The Dragon Republic
2019 • 672 pages
Ratings143
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings143
Average rating4.2
Rin’s story continues in this acclaimed sequel to The Poppy War—an epic fantasy combining the history of twentieth-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters. The war is over. The war has just begun. Three times throughout its history, Nikan has fought for its survival in the bloody Poppy Wars. Though the third battle has just ended, shaman and warrior Rin cannot forget the atrocity she committed to save her people. Now she is on the run from her guilt, the opium addiction that holds her like a vice, and the murderous commands of the fiery Phoenix—the vengeful god who has blessed Rin with her fearsome power. Though she does not want to live, she refuses to die until she avenges the traitorous Empress who betrayed Rin’s homeland to its enemies. Her only hope is to join forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who plots to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new republic. But neither the Empress nor the Dragon Warlord are what they seem. The more Rin witnesses, the more she fears her love for Nikan will force her to use the Phoenix’s deadly power once more. Because there is nothing Rin won’t sacrifice to save her country . . . and exact her vengeance.
Featured Series
3 primary books4 released booksThe Poppy War is a 4-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2018 with contributions by R.F. Kuang.
Featured Prompt
1,558 booksWhen you think back on every book you've ever read, what are some of your favorites? These can be from any time of your life – books that resonated with you as a kid, ones that shaped your personal...
Reviews with the most likes.
An excellent follow up to The Poppy War. I will leave out a synopsis of the story as it might spoil the first one. Kuang gave more detail to the characters from the original as well as introducing a whole new set of people that were a nice metaphor towards the real world. I know she mirrored The Poppy War to China during WWII and after realizing that it enhanced this series quite a bit. I can't wait to read the final installment. I would highly recommend this series and R.F. Kuang as an author to anyone!
The Poppy War was probably the most exciting debut book I read last year and so The Dragon Republic had a lot of promise to live up to. Fortunately it did not disappoint. The book starts pretty close to the end of the previous one with Rin and the Cike on the run again. Straight away we jump into the action and it never really lets up.
There is a notable increase in the bitterness in this book. This actually works quite well as the characters are getting more and more jaded by the actions and betrayals they have seen. The same semi-historic allegories are present and make the book all the more powerful for it.
With such a large amount of the fantasy oeuvre available in Europe set in a quasi-European setting it is refreshing to get the more oriental take on things. The cultural changes are subtle, but they do give a distinct and refreshing flavour to the books.
An impressive follow up to an impressive debut, and the ending leaves me anxious to start the next book!
I'm hurting and I'm not okay.
Not sure if I'll ever update this review, but this book hurt me more than my parents' separation.
