There’s a lot of clear inspiration from our real-world history in The Poppy War. In many parts of Asia, pale skin is revered and the skin bleaching market is worth billions – while those with dark skin are mistreated. Rin is constantly targeted for the dark color of her skin and by doing this, Kuang has opened up the discussion into racism and colorism which affects most of our own world today. This means that the book also touches on the cycle of abuse and revenge – and what it takes to break it. As a result, a lot of the characters have their own grudges and want revenge on those who have wronged them. The Poppy War is a brutal read filled with violence, self-harm, substance abuse, and abuse in general. VengeanceĪnother theme that goes hand in hand with the theme of war is vengeance. Violence associated with war plays a key part in the story’s events. The theme of war leaves its mark on nearly every aspect of the story and its characters, from driving the plot forward to shaping Rin’s own character and motives throughout the book. This means that the world our protagonist Rin occupies is one that already bears the scars of war and potentially faces more violence in the future.

In the story, the Nikara Empire and the Federation of Mugen (two fictional nations in this universe, based on China and Japan respectively) are on the cusp of war once again after two previous ‘Poppy Wars’. Check out the list below!įrom the title alone, it’s pretty easy to see that war is a major theme in this novel.

If you enjoyed reading The Poppy War, then some other great books you may also like include The Sword Of Kaigen by M L Wang, Jade City by Fonda Lee, and the famous A Song Of Ice And Fire series by George R R Martin. It’s also brutally violent with militaristic tones, making it a revolutionary addition to the fantasy genre. Through the book, Rin develops a talent for shamanism – a practice that allows Rin to call upon the powers of gods – and Rin must decide whether winning the war is worth losing her humanity.ĭespite being R F Kuang’s debut novel, The Poppy War is a deeply imaginative story with events pulled straight from Chinese history merged with fantastical elements and magic. The story is set in an alternative ancient China and follows the young, poor orphan Rin as she studies to get into an elite military academy. First published in 2018, The Poppy War and its sequels have cemented R F Kuang’s place as one of the fantasy genre’s best writers of all time – so it’s easy to see why so many people are eager to find similar stories now that the trilogy has ended.

The sword of kaigen book 2