MAY 2018 - AudioFile
Emily Woo Zeller expertly narrates a coming-of-age story that develops into a brutal war saga. Rin, a war orphan from a backwater province, did the impossible by testing into an elite military academy. But when war with a neighboring kingdom breaks out, Rin must make terrible choices in order to survive. Zeller brings skilled nuance to the multiple facets of Rin, shifting subtly from a young woman determined to escape an unwanted marriage to a brilliant student scorned by her snobbish classmates and to a desperate soldier fighting to stay alive. The supporting cast of students, masters, generals, and gods is similarly well portrayed, growing steadily more weary and hopeless as the brutal fighting rages on. The story may be dark, but Zeller’s voice shines. K.M.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2018 Best Audiobook © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
The best fantasy debut of 2018...This year’s Potter.” — Wired
“I have no doubt this will end up being the best fantasy debut of the year [...] I have absolutely no doubt that [Kuang’s] name will be up there with the likes of Robin Hobb and N.K. Jemisin.” — Booknest
“The “year’s best debut” buzz around this one was warranted; it really is that good.” — B&N Sci-fi and Fantasy Blog
“A thrilling, action-packed fantasy of gods and mythology...The ambitious heroine’s rise from poverty to ruthless military commander makes for a gripping read, and I eagerly await the next installment.” — Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
“A blistering, powerful epic of war and revenge that will captivate you to the bitter end.” — Kameron Hurley, author of The Stars are Legion
“In The Poppy War, RF Kuang draws on history and myth to tell a relentlessly unforgiving story of war, vengeance, power and madness, with larger-than-life characters that evoke sympathy and rouse terror. Brace yourself.” — Fonda Lee, award-winning author of The Green Bone Saga
“Battles. Bloodshed. Drugs. Amazing, amazing characters. Read it!” — Peng Shepherd, author of The Book of M
“An original and engrossing tale of the coming of age of a talented young soldier amid the horrors of invasion and genocide.” — Anna Stephens, author of Godblind
“A powerful, emotional journey, compellingly written.” — Adrian Tchaikovsky, award-winning author of The Children of Time
“Debut novelist Kuang creates an ambitious fantasy reimagining of Asian history populated by martial artists, philosopher-generals, and gods [...] This is a strong and dramatic launch to Kuang’s career.” — Publishers Weekly
“The narrative is an impactful, impressive symphony of words that grant life to this incredible morality tale. Setting the stage for an epic fantasy is an understandably enormous undertaking, but Kuang does an exceptional job of world and character building.” — RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars, Top Pick!)
“The book starts as an epic bildungsroman, and just when you think it can’t get any darker, it does [...] Kuang pulls from East Asian history, including the brutality of the Second Sino-Japanese war, to weave a wholly unique experience.” — Washington Post
“[The Poppy War is] strikingly grim military fantasy that summons readers into an East Asian–-inspired world of battles, opium, gods, and monsters. Fans of Ken Liu’s The Grace of Kings will snap this one up.” — Library Journal (starred review)
“This looks like a good match for readers of Red Rising.” — Omnivoracious (10 Highly Anticipated New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books)
“The Poppy War is a masterful piece of fiction.” — S. Qiouyi Lu for the B&N Sci-fi & Fantasy Blog
“A young woman’s determination and drive to succeed and excel at any cost runs into the horrors of war, conflict and ancient, suppressed forces in R. F. Kuang’s excellent debut novel, The Poppy War.” — The Skiffy and Fanty Show
“Kuang ambitiously begins a trilogy that doesn’t shy away from the darkest sides of her characters, wrapped in a confectionery of high-fantasy pulp. [...] The future of Rin in this world may appear quite dark, but that of the series seems bright indeed.” — New York Daily News
“A complex, sprawling, ambitious novel, part coming of age and part tragedy of power, that uses motifs and influences from the 20th century. It reminds me tonally of Lara Elena Donnelly’s Amberlough and Joe Abercrombie’s Half a King, [and] in setting of K. Arsenault Rivera’s The Tiger’s Daughter.” — Tor.com
“A complex, challenging, and incredibly ambitious novel.” — Vulture (The 10 Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of 2018)
“If you have read and enjoyed George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, or Sabah Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes then you are likely to enjoy this.” — Sammy’s Shelf
This Summer’s Hottest New Books For Every Type of Reader — Popsugar
“I can safely say that this will be the finest debut of 2018 and I’d be surprised if it isn’t one of the top 3 books of the year full stop. Spectacular, masterclass, brilliant, awesome [...] Simply put, R.F. Kuang’s “The Poppy War” is a towering achievement of modern fantasy.” — Fantasy Book Review
“This isn’t just another magical, fantasy world with artificially fabricated stakes. Rin’s journey and the war against the Federation feel incredibly urgent and powerful [...] R.F. Kuang is one of the most exciting new authors I’ve had the privilege of reading.” — The Roarbots
“[THE POPPY WAR] feels entirely immersive and rich in a way that kind of sucks you in [...] It’s a treasure trove.” — Utopia State of Mind
“The Poppy War was a fun, engrossing, journey to a world I wish I could visit and a school I wish I could attend. With its strong characters, interesting world building, and intriguing plot it is a great read that I would recommend to anyone.” — The Quill to Live
“The book kicks arse, and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a cracking debut, and one I recommend without reservation.” — Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviews
“This novel has already rocketed up to the top of my list of favorite fantasy reads of all time. It was everything I wanted and more.” — The BiblioSanctum
B&N Sci-fi and Fantasy Blog
The “year’s best debut” buzz around this one was warranted; it really is that good.
Wired
The best fantasy debut of 2018...This year’s Potter.
Kameron Hurley
A blistering, powerful epic of war and revenge that will captivate you to the bitter end.
Julie C. Dao
A thrilling, action-packed fantasy of gods and mythology...The ambitious heroine’s rise from poverty to ruthless military commander makes for a gripping read, and I eagerly await the next installment.
Fonda Lee
In The Poppy War, RF Kuang draws on history and myth to tell a relentlessly unforgiving story of war, vengeance, power and madness, with larger-than-life characters that evoke sympathy and rouse terror. Brace yourself.
Anna Stephens
An original and engrossing tale of the coming of age of a talented young soldier amid the horrors of invasion and genocide.
Booknest
I have no doubt this will end up being the best fantasy debut of the year [...] I have absolutely no doubt that [Kuang’s] name will be up there with the likes of Robin Hobb and N.K. Jemisin.
Peng Shepherd
Battles. Bloodshed. Drugs. Amazing, amazing characters. Read it!
Adrian Tchaikovsky
A powerful, emotional journey, compellingly written.
The Quill to Live
The Poppy War was a fun, engrossing, journey to a world I wish I could visit and a school I wish I could attend. With its strong characters, interesting world building, and intriguing plot it is a great read that I would recommend to anyone.
RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars
The narrative is an impactful, impressive symphony of words that grant life to this incredible morality tale. Setting the stage for an epic fantasy is an understandably enormous undertaking, but Kuang does an exceptional job of world and character building.
Vulture (The 10 Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of 2018)
A complex, challenging, and incredibly ambitious novel.
New York Daily News
Kuang ambitiously begins a trilogy that doesn’t shy away from the darkest sides of her characters, wrapped in a confectionery of high-fantasy pulp. [...] The future of Rin in this world may appear quite dark, but that of the series seems bright indeed.
Washington Post
The book starts as an epic bildungsroman, and just when you think it can’t get any darker, it does [...] Kuang pulls from East Asian history, including the brutality of the Second Sino-Japanese war, to weave a wholly unique experience.
The Skiffy and Fanty Show
A young woman’s determination and drive to succeed and excel at any cost runs into the horrors of war, conflict and ancient, suppressed forces in R. F. Kuang’s excellent debut novel, The Poppy War.
Fantasy Book Review
I can safely say that this will be the finest debut of 2018 and I’d be surprised if it isn’t one of the top 3 books of the year full stop. Spectacular, masterclass, brilliant, awesome [...] Simply put, R.F. Kuang’s “The Poppy War” is a towering achievement of modern fantasy.
The Roarbots
This isn’t just another magical, fantasy world with artificially fabricated stakes. Rin’s journey and the war against the Federation feel incredibly urgent and powerful [...] R.F. Kuang is one of the most exciting new authors I’ve had the privilege of reading.
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviews
The book kicks arse, and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a cracking debut, and one I recommend without reservation.
Tor.com
A complex, sprawling, ambitious novel, part coming of age and part tragedy of power, that uses motifs and influences from the 20th century. It reminds me tonally of Lara Elena Donnelly’s Amberlough and Joe Abercrombie’s Half a King, [and] in setting of K. Arsenault Rivera’s The Tiger’s Daughter.
Sammy’s Shelf
If you have read and enjoyed George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, or Sabah Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes then you are likely to enjoy this.
Popsugar
This Summer’s Hottest New Books For Every Type of Reader
S. Qiouyi Lu for the B&N Sci-fi & Fantasy Blog
“The Poppy War is a masterful piece of fiction.
Utopia State of Mind
[THE POPPY WAR] feels entirely immersive and rich in a way that kind of sucks you in [...] It’s a treasure trove.
Omnivoracious (10 Highly Anticipated New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books)
This looks like a good match for readers of Red Rising.
The BiblioSanctum
This novel has already rocketed up to the top of my list of favorite fantasy reads of all time. It was everything I wanted and more.
Sammy's Shelf
If you have read and enjoyed George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, or Sabah Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes then you are likely to enjoy this.
B&N Sci-fi and Fantasy Blog
The “year’s best debut” buzz around this one was warranted; it really is that good.
S. Qiouyi Lu-for the B&N Sci-fi &Fantasy Blog
“The Poppy War is a masterful piece of fiction.
S. Qiouyi Lu for the B&N Sci-fi & Fantasy Blog
“The Poppy War is a masterful piece of fiction.
Wired
The best fantasy debut of 2018...This year’s Potter.
New York Daily News
Kuang ambitiously begins a trilogy that doesn’t shy away from the darkest sides of her characters, wrapped in a confectionery of high-fantasy pulp. [...] The future of Rin in this world may appear quite dark, but that of the series seems bright indeed.
Washington Post
The book starts as an epic bildungsroman, and just when you think it can’t get any darker, it does [...] Kuang pulls from East Asian history, including the brutality of the Second Sino-Japanese war, to weave a wholly unique experience.
MAY 2018 - AudioFile
Emily Woo Zeller expertly narrates a coming-of-age story that develops into a brutal war saga. Rin, a war orphan from a backwater province, did the impossible by testing into an elite military academy. But when war with a neighboring kingdom breaks out, Rin must make terrible choices in order to survive. Zeller brings skilled nuance to the multiple facets of Rin, shifting subtly from a young woman determined to escape an unwanted marriage to a brilliant student scorned by her snobbish classmates and to a desperate soldier fighting to stay alive. The supporting cast of students, masters, generals, and gods is similarly well portrayed, growing steadily more weary and hopeless as the brutal fighting rages on. The story may be dark, but Zeller’s voice shines. K.M.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2018 Best Audiobook © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
