The Poppy War is R. F. Kuang’s 2018 debut fantasy novel, and the first installment of The Poppy War trilogy. It is an incredible effort, given that it was not only Kuang's first book, but that she was only 19 years old when she started writing it.
The book has a unique, intriguing blend of Chinese history and mythology. Its themes are dark, militaristic, and, oftentimes, drug-addled. The blend of history and mysticism forges something new in the fantasy genre. While many classic fantasy novels are based on medieval history, they most often focused on European themes. The Poppy War is set firmly in an Asian-influenced world, giving it a scope and background not often explored within the fantasy genre.
Let's look back on this notable modern fantasy novel. There will be SPOILERS for The Poppy War below.
What is great about The Poppy War fantasy novel
The Chinese history that Kuang infuses throughout the story is its best asset. The narrative often refers to the Red Emperor, a powerful leader who united a fractious group of small kingdoms into one unified kingdom under his rule. In the story, the Red Emperor destroyed monasteries around the country, and after his death, his sons were unable to hold the kingdom together.
Kuang’s fictional Red Emperor may be based on several Chinese leaders, including leaders from the Qin and Song Dynasties. Aspects of both can be found within her narratives.
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is often referenced in the novel by way of a barely fictionalized similar work. The Poppy War also offers a fictionalized version of the 19th-century Opium Wars with the British. All of these items are based on real people and events in Chinese history, and have been fictionalized to suit the narrative.
The book also explores Sino-Japanese relations, with a primary focus on 20th-century events. China and Japan have been at odds with each other for centuries. In The Poppy War, Japan is represented as the Federation of Mugen, a bow-shaped archipelago off the eastern coast of Nikara (China).
The most stunning and gut-wrenching scene in The Poppy War is when the invading Mugenese army attacks the Nikarin wartime capital of Golyn Niis. Readers don’t get to witness the attack itself, only the horrible aftermath. As the main character, Rin, and her fellow shamans rush into the city, they discover horrors of the worst kind. The city’s whole population is wiped out in the most gruesome and savage ways. This scene is quite graphic and disquieting.
This is a fictionalized retelling of the Rape of Nanking in 1937 by the Japanese. The atrocities that took place in Golyn Niis are an accurate sampling of what the Japanese did to the Chinese people before World War II, and not just in Nanking. It is a sobering thing to read.
Of course, the fate of the Mugense in the book symbolizes what happened to Japan at the end of the war, when the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the islands. The historical inspiration is strong, and elevates the book.
What doesn’t work quite as well in The Poppy War
One thing to note about the book and the series as a whole is that it reads at a young adult level, but its themes are absolutely intended for an adult audience. At the same time, the early parts of The Poppy War have a Harry Potter feeling about them, but that disappears quickly. This book and series are way closer to Joe Abercrombie’s violent First Law world. The two series aren’t similar in theme or story, but more in terms of graphic violence and gruesome battles.
Hard drug use and addiction play a significant role in The Poppy War, but it’s not really necessary to the story. It’s a crutch to put characters into a state of relaxed euphoria that could be achieved in other ways. Anger plays a vital role in the powers of the shamans, also known as Cike. The characters rarely deal with anger healthily or attempt to control it.
Both the anger and the drug use are tied to the magical portion of the story, which is based on ancient Chinese mythology about a pantheon of 64 gods, primarily fixated on chaos. The main character, Rin, and her fellow shamans, or Cike, can enter the ethereal dimension, often with the help of opium. Once there, they've connected with a god, which resides in their minds and souls. This is a simplified explanation, but the magical part of this story is overcomplicated and hard to discern its overall purpose, the way it is presented.
To make matters worse, the gods’ presence within the minds of the Cike will eventually drive them mad. Once that happens, they are imprisoned in a rock under a mountain to contain their constructive natures.
Another notable oddity of this book is its language. While it is fiction and set in a location similar to China, it lacks a fixed historical point of reference. Kuang incorporates bits of Chinese history into her story from throughout the real historical timeline. That in itself is terrific. It offers a variety of flavors and subtly educates readers as well.
Most of the story takes place in what was the 1930s in our world. Of course, it has been heavily changed and converted into a fantasy novel. The jarring thing about it, however, is the language. Many of the phrases and words used by the characters are very modern. We’re talking 21st-century modern. This isn’t a significant issue, but it occasionally stands out and can be slightly distracting.
Verdict
In summary, there is far more positive than negative in The Poppy War, and considering that it is a debut novel published when the author was 21 years old, it’s an excellent read. Like in the Abercrombie books, the lead character is incredibly flawed, and not always likable, but she is deep and intriguing enough that you care about how she develops as the story progresses through the final two books of the trilogy.