The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

The Poppy War is a masterclass in creating a unique fantasy setting and a grimdark plot. Blending Chinese history into a military fantasy, those who are familiar with China's history will see stark parallels with the Opium Wars of the 19th century, the Second Sino-Japanese War going on at the same time as WW2, and the Chinese Civil War. Parallels to the Nanjing Massacre and Unit 731 are present in the latter half of the book cementing The Poppy War firmly in the Grimdark branch of modern fantasy.

The Poppy War is full of vivid imagery and engaging characters. Fang Runin, our protagonist, is an angry 14 year old girl trying to avoid being married off for money at the start of the story. The determination of Rin is established early on as she studies for the Keju, a test to find the most promising youth of the nation, and qualifies for the most prestigious school in Nikan. Two years pass before Rin attends Sinegard Academy and it's here we meet some of the most enjoyable characters of the trilogy: Jiang Ziya, Chen Kitay, Yin Nezha, and Sring Venka. Keep an eye on this bunch because as the story goes on they will remain at the center of the whirlwind of trauma and horror to come.

Kuang does an excellent job at bringing to life an interesting magic system, but for those who like magic systems with hard and fast rules this may not be the magic system for you. The power of Shamans is clearly defined in origin and has evident drawbacks, but the limitations on scope are unclear. The Poppy War is unashamedly graphic and brutal so here's a list of trigger warnings: genocide, self-harm, drug use, misogyny, abuse, animal cruelty, rape, graphic death, torture, child death, starvation, mutilation, and bodily experimentation. It's entirely possible that I've missed some but that list should give a general idea of how dark things get. Kuang's debut may be one of the darkest works of modern fantasy but exemplifies how the SFF genre is able to open doors for conversations on difficult subjects.