Epic fantasy
The Poppy War
An orphaned peasant girl studies relentlessly to win a place at the empire's elite military academy. As an invasion looms, she discovers that her unusual power is tied to gods and may be a dangerous weapon.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2018
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 527
- Format
- Book 1 of 3 in The Poppy War
Read this if you want a brutal, ambitious military fantasy inspired by 20th-century Chinese history.
Skip this if you are sensitive to graphic depictions of atrocities, as the later half of the book is very harrowing.
The feel
Content warnings
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Quick answers about The Poppy War
- What is The Poppy War about?
- An orphaned peasant girl studies relentlessly to win a place at the empire's elite military academy. As an invasion looms, she discovers that her unusual power is tied to gods and may be a dangerous weapon.
- Who should read The Poppy War?
- Read it if you want a brutal, ambitious military fantasy inspired by 20th-century Chinese history. Skip it if you are sensitive to graphic depictions of atrocities, as the later half of the book is very harrowing.
- How long and how fast is The Poppy War?
- It is a medium-paced, long read of about 527 pages, first published in 2018.
- Does The Poppy War have content warnings?
- Content we flag: War, War crimes, Genocide, Sexual assault, Violence, Torture, Addiction, Gore.
- Can I borrow The Poppy War for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Poppy War; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Poppy War?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Black Company, The Fifth Season.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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