Though I hinted in the most recent Moon-thly update that this #spellbooksaturday might be controversial, I’m actually a bit wary I may upset some R.F. Kuang fans this week, with a lackluster response to…
The Poppy War Trilogy (The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, and The Burning God) by R.F. Kuang
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆1
[Content Warning: Graphic violence throughout including sexual assault, torture, infanticide, etc.]
R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy War trilogy is a dark fantasy inspired by Chinese history, following Fang Runin (Rin), a war orphan who earns a place at a prestigious military academy. There, she discovers her shamanic ability to channel the Phoenix god—a destructive force tied to fire and chaos. As war breaks out, Rin becomes a powerful weapon, but the price of wielding such power is immense. The trilogy explores the horrors of war, colonialism, and the consequences of vengeance.
I was especially put off by the graphic descriptions of violence, particularly in the final third of The Poppy War with the massacre of Golyn Niis— while Kuang is said to have been inspired by real events during the Sino-Japanese War, the violence felt gratuitous, and marked a major tonal shift in the series. And while some have described Rin as a morally complex anti-hero, I found her to be so odious, so truly reprehensible (her abject militarism and justifications for genocide were appalling), that finishing the novels felt like a chore. What a disappointment the series was, then, coming from someone who absolutely loved Kuang’s Babel, and who is very much looking forward to Kuang’s forthcoming Katabasis.
Did you enjoy The Poppy War Trilogy? Care to argue in its favor? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Since I stopped using Goodreads, I will be recommending books via Bookshop.org, and have a list of #spellbooksaturday features for folks to peruse. In the spirit of full transparency: as a Bookshop.org affiliate, I will receive a small percentage of book sales purchased through my links. If you find that off-putting, feel free to shop directly through Bookshop.org or your own local retailer! My only goal here is to fight Amazon and the mega-rich.
DID YOU ENJOY THIS SPELLBOOK SATURDAY FEATURE? SHOP THE LIST ON BOOKSHOP.ORG, OR CHECK OUT SOME MORE READING RECOMMENDATIONS…
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- Honestly, I’m rounding up from 2 ½— it was just so meh. ↩︎
