The Poppy War

Some books make me angry because they reveal the darkest parts of humanity. And some books make me angry because they are written by 19 year old wunderkinds experiencing all of the success I just assumed I would have as a 19 year old non-wunderkind. This book is both. It's a fascinating fantasy coating over some of the darkest periods of Chinese history that my privileged, Western self has never even heard of. It has intense depth of character development, a tight and twisty plot, and a stunning mythology. Also, while Rin has deep relationships with a lot of men during this book, none of them are sexual because WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BRUTAL WAR AND DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR SUCH THINGS! I can't tell you how much I appreciate this take on the situation.

The book is brutal, not for anyone with violence triggers. But if you can handle it, it is well worth the read. I definitely need a break before picking up the sequel, though.