Spoilery Book Reviews

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang

#Content Warning#

This book is about war, death, poor moral choices and features a genocide (or two). So I will brush over these topics in my review. Don't read on if this is likely to upset you. Have the day you deserve :)

Back of the book

When Rin aced the Keju, the test to find the most talented students in the Nikara Empire, 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. Fighting the prejudice of rival classmates, Run discovers that she possesses a lethal, unearthly power – an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring her gift with the help a seemingly insane teacher, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive – and that mastering these powers could mean more than just surviving school.

For while the Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across the narrow sea. The federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most people calmly go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away...

My thoughts

Some anecdotal backstory to begin: I picked up these books simply because of the author, and that I loved one book by her (Yellowface). I know about myself that reading about war is not my favourite topic, and with no subtlety considering the title, this book is heavily about war. However it feels different to the other war scenes I have read. Most of those were about fierce action scenes and facing insurmountable odds (all fantasy wars mind you). This book has those, but it also focuses heavily on strategy, out-playing the other army, and the morality of war. More on morals further in.

This book covers a long time span, beginning with Runin as a child, following her through two years of mad study, then through three years of military schooling and beyond. I like following a character for a longer time to better understand them, the experiences that shaped them and hence how they make decisions. Why Runin makes certain decisions is very important to this story.

Contrary as it sounds, I liked the flaws that we saw in Runin, and was surprised at how long she held back from calling the Phoenix to her. I thought with certainty that she would leap at the opportunity to access and harness that power, but Jiang's teachings were very important to her, constantly whispering warnings in the back of her mind. I began to believe the story would take us on a different path, alas Runin gave in to revenge eventually.

For Kuang's writing, it is not the fast, punchy writing style of Yellowface that I love so much. It is written well, but seems a meandering style when compared to Yellowface. The similarity between her books lies in the moral compass of her main characters and the choices it leads them to. This book is by far the heaviest in topic, death toll and moral considerations or dilemmas. It shows how ugly war is and I take refuge that this is a fiction book. I refuse to let myself think about real wars, past and present, because the enormity of suffering and grief it too great to bear. I like flirting with these difficult topics and concepts, then when it gets too much, telling myself its all a made up story and watching funny cat videos until I feel better.

The Poppy War began grounded in reality and progressively became insane. I feel it has introduced the idea early that a scene may come with a battle of impossible odds, and Rin 'saves the day' by calling down a god. A literal deux ex machina. However the existence of two more books in the series suggests nothing is solved so easily, even with gods involved.

A word of warning to anyone who wishes to embark on this series: it is dark. It details war, and death, slaughter and genocide. Not necessarily a 'fun' read, and honestly Kuang has created such a messy world I have no clue how it can be resolved. Rin believed another genocide could end the third war, just as a genocide ended the second, but that's not the case. I don't know how to articulate all my thoughts about the messy morals of this book. Its all bad. Every action that both sides take it bad. Is the winner of war whoever kills the most? The side that has less moral reservation and stages more attacks? A revenge war will never end because there is always more revenge to be had. The themes of The Poppy War inspire endless moral questions about what is acceptable and I have to take a break from the thinking because it gives me a headache when there is not one answer.

TL:DR

A dark book showing how ugly true war is, civilians caught in the cross fire, battles for power and a genocide in hopes to end it all. Hold your morals close: you have been warned.