Maude’s Book Club is reading their first novel by R.F. Kuang. The Poppy War is a trilogy many have raved about because of the rich historical analysis and the fantasy elements perfectly blending. This has been an exciting BOOK CLUB PICK because of the fast-paced nature of the book and the in-depth political analysis of the class structure within the Kingdom. There is plenty of action, and Kuang’s writing flows through the years passing in the book.

The characters in The Poppy War are unique for the world that Kuang created, and Sinegard military academy is reminiscent of other well-known academies readers have grown to love. Kuang creates such depth for her characters, and they slowly evolve in the first instalment. There can be some dense and heavy conversations about the mythology of the gods or the strategic advances in the military for their classes. However, the characters feel grounded in the world.

*The Poppy War* by R.F. Kuang
**Synopsis:**

When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—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 believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. 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. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers 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 a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

MAIN CHARACTER LIST

Fang Runin: Also known as Rin, is a former Sinegard student. Rin grew up as a war orphan in Nikan. Fang Xusang and Fang Ketze adopted her. They were opium smugglers from Tikany, and Rin saw the corruption throughout the kingdom. Rin is an extremely hard worker and always aspires to do more with her life. Once Rin was old enough to take a husband…at fourteen, she bribed Tutor Feyrik to help her pass Keju. Keju is a famous and prestigious examination to become a soldier. Rin’s determination to prove to the professors and other students that she belongs at Sinegard is inspiring, and she proves them all wrong.
Jiang Ziya: He is the Lore Master at Sinegard Academy. The students and professors do not take Jiang seriously because he rarely attends class. Once Jiang studies Rin and is interested in her story, he becomes her mentor. After the first-year exam, each professor would choose a handful of students to mentor, and nobody wanted to bother with “Lore.” The only way anyone would accept a mentorship from Jiang is if they were interested in the mythology of the Kingdom and the gods. Not only does Jiang teach Rin mental fortitude, but he also explains the layers of The Poppy Wars.
Chen Kitay: is one of Rin’s closest friends and the son of the Defence Minister of Nikara. He grew up with other students at Sinegard, Nezha and Venka. His mind is powerful, and he has eidetic memory. After taking the Keju examination, he was at the top of his class and had the highest score. Kitay became the youngest student to take the Keju. At the end of the first year, he chose to study strategy with Master Irjah.
Sring Venka: She is one of Rin’s classmates at Sinegard. She has extensive martial arts training since childhood and has a cocky attitude towards Rin. Her parents did want her to marry rich, but she believed she was meant for more. She enlisted in Sinegard and became one of the best students for combat. Even though Rin and Venka were friends, Venka had to stay on Nezha’s side throughout the school year. It wasn’t until Rin beat Venka in combat that she realized she shouldn’t have been as hard on Rin.
Niang: She is one of Rin’s classmates at Sinegard. Venka, Rin and Niang were mostly together in the first year because of their dorm situation. After passing her first year of exams, Niang pledged medicine. Niang was always nice to Rin despite her social status. She understood her struggles as a woman in the military. Niang helped Rin through some difficult decisions and guided her.
Yin Nezha: He is the second son of the Dragon Warlord and the House of Yin. In Rin’s first year, Nezha became her nemesis because of the class divide. Nezha is an excellent fighter. And has studied all martial arts since the age of four. Because of his lineage, Master Jun wanted Nezha to pledge combat, and so he did. He became the best combat student and the school favourite. Nezha excelled in all classes and presented himself as the leader at Sinegard. The rivalry between Rin and Nezha caused a divide among the first years, leaving Rin with a handful of people on her side. At the end-of-the-year combat tournament, Rin faces Nezha and brutally beat each other. The fight was stopped because of Rin’s evolving shaman powers.
Altan Trensgin: He is one of the two known survivors of the Speerly Massacre that occurred 20 years before the start of the book. He was held in a cell and was the subject of experiments for years by the Mugenese. After he was rescued, he was taken in by Master Irjah, who helped him train as a warrior and fed the opium addiction the Mugenese had started. After some years at Sinegard, he flourished academically and was the star pupil in combat. He keeps to himself and is very reserved because of his history. Rin learns a lot about Altan and realizes their story is quite similar.

Do you have a favourite character in The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang? Let us know in the comments below!

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