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The Poppy War was another book that I saw reviewed by a Booktuber (Daniel Greene) on Youtube which was given a glowing review. Having watched the review with interest I then went to the Kindle store and looked the book up, read the synopsis along with several reviews, the vast majority of which were very positive, but didn’t buy the book at the time as it was quite expensive and being on a limited budget now I am retired, I decided to wait and see if it came up as a special offer. This it did a while later, when it was offered for ninety-nine pence, obviously I quickly pressed the purchase button, downloaded the book and added it to my TBR list.
At the time it only took me three months to get around to reading the book, which I was looking forward to, because of all the positive reviews. I found the first half of the book to be very engaging and interesting while Rin is at school and being trained and coping with being a bit of an outcast due to her social station, but the second, which covers an invasion, battles and Rin connecting with her powers, was disappointing. It was still interesting but for me, it was no longer engaging.
The second book in the series came up for offer on the Kindle store a couple of months later, again for ninety-nine pence, so I decided to purchase in the hope it would be more like the first half of the first book and thus re-engage my interest. Unfortunately, it carried on in the same vein as the previous one ended and it was a challenge to finish it, but I did. At this point, I decided not to purchase the final novel unless it also came up for ninety-nine pence, which much to my surprise it did at the beginning of November 2021.
I did find the third book to be an improvement from book two, but still well short of the level of the first half of book one. The characters, again, had very little personality and therefore I was not invested in what happened to them. Also, the description of events is fairly bland, lacking any sense of suspense or drama, it reminded me more of a well-written report than a novel.
In summary, I felt the whole series, except for the first half of the first book, lacked feeling and empathy for both the characters and events being described, making it an interesting read, but not a particularly exciting or engaging one.
The Poppy War: Book 01
The Poppy War: Book 01
A brilliantly imaginative epic fantasy debut, inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic.
When Rin aced the Keju – the test to find the most talented students in the Empire – it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who had hoped to get rich by marrying her off; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free from a life of servitude. That she got into Sinegard – the most elite military school in Nikan – was even more surprising.
But surprises aren’t always good.
Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Fighting the prejudice of rival classmates, Rin discovers that she possesses a lethal, unearthly power – an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of psychoactive substances and a seemingly insane teacher, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive – and that mastering these powers could mean more than just surviving school.
For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most people calmly go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away…
Format
Kindle EditionDate Acquired
29th March 2020Retail Cost
£8.99Number of Pages
544Year Read
2020
The Dragon Republic: The Poppy War: Book 02
The Dragon Republic: The Poppy War: Book 02
Rin is on the run…
Haunted by the atrocity she committed to save her people, addicted to opium, and driven by the murderous commands of Phoenix, the vengeful god who has blessed Rin with her fearsome power.
Rin’s only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold her homeland, Nikan, to her enemies.
With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. She throws herself into his war.
After all, making war is all she knows how to do…
Format
Kindle EditionDate Acquired
5th August 2020Retail Cost
£8.99Number of Pages
663Year Read
2021
The Burning God: The Poppy War: Book 03
The Burning God: The Poppy War: Book 03
After saving her nation of Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead.
Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much – the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges – and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation.
Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners.
As her power and influence grow will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s voice, urging her to burn the world and everything in it?
Format
Kindle EditionDate Acquired
7th November 2021Retail Cost
£8.99Number of Pages
635Year Read
2022Page updated
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