hilarious, as she tries to wring meaning from some of his more obtuse lessons. Being the only student to study under Jiang also opens Rin up to conflict with other students. 

The book takes such a dramatic turn in the second half…it becomes this incredibly dark & violent military fantasy story. Shamanism & old magic & the kind of battle sequences (and post-battle sequences) that’ll have your eyes popping out of your head. There are some really graphic scenes in this book, for sure. 

Rin’s journey in this first book (of a planned trilogy) is pretty amazing…from where she starts out to where she winds up is just…wicked fucking intense. I really enjoyed The Poppy War…a charismatic main character, a lot of history & world building, some badass action scenes…this is something really unique & worth all the high praise it’s been getting!