“The Poppy War” by R.F.Kuang

🌺I have rarely read books in which the main characters go through so many… things like those that happen to the characters here (I know it sounds vague, but I can’t say more without giving away the whole story). From the very beginning, the book reminded me of “The Blood Over Bright Haven”, “Babel: An Arcane History” (of course), and even “Fourth Wing.” Gradually, however, these similarities grew into something much bigger—a brutal narrative about war; about its cruelty and devastation; about death and the immeasurable grief it inevitably brings. The theme of human cruelty and thirst for power transforms into something that transcends worlds and eras; something that blurs the line between reality and fiction. The descriptions and destinies we read about are far from being confined to the realm of the book alone. Through her words, R. F. Kuang helps us realize this with striking clarity—armed with nothing more than ink and paper.

🌺Seldom have I felt such inner turmoil while reading a book as I did here. I think the last time I experienced this effect was with “The Blood Over Bright Haven” (an incredible book, one of my all-time favorites, published by @ ). This overwhelming emotional power stems from the intensity of the situations the characters find themselves in and the historical context. They reveal how two opposing worlds, two ideologies, can be both right and wrong at the same time. Both. There is nothing that is inherently good or evil. Especially in times of war, when honor and innocent lives are at stake, and when the thirst for vengeance seeps through the cracks of moral foundations into the spreading madness that grips more and more people…

🌺It’s incredible that this is a debut novel. R. F. Kuang clearly started writing already equipped with all the necessary upgrades.