A Quick Note On This Review: This article includes affiliate links to Bookshop.org as a way of supporting both local bookshops and my own ability to write.
Fang Runin has battled the Empress Su Da Ji, fought in a civil war, saved Nikan from foreign invaders, and was left for dead by more allies than most people, and yet Rin still finds the will to take up arms against the Dragon Republic. Stranded in the south after being betrayed, Rin turns her priorities to the people that she has sacrificed so much for: the people of the south, and especially Tikany, the village she had called home. While Rin has built a tenuous coalition of untrustworthy southern allies, Rin recognizes that true power lies in the millions of common folk who view her as a goddess who can deliver them the salvation – and vengeance – they desire.
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang is a the last installment of her The Poppy Wars trilogy, and offers a solid continuation of the skill Kuang has displayed throughout her novels so far. The book is a little more chaotic than the previous, with the situation far more fluid than those in the previous installments. However, Kuang executes the storyline phenomenally, with a unique take on the ways leaders can be corrupted by power when given far too much, far too quickly.
While Rin has proven herself capable on the battlefield, she wants command of an army despite there being senior leaders who still consider her too young and inexperienced to handle the pressures of a generalship. Kuang’s portrayal of Rin’s ambition starts with this innocuous step and escalates with such careful, nuanced steps, that it’s almost impossible to recognize the kind of madness that Rin will eventually indulge. She gets her army, and then prosecutes a war against the Dragon Republic far more competently than any of the other warlords could have imagined. However, Kitay has reservations about some of the steps Rin takes to ensure the stability of her budding kingdom, leaving Rin in a tenuous position between ambition and her lifelong friend.
For casual readers, The Burning God is a great read for anyone who is a fan of The Poppy Wars or stories that deal with the complex ways power corrupts leaders at every level. It also would be enjoyable for anyone who enjoys war stories because even though it’s not as clear in this installment as it is in previous ones, but it still includes enough components of war to be an enjoyable read. Furthermore, The Burning God deals largely with the psychological components of warfare, which offers a different perspective from the previous two books.
For writers, The Burning God offers an interesting meditation on the way that power corrupts leaders, especially in a martial capacity. Anyone who wants to delve into the psychological components of war would also benefit from reading The Burning God, as would anyone who’s looking to use historical events to create a fantasy novel that’s expansive while retaining a tightly-controlled plot. Kuang’s skill is best seen over the whole trilogy, so writers would benefit from reading the other books in The Poppy War Trilogy: The Poppy Wars and The Dragon Republic.
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What’s Next?
I am an avid reader and have quite a few thoughts on how some books could benefit both people that want to be entertained and those looking to sharpen their literary skills.
If you’re interested in finding out more about what I’ve been reading – and how it could benefit you – I will be publishing those thoughts on Fridays on a weekly basis. Check back next week for a discussion of Rufi Thorpe’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles!
The Writerly Review 