R.F. Kuang's The Poppy War is a grimdark fantasy inspired by Chinese history, following Rin, a war orphan who discovers she has shamanic powers. Through brutal warfare and moral complexity, Kuang creates a story that refuses to romanticize violence or power. The novel becomes both epic fantasy and meditation on genocide, colonialism, and how trauma shapes nations and individuals.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Kuang writes fantasy that doesn't flinch from war's true horror or pretend that power doesn't corrupt. This novel reminds us that the best fantasy uses magic to explore real historical traumas, and that heroism is far more complicated than we'd like to believe.

DETAILS: • Author: R.F. Kuang • Publisher: Harper Voyager • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: April 23, 2019 • ISBN: 9780062662583 • Series: The Poppy War, Book 1 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days