Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of The Poppy War
Fantasy· United States

The Poppy War

by R.F. Kuang
Aggregate Editorial Score64/100
Goodreads Choice Award
Published 2018English
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

Few works of fantasy have earned the sustained critical attention that The Poppy War (2018) by R.F. Kuang continues to receive. Rin, a war orphan from rural Nikan, earns a place at the elite Sinegard military academy through brutal determination, only to discover her shamanic powers on the eve of war. Kuang's debut draws on Chinese history—particularly the Nanjing Massacre—to create a devastating fantasy. Themes of war, power, colonialism run through the work. The book has received recognition from Goodreads Choice Award 2018.

Book Details

AuthorR.F. Kuang
Published2018
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Category🐉 Fantasy
ISBN9780062662583
Editorial Score64/100
About the Category

🐉 Fantasy

Stories set in imaginary worlds with magical or supernatural elements.

Explore all Fantasy books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 2018, R.F. Kuang's The Poppy War is a work of fantasy that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with war, power, colonialism, trauma gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. The book's place in the literary record rests on its presence across major prize lists and critical surveys. Among its recognitions: Goodreads Choice Award 2018. Its aggregate editorial score of 64/100 reflects recognition from 1 independent editorial sources, from international prizes to specialist critical journals. What distinguishes The Poppy War is how it handles its central concerns — war, power, colonialism, trauma — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. The Poppy War reflects R.F. Kuang's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with United States's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Goodreads Choice Award
winner · global
201864
✍️
About the Author
R.F. Kuang
United States
View Author →

R.F. Kuang is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of fantasy.

Happy Employees
The Management Companion
Happy Employees
What Evolution Tells You About Leading People
Lead with human nature, and your team won’t just perform — they’ll thrive.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Lincoln in the Bardo
literary-fiction

Lincoln in the Bardo

George Saunders· 2017
★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Mermaid of Black Conch
literary-fiction

The Mermaid of Black Conch

Monique Roffey· 2020
★Women's Prize for Fiction★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Piranesi
fantasy

Piranesi

Susanna Clarke· 2020
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score94/100
Cover of The Tiger's Wife
literary-fiction

The Tiger's Wife

Téa Obreht· 2011
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score85/100
Cover of American Gods
fantasy

American Gods

Neil Gaiman· 2002
★Hugo Award★Bram Stoker Award
Editorial Score79/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Poppy War about?

Rin, a war orphan from rural Nikan, earns a place at the elite Sinegard military academy through brutal determination, only to discover her shamanic powers on the eve of war. Kuang's debut draws on Chinese history—particularly the Nanjing Massacre—to create a devastating fantasy.

Who wrote The Poppy War?

The Poppy War was written by R.F. Kuang, from United States. First published in 2018.

What awards has The Poppy War won?

The Poppy War has received the following awards and honours: Goodreads Choice Award 2018.

Is The Poppy War worth reading?

The Poppy War is a well-regarded book with solid critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 64/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in war, power, colonialism.

Where can I buy The Poppy War?

You can buy The Poppy War on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is The Poppy War?

The Poppy War is classified as Fantasy. Stories set in imaginary worlds with magical or supernatural elements.

What country is The Poppy War from?

The Poppy War originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

🐉More FantasyBrowse all Fantasy books🇺🇸Books from United States🇺🇸 United States literature📅2010s BooksPublished in the 2010s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time