12 new YA books you should stay indoors and read this August
By Lacy Baugher
The Dragon Republic – Rebecca F. Kuang
This sequel to Rebecca F. Kuang’s The Poppy War promises to be another dark, complicated fantasy story with bones comprised from real life historical events.
The story is set in a fantasy world inspired by 19th century China, and follows Rin, a young girl who escapes from an arranged marriage by getting herself accepted to Sinegard, Nikon’s most exclusive military academy. There, she discovers that she possess shamanistic powers, and becomes involved in a larger war for the kingdom’s future. Most of the book is wrestles with complicated – and did I mention d a r k – themes and storylines, involving war, death, rape, drug addition, betrayal and more. (I’m trying so hard not to spoil any of this, but just know that this is not an easy series to read, even if it is an incredibly rewarding one in my opinion.)
The Dragon Republic begins almost where The Poppy War left off, with Rin alone, on the run, addicted to drugs and struggling to come to terms with her actions at the end of the previous novel. What will happen to her now?
According to the official synopsis, things don’t look as though they will get any easier.
"In the aftermath of the Third Poppy War, shaman and warrior Rin is on the run: haunted by the atrocity she committed to end the war, addicted to opium, and hiding from the murderous commands of her vengeful god, the fiery Phoenix. Her only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold out Nikan to their 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. Rin throws herself into his war. After all, making war is all she knows how to do. But the Empress is a more powerful foe than she appears, and the Dragon Warlord’s motivations are not as democratic as they seem. The more Rin learns, the more she fears her love for Nikan will drive her away from every ally and lead her to rely more and more on the Phoenix’s deadly power. Because there is nothing she won’t sacrifice for her country and her vengeance."
The Dragon Republic is available on August 6.