Publisher: Harper Voyager
Year: 2019Pages: 656
Series: The Poppy War #2
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Time: 15 - 22 Nov
Binding: Library Hardback Rin is on the run. . .
Haunted by the atrocity she committed to saver her people, addicted to opium and driven by the murderous commands of Phoenix, the vengeful god who has blessed Rin with her fearsome power.
Rin's only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold her homeland, Nikan, to her enemies.
With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. She throws herself into his war.
After all, making war is all she knows how to do. . .
Review:
Oh my, this series. Quick warning, this is the second book in The Poppy War trilogy. I'm going to do some spoilery talk of the first book in this review so pleaser ensure you've read the first book! Also note that this book series thus far is riddled with trigger warnings: sexual abuse, addiction, death, torture and violence. It's really quite fantastically violent. It's right up my street but it's not for everyone.
I want to do a more detailed review of some of the elements I loved in The Poppy War that I avoided due to spoiler issues in the first book. If you wish to skip right to my thoughts on The Dragon Republic, there's a header below.
I honestly fell so in love with The Poppy War within that first chapter. The stakes are immediately set so high, you feel Rin's determination and reading about her burning herself in order to study for longer was a real eye opener to what she might become capable of. We move quickly to enter Sinegard and I honsetly gobbled up the book in the time we were being taught at Sinegard. The learning and tests, interactions with students and teachers was so fascinating, excellent world building from a single small setting.
One point I was really stunned made it in but kind of so grateful to see was when Rin first experienced her period. I'm guessing she previously wasn't nourished enough to have one which is a very nice detail if so. To make it so painful is to bring it to make it relatable for so many women when often in fantasy the whole cycle is ignored. To have her then very quickly make a decision to have her womb essentially destroyed was quite impulsive but brings to mind how difficult this process is for women in reality, doctors so often refuse any kind of procedure like this due to the possibility of a man finding disappointment in not being able to have a child later. It's disgusting. It's such a real issue and I love that it wasn't shied away from.
When the war started and we left Sinegard, my reading slowed down. A lot. I think other people found this to be the point where the book picked up but I'd really enjoyed the first part and wasn't so keen on the atmosphere changing. I felt a bit like Rin, chucked in to the deep end. We began to see Altan in a new light and I honestly hadn't seen what was that amazing about him from the beginning, but Rin was enamoured and it's such a pitfall for her. I was kind of differential to the Cike during this whole book but I was really pleased to see Rin build on her relationship with Nezha later in the book, when he was lost I kind of tucked away the detail that we hadn't specifically seen him die.
Golyn Niis was a real horror fest, the violence that happened there really solidifies the hatred you have for the Federation, it joins your rage with Rin's. Meeting Venka, finding Kitay, hearing of Irjah. It was a lot and it was magnificent, it makes the end of the book so satisfying despite how horrific of an act it is.
The interaction with Shiro before the final act was a really good piece of work, it sets us up for so much and gives Rin a bottom she never wants to hit again. Just so damn good.
The Dragon Republic
This is a story of war. We pick up after one and jump straight in to another.
Our opening chapter is a backflash in Nezha's history and should make it clear that we weren't done with him in the last book.
A little time has passed since the destruction of Mugen and Rin and the Cike have been busy. Not massively busy, just beginning what they really want to achieve. Rin is determined to end Daji, it's one of the few thoughts she has that isn't lucid. She's spiralling between her addiction and the demands of the Phoenix. It's not allowing her to make sensible decisions so when Nezha returns and recruits her in to the Republic, a revolution lead by Nezha's father the Dragon Warlord, she's grateful to be relieved of making decisions.
The beginning of their schemes doesn't work fantastically, Rin's encounter with the Empress leaves her at a disadvantage for a good portion of the book but she does some real healing at this time. She rebuilds relationships, destroys some others and all within the unfolding of a vicious war that's destroying the lives of so many innocents. This is so action packed, there's no time to relieve the tension!
We also begin to learn more of other people in the work, mainly the Hesperians. It's not pleasant and as with Rin we realise that the only reason more focus was not previously put on them was because the Federation was the more looming threat. Vaisra's new allies are not what Rin may have hoped for.
The Cike I am far more devoted to in this book than the first and that brings it's own devastation. Seriously, that second to last chapter is a killer just when you think it's all over. Prepare yourself. Kitay, you sweet soul, Venka you wonderful woman and Nezha, oh Nezha. I wish there was just a tad more romance in this book but there seems to be no room for it amidst the violence.
I love Kuang's writing, it's no simple but it's very easy to read. The pacing was wonderful and the character growth is excellent. There's so much more to see and all I can say is that I'm lucky I only started these books shortly before The Burning God was released. I've got some upcoming exams in early December so I'll be holding off reading my copy until I've completed them but a longer wait would have been really, really bad.