From R. F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Babel, this collection features the novels in her historical military fantasy trilogy—The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, and The Burning God—a complete epic inspired by the bloody history of China's twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic.
The Poppy War
A war orphan, Rin earned her place in Nikan's most elite military school. There, she discovers her lethal, unearthly power of shamanism—and learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive. When an inevitable conflict arises between longtime enemies the Nikara Empire and the Federation of Mugen, Rin realizes her shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity. . .
The Dragon Republic
After committing an atrocity in battle, shamanic warrior Rin is consumed with guilt, an opium addiction, and the murderous commands of the fiery Phoenix god. Channeling her anger against the Empress who betrayed Rin's homeland, she chooses to join forces with the Empress's enemy, the Dragon Warlord. But as Rin discovers the true natures of the Empress and the Dragon Warlord, the temptation to unleash the Phoenix's fearsome power grows—and so does her vengeance. . .
The Burning God
After saving Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress in a brutal civil war, Rin realizes that her homeland's real power lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation. Vowing to defeat all who threaten the shamanic arts, Rin's power and influence grows—but so does the Phoenix's intoxicating voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it. . .
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From R. F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Babel, this collection features the novels in her historical military fantasy trilogy—The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, and The Burning God—a complete epic inspired by the bloody history of China's twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic.
The Poppy War
A war orphan, Rin earned her place in Nikan's most elite military school. There, she discovers her lethal, unearthly power of shamanism—and learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive. When an inevitable conflict arises between longtime enemies the Nikara Empire and the Federation of Mugen, Rin realizes her shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity. . .
The Dragon Republic
After committing an atrocity in battle, shamanic warrior Rin is consumed with guilt, an opium addiction, and the murderous commands of the fiery Phoenix god. Channeling her anger against the Empress who betrayed Rin's homeland, she chooses to join forces with the Empress's enemy, the Dragon Warlord. But as Rin discovers the true natures of the Empress and the Dragon Warlord, the temptation to unleash the Phoenix's fearsome power grows—and so does her vengeance. . .
The Burning God
After saving Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress in a brutal civil war, Rin realizes that her homeland's real power lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation. Vowing to defeat all who threaten the shamanic arts, Rin's power and influence grows—but so does the Phoenix's intoxicating voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it. . .
I agree the 2nd book is the weakest. The third while not as good as the first is pretty good nonetheless. I hate not finishing a story
Thanks for the insight. I read the first book and didn't make any further. The writing is good, but the characters (particularly Rin) aren't particularly likeable or relatable, and at time it feels like unnecessary torture porn even considering the gruesome historical backdrop. I wondered if it gets better, but if the first book is the peak of the series, I'll pass on the rest.
Thanks for the insight. I read the first book and didn't make any further. The writing is good, but the characters (particularly Rin) aren't particularly likeable or relatable, and at time it feels like unnecessary torture porn even considering the gruesome historical backdrop. I wondered if it gets better, but if the first book is the peak of the series, I'll pass on the rest.
The series, both the individual books and the trilogy, are a tragedy. Not in writing but in genre. It's supposed to be kinda depressing haha, almost like breaking-bad the series. So there's definitely a miss if you're looking for the typical "overcome all obstacles and win" scenario. This doesn't happen at all in the series. Rather, the characters, particularly Rin, half-win. They do the best they can while being supremely flawed.
The characters are really flawed and try hard while making the same mistakes. Why won't they learn? Because they are just like us. That's the hardest part of the series for me, seeing just how angry I get at Rin and realizing the rest of humanity is just like her.
I liked it well enough, but I shouldn't have read the third. Gave me some nightmares, not in sense of dreams, but I had a hard time with the graphic nature of how cruel soldiers can be to women in times of war. I looked up the historical reference and was horrified.
The series, both the individual books and the trilogy, are a tragedy. Not in writing but in genre. It's supposed to be kinda depressing haha, almost like breaking-bad the series. So there's definitely a miss if you're looking for the typical "overcome all obstacles and win" scenario. This doesn't happen at all in the series. Rather, the characters, particularly Rin, half-win. They do the best they can while being supremely flawed.
The characters are really flawed and try hard while making the same mistakes. Why won't they learn? Because they are just like us. That's the hardest part of the series for me, seeing just how angry I get at Rin and realizing the rest of humanity is just like her.
I agree. Sometimes I was so frustrated by Rin's decisions as if her character couldn't grow and change, but in retrospect, she did develop, but retained certain very clear blind spots and grew in ways shaped by her environment & experience. However, her fundamental nature didn't change and it was realistic, frustrating, & didn't follow the hero's journey we've been programmed to expect.
I feel like her character arc was an analogy to the China's loss of power due to the use of advanced technology & opium addiction perpetrated by Britain. Rin was powerful, but she modeled herself from flawed mentors she idolized while in the midst of battle, being hunted, and balancing a very powerful weapon with capability to transform her into an eternal, insane, creature buried in rock.
BTW, I preferred Babel's concise straightforward, non-epic storyline while still laying bare the manipulation and use of nations under Britain's control. Still, it wasn't epic like the poppy wars.
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https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/...ar-trilogy
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/...ar-trilogy
Considering at $4 though… Does it get any better?
Considering at $4 though… Does it get any better?
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The characters are really flawed and try hard while making the same mistakes. Why won't they learn? Because they are just like us. That's the hardest part of the series for me, seeing just how angry I get at Rin and realizing the rest of humanity is just like her.
The characters are really flawed and try hard while making the same mistakes. Why won't they learn? Because they are just like us. That's the hardest part of the series for me, seeing just how angry I get at Rin and realizing the rest of humanity is just like her.
I feel like her character arc was an analogy to the China's loss of power due to the use of advanced technology & opium addiction perpetrated by Britain. Rin was powerful, but she modeled herself from flawed mentors she idolized while in the midst of battle, being hunted, and balancing a very powerful weapon with capability to transform her into an eternal, insane, creature buried in rock.
BTW, I preferred Babel's concise straightforward, non-epic storyline while still laying bare the manipulation and use of nations under Britain's control. Still, it wasn't epic like the poppy wars.