The Poppy War

For me the book started of with a young adult vibe to it. And to be honoust, for me this is not a positive thing. I am not really into YA. So I was a bit worried at the start, but when the story progresses the YA vibe vanished quickly.

The story begins with a young protagonist who works her way into the most prestigious academy in the country, facing rejection from classmates from noble families and some teachers due to a “pure blood” trope similar to the Harry Potter series. Through history and strategy classes, the author begins to build the world, introducing themes of imperialism, genocide, famine, and war. Slowly, mysticism and religion are incorporated into the story.

As the war begins, the story takes a darker turn and becomes more violent. The reader is shown that ethical choices are not always clear in war and violence, and themes of vengeance and heritage play a big role. The story is powerful but can appear uneven at times, with an ending that sets up the reader for the sequel.