The Poppy War Collector’s Edition : Book 1

Kuang's debut about war, gods and a girl from nowhere, now in an illustrated edition.

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang follows Rin, a war orphan from a poor province who passes the state examination of the Nikara Empire and so wins a place at Sinegard, the most important military academy in the land. Among classmates of noble birth she is barely tolerated, until it turns out that she can call on the powers of gods no one believes in any more. While she learns what that gift does to her, the peace with the Federation of Mugen grows ever shakier. Kuang built the story on twentieth-century Chinese history, which makes the second half of this fantasy novel quite heavy.

This English Collector's Edition is a hardcover with black-and-white illustrations by JungShan Chang throughout, and is made to keep. A lovely gift for someone who already knows the trilogy, or a beautiful way to read book 1 for the first time. The Collector's Edition of The Dragon Republic matches it in style.