I first time I read R.F. Kuang’s The Dragon Republic, I DNFed it three times. When I then had the time to read it, I fell in love with it. Now, having reread it without a DNF, my thoughts and feelings about the book have solidified. In short, it is intimidating, incredible, and leaves a deep impression. But the full review is what you’re here for, right?

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 intense and action-packed from the get-go. You should know after having read The Poppy War that the plots of these stories are never light-hearted or easy. There is violence, darkness, and a chilling reality to face with each chapter. Not only that, but R.F. Kuang is not afraid to go into detail and paint the picture in your mind with vivid strokes and frightening clarity. Her world building is fantastic, drawing on Chinese history and incorporating the human landscape with gods and shamans.

The character development seen in Rin, Nezha, Kitay, and Venka hits deep and feels so satisfying to read. This isn’t just because good character development makes books more immersive and believable, but because characters developing bad traits or further building on these darker aspects of themselves makes the book so much more enjoyable. You don’t often get to see characters lean into those darker sides of themselves and The Dragon Republic delievrs spectacularly in that regard. The interactions between these characters together and with other characters, for example, Rin and the Cike or Rin and Vaisra, is also a fantastic way to show that development and the changing dynamics and inner motivations with characters.

The plot is gripping, though possibly predictable in the grand scheme of things if you are an avid reader of plotical fantasy series. How the plot progresses though is meticulous in its detail and the consequences are brought into the light after each decision. It can be jarring or slow-going for some readers, but I felt immersed, inttrigued, and thoroughly entertained by the plot. The book could have abeen shorter with a little less detail and explanantion here and there, but overall it works wonderfully to create this landscape of ruin, desperation, conflict, and desire.

I have other books I need to read before I get to my reread of The Burning God, not to mention the mental preparation I must go through before picking up the book. Rest assured, I won’t leave you hanging for months like I did with this post. The Burning God review will be up by the end of March, and my heart can have a rest after the stressful, emotionally-taxing read.