The Dragon Republic cover art

The Dragon Republic

The Poppy War, Book 2

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The Dragon Republic

By: R. F. Kuang
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
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About this listen

The searing follow-up to 2018’s most celebrated fantasy debut – THE POPPY WAR.

Rin is on the run…

Haunted by the atrocity she committed to save her people, addicted to opium, and driven by the murderous commands of Phoenix, the vengeful god who has blessed Rin with her fearsome power.

Rin’s only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold her homeland, Nikan, to her enemies.

With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. She throws herself into his war.

After all, making war is all she knows how to do…

©2019 R. F. Kuang (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Historical Military Fiction War Dragons

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Critic reviews

"A wholly unique experience." (The Washington Post)

"A blistering, powerful epic of war and revenge that will captivate you to the bitter end." (Kameron Hurley, author of The Stars Are Legion)

"An outstanding debut." (Daily Mail)
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TLDR
I struggled to finish this book due to Rin's personality and obnoxity. But I still love it.

Detailed

I loved many parts of this book, and wish I could rate it higher. The worldbuilding is really good, and the premise of the civil war and many of the plotpoints are amazing!
HOWEVER... This might just be my own opinion, but I found the main character close to unbearable. I understand and empathises why Rin makes the decisions she does, and I know the reason why she is descending. But I found her soooooo obnoxious, selfrighteous and naive, with no real understanding of the word "Empathy". I struggled empathising with her for long parts of the book, almost feeling satisfaction when things did not go her way.
In a way, I kind of like having a flawed protagonist, and I see what the author was going for. Sadly I think that the narrator played a big part in my reason for disliking Rin as much as I did.
BUT
I... I still kind of like Rin. She is interesting, a layered character with flaws and capable. and I understand her. I can see the logical and emotional threads that guides her every decision. the author did a really good job. She reminded me a lot of Azula from Avatar the last Airbender, and also a bit of season 1 Zuko. Comparing her to them, is for the few people who have not yet see AtlA, a very high standard in my own opinion.

interesting but obnoxious

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The author puts Rin through the wringer is this compelling follow up to The Poppy War. The campaign by the Republic smacks of the German invasion of Russia as rapid success is stalled by winter. Recommended.

Narration was good

So much suffering

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The characters are so well rounded, and this book doesn’t pull any punches! The story is exciting with lots of twists and turns.

Gritty and interesting

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Just when I thought the first book was good it gets better, definite read, narrator still great

Great story with great narrator

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This is pretty much the only fantasy series I've ever delved into, and the first time I've felt moved to share a negative opinion about a novel online. But, I do appreciate many elements of what's going on here, so I'm gonna share some thoughts!

Let's face it, a lot of this just falls flat in comparison to the first book.

Perhaps the author was under extreme pressure to complete a trilogy after the success of the first one. A lot of the time, it feels as though she's getting bored with her own material, and writing passages to fill in the gaps. I've been shocked at how much the author uses 'said' after a character has spoken (sometimes like 4 times in succession) when there are so many interesting variations on offer. She has no trouble using complex vocabulary in other areas. This overuse just feels lax and unimaginative.

Despite this, I'm still 60 percent engaged with the storyline, which means I can multitask whilst listening and dip in and out when I feel like it.

Yes, the descriptive passages of violence and death - which make up most of the book - are an assault on the senses, but this book is about war, after all! I do commend the author's ability to create a space where we do still root for Rin, despite the fact she is now dangerously flawed.

I don't blame Emily Woo Zeller for a moment - she is a fantastic narrator and has to juggle LOADS of characters. I think she does this elegantly. I'm surprised to read negative comments about her performance above. Imagine having to switch voices at this kind of rate...

I'm a little confused as to why Sinegard (sorry, never seen this written so not sure how to spell) is now pronounced 'Sy-negard.' Doesn't feel quite right!

Anyway, I'm still hanging on. I just wish the intrigue I sensed in book 1 was more present here. Will I give book 3 a go? Probably not, at this rate. But you never know! I'm still curious!

Not as compelling as book 1!

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This books just adds to the awesomeness and craziness of the first one. Really good continued story on from the first and a real emotional journey you go on with rin here.
Super excited for the last book and to see how this all work plays out.
Who to trust.

Wow what a ride and who to trust

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Making me believe in the best redemption arc, only to have it be the thing that ends everything omg. Second time in my life I was shocked by the plot twist/betrayel. I swear I didn't shed a couple tears.

Twist the knife why don't you

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yes, believe the hype.
book 2 is AMAZINGLY WRITTEN
can't wait to start the 3rd and the final book

This book is AMAZING

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If R.F.K keeps this up, The Poppy War series will easily become one of the best fantasy series ever written. Seriously powerful storytelling. A definite must.

Staggeringly good fantasy

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I wanted to like this series but I couldn't. The main character just never progressed in some ways she regressed and without the side characters I would not have finished the second book. So for people who are undecided if they want to continue, don't wast your time.

Disappointed

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