The Dragon Republic - (Poppy War) by R F Kuang (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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.

From the Back Cover

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 vise, 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. Rin's 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 the Empress and the Dragon Warlord are not 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.

Review Quotes

"R.F. Kuang must first be congratulated on seamlessly drawing on and then reshaping Chinese history as influence for the world Rin inhabits. Martial arts sparring sessions and colorful street parades instantly conjure images of western Asian culture, but at no point does this world ever feel like a simple reflection of our own. Nikan's richly detailed culture and history feel substantial and authentic, supporting the characters' actions as the war unfolds." - BookPage on The Poppy War

“A blistering, powerful epic of war and revenge that will captivate you to the bitter end.” - Kameron Hurley author of The Stars are Legion on The Poppy War

“Kuang brings brilliance to this invigorating and complex military fantasy sequel to The Poppy War.” - Publishers Weekly on The Dragon Republic

"The Dragon Republic is straight up incredible [...] It's big, bold, beautiful, and badass." - Fantasy Hive

"The story Kuang weaves around Rin and her battle-hardened comrades-in-arms in The Dragon Republic builds upon the reputation Kuang earned with her debut as one of contemporary fantasy's most promising writers." - Time

"The Dragon Republic is a phenomenal follow-up to what was one of my highest rated fantasy books of 2018, and I think this exceeds the debut in almost every way...R.F. Kuang is the brightest new star in adult fantasy...Kuang has a knack for writing some of the best fantasy and makes it seem effortless. She will be mentioned alongside names such as Lynch, Lawrence, and Sapkowski for awesomeness very soon." - Grimdark Magazine

"This second book of hers - the difficult middle book of a trilogy, no less - seals Kuang's place as one of the most exciting and best SFF writers of our time...The sequel to R.F. Kuang's acclaimed debut THE POPPY WAR, THE DRAGON REPUBLIC combines the history of 20th-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating effect." - SFF Book Reviews

“Battles. Bloodshed. Drugs. Amazing, amazing characters. Read it!” - Peng Shepherd author of The Book of M on The Poppy War

“The Dragon Republic is a brilliantly unputdownable sequel that deflects the infamous middle book syndrome with brutal precision. With The Dragon Republic, Kuang has proven that her debut wasn't a one-hit wonder, further establishing herself as the new rising queen of fantasy.” - Novel Notions on The Dragon Republic

"Kuang's descriptive storytelling reveals the grueling psychological and material cost of war on combatants and those they are supposed to protect. Fans of epic military fantasy will be eager for the next volume." - Booklist (starred review)

"This stunning sequel to The Poppy War is an epic journey of vengeance, friendship, and power . . . Kuang has created a young woman torn by her connections to friends and family, searching for love and belonging, and given power beyond her imagining. Her story is unforgettable." - Library Journal starred review on The Dragon Republic

"Her story's refreshing, shocking, and there's some sort of invisible phoenix fire god controlling everything. Behold the horizons of fantasy expand." - Wired