Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

reread 1/8/21: Reading this another time knowing exactly how everything ends is... so painful. I feel such a deep sense of despair for these characters and how their lives are touched and terribly scarred by war and trauma. I was able to appreciate Rin’s character arc in a whole new light after reading the next books, and I also shed a lot of my initial dislike of Altan this time around. This book and series is so wonderfully written, and it is so tragic to witness but a blessing at the same time.

// buddy reread with rain!!

—★�

what I should be thinking: The Poppy War explores themes of power, ambition, and humanity with a skill that is thoroughly inspiring for an author only 21 years old at the time of publishing, and Kuang expertly develops Rin into a character you hate yet also, somehow, adore. The book snakes its way through your brain, subtly becoming an obsession that only grows as time passes, and each day you find yourself thinking about how perfect of a book it is.

what I’m actually thinking: Fang Runin please step on me.

—★�

It feels like my life has been split into two eras: Before The Poppy War, and After The Poppy War.

There is no way to write a review that encompasses both my love for and the literary excellence of this book, and there are already some brilliant reviews out there (my personal favorites are ±Ê±ð³Ù°ù¾±°ì’s and ´³²¹³¾¾±â€™s). But my feelings about this book have grown to become an irritating cramp in my side, constantly pestering me: I genuinely cannot stop thinking about it every day. There is a burgeoning need in me to get something written down before I spontaneously combust.

The Poppy War follows a girl named Rin, a dark-skinned poor orphan who, to everyone’s surprise, manages to get into Nikan’s prestigious military academy Sinegard. There, she is relentlessly bullied for her skin color, gender, and economic status, yet she works tirelessly and climbs to the top of her class. But war is looming, and soon, with the dangerous, destructive shamanic powers she accidentally accessed, she shifts from student to soldier and is forced to make difficult decisions to save her country.

I think my favorite thing about the entire book—which is a grand statement to make considering how excellent it is in every aspect—is Rin. Her character development is phenomenal, and not only in terms of who she becomes in the story, but also just Kuang’s ability to craft a character so well. It’s made clear from the very start that whether or not you like Rin is up for you to decide, and this idea only grows as Rin begins to make questionable choices.

But god, if you don’t find yourself rooting for her, at least in the beginning, I’m not sure you get the point at all: Rin is a girl who, throughout her entire life, has fought against every person who tells her she is a burden and she is lesser, every obstacle that represents how her very own existence is an inferiority. And she never stops fighting. Everything Rin does is a pushback against her oppressors: gaining power, becoming a top student, turning into the perfect warrior and soldier (or� mostly perfect), and most of all using her anger and desire for vengeance as a motivation. Many of her actions are morally ambiguous, but you always understand the reasoning behind them, and whether or not you like her or agree with what she does, you still can’t help but feel a keen sense of both compassion and sadness for her.

(I love her so much. I love her so, so much.)

Kuang also writes other characters just as complex as Rin, most notably Altan. He is the sole survivor of a massacre that destroyed his race, and his life has only consisted of suffering and trauma. Now he’s seen only as a weapon to use to the Nikara military’s advantage. And it’s heartbreaking to see his rage fester, because it’s the one thing he’s ever known, and this hatred and desire for vengeance against Nikan was brought upon themselves for the things they did to his race.

Rin and Altan share many characteristics—Altan is her commander and role model—a large one being that neither of them are seen as human. I will never stop losing my mind and being desperately sad over how they are seen as risky yet powerful weapons but disposable once used, and how this view of them is exactly what shaped them into who they are now, is exactly why they do the things they do. Their complex relationship is written so masterfully, especially in the sequel The Dragon Republic, and I feel like I could wail about them forever. I may not love Altan, but I still appreciate the way that Kuang makes me mind-blown over his development.

I also don’t want to forget Kitay and Nezha, who are some of Rin’s classmates that I love a lot. They’re both assholes, in all honesty, but it’s part of their charm! I feel like they are more developed in The Dragon Republic, as this installment seems to focus more on Altan, but they still have important roles in Rin’s life, as the only friend she had in Sinegard and her bully-turned-friend(-turned-LOVER?), respectively.

(I guess my one complaint for the entire book is that there are some side characters, specifically the members of the Cike, who are not that developed. But that’s my only critique and it’s so minor that it is practically irrelevant! I also didn’t care that much because, if it isn’t obvious, I pretty much just care about Rin.)

On top of the excellent character work, Kuang succeeds in many other areas of the book as well. The way war is depicted stands out the most: She does not shy back, and I didn’t want her to. It’s brutal and graphic and most definitely difficult to read (content warnings at the end), but the way it viscerally tears at you is unforgettable and that’s the exact kind of effect it should have. It’s a harsh reminder of how viciously cruel humans can be, especially when you realize that what happens in the book is based on real-life historical events. You question over and over again, What lets humans do this to one another? How can such wicked violence be justified? How can people commit atrocities and not feel an ounce of remorse? and if that isn’t the lovely, jarring reading experience I want!!

A good fantasy must have good worldbuilding, and The Poppy War doesn’t disappoint in this aspect either. I’m not usually one to notice worldbuilding unless it stands out, either in a really good or really bad way, and Kuang’s worldbuilding is definitely on the really good side of the spectrum. Shamanism, gods, and magic are among the fantastical elements of the worldbuilding. The concept you usually see in fantasy of “magic is glorious and practicing it makes you healthier� is subverted into “magic can destroy you and you risk insanity each time you call upon the gods� and I adored it, especially when looking at it through the lens of how it furthered Rin’s character development. (Again, if it’s not clear yet, I! love!! Rin!!!)

Just the geographic worldbuilding was enjoyable to me as well—the explorations of colonialism and imperialism are so well-done. The way it mirrors our world, with China, Japan, and the West, is also something I really adore, because it depicts the horrific war crimes that Japan has committed while also painting the West as, dare I say it, the larger evil. (This is developed more in book 2 than in book 1, but I think it’s still worth mentioning.)

The final cherry on top, though, is Kuang’s prose and ability to write everything in a deeply compelling way. It’s simple and lovely and engaging, and it fits perfectly with the heavy content. This book is one that I chose to read for an English project, and for one of my assignments I talked about how there aren’t too many details in her writing, yet somehow I can imagine everything clearly and her words still have a strong emotional impact. (This assignment was a video that ended up being over 20 minutes long because, clearly, I cannot shut up about this book.)

It’s also worth noting that I struggle a lot to get through long adult fantasy novels, but this one was an exception. If you’re looking for an easier to read adult fantasy in terms of dense or heavy writing, I definitely recommend this one. I kept reading 100 pages in one sitting before realizing I had to stop reading, and everything seemed to fly by so quickly. It’s a wonder how 500+ pages can feel like nothing, yet I think back on this book and feel a strange flurry of excitement at the prospect of rereading it all within a day.

I’ve been writing this review for around three hours now (even though it feels like no time has passed because I could go on and on about this book). It’s certainly not my best, and there is so much more I could say to display how this book is absolute perfection. I don’t know if there’s someone out there who still hasn’t read this yet, but if there is, imagine me on my knees begging you to read it and experience the masterpiece that is The Poppy War for yourself. Rin will forever remain one of my favorite characters (step on me step on me step on me), and I won’t be getting over this book for a long time. It’s genuinely one of the best I’ve ever read, both subjectively and objectively, and I cannot recommend it enough!

—★�

:: rep :: Asian-inspired (mainly Chinese-) cast

:: content warnings :: war themes (death, murder, violence, etc.), drug use, substance addiction, suicide, self-harm, racism, colorism, misogyny, genocide, bullying, abandonment, abuse, animal death, animal cruelty, brutal & graphic torture, killing & rape, mutilation, human experimentation