The Poppy WarThe Poppy War
Score Modern
What it's about
Rin, a war orphan from Rooster Province, shocks everyone by passing the empire-wide test to enter Sinegard, the most elite military school in Nikan, escaping a forced marriage and a life of servitude. There she discovers a dangerous power, as war with a neighboring empire approaches.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Nebula Award finalist. R. F. Kuang's debut is a brutal, unforgettable fantasy inspired by 20th-century Chinese history.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It turns very dark, with depictions of atrocities based on real events. It's the first of a trilogy.
By the numbers
- Readers46 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller39 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz7 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #108 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #245 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #897 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1660 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic, Dark
More by R. F. Kuang
If you like this, read next
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Six of Crows
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Dog's Purpose
The Golden Compass
LegendbornExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Poppy War worth reading?
Yes. It was a Nebula Award finalist. It ranks #1,660 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Poppy War about?
Rin, a war orphan from Rooster Province, shocks everyone by passing the empire-wide test to enter Sinegard, the most elite military school in Nikan, escaping a forced marriage and a life of servitude. There she discovers a dangerous power, as war with a neighboring empire approaches.
How long does it take to read The Poppy War?
About 13 hours (527 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Poppy War?
If you liked it, try Babel by R. F. Kuang, Katabasis by R. F. Kuang or The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang.