An outstanding debut - Daily Mail
A book that will go down as one of the best grimdark/military fantasy debuts of all time - Booknest
A masterpiece by grimdark's newest and perhaps darkest daughter - Fantasy Book Review
A wholly unique experience - The Washington Post
This first book in The Poppy War trilogy won numerous debut awards when it was published in 2018, and upon reading it you quickly understand why - Woman & Home
R.F. Kuang's fresh approach to magic and hard-hitting story is a punch to the gut fantasy has needed for a long time. I can't wait for The Dragon Republic - Peter V. Brett, bestselling author of The Demon Cycle
Enthralling from start to finish ... I thought myself prepared. I was now. R.F. Kuang's debut is a masterful must-read, and I've no doubt the best is yet to come - Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld
A blistering, powerful epic of war and revenge that will captivate you to the bitter end - Kameron Hurley, author of The Light Brigade
Fresh, assured, character-driven fantasy that's choc full of magic, war, and betrayal. I loved it from start to finish - Peter Newman, author of The Vagrant
A powerful, emotional journey, compellingly written - Adrian Tchaikovsky, award-winning author of The Children of Time
An original and engrossing tale of the coming of age of a talented young soldier amid the horrors of invasion and genocide - Anna Stephens, author of Godblind
I so enjoyed The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang ... It is all about survival, and how a person's will and determination can change the course of their life. I loved the central character, felt her pain and her far-too-brief moments of joy, and just loved how Kuang breathes fresh life into the warrior training school ... Highly recommended - John Gwynne, author of Malice.