I loved The Poppy War! I thought it was such a great variation of the traditional fantasy chosen one story. The Chinese setting was totally brand new to me, the interaction with the magic and opium was cool, and Rin is definitely going to become a damn scary magic user. I loved how Kuang went into the detailed aftermath of combat and just the sheer amount of death and destruction left behind after a battle.
Alex Nieves I totally agree about Rin. I recently bought The Dragon Republic and I’m excited to see where Kuang takes the character, especially since several people have told me that The Dragon Republic is even better than The Poppy War. Thanks once again for watching and commenting- much appreciated!
why doesn't anyone mention the fact that the author seems to have no idea how an actual war would work? that we are given no understading of the functionning of any faction's military, that zero tactics are displayed.. and that there is barely even any info on what weapons they are using? do guns exists in this word or not? i read about a battle with bow and arrows and yet i read phrases like ""cease fire" and " men were rounded up and shot". the top military school in the country that claims to train future generals trains their students in 1v1 hand to hand combat. WHY. and they send the kids of powerfull warlords to fight like grunts instead of having them use the strategy knolege they have learned at said school to command. they should at least be low level officers. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE. ANd they call this book well written. If the author was good then they would know the most basic things about the proposed subject of the book - WAR There is a scene where the narrator claims that the invading army is being wrecklless by approaching the city from the low ground. High ground/ low ground dynamics apply in open field NOT DURING A SIEGE god dammn. Cities have walls. When you get near a wall, you are always on low ground relative to the defenders taht are on the walls. THATS THE POINT OF A WALL. Its a shame because i liked the characters and the magic well enough
I read this book earlier and I thought it was a really cool subversion of the standard hero’s journey. Like you said, the beginning is a very standard fantasy structure and it was actually my least favorite part of the book. I think the abruptness of the war worked for me because it was also abrupt for the characters and I enjoyed the derailment of the tropey fantasy journey. You mention that there’s a loss of control in the narrative: I think that works for Rin’s character, who up until that point had been obsessed with control. She burned herself with wax to stay awake and study to get in to Sinegard. Her discipline is one of the few things she can control, and then when the war begins, and things spiral even more out of control, it makes sense for what eventually happens in the end (Rin tries to take back control). I hope that makes sense lol. I’m excited to see what you think about the next book as I haven’t read it yet either!
Great insights! I like your take on the abruptness of the transition to part 2 as reflecting the abruptness of the onset of war as experienced by the characters. I thought of that, and though I think it’s an interesting strategy, I felt thrown out of the story by it and the other plot gaps. As you say, though, it certainly disrupts the more standard narrative. Another great point you raise, and one I hadn’t thought of, is the loss of narrative control reflecting Rin’s giving up control. That’s an excellent observation! Like you, I’m really looking forward to reading The Dragon Republic to see where Rin goes. Thanks much for watching and sharing your insights!
Matt S Thank you! I’m deciding when to start The Dragon Republic, which I hear is even better. Probably early next month. Enjoy the rest of The Poppy War!
Thanks for another great review. While I had some similar observations, your analysis revealed elements I had not picked up. I am looking forward to your thoughts on The Dragon Republic.
Francois Bouchart Thank you! I’m very much looking forward to reading The Dragon Republic since a couple viewers have mentioned that the supporting characters get more development. I hope and believe this trilogy will claim an important and influential place in the genre. Thanks for watching!
Had a great time with The Poppy War, and will be reading The Dragon Republic in November just prior to the release of The Burning God. She’s a fantastic writer.
I couldn't agree more! I'll be picking up The Dragon Republic soon myself, and I hope to grab The Burning God as soon as it's out. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you much! I would definitely recommend The Poppy War, which some people refer to as grimdark. As always, I appreciate you watching and commenting!
This one's difficult for me, and probably like most because of the 2nd-half transition. I was deeply enjoying the first half, though yes it's more stereotypical, it was given time to breathe and develop in a number of novel ways. The abrupt shake-up of the war could be a very very powerful event - and should be! and is! - but the loss of control of the story doesn't feel entirely intentional, or meant as a narrative device to show Rin's state of mind. Very thin and rushed. Her new commando team people get less to do than the previous stock stereotype characters, and the tone turns brutally dark seemingly for its own sake, not so much an inspection of war. I dunno, at some point it totally lost me, and I was loving it book up until then. Likely it was just a bit too much of a shock, and I should revisit it sometime (maybe once the third one is out). I'm probably not giving it enough credit, and there absolutely is a *lot* of depth and beauty to it, esp. the overall setting & mythology.
Zan Morris I love the book overall, but I agree with you that the loss of narrative control seems unintentional. And if it was intentional, that aspect of the book didn’t work for me. That said, I love what Kuang has done with Rin, and I definitely will be following up with The Dragon Republic, which some viewers have told me improves on The Poppy War. Thanks for the insightful comments!
Great review, Philip! I'm sure you've changed a bit in your opinions since reading the following books (I assume), but just wanted to mention that I watched an interview with Kuang and the jarring nature of the book was brought up. Apparently some publishers wanted her to split the book in two, "the school" and "the war" and she was diametrically opposed to this because she thought it was crucial that everything in this book take place in one book, because that's exactly how jarring war is. She mentioned specifically her grandfather (her family history was a major source of inspiration for the series) going from being a student one day to a soldier the next and how much mental jetlag that burdened him with. So I do think, knowing this, the tonal shift is absolutely intentional. I agree it could have been done better, but hey, she wrote the book when she was 18, she's greatly improved her plotting since haha!
Thank you, Kyle! Yes, I’ve heard that explanation, and I totally believe she was going for that abruptness, and for good reasons. That said, I still don’t think it worked as well as she intended. The other books have narrative hiccups too, but the bottom line is that Kuang wrote an extremely impressive book and trilogy at a young age, and I’m eager to watch her grow as a writer.
I really like how the two halves of the book stitch together. No matter who you are or what you're doing, war completely upends your life. I think that's reflected well in this.
A lot of people agree with you on that, and it’s certainly true that war can suddenly disrupt lives. While I am less convinced by that aspect of the book, I still find plenty to admire. Thanks for your comment!
meru chan I found it to be a great read, and it’s hard to believe Kuang was so young when she wrote it. She could have a great writing career ahead of her. I’m looking forward to reading The Dragon Republic soon. Thanks for watching!
Very well said. As you, I wanted a little more development from the side characters but I still enjoyed the book overall. I am actually reading the second one right now, and can say that it is a step up from the first. We explore some of Rin's companions and the antagonists are explored more.
A Fantasy Babble I’m delighted to hear that The Dragon Republic includes development of some supporting characters as well as the antagonists. I was really hoping for both of those things. And now I’m even more excited to read it! Thanks, as always, for watching and sharing your thoughts!
I'm really happy that you enjoyed Rin's character development. I've heard that her character is really interesting and powerful. I'm starting this in July alongside Words of Radiance. Really should be a great reading month. The only Asian settings I've ever read were by Murakami and they were more surrealism than anything.
Thanks, Joe! I hope you’ll enjoy The Poppy War. Rin really is a fantastic protagonist, in my opinion. Words of Radiance is awesome too - sounds like you might be planning to tackle the first three books of The Stormlight Archive before book four arrives. Good plan! I haven’t read Murakami yet, though I’ve heard good things. Someday. Thanks for watching!
Philip Chase Murakami definitely is different from anything I’ve ever read. He has a way with his stories that is both fascinating and weird. I recommend Kafka on The Shore for your first read. If you enjoy the style then jump into 1Q84.
Great review, Philip! I think this book is very unique in the risks it takes regarding its protagonist. I am a bit torn, because I can’t agree with her choices, but I also like seeing protagonists making morally gray decisions. I agree that the three sections of the book are somewhat disjointed. And I wasn’t quite on board with the lack of complexity in the Mugenese. There was particularly one chapter that was much more violent and graphic than the rest of the book solely to demonize the enemy. I really like the difficult choices this book is making, but I’m quite undecided about it. I am actually looking forward to the next series this author is going to write whatever it may be.
Memodeth Books Yes, the chapter with the Mugenese mad scientist - if that’s the one you mean, I agree it’s over the top and a bit clumsy. I’m still impressed with the book, and I’m looking forward to following up with The Dragon Republic. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I just read this and I really like it. It has lot of great emotional moments (especially the ending) that really struck me. I totally see your criticism. Usually I like fast pace story, but I find the pace in this book is way too fast. It feels like Kuang was in a rush to tell the story, and that make me feel like reading a debut novel. But again, many great emotional moments in the story that win me over.
That's well said, Markus. Kuang has some amazing, iconic moments through all three books of the trilogy. The trouble at times was in getting to those moments -- a lot of it seemed rushed, and without the proper buildup, the moment loses some of its impact. Such a promising debut, though, and I'll be paying attention to whatever she writes next.
Very insightful review! Yes, the first part is quite gripping and well done. Rin is a riveting character. The last two parts felt exactly the way you explained in here - a bit disjointed in plot narratives and themes, and the characters at times show up or come alive magically out of the blue. After all, it’s a fantasy! Still, I enjoyed following the main character’s trajectory, and I look forward to reading the next two books.
Thank you! I’m definitely excited to see where Kuang will take Rin in The Dragon Republic, as I’m sure you must be too. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Haven't read this one yet, but I have the book. I'm always interested in fantasy based on non-Western cultures, especially Asian. And I'm looking forward to reading it that much more now, thank you!
My pleasure! Though I pointed out the flaws that I perceived, I really do think the strengths outweigh them, especially considering this is a debut novel. I've also heard that The Dragon Republic improves on book one, as I hope to find out soon!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy From what you said it seems like Kuang was inspired by real world events to write the book, but had slight issues connecting the dots. Either because the inspiring events were too numerous and unconnected, or because the characters and story she actually wrote didn't jive with it. To still come out with a solid book with interesting characters and themes is great - and if the next books follow her own original story more than center around specific events that would be very promising.
Rob Paul Agreed. The two halves - talented orphan goes to wizard school and war story - are not well integrated. Some people say it conveys the abruptness of war’s onset, but it honestly doesn’t seem intentional to me. If it was intended, it wasn’t well executed. Still a worthy read!
Yeah, understanding 20th century Chinese history really adds depth to the story. The Poppy war gets extremely dark but once you realize that this all actually happened it adds such a new perspective. I love that channeling the gods is essentially our access to weapons of mass destruction!
The magical system is one of my favorite aspects of the book. I love what Kuang does with Shamanism, and she does a great job of showing the price of accessing the gods. And, yes, the connections to real world history are powerful. Thanks for watching!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy thank you for delivering the content! And yes! To add to that, there are so many cultures around that world that use hallucinogens to better understand reality. Incorporating that into the book really exposes our stigmatization of drug usage in today's society. As we better understand the nature of our universe through physics, we have tapped into powers that we don't have the wisdom to control. As they better understand the nature of the universe through shamanic practices, they tap into powers that they dont have the wisdom to control. The only wisdom that serves as an obstacle is knowing that they aren't wise enough and that the powers should be safeguarded, not exploited. I think fantasy really blossoms when the allegory is center stage. I'm in the middle of the dragon republic right now and I'll be looking forwards to your next review ;)
I agree with you. IMO the first part was well done. The second and third parts however had some kinks. Some important points were hashed out and given simple explanations rather than complexity. Such example is the one you mentioned. Mugen being one dimensional, bad and brainwashed therefore all must die. I liked Ren it the beginning but my love for the character waned as the story progressed. The character seemed to regress with time rather than grow. She did go through a lot though which might explain some of her decisions but still. All in all enjoyed this novel even with it's flaws. I didn't know about any the graphics in this book and was caught by surprise. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
Very nice review, thank you! I think I'll check it out. As I see you are interested in Asian-influenced books, I wonder if you ever read the trilogy by Ricardo Pinto "Stone Dance of the chameleon". I don't think it's very well known, but it is very unique.
Thank you! I haven’t read Stone Dance of the Chameleon or even heard of it, so thanks for making me aware of it. I’ll look it up to see what it’s about!
That's a big compliment, so thank you! I must admit, though, that Daniel Greene could probably teach me a lot about running a RUclips channel. Also, I enjoy many of his insights in those of his videos that I've watched. Perhaps we have a slightly different audience in mind and a different approach, but we're both in the same boat when it comes to love for fantasy.
Getting ready to get into this tomorrow. Really enjoy this review, had to watch it again.. good to here the book left you impressed. Have to admit I've had my doubts because of hype. But im shedding all the expectations and giving it an honest go.
Shedding expectations is the best way to do it! I’m thinking about our eventual collaboration, and I’d love to discuss Abercrombie with you. I have one other booktuber I’d like to invite too. What do you say? If you give me the green light, I’ll reach out to him and start getting this organized.
Nice review, this is definitely a book I’ll pick up at sometime. In other news I just finished WoT and LOVED the ending, it was essentially perfect. The gift card worked and big thanks to everyone that congratulated me!
The Serpent Congratulations on finishing WoT! That’s a huge milestone in your fantasy fandom. I agree that it’s an amazing ending. So glad the gift card worked too, and I look forward to hearing how you like the books!
Philip Chase thanks! It’s definitely one of the best endings to a story that I’ve ever experienced. I’ll get back to you when I read the books I bought (though that won’t be for awhile since my TBR list is so long)
This book was wild. One minute Rin is learning to get into this prestigious school, next minute she’s going to war and discovering her shaman powers. Frick. Great debut.
Danny Matson Thank you! I’m guessing the book is not well known in Japan, but correct me if I’m wrong. Given the history that The Poppy War is so clearly based on, its reception in Japan would be a tricky thing, I suppose. I get the feeling that there are still some unhealed wounds, particularly in China, but perhaps I’m overestimating the general populace’s investment in history. Honestly, I would like to be less ignorant myself about history in East Asia.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Well the book would have to be translated first, which I think it is not. But people here don't shy away too much from shakey things in the past. If anything the Japanese are a very humble people and other countries tend to have sour wounds more when they were on the receiving end involved with Japan. Relations between South Korea and China are still not great.
Danny Matson My limited experience agrees with your assessment. I’ve never been to Japan (would love to go!), but my stepbrother and one of my wife’s brothers are both married to a Japanese woman, and through them I’ve learned a little. It seems like an amazing place with a rich culture.
Watching your analysing stories series and I’m genuinely shocked at your big thumbs up and your general comments. I really thought the book was objectively not good… and I’m just really surprised as I was excited for a proper examination in the weaknesses of this book. Very surprising. I didn’t not not enjoy it either, some of it was good, and some times I liked it. A solid rip off of name of the wind in many ways for the first half. Just obviously no where near as good. But I think the book its self was just bad. The end was bad, the prose were bad, the promise was just completely forgotten, and the theme just dramatically shifts. Side characters are just there for very little reason. Just seem like cut outs who say things. It’s just random and honestly just surprising it was published.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy As someone who knows a lot about the horrors of war because of the experiences in my family, this book is highly accurate, especially in capturing the dehumanization that comes with genocide.
@@aey8737 Yes, Kuang really seems to have done her homework, and one thing she really gets across is the dehumanization that accompanies war with all its atrocities. It’s an important reality to take on in fiction, though painful to read.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I don’t understand. The book is barely average. Just because it shows the true horrors of war doesn’t make it any better and that’s all I hear from people
@@notjazz. Hi, Jazz! I personally would rate the trilogy above average, but it has its flaws, which I've talked about in this video and in my review of the series. There are parts of it that I find quite striking, such as the "horrors of war" thing, and for me, these aspects make the trilogy worthwhile despite the narrative klunkiness I remark on. For others, like yourself most likely, the flaws detract too much from the positives for the books to be enjoyable, and that's understandable, I think, because I do recognize those flaws.
I just couldn’t get past the inconsistencies and character shifts. For example, the academy was supposed to be the elite of military strategy yet they were disorganized and a mess during the war. They were fooled by the simplest of ruses. The war atrocities weren’t given enough weight or mental repercussions- the YA romantic tropes were treated with more consequence. I also didn’t like the way the abusive relationships were excused and brushed aside.
I acknowledge that I found some narrative flaws in this and the next two books. However, for me at least, there was enough to keep me reading. For a debut novel, I think it’s impressive, but you’re right about the inconsistencies. I’m sorry it didn’t work for you!
I’m not active on Goodreads yet. I’m thinking about it, though. It’s just a matter of finding time. If I do it, I’ll likely announce it on the channel. Thanks for asking, though!
Yes, the war story is closely modeled on real events, and it’s very painful to read. Of course, a positive thing about this is that more people might become educated about history. But, yes, it can be emotionally difficult, for sure.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy What I meant more was like it felt literally like things I've read about in WWII history books. It's painful, yes but more than that personally, as someone who has read a lot of Japanese history, it just wasn't that unique. It's just a preference but I like my fantasy more subtle. It just takes me out of the world a bit when I'm like, "I've seen this before in real life". Again, I still really liked it but that aspect was a turn off.
@@bryson2662 I think I understand. Since I have a more vague grasp of Chinese and Japanese history (though I'd love to learn more), probably I wasn't as attuned to just how closely the narrative follows the history. I can see where someone more familiar with the source material might feel the way you do, and that's a valid point about fantasy -- when basing your narrative on some aspect of the real world, you don't want to be too obvious about it. Thanks for making that point!
I enjoyed aspects of this book but I think it was totally overrated. It took on some really exciting new ground, but the writing fell totally flat for me.
That’s not too far from how I feel. I think I spell it out the most in my review of the trilogy as a whole, which I did after reading The Burning God. It shows much promise, though!
![Kodak Black - Versatile 4 [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VcP_1Ua__vY/mqdefault.jpg)
I loved The Poppy War! I thought it was such a great variation of the traditional fantasy chosen one story. The Chinese setting was totally brand new to me, the interaction with the magic and opium was cool, and Rin is definitely going to become a damn scary magic user. I loved how Kuang went into the detailed aftermath of combat and just the sheer amount of death and destruction left behind after a battle.
Alex Nieves I totally agree about Rin. I recently bought The Dragon Republic and I’m excited to see where Kuang takes the character, especially since several people have told me that The Dragon Republic is even better than The Poppy War. Thanks once again for watching and commenting- much appreciated!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Of course, I'm happy I found the channel.
Alex Nieves I see you’ve got a fantasy channel too! I’ll be checking out some of your reviews tomorrow (it’s pretty late here). Looking forward to it!
why doesn't anyone mention the fact that the author seems to have no idea how an actual war would work? that we are given no understading of the functionning of any faction's military, that zero tactics are displayed.. and that there is barely even any info on what weapons they are using? do guns exists in this word or not? i read about a battle with bow and arrows and yet i read phrases like ""cease fire" and " men were rounded up and shot". the top military school in the country that claims to train future generals trains their students in 1v1 hand to hand combat. WHY. and they send the kids of powerfull warlords to fight like grunts instead of having them use the strategy knolege they have learned at said school to command. they should at least be low level officers. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.
ANd they call this book well written. If the author was good then they would know the most basic things about the proposed subject of the book - WAR
There is a scene where the narrator claims that the invading army is being wrecklless by approaching the city from the low ground. High ground/ low ground dynamics apply in open field NOT DURING A SIEGE god dammn. Cities have walls. When you get near a wall, you are always on low ground relative to the defenders taht are on the walls. THATS THE POINT OF A WALL.
Its a shame because i liked the characters and the magic well enough
I read this book earlier and I thought it was a really cool subversion of the standard hero’s journey. Like you said, the beginning is a very standard fantasy structure and it was actually my least favorite part of the book. I think the abruptness of the war worked for me because it was also abrupt for the characters and I enjoyed the derailment of the tropey fantasy journey. You mention that there’s a loss of control in the narrative: I think that works for Rin’s character, who up until that point had been obsessed with control. She burned herself with wax to stay awake and study to get in to Sinegard. Her discipline is one of the few things she can control, and then when the war begins, and things spiral even more out of control, it makes sense for what eventually happens in the end (Rin tries to take back control). I hope that makes sense lol. I’m excited to see what you think about the next book as I haven’t read it yet either!
Great insights! I like your take on the abruptness of the transition to part 2 as reflecting the abruptness of the onset of war as experienced by the characters. I thought of that, and though I think it’s an interesting strategy, I felt thrown out of the story by it and the other plot gaps. As you say, though, it certainly disrupts the more standard narrative. Another great point you raise, and one I hadn’t thought of, is the loss of narrative control reflecting Rin’s giving up control. That’s an excellent observation! Like you, I’m really looking forward to reading The Dragon Republic to see where Rin goes. Thanks much for watching and sharing your insights!
Another great review. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in discussing texts. I am about halfway through the text and it's a very enjoyable read.
Matt S Thank you! I’m deciding when to start The Dragon Republic, which I hear is even better. Probably early next month. Enjoy the rest of The Poppy War!
Thanks for another great review. While I had some similar observations, your analysis revealed elements I had not picked up. I am looking forward to your thoughts on The Dragon Republic.
Francois Bouchart Thank you! I’m very much looking forward to reading The Dragon Republic since a couple viewers have mentioned that the supporting characters get more development. I hope and believe this trilogy will claim an important and influential place in the genre. Thanks for watching!
Sounds very interesting. Nice to see an east asian setting in a fantasy book.
Yes, that was definitely one of the most appealing aspects of the book for me, and it's really a great read overall.
Had a great time with The Poppy War, and will be reading The Dragon Republic in November just prior to the release of The Burning God. She’s a fantastic writer.
I couldn't agree more! I'll be picking up The Dragon Republic soon myself, and I hope to grab The Burning God as soon as it's out. Thanks for the comment!
Exited to start this book. Thank you for the non spoiler review.
I hope that you’ll get a lot out of The Poppy War, Anuraag. For a debut novel, it has a lot of strengths.
Great channel, also love the visual design and interiors in your videos!
Thank you! The art comes from Nepal and India (I lived in South Asia for a bit, and my wife is from there originally). I appreciate the kind words!
Great breakdown, this is an excellent review. You have a great way of getting beneath the surface of these books.
Thank you much! I would definitely recommend The Poppy War, which some people refer to as grimdark. As always, I appreciate you watching and commenting!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy no problem, and I love grimdark. I know it's not for everyone but I really enjoy the gritty tales.
This one's difficult for me, and probably like most because of the 2nd-half transition. I was deeply enjoying the first half, though yes it's more stereotypical, it was given time to breathe and develop in a number of novel ways. The abrupt shake-up of the war could be a very very powerful event - and should be! and is! - but the loss of control of the story doesn't feel entirely intentional, or meant as a narrative device to show Rin's state of mind. Very thin and rushed. Her new commando team people get less to do than the previous stock stereotype characters, and the tone turns brutally dark seemingly for its own sake, not so much an inspection of war. I dunno, at some point it totally lost me, and I was loving it book up until then.
Likely it was just a bit too much of a shock, and I should revisit it sometime (maybe once the third one is out). I'm probably not giving it enough credit, and there absolutely is a *lot* of depth and beauty to it, esp. the overall setting & mythology.
Zan Morris I love the book overall, but I agree with you that the loss of narrative control seems unintentional. And if it was intentional, that aspect of the book didn’t work for me. That said, I love what Kuang has done with Rin, and I definitely will be following up with The Dragon Republic, which some viewers have told me improves on The Poppy War. Thanks for the insightful comments!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Yeah if/when you go to the next one I'd be very interested in your thought!
Great review, Philip! I'm sure you've changed a bit in your opinions since reading the following books (I assume), but just wanted to mention that I watched an interview with Kuang and the jarring nature of the book was brought up. Apparently some publishers wanted her to split the book in two, "the school" and "the war" and she was diametrically opposed to this because she thought it was crucial that everything in this book take place in one book, because that's exactly how jarring war is. She mentioned specifically her grandfather (her family history was a major source of inspiration for the series) going from being a student one day to a soldier the next and how much mental jetlag that burdened him with. So I do think, knowing this, the tonal shift is absolutely intentional. I agree it could have been done better, but hey, she wrote the book when she was 18, she's greatly improved her plotting since haha!
Thank you, Kyle! Yes, I’ve heard that explanation, and I totally believe she was going for that abruptness, and for good reasons. That said, I still don’t think it worked as well as she intended. The other books have narrative hiccups too, but the bottom line is that Kuang wrote an extremely impressive book and trilogy at a young age, and I’m eager to watch her grow as a writer.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy yeah, I agree with all that entirely. Just thought I'd tell you her rationale incase you hadn't heard it!
@@readbykyle3082 I appreciate it!
I really like how the two halves of the book stitch together. No matter who you are or what you're doing, war completely upends your life. I think that's reflected well in this.
A lot of people agree with you on that, and it’s certainly true that war can suddenly disrupt lives. While I am less convinced by that aspect of the book, I still find plenty to admire. Thanks for your comment!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy When reading I almost consider act I and II as different novels, but the overall pacing was so good that I didn't mind.
This has been on my to-read list for a while, but I think I need to bump it up a notch!
meru chan I found it to be a great read, and it’s hard to believe Kuang was so young when she wrote it. She could have a great writing career ahead of her. I’m looking forward to reading The Dragon Republic soon. Thanks for watching!
Very well said. As you, I wanted a little more development from the side characters but I still enjoyed the book overall. I am actually reading the second one right now, and can say that it is a step up from the first. We explore some of Rin's companions and the antagonists are explored more.
A Fantasy Babble I’m delighted to hear that The Dragon Republic includes development of some supporting characters as well as the antagonists. I was really hoping for both of those things. And now I’m even more excited to read it! Thanks, as always, for watching and sharing your thoughts!
I'm really happy that you enjoyed Rin's character development. I've heard that her character is really interesting and powerful. I'm starting this in July alongside Words of Radiance. Really should be a great reading month.
The only Asian settings I've ever read were by Murakami and they were more surrealism than anything.
Thanks, Joe! I hope you’ll enjoy The Poppy War. Rin really is a fantastic protagonist, in my opinion. Words of Radiance is awesome too - sounds like you might be planning to tackle the first three books of The Stormlight Archive before book four arrives. Good plan! I haven’t read Murakami yet, though I’ve heard good things. Someday. Thanks for watching!
Philip Chase Murakami definitely is different from anything I’ve ever read. He has a way with his stories that is both fascinating and weird. I recommend Kafka on The Shore for your first read. If you enjoy the style then jump into 1Q84.
Joe's Review Journal Thanks! Kafka on the Shore will be my first Murakami book, then.
Great review, Philip! I think this book is very unique in the risks it takes regarding its protagonist. I am a bit torn, because I can’t agree with her choices, but I also like seeing protagonists making morally gray decisions.
I agree that the three sections of the book are somewhat disjointed. And I wasn’t quite on board with the lack of complexity in the Mugenese. There was particularly one chapter that was much more violent and graphic than the rest of the book solely to demonize the enemy.
I really like the difficult choices this book is making, but I’m quite undecided about it. I am actually looking forward to the next series this author is going to write whatever it may be.
Memodeth Books Yes, the chapter with the Mugenese mad scientist - if that’s the one you mean, I agree it’s over the top and a bit clumsy. I’m still impressed with the book, and I’m looking forward to following up with The Dragon Republic. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I just read this and I really like it. It has lot of great emotional moments (especially the ending) that really struck me.
I totally see your criticism. Usually I like fast pace story, but I find the pace in this book is way too fast. It feels like Kuang was in a rush to tell the story, and that make me feel like reading a debut novel.
But again, many great emotional moments in the story that win me over.
That's well said, Markus. Kuang has some amazing, iconic moments through all three books of the trilogy. The trouble at times was in getting to those moments -- a lot of it seemed rushed, and without the proper buildup, the moment loses some of its impact. Such a promising debut, though, and I'll be paying attention to whatever she writes next.
Very insightful review! Yes, the first part is quite gripping and well done. Rin is a riveting character. The last two parts felt exactly the way you explained in here - a bit disjointed in plot narratives and themes, and the characters at times show up or come alive magically out of the blue. After all, it’s a fantasy! Still, I enjoyed following the main character’s trajectory, and I look forward to reading the next two books.
Thank you! I’m definitely excited to see where Kuang will take Rin in The Dragon Republic, as I’m sure you must be too. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Haven't read this one yet, but I have the book. I'm always interested in fantasy based on non-Western cultures, especially Asian.
And I'm looking forward to reading it that much more now, thank you!
My pleasure! Though I pointed out the flaws that I perceived, I really do think the strengths outweigh them, especially considering this is a debut novel. I've also heard that The Dragon Republic improves on book one, as I hope to find out soon!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy
From what you said it seems like Kuang was inspired by real world events to write the book, but had slight issues connecting the dots. Either because the inspiring events were too numerous and unconnected, or because the characters and story she actually wrote didn't jive with it.
To still come out with a solid book with interesting characters and themes is great - and if the next books follow her own original story more than center around specific events that would be very promising.
Rob Paul Agreed. The two halves - talented orphan goes to wizard school and war story - are not well integrated. Some people say it conveys the abruptness of war’s onset, but it honestly doesn’t seem intentional to me. If it was intended, it wasn’t well executed. Still a worthy read!
Yeah, understanding 20th century Chinese history really adds depth to the story. The Poppy war gets extremely dark but once you realize that this all actually happened it adds such a new perspective. I love that channeling the gods is essentially our access to weapons of mass destruction!
The magical system is one of my favorite aspects of the book. I love what Kuang does with Shamanism, and she does a great job of showing the price of accessing the gods. And, yes, the connections to real world history are powerful. Thanks for watching!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy thank you for delivering the content! And yes! To add to that, there are so many cultures around that world that use hallucinogens to better understand reality. Incorporating that into the book really exposes our stigmatization of drug usage in today's society. As we better understand the nature of our universe through physics, we have tapped into powers that we don't have the wisdom to control. As they better understand the nature of the universe through shamanic practices, they tap into powers that they dont have the wisdom to control. The only wisdom that serves as an obstacle is knowing that they aren't wise enough and that the powers should be safeguarded, not exploited. I think fantasy really blossoms when the allegory is center stage. I'm in the middle of the dragon republic right now and I'll be looking forwards to your next review ;)
@@He.knows.nothing Fantastic! I’ll be reading The Burning God next month, I hope!
I agree with you. IMO the first part was well done. The second and third parts however had some kinks. Some important points were hashed out and given simple explanations rather than complexity. Such example is the one you mentioned. Mugen being one dimensional, bad and brainwashed therefore all must die. I liked Ren it the beginning but my love for the character waned as the story progressed. The character seemed to regress with time rather than grow. She did go through a lot though which might explain some of her decisions but still. All in all enjoyed this novel even with it's flaws. I didn't know about any the graphics in this book and was caught by surprise. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
That’s about how I feel regarding this book and the trilogy as a whole: some flaws but very promising and impressive. I’m glad I read it!
Very nice review, thank you! I think I'll check it out. As I see you are interested in Asian-influenced books, I wonder if you ever read the trilogy by Ricardo Pinto "Stone Dance of the chameleon". I don't think it's very well known, but it is very unique.
Thank you! I haven’t read Stone Dance of the Chameleon or even heard of it, so thanks for making me aware of it. I’ll look it up to see what it’s about!
Daniel Greene really needs to watch your reviews to see how a pro performs their craft... You leave him for dead
That's a big compliment, so thank you! I must admit, though, that Daniel Greene could probably teach me a lot about running a RUclips channel. Also, I enjoy many of his insights in those of his videos that I've watched. Perhaps we have a slightly different audience in mind and a different approach, but we're both in the same boat when it comes to love for fantasy.
I think he does watch him; he just does not acknowledge his presence :)
I agree
Getting ready to get into this tomorrow. Really enjoy this review, had to watch it again.. good to here the book left you impressed. Have to admit I've had my doubts because of hype. But im shedding all the expectations and giving it an honest go.
Shedding expectations is the best way to do it! I’m thinking about our eventual collaboration, and I’d love to discuss Abercrombie with you. I have one other booktuber I’d like to invite too. What do you say? If you give me the green light, I’ll reach out to him and start getting this organized.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy yes, absolutely
@@slowlyred2082 Awesome! I’ll be in touch at some point in the next few days. I think you’ve got your email on your “About” page, so I’ll use that.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy sounds great 👍
Nice review, this is definitely a book I’ll pick up at sometime. In other news I just finished WoT and LOVED the ending, it was essentially perfect. The gift card worked and big thanks to everyone that congratulated me!
The Serpent Congratulations on finishing WoT! That’s a huge milestone in your fantasy fandom. I agree that it’s an amazing ending. So glad the gift card worked too, and I look forward to hearing how you like the books!
Philip Chase thanks! It’s definitely one of the best endings to a story that I’ve ever experienced. I’ll get back to you when I read the books I bought (though that won’t be for awhile since my TBR list is so long)
Ahh, the ballot stuffer... :-P What did you end up getting with your gift card? :)
Robert Hall book 1 of GoT, book 3 of Gentlemen Bastards, and book 1 in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn
@@theserpent6070 Ooh, good choices! I've been thinking about starting Memory, Sorrow and Thorn
This book was wild. One minute Rin is learning to get into this prestigious school, next minute she’s going to war and discovering her shaman powers. Frick. Great debut.
I agree - it’s an excellent debut novel!
Another great critique, thank you!
Danny Matson Thank you! I’m guessing the book is not well known in Japan, but correct me if I’m wrong. Given the history that The Poppy War is so clearly based on, its reception in Japan would be a tricky thing, I suppose. I get the feeling that there are still some unhealed wounds, particularly in China, but perhaps I’m overestimating the general populace’s investment in history. Honestly, I would like to be less ignorant myself about history in East Asia.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Well the book would have to be translated first, which I think it is not. But people here don't shy away too much from shakey things in the past. If anything the Japanese are a very humble people and other countries tend to have sour wounds more when they were on the receiving end involved with Japan. Relations between South Korea and China are still not great.
Danny Matson My limited experience agrees with your assessment. I’ve never been to Japan (would love to go!), but my stepbrother and one of my wife’s brothers are both married to a Japanese woman, and through them I’ve learned a little. It seems like an amazing place with a rich culture.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy It is! It's natural beauty is also vastly underrated. You should visit some day.
Danny Matson It’s on my list!
Watching your analysing stories series and I’m genuinely shocked at your big thumbs up and your general comments. I really thought the book was objectively not good… and I’m just really surprised as I was excited for a proper examination in the weaknesses of this book. Very surprising. I didn’t not not enjoy it either, some of it was good, and some times I liked it. A solid rip off of name of the wind in many ways for the first half. Just obviously no where near as good. But I think the book its self was just bad. The end was bad, the prose were bad, the promise was just completely forgotten, and the theme just dramatically shifts. Side characters are just there for very little reason. Just seem like cut outs who say things. It’s just random and honestly just surprising it was published.
i need to read this asap!
Yes, the third book comes out in November, I think, so that might leave you time to get books 1 and 2 done -- happy reading!
As Spiderman says " With great power comes great responsibility"
Well ok ok Uncle Ben said it first 😂
Uncle Ben and Aunt May: Spiderman’s moral core
Great book. I had to take a break for a month half-way though. Never read more disturbing scenes in my life.
It's a powerful read, and few books get across the horrors of war as effectively.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy As someone who knows a lot about the horrors of war because of the experiences in my family, this book is highly accurate, especially in capturing the dehumanization that comes with genocide.
@@aey8737 Yes, Kuang really seems to have done her homework, and one thing she really gets across is the dehumanization that accompanies war with all its atrocities. It’s an important reality to take on in fiction, though painful to read.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I don’t understand. The book is barely average. Just because it shows the true horrors of war doesn’t make it any better and that’s all I hear from people
@@notjazz. Hi, Jazz! I personally would rate the trilogy above average, but it has its flaws, which I've talked about in this video and in my review of the series. There are parts of it that I find quite striking, such as the "horrors of war" thing, and for me, these aspects make the trilogy worthwhile despite the narrative klunkiness I remark on. For others, like yourself most likely, the flaws detract too much from the positives for the books to be enjoyable, and that's understandable, I think, because I do recognize those flaws.
I'm going to read that book when I wanna feel depressed
It should do the trick!
Been on my trp for a while now...
It’s worth a try!
I just couldn’t get past the inconsistencies and character shifts. For example, the academy was supposed to be the elite of military strategy yet they were disorganized and a mess during the war. They were fooled by the simplest of ruses. The war atrocities weren’t given enough weight or mental repercussions- the YA romantic tropes were treated with more consequence. I also didn’t like the way the abusive relationships were excused and brushed aside.
I acknowledge that I found some narrative flaws in this and the next two books. However, for me at least, there was enough to keep me reading. For a debut novel, I think it’s impressive, but you’re right about the inconsistencies. I’m sorry it didn’t work for you!
What's your good reads account?
I’m not active on Goodreads yet. I’m thinking about it, though. It’s just a matter of finding time. If I do it, I’ll likely announce it on the channel. Thanks for asking, though!
do you have a goodreads account?
I’ve thought about getting involved in Goodreads, but at this point I just don’t have time. Someday, perhaps!
I liked this a lot but a little bit it feels too much like real events.
Yes, the war story is closely modeled on real events, and it’s very painful to read. Of course, a positive thing about this is that more people might become educated about history. But, yes, it can be emotionally difficult, for sure.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy What I meant more was like it felt literally like things I've read about in WWII history books. It's painful, yes but more than that personally, as someone who has read a lot of Japanese history, it just wasn't that unique. It's just a preference but I like my fantasy more subtle. It just takes me out of the world a bit when I'm like, "I've seen this before in real life". Again, I still really liked it but that aspect was a turn off.
@@bryson2662 I think I understand. Since I have a more vague grasp of Chinese and Japanese history (though I'd love to learn more), probably I wasn't as attuned to just how closely the narrative follows the history. I can see where someone more familiar with the source material might feel the way you do, and that's a valid point about fantasy -- when basing your narrative on some aspect of the real world, you don't want to be too obvious about it. Thanks for making that point!
I enjoyed aspects of this book but I think it was totally overrated. It took on some really exciting new ground, but the writing fell totally flat for me.
That’s not too far from how I feel. I think I spell it out the most in my review of the trilogy as a whole, which I did after reading The Burning God. It shows much promise, though!
My thoughts on this book were very negative. From Rin being a mary sue to the info dumps to the lazy characterization made me give a thumbs down
I saw some downsides too, but for me the positives outweighed them. I do get your criticisms, though!