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R.F. Kuang
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The Poppy War (The Poppy War #1) Reviews & Ratings (6)
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The Poppy War (The Poppy War #1) reviews from people you don't follow
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated
Oct 9, 2018
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated
Mar 11, 2024
Tom Turner (388 KP) rated
Apr 30, 2021
Wow, even though I was told what to expect, I wasn't expecting anything as visceral and as raw as this book. The beginning though tough lulled me into a sense of security, I thought I knew where it was going to go - I didn't! There was a point in the middle where this became a bit of an issue, as I felt it moved around too much, but there was a reason to it. I'm not immediately going to move on to book two, not because I don't want to, but i feel I might have a nervous breakdown of I did!
A fantasy novel that hits close to home
The beauty of this novel is in the way it tonally shifts from one arena to another, leaving you never quite sure where you are and certainly rendering the tale very unpredictable. If there are fantasy tropes here, it's no matter - you won't see them coming nor where they'll crop up.
The opening chapters seem inspired by wuxia novels and the tale of Yim Wing Chun - kung fu practitioners will note a number of references here to their origin tales, as well as some beautiful descriptions of the biomechanics of the art - mixed with Hogwarts. We have the neglected orphan who works hard to achieve her school place and study the fields of combat, lore, medicine and so on. There is an unusual teacher occupying the position of wise sage and there's the handsome rival. So far, so comforting. One can enjoy this fairly cosy ride.
But then there is a distinct undercurrent. It creeps up on you, darker and more earthy than the tone suggests. Just as the students spend their days training for a war that'll never come, we read this schoolyard tale as if the latter half of the book won't come.
It hits with a bombshell, and they just keep coming. Now fiction isn't fiction at all. History is woven through the narrative. We can see the major players and we know how it ends. And yet the deftly woven plot, excellent prose and gripping characters keep us on the edge of our seats.
A phenomenal debut and the start of a thrilling trilogy.
The opening chapters seem inspired by wuxia novels and the tale of Yim Wing Chun - kung fu practitioners will note a number of references here to their origin tales, as well as some beautiful descriptions of the biomechanics of the art - mixed with Hogwarts. We have the neglected orphan who works hard to achieve her school place and study the fields of combat, lore, medicine and so on. There is an unusual teacher occupying the position of wise sage and there's the handsome rival. So far, so comforting. One can enjoy this fairly cosy ride.
But then there is a distinct undercurrent. It creeps up on you, darker and more earthy than the tone suggests. Just as the students spend their days training for a war that'll never come, we read this schoolyard tale as if the latter half of the book won't come.
It hits with a bombshell, and they just keep coming. Now fiction isn't fiction at all. History is woven through the narrative. We can see the major players and we know how it ends. And yet the deftly woven plot, excellent prose and gripping characters keep us on the edge of our seats.
A phenomenal debut and the start of a thrilling trilogy.
1 list features The Poppy War (The Poppy War #1)
Ross (3284 KP) Oct 10, 2018