Firstly, thank you to my work book group for finally encouraging me to read this! This is the third R.F. Kuang book I’ve read now and I have to say, while I have enjoyed elements of each, I do think I am going to have to accept that they just aren’t quite right for me. 

The Poppy War is divided into three parts. It follows Rin, a war orphan who is determined to enter Sinegard, the most elite military school in Nikan. The first part very much follows Rin’s journey to the school and first year there. I really enjoyed this part. I’ve read a lot of books which are essentially set in war colleges over the last few years, so the overall setting didn’t feel that original but it was done well and I had a good time. I likes the different masters and routes students could follow – it was interesting to understand these different areas of study, although I have to say that aspects of what Rin was learning did go over my head and I never really lost this feeling (more on this later). I liked that within this, Rin kind of demonstrated a ‘you don’t have to do all things in the same way to succeed’ mentality and I appreciated seeing someone who wasn’t just trained to be the perfect follower soldier. 

Moving into part 2, it felt like I was reading a completely different book. I was immediately thrown off my stride with a change in character, time and setting and I really found myself struggling to get into this section. It was very clear that a LOT had happened in the couple of years covered in a couple of blank pages. These feelings did dissipate but, I’d already had issues with Rin as a character previously, and I really found these growing as the story continued (more on this later too). 

Part 3 is where I would say the worst of the violence is features, so I really do recommend being aware of this going in. There are some quite graphic descriptions of violence which the author does not shy away from. I think their inclusion is to be commended given the atrocities it’s based on but well worth knowing going into it. I have to also say that R.F. Kuang delivers a cracking ending. The first part and the events of the ending were by far my favourite parts of the book (although they felt like two different books). With the ending specifically, I was engrossed, turning the pages without even realising in my haste to find out what would happen. 

Of the three R.F. Kuang books I’ve read, I do think this is my favourite but two things really stopped me from loving this: 

Never say never as I’m really pleased I gave this a go, but I’m happy to put this series down for now.