November 16 2024
By Juha(Lucy) Kim
Summary
In the aftermath of the third poppy war, Rin is terrified and burning with hatred. She is afraid of her powers and the horrors it has brought; however, there is nothing she would not do for her country and her people.
She joins the dragon warlord in his quest for democracy, and it aligns only too well with her own plan of killing the traitor empress. The deeper she delves within herself, within her god, the more she fears her capabilities and what the future will bring. Is she truly doing the right thing?
Review
MAJOR spoilers ahead
The first thing I'll say is that I didn’t love this book. Still, I understand how necessary and pivotal of an installment it was—tying up loose ends, solidifying characters, and defining our knowledge. Still, this book left a flounder of confusion in its wake. The narrative deliberately withholds information, mirroring the MC’s uncertainties. We, the readers, do not know who to trust, who to side with, or what to believe for the entirety of this book. Quite literally not knowing anything as a reader (who is usually allowed the privilege of knowing everything) is jarring and stress-inducing.
I respect R.F. Kuang with a newfound vigor now. I've always said The Poppy War trilogy is wholly different than all other fantasies, and it is. Unlike most fantasies that have a definitive good guy and bad guy, The Poppy War trilogy blurs the line between good and evil, particularly with our protagonist. It's unclear whether we should be standing with Rin. Is she truly the “good guy” in this situation? Is she the hero? Is she making the right decisions? Is she even a good person? Throughout the series, Rin's actions provoke questions of morality and the sacrifices of true heroism. She (and we the readers) grapple with her capacity for evil, and it forces us to reconsider the traditional notions of what it means to be a protagonist and an antagonist. The complexity of the story keeps us on our toes.
The elaborate intricacy of the narrative is further amplified by the sheer amount of forces at play. There were so many people involved, so many different battalions attacking one another, so many entities and plans in fruition, that it was hard to keep track. And this is reality. This is history.
The Poppy Wars hold steady to that fact. There are no shortcuts and easy way-outs in the series. This is so much more impressive than anyone gives her credit for. Readers and writers both know how challenging writing a story can be, and R.F. Kuang made the process about 10 times more difficult for herself by staying true to "reality”. An insane amount of recognition and credit should be placed at her feet.
Kuang's characterization is another highlight of the series, as she crafted characters that are undeniably human in their flaws and distinctions. I mentioned this in my Little Women review; there is nothing in the bookish world I hate more than authors changing their characters to fit a narrative. R.F. Kuang had so many chances to do this, and it might've even meant less criticism of her characters, but she didn’t. Rin was at times unlikeable and undefendable. Nezha could not make himself sever the undying loyalty he had for his nation, not for anything. Kitay couldn't bring himself to stay upright, not after all he had lost. Once you put a character on a page, they become a real person. So many people and writers too, forget that. R.K. Kuang didn't. I am so excited to see how R.F. Kuang evolves as a writer and world builder.