The Poppy War (2018) is the explosive debut novel by R.F. Kuang, a grimdark fantasy that reimagines 20th-century Chinese history—including the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Rape of Nanking—through a harrowing, magic-infused lens. The story follows Rin, a war orphan from the impoverished south, who claws her way into the elite Sinegard Military Academy through sheer ruthlessness and grit. There, she discovers an aptitude for shamanism, unlocking the vengeful power of the Phoenix, a god whose wrath could win a war—or destroy her.
As conflict erupts with the invading Federation of Mugen (a stand-in for Imperial Japan), Rin is thrust into the horrors of chemical warfare, genocide, and moral compromise. Kuang’s unflinching narrative blends military strategy, Chinese mythology, and brutal historical parallels, deconstructing tropes of chosen ones and the cost of power.
First in a trilogy (The Dragon Republic, The Burning God), The Poppy War is a modern fantasy landmark, praised for its intellectual rigor and visceral punch. Not for the faint of heart.
The Poppy War was a finalist for the Nebula Award.
