The Poppy War

In a world inspired by 20th‑century China, orphaned Rin joins the elite military academy of the Nikara Empire after passing the grueling Keju exam. What begins as a chance at advancement soon descends into war, shamanism, and unimaginable power when Rin’s hidden abilities draw the attention of gods and her nation’s darkest secrets.

This is the first book in the series.

Genre: High Fantasy / Historical Fantasy

Recommended age: Adult readers (18+). The novel deals with mature themes including war atrocities, violence, trauma and moral ambiguity.

R. F. Kuang is a bestselling fantasy author whose debut novel was The Poppy War. She was born in Guangzhou, China, immigrated to the U.S. at age four, and holds advanced degrees including an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford.

This book is second hand with minimal signs of use.