The Poppy War

Winner of the Reddit Fantasy Award for Best Debut 2018 ‘The best fantasy debut of 2018’ *WIRED A brilliantly imaginative epic fantasy debut, inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic. When Rin aced the Keju – the test to find the most talented students in the Empire – it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who had hoped to get rich by marrying her off; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free from a life of servitude. 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, Rin discovers that she possesses a lethal, unearthly power – an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of psychoactive substances and 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 Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a 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… *ReviewEmily Woo Zeller expertly narrates a coming-of-age story that develops into a brutal war saga...Zeller brings skilled nuance to the multiple facets of Rin, shifting subtly from a young woman determined to escape an unwanted marriage to a brilliant student scorned by her snobbish classmates and to a desperate soldier fighting to stay alive. The supporting cast of students, masters, generals, and gods is similarly well portrayed...The story may be dark, but Zeller's voice shines. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award. -- "AudioFile" The 'year's best debut' buzz around this one was warranted; it really is that good. -- "B&N Sci-fi and Fantasy Blog" [A] strikingly grim military fantasy that summons readers into an East Asian-inspired world of battles, opium, gods, and monsters. Fans of Ken Liu's The Grace of Kings will snap this one up. -- "Library Journal (starred review))" Kuang creates an ambitious fantasy reimagining of Asian history populated by martial artists, philosopher-generals, and gods...A strong and dramatic launch to Kuang's career. -- "Publishers Weekly" In The Poppy War , R. F. Kuang draws on history and myth to tell a relentlessly unforgiving story of war, vengeance, power, and madness, with larger-than-life characters that evoke sympathy and rouse terror. Brace yourself. -- "Fonda Lee, author of The Green Bone Saga" A thrilling, action-packed fantasy of gods and mythology...The ambitious heroine's rise from poverty to ruthless military commander makes for a gripping read, and I eagerly await the next installment. -- "Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns" A blistering, powerful epic of war and revenge that will captivate you to the bitter end. -- "Kameron Hurley, author of The Stars Are Legion" From the Back Cover She is a peasant. She is a student. She is a soldier. She is a goddess. When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to study at the academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who always thought they’d be able to marry Rin off to further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was now finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in the Nikara Empire—was even more surprising. But surprises aren’t always good. Being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Rin is targeted from the outset by rival classmates because of her color, poverty, and gender. Driven to desperation, she discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over her powers could mean more than just surviving school. For even though the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied the Nikara Empire for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people in the Empire would rather forget their painful history, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away. Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god who has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her her humanity. And it may already be too late.