Book: The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
Read From: 26th August - 2nd September 2021
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary (The Poppy War): Rin is a poor orphan from Tikany in the south who is desperate to escape her horrible aunt and uncle. So, she decides to sit the Keju - an exam to determine the most talented in the Empire - in order to earn herself a place at the most elite military school in Nikan. Whilst there, she learns she has an affinity for shamanism and her powers may be the only thing to save her people as a Third Poppy War looms.
Please direct my therapy bills to R.F. Kuang because I was really put through it with this one. I often use the phrase ‘a rollercoaster of emotions’ to describe a book that impacts me in many ways but this book takes that expression to a whole new level. My brain was constantly flitting between surges of adrenaline whilst reading the most epic battle scenes, to shock at the most insane plot twists, to happiness back to heartbreak, then relief. Trying to make sense of that previous sentence is comparable to how I felt while reading this sequel. It was honestly such a crazy journey.
I think that my failure to feel any form of boredom or repetitiveness over the course of 654 pages FILLED with battle after battle is testament to how talented Kuang is as a writer and just how intricately she creates her stories. This book was extremely well done and you could tell that even down to the tiniest details the plot was thought out to within an inch of its life.
Don't even get me started on the characters! Each and every one takes 'morally grey' to a new level but you just can't help but love them. Even the antagonists are so fascinating to read about - although you can never really be sure who exactly the antagonists are👀 (yes, this book gave me mega trust issues). Notable characters are of course Rin who was as fierce as ever and such an amazing protagonist! KITAY!! Protect him at all costs please🥺 Nezha, absolutely no words. The Cike have my entire heart. I could go on and on...
To save you my rambling, please just read this series! I've not even read the final book yet but I can already tell that its going to be one of my favourite trilogies of all time. Which is saying a LOT coming from someone who only really reads YA fantasy because they're scared of adult fantasy. There are many many trigger warnings for these books though so please be sure to check them all out before diving in: most prominently war, death and rape/sexual assault. This is a definite recommend from me and I cannot WAIT for The Burning God to be released in paperback because I'm desperate to know how this all ends!