The Poppy War Trilogy (Ongoing)
Blog post on my reading journey for the Poppy War Trilogy
The Poppy War (Book 1)
2025/08/24 - 2025/08/29
Bought this on discount ($1.99) from the Kindle Store. It is a book I have been eyeing ages ago at Fullybooked. The blurb is interesting and the hardbound white cover is sooo pretty.
I thought I was past my phase of devouring books like an addict but I read it during commute and at lunch breaks at work. On a Wednesday I found myself sitting hunched on the floor reading on my phone, panicking to see it was already 2AM. This series is so lit. Like, literally, because the MC summons fire.
Aside from my past attempt to read The Game of Thrones, this is my first time reading a Grimdark novel. I have always been interested in war stories, mostly exhibited in moments of falling into Wikipedia rabbit holes, so I noticed The Poppy War’s parallels to the second Sino-Japanese war, especially on the Nanking Massacre. The main character, Rin, being a poor military student at the time when the war broke out in the book also amplified that feeling of grim hopelessness in such circumstances.
I liked the style and the pacing. The level of detail is sufficient for me, enough to balance plot movement, setting up context, as well as some social commentary. There’s so much in this book I really dig, but here are the moments that stuck out the most to me (spoilers ahead):
I liked the style and the pacing. The level of detail is sufficient for me, enough to balance plot movement, setting up context, as well as some social commentary. There’s so much in this book I really dig, but here are the moments that stuck out the most to me (spoilers ahead):
- Rin drinks the concoction to stop her periods. Like, gotdang, this woman is serious
- Rin’s training of carrying a pig up in the mountains
- Rin vs. Nezha in the Tournament. That “What is wrong with you?”, and when Rin finally climbs out of the ring, burning up, to look for Jiang
- The chaos of the war breaking out in Sinegard. Anxious Rin. Rin and Nezha battling back to back. Plus the first blood of Rin’s flames.
- Rin banished to join the Cike; as well as the concept of the Cike as a way to handle shamans
- Altan’s dilemmas while being the Cike commander, his increasing desperation, and his dependence on opium
- The hopelessness of Khurdalain
- Golyn Niis = The Rape of Nanking
- Venka makes Rin swear to exact vengeance for her after Golyn Niis. Gave me chills.
- Dr. Shiro and his violent and scientific madness
- Altan’s final moments facing the Federation while Rin escapes to Speer
- The description of the moment Rin became the conduit to the Phoenix’ power + The Federation of Mugen up in flames
But I think most importantly, there is this character study of what happens to people's morals during war time. For soldiers, how everything is fueled by emotion. That deepset sense of justice and revenge needing to be fulfilled, in the hopes to justify suffering/witnessing blatant violence and destruction. Fascinating stuff. To say I am hooked by this series is an understatement.
The Dragon Republic (Book 2)
Ongoing