The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

📚Genre: Historical/Fantasy Fiction | Pages: 672 | ⭐ Overall: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

“I was brought into a war on sea, land, and then into the mind.”

Rin has survived the Poppy War—but peace offers no escape from her past. Haunted by guilt and bound to the vengeful Phoenix god, she’s torn between her desire to die and her need for vengeance. When a powerful warlord promises to overthrow the Empress who betrayed her homeland, Rin joins his cause, only to discover that neither ally nor enemy is what they seem. As rebellion ignites, she must decide how far she’ll go—and what she’s willing to burn—to save the nation she’s already destroyed once.

The Dragon Republic is an emotional storm of war, loyalty, and betrayal that sweeps you up and doesn’t let go. Picking up after The Poppy War, this sequel dives even deeper into Rin’s complicated world — where every decision feels heavy and every victory comes at a cost. The pacing is deliberate but gripping, the kind of story that rewards readers who pay attention to every small detail.

Kate notes that while it takes about a fifth of the book to fully draw you in, once it does, it’s impossible to stop reading. The battles feel vividly real, the politics and alliances constantly shift, and the emotions run high. Characters like Chagan, Kitay, and Venka stand out for their resilience — each surviving loss, trauma, and betrayal in ways that make them painfully human. “You only get Rin’s point of view,” Kate writes, “but the book describes the others so vividly that they feel alive.”

Her favorite moment? When Nezha (she wrote “Newhart”) betrays Rin — “both figuratively and literally.” That scene left her feeling stunned and ready for the next book.

R.F. Kuang’s writing balances military intensity with deep emotional realism, and Kate calls it detailed without being overwhelming. By the end, she was left questioning trust, loyalty, and what war really costs.

☔ Best read on: a quiet, rainy day — this one deserves your full attention
📍 For readers who love: battle-heavy fantasy, complex friendships, and stories where no victory comes easy

⭐ Ratings

📖 Story: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
👥 Characters: ★★★★★ (5/5)
🪶 Writing: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)
💭 Enjoyment: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Kate - My Sister My Books

Amazon Book Description

The war is over.

The war has just begun.

Three times throughout its history, Nikan has fought for its survival in the bloody Poppy Wars. Though the third battle has just ended, shaman and warrior Rin cannot forget the atrocity she committed to save her people. Now she is on the run from her guilt, the opium addiction that holds her like a vice, and the murderous commands of the fiery Phoenix—the vengeful god who has blessed Rin with her fearsome power.

Though she does not want to live, she refuses to die until she avenges the traitorous Empress who betrayed Rin’s homeland to its enemies. Her only hope is to join forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who plots to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new republic.

But neither the Empress nor the Dragon Warlord are what they seem. The more Rin witnesses, the more she fears her love for Nikan will force her to use the Phoenix’s deadly power once more.

Because there is nothing Rin won’t sacrifice to save her country . . . and exact her vengeance.