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Quick answer: If you loved The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, try The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang, The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu, Red Rising by Pierce Brown, The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie, The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid and The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang.
The Poppy War follows Rin, a dark-skinned war orphan from a rural province who aces an imperial exam and enters a prestigious military academy. As a war with a neighboring nation breaks out, she discovers a dangerous power linked to shamanic gods. Inspired by 20th-century Chinese history, including the Opium Wars and the Nanjing massacre, the novel is brutal and unflinching. The picks below share its grimdark tone, military settings, morally gray heroes and historical depth. All are adult or older-teen reads with graphic violence and heavy themes.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love The Poppy War
Readers love The Poppy War because it starts like a school story and then turns into something far darker. R.F. Kuang takes a clever, determined heroine and shows what war does to her, step by step, without softening it. The first third is academy fun, with exams and rivalries, and the rest follows the consequences of power. It’s thought-provoking and hard to put down, and it’s one of the most discussed fantasy debuts of its decade.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about The Poppy War: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Dragon Republic | R.F. Kuang | Fantasy | Continuing the trilogy |
| The Burning God | R.F. Kuang | Fantasy | Finishing the trilogy |
| The Grace of Kings | Ken Liu | Fantasy | Epic politics inspired by China |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Science fiction | Brutal academies |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Grimdark fantasy | Dark, witty heroes |
| The Wolf and the Woodsman | Ava Reid | Fantasy | Folklore and politics |
| The Sword of Kaigen | M.L. Wang | Fantasy | Family and war |
| Black Sun | Rebecca Roanhorse | Fantasy | Pre-Columbian-inspired worlds |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | Science fiction | Politics and prophecies |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Fantasy | A gifted student |
| An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir | YA fantasy | Younger readers |
| Children of Blood and Bone | Tomi Adeyemi | YA fantasy | Oppression and magic |
| A Game of Thrones | George R.R. Martin | Fantasy | War and politics |
| The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms | N.K. Jemisin | Fantasy | Gods and politics |
| The Shadow of What Was Lost | James Islington | Fantasy | Epic magic school |
1. The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
The second book follows Rin as she allies with a warlord and faces a new empire.
2. The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
The final book brings the war to a devastating end. It’s bleak and powerful.
3. The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
Two allies rise to overthrow an emperor in a world inspired by Chinese history.
4. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
A miner infiltrates Mars’s elite through a deadly school. It’s violent and addictive.
5. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
A torturer, a barbarian and a vain nobleman are drawn into a war. It’s grim and funny.
6. The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
A pagan girl and a captain of the king’s guard become uneasy allies. It’s dark and romantic.
7. The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
A mother in a Japanese-inspired empire faces invasion while raising children with powerful abilities. It’s long and moving.
8. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
A holy man, a sailor and a prophecy collide in a world inspired by pre-Columbian Americas.
9. Dune by Frank Herbert
A noble family takes over the desert planet Arrakis, and its heir becomes a legend.
10. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells the story of his life as a gifted young magician. It’s long, lyrical and the start of a famous trilogy.
11. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
A slave spying for the rebels and an elite soldier meet in a brutal empire.
12. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Zélie fights to bring magic back to a land where her people have been oppressed.
13. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Noble families fight for the Iron Throne as winter approaches. It’s complex and brutal.
14. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
A young woman from a barbarian land inherits a place in a powerful family. It’s inventive and gripping.
15. The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington
Young students uncover a plot involving banned magic. It’s long and full of mysteries.
How to Pick Your Next Read After The Poppy War
- Want to finish the trilogy? The Dragon Republic and The Burning God.
- Want grimdark? The Blade Itself.
- Want Asian-inspired epics? The Grace of Kings and The Sword of Kaigen.
- Want sci-fi academies? Red Rising.
- Want a YA option? An Ember in the Ashes.
- Check content notes. These are dark books with graphic violence.
Content Notes and Series Order
The Poppy War includes graphic war violence, drug use, sexual violence, and scenes inspired by real atrocities. It’s not for every reader. The trilogy continues with The Dragon Republic and The Burning God. If you prefer lighter military fantasy, try Mistborn or The Name of the Wind instead. If you want more of Kuang’s work, Babel is a dark academia novel in an alternate Oxford, and Yellowface is a satire.
Related: books like Babel by R.F. Kuang and books like Red Queen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like The Poppy War?
The Dragon Republic and The Burning God continue the story, and The Grace of Kings and Red Rising are close matches.
Is The Poppy War YA?
No. It’s an adult fantasy with graphic violence.
What order are the Poppy War books?
The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic and The Burning God.