The Poppy War Trilogy Series by R.F. Kuang

The Poppy War Trilogy by R.F. Kuang – The series follows Rin, a war orphan who rises from poverty to attend an elite military academy in the Nikara Empire. She discovers she possesses shamanic powers linked to the Phoenix god, leading her into a brutal war that echoes the atrocities of real-world history. As Rin becomes a weapon of mass destruction, she grapples with power, trauma, identity, and vengeance. Across the trilogy, she shifts from student to soldier to revolutionary, ultimately challenging the gods and the empire itself in a devastating pursuit of justice and control.

• The Poppy War – A poor war orphan, Rin, enters a prestigious military academy and discovers her shamanic powers as war erupts across the Nikara Empire.
• The Dragon Republic – Rin struggles with addiction and grief while allying with rebels to overthrow the corrupt empire, facing betrayal and internal conflict.
• The Burning God – Rin wages a brutal campaign for control of the empire, but her thirst for power and vengeance leads to devastating consequences