Official Littafi Logo (2)
Africa Fantasy News Blog Shop

The Poppy War (The Poppy War #1) by R.F Kuang

One word for The Poppy War: UNHINGED! I’ve listened to/watched R.F. Kuang’s interviews, so I’m not entirely shocked that this brilliance came from her.

Olajumoke Olojede
Published on August 4, 2025
2 min read
The Poppy War

One word for The Poppy War: UNHINGED! I’ve listened to/watched R.F. Kuang’s interviews, so I’m not entirely shocked that this brilliance came from her.

I even bought four of her books before I ever read a single word she’d written. That was the kind of trust I had in her.

Thoughts

Any book whose religious themes I enjoy ranks pretty high for me. In The Poppy War, it’s done so tastefully and tied into a bizarrely unique magic system (and some parts of the world-building) that had me speaking in expletives.

The world-building is so fascinating, so original, and so detailed! R.F. Kuang’s writing is so good! She writes beautifully with very evocative and unflinching description/narration.

The themes (colonialism, imperialism, war, identity, PTSD, oppression, morality, culture, etc) were explored in a thought-provoking manner (my head is still reeling from everything swirling in it) and woven masterfully into the narrative and plot.

The plot itself is intricate, gripping, and epic in scale. The characters are multidimensional, nuanced, and complex. It was so interesting to read about them and their motives, oftentimes selfish, but totally understandable and somewhat justifiable.

The MC, Fang Runin, is CHAOTIC! When you check the thesaurus for feminine rage, her picture is right there staring at you. She’s always right and everybody else is wrong, FULL STOP. PERIOD!

The hype did not lie! I loved The Poppy War a lot and enjoyed it from the first page to the last! I’m excited for the rest of the series. A must-read for lovers of fantasy books!

Written by Olajumoke Olojede

Share your thoughts

    Top Posts
    Cartoon Characters That Were Villains

    Top 30 Cartoon Characters That Were Villains

    Our list rounds up the top 30 cartoon characters that were villains, each one more wonderfully wicked than the last.

    Funny Cartoon Characters

    20 Funny Cartoon Characters Sure to Crack You Up Good

    There are some outright funny cartoon characters who exist solely to crack you up, loud, hard, and with zero apology.

    8 Most Popular Marvel Superheroes, Ranked

    8 Most Popular Marvel Superheroes, Ranked

    Every Marvel hero brings something to the table. But if we had to pick the top 8 most popular Marvel superheroes, who would make t...

    Top 50 Mythical Creatures in Folklore From Around The World

    Top 50 Mythical Creatures in Folklore From Around The World

    While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it comprises some of the most popular mythical creatures from around the world.

    Top 10 Yoruba Mythology Deities: Gods and Goddesses Who Shaped Culture

    Top 10 Yoruba Mythology Deities: Gods and Goddesses Who Shaped Culture

    E get why Yoruba mythology remains relevant. Explore ten of the most influential deities from Yoruba mythology.

    Upcoming Movies and TV Shows June

    Upcoming Movies and TV Shows to Watch this June

    There’s something for everyone from every genre you love. 

    Contemporary Fiction vs. Literary Fiction

    Contemporary Fiction vs. Literary Fiction: How Do They Differ?

    Discover the key differences between Contemporary Fiction and Literary Fiction, from storytelling style to readability and audienc...

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    SUBSCRIBE AND GET A WEEKLY DOSE OF OUR NERDY CONTENT FOR YOUR DIGEST