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The Burning God

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The Burning God

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

The exciting end to The Poppy War trilogy, R.F. Kuang's acclaimed, award-winning epic fantasy that combines the history of 20th-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating, enthralling effect.

After saving her nation of Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead.

Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much – the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges – and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation.

Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners.

As her power and influence grows, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s voice, urging her to burn the world and everything in it?

©2020 R.F. Kuang Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Historical Military Fiction War China

Critic reviews

PRAISE FOR THE POPPY WAR TRILOGY:

‘An outstanding debut’

DAILY MAIL

'Literary super-stardom doesn't seem too far out of her reach now'

THE HERALD

‘A masterpiece by grimdark’s newest and perhaps darkest daughter’

FANTASY BOOK REVIEW

‘A wholly unique experience’

THE WASHINGTON POST

‘R.F. Kuang’s fresh approach to magic and hard-hitting story is a punch to the gut fantasy has needed for a long time’

Peter V. Brett, bestselling author of The Demon Cycle

‘Enthralling from start to finish … I thought myself prepared. I was not’

Nicholas Eames, author of KINGS OF THE WYLD

‘A blistering, powerful epic of war and revenge that will captivate you to the bitter end’

Kameron Hurley, author of THE LIGHT BRIDAGE

‘Her story’s refreshing, shocking … Behold the horizons of fantasy expand’

WIRED

‘An epic journey of vengeance, friendship, and power’

LIBRARY JOURNAL

‘Straight up incredible … It’s big, bold, beautiful, and badass’

FANTASY HIVE

All stars
Most relevant
Struggled to finish it, the Main character was so useless and annoying, no character development at all from the first book. The only good thing she did was at the end

kinda disappointing ending to a strong first book

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Don't waste your time. If someone deleted the main character from this story, nothing would've changed really. Except thousands of people would still be alive

Rin accomplished nothing

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CONTAINS SPOILERS
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I’ve seen a lot of reviews saying Rin is annoying and unhinged, and that’s the point. She’s not a good person, she’s a monster and an unreliable narrator and completely unhinged. She’s wilfully committed genocide and she’d do it again if it got her results.

Her character development is not of growth, it’s of corruption, of a descent into madness and paranoia, as the Phoenix takes over more and more of her mind. Every time she had a choice to make, she chose the worst option, and it cost countless lives. The only good thing she intentionally did was at the end.

You are not supposed to ~like~ her, all you’re supposed to do is care about her story.

(She was also inspired by a real dictator, so do with that what you will.)

As an aside, Kitay and Venka were my favourites, I’m heartbroken by their endings. And no, they weren’t good people either, I don’t think any of the mcs were actually good. Which is honestly refreshing to see in fantasy, there’s so much “we’re the best and we’ll save the day because we’re just so morally righteous.” It’s nice to see a more grounded and realistic (if morally bankrupt) cast of characters, especially when the whole trilogy ends in a bitter resolve to survive rather than a glowing victory and happily ever after.

Emily Woo Zeller is honestly one of my favourite narrators, she’s so talented!

Long, dark, but refreshing!

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Superbly presented fantasy based around Chinese history. An absolute pleasure to listen to, the narrator was exceptional.

Fantasy at it’s best

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Every book in this series slapped. There were no lulls in the story, even in it's quieter moments there was always some underlying tension that made you need to keep listening. The journey of our main characters from the first book to the finale made so much sense but it was also so heartbreaking because they genuinely loved each other but there wasn't enough space for it in this world. I also feel like the impact of this war story hit harder because of the things going on in the world right now. The author crafted it so well that although we have some idea of the horrors of war, it was written in a way that gave you a deeper understanding. Also the themes of colonialism, racism, colourism and classism were explored so well. The narrator was amazing. This is not a happy story. It will break your heart but its worth it. This is a series I will definitely return to.

Perfection!

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