The Dragon Republic

The Dragon Republic builds so wonderfully on top of the rich world that Kuang brought to life in the The Poppy War. The characters are more complex and the magic system is more fleshed out, all issues I had with the The Poppy War. The world also feels more alive and inhabited than in the first book, filled with warring, dynamic factions and political maneuvering. Even supporting characters have complicated motivations, elevating The Dragon Republic above its predecessor. All in all, this book does a fantastic job of filling in the gaps of The Poppy War.

Kuang’s writing has also improved significantly. Her prose is stronger and more varied. The descriptions are vivid and capture the brutal imagery of war. You can tell that Kuang has grown as an author since her debut novel. The first third of the book is a bit slower, but it picks up and doesn’t relent until the end. And the last 50ish pages are a whirlwind of devastating, emotionally wrecking events. For all that happens, I think it is worth the slower start.

And god, the plot. It’s tender, it’s brutal, and it’s so so compelling. There are so many flashes of what could have been that it makes you ache and long for a better world for the characters. I was invested in our main cast of characters and heartbroken when things came to pass. It’s like watching a train wreck slowly happen without being able to stop it.

The Dragon Republic is a fantastic expansion of a sprawling fantasy world and I can’t wait to see how everything will come to a head in The Burning God. Honestly, R.F. Kuang is so good at breaking my heart that she could be an ex :’) I’m going to curl up in a ball and go cry now~