Review: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

Name: The Poppy War
Series: The Poppy War #1
Author: R.F. Kuang
Publisher: HarperVoyager
Format: Kindle (through Kindle Unlimited)
Genres: Young Adult (though I disagree completely – please don’t read this if you’re under 18!), Fantasy, Historical Fiction, High Fantasy
Noted Tropes: The Chosen One, The Ace, The Mentor, Military Academy, War
Steam or Spice: None

Rating:

Synopsis: Goodreads
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. 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.

Review:

I was seeing The Poppy War everywhere. With one common theme – everyone was crying when they discussed this trilogy, if not The Poppy War itself. I thought oof, if the trilogy is that good that it has people reacting this way then of course it’s worth finally picking up. Yet I continued to put it off as I was truly in my Romantasy era. Until a friend picked it up and said yeah you should read this… That being said, I cannot understand why this book is down as a YOUNG ADULT book!!! Given what happens later in the book, it is maddness to me that it’s marketed as Young Adult. Please do not pick up The Poppy War just because it says YA. Yes the characters are young, but the themes are not appropriate.

Well, this is twice in the last 12 months I’ve enjoyed a book quite a bit and then the second half (or in this case, third part) has just ruined the enjoyment I had for the book. Now, as I did enjoy a good portion of The Poppy War I still wanted to give it a mention! But I have found that any time I think of this book I’m not exactly thinking happy thoughts so this review isn’t going to be a usual one. I want to talk about what I liked and not what has me angry still (I’m writing this two days before the review is due to go live and I’m still unhappy!).

Kuang can write some damn good characters. And I did like a bunch of them, though I didn’t always know whether I wanted to throtle them or cheer for them the whole way (Jiang, anyone?). And some of the relationships that are developed were almost enough for me…

This is not a romantasy. But I did like two of our MMC’s – Nezha and Altan – or more specifically the very different relationships they had with our FMC, Rin. Nezha – the enemy turned somewhat friend? And Altan the traumatised ace turned commander to the misfits. I liked what they each brought to Rin, even if I don’t like the outcomes of these relationships (again, I don’t mean romantic relationships – just the relationships between Rin and X) nor Rin herself particularly… My feelings for Nezha (along with one other person, Kitay) are the only reason why there is still a part of me contemplating picking up the sequel.

I also loved the small found family element in Kitay, and honestly I do think Kitay proves they’re a good person. Especially towards the end of the book where things get truly awful (please check your trigger warnings before picking up The Poppy War) Kitay is seemingly the only person on the page echoing my feelings. Kitay alongside Nezha are my main possibly motivations for picking up the sequel.

Overall, I liked the idea of The Poppy War and part one, I thought was great! Part two slowed down and just as I thought things were picking back up in Part three… it went down a path that had me disgusted with the FMC. I can admit that my harsh feelings towards the situation could have been influenced by outside factors which is why I’m not totally rulling out picking up the sequel. But I definitely won’t be doing it while I’m in the same frame of mind as I was while finishing up The Poppy War.

“They were not human!”

“Have you ever considered […] that that was exactly what they thought of us?”

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