The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

[LarissaRunamuck]

The Poppy War by Rebecca Kuang, is shockingly only the beginning to this adult fantasy soon-to-be trilogy.

Rin, an incredible determined young girl, passes the most difficult test in the Empire and is sent to an elite military school. She escapes servitude and unwanted marriage only to find herself facing racism and prejudice, a seemingly insane teacher, and a dangerous new gift to explore.

Impending war looms over the students' heads as they train for a battle of unknown proportions. Rin hopes to save her people with her new Shamanic powers but fears the vengeful god who gives her access to this power could leave her without her humanity.

This is an intense book that alludes to true events in Chinese history in a fictional fantasy setting. The story is incredibly emotional and incorporates many topics that can be difficult to approach such as violent rape, torture, and massacres.

If readers find the heavy content will not obstruct, they may still find it worthwhile to read and even rewarding for it's carefully spoken truths. The ending left me feeling much the same as I did after reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Though that one is Science Fiction, both stories reach the pit of your stomach and make you question the morality behind the use of great power.

As the author says about her reason for writing it: "silence hurts so much worse."

I recommend this book and give it 3 out of 4 stars. I can't wait to see where the rest of the series will lead, at which point I hope to raise my rating to 4 stars overall.

[KatSims92]

I recently read this book, too and I really enjoyed the action. I think I preferred the first half of the story when she was training, but the second half was more grating for me, just because there was an onslaught of new characters, and I kept losing my navigation of them. (Plus, I think the descriptions of the violence went a little overboard for me--especially when talking about what all happened at the brothel.) I'm sure the next books will be really epic as well.