Wow. [b:The Poppy War|35068705|The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1)|R.F. Kuang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515691735l/35068705._SY75_.jpg|56364137] consumed me. You know, fantasy has been my favourite genre for as long as I can remember, but I have to admit that it has become harder and harder to find favourites for the past few years. When we read a lot of books from a genre, stories, magical systems and characters start blending together in some kind of indiscernible mush. It’s goddamn awful.



I can count on the fingers of one hand the fantasy novels I've loved in the past 3 years and that tells me something : I'm just so very tired of white middle aged cishet dudes fantasy. Seriously, my interest for Medieval European settings has shrunk so badly that it’s now close to zero. Because guess what? There are only so many variations of the same story I can take.

I mean what have [b:Jade City|43587154|Jade City (The Green Bone Saga, #1)|Fonda Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547625704l/43587154._SY75_.jpg|55755047], [b:The Fifth Season|19161852|The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth, #1)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386803701l/19161852._SY75_.jpg|26115977] and [b:The Poppy War|35068705|The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1)|R.F. Kuang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515691735l/35068705._SY75_.jpg|56364137] in common, to cite but a few examples of recent favourites?

✔ They're written by women;
✔ they explore the complexities of human nature in fantasy worlds filled with fascinating NON-WESTERN mythology;
✔ their characters are diverse, complex, at times somewhat unlikeable but very much lovable and
✔ women have agency and aren't solely used as props for some dude - that doesn't mean that they're living their best life, but at least they're not portrayed either as pure love interests or whores.

PS. The title of that part is false advertising: in no way will I deal with the plot in my review, I love readers too damn much for that. Honestly, it’s fantastic, wonderfully well-written, thrilling, I couldn’t put it down and these are the only things you need to know.

Please keep in mind though that this story's been inspired by the Nanking Massacre and explores the unspeakable horrors of war. Therefore some passages are extremely violent and contain depictions of death (including child death), mutilation, dismemberment, animal cruelty, rape, drug addiction, ableism, colourism, racism, medical experiments on people and genocide.

And perhaps more importantly - at no moment can we hide behind the false assurance that what's depicted here is taken from an unbelievable horror story, because those wars were very much real. Human beings did this - denied the humanity of their opponents because it was so damn convenient and served their imperialist agenda. Human beings are still doing this, and if you're from a western country - mine included - you can very much count on the fact that your country is still doing a version of this in some part of the world that most of our medias blissfully ignore.

Finally, I'll say something : enjoy the first 200 pages and the delightful banter between Jiang and Rin. No, really, you go and enjoy it, because afterwards your heart is gonna die.



I've complained about the intense boredom most fantasy novels now awake in me (that would be because they're so fucking generic), yet that does not mean that I'm allergic to tropes. No! Tropes are good! Well- found family, mentor/apprentice fun dynamics and enemy-to-friendship in particular and GOOD NEWS, [b:The Poppy War|35068705|The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1)|R.F. Kuang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515691735l/35068705._SY75_.jpg|56364137] have those and I was THRILLED.

"This is the Widow Maung," Jiang said. "She sells me things."
"Drugs," clarified the Widow Maung. "I am his drug dealer."
"She means ginseng, and roots and such," Kiang said. "For my health."
The Widow Maung rolled her eyes."

The dynamics between the characters are fucking fantastic and if you’re not laughing at Jian’s banter I just... I don’t know what to tell you. I’m sorry for your loss??? For a story filled with so much hate, I found myself smiling pretty often, especially through the first 200 pages. Admittedly, my heart was too full of fury and heartbreak to make it possible for me to stop wailing when came the last hundred pages, BUT I regret nothing.

Really though? Rin is the heroine the world deserves. Of course she's ruthless and lets her rage guide her. Yet even though we readers cringe at times at her decisions - how could we not? - her behaviour makes so much sense. [b:The Poppy War|35068705|The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1)|R.F. Kuang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515691735l/35068705._SY75_.jpg|56364137] sets itself apart by its refusal to resort to cop-outs. There's no easy path making it possible for Rin to win without losing something along the way. There's no magical solution or deus-ex-machina that will prevent her from breaking apart.

There are only choices and the unbearable consequences they bring. It rings so true when it breaks your heart in one million sharp pieces. It rings so true when you're screaming wild eyed and your tears run over your cheeks. You might hate it as much as you love it but it fucking rings.
so.
true.

God, I respect this book so much.

PS. I've read the blurb of [b:The Dragon Republic|41118857|The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War, #2)|R.F. Kuang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539963703l/41118857._SY75_.jpg|64240081] - don't do it if you haven't read [b:The Poppy War|35068705|The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1)|R.F. Kuang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515691735l/35068705._SY75_.jpg|56364137]! - and my god, I CANNOT WAIT. Lastly - am I the only one who still has hope for

Spoiler

Nezha?

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