The Burning God was one of my most highly anticipated books of the year, as it’s the conclusion to one of my favourite trilogies. I was so nervous going in and while I had certain predictions, which may or may not have come true…I was so blown away by how impressive this book is. I genuinely think this is some of R.F Kuang’s best work yet and was every bit an utterly devastating but fitting finale. I feel like Kuang has already set her place as one of the most exciting and incredible talents in the modern fantasy genre but this book has definitely cemented her place in the hall of fame.

One of the most interesting aspects of this trilogy has always been the way Kuang investigates war and conflict and depicts the terrible consequences of this on an individual level as well as on a wider scale. I think one of the things that struck me so deeply in this novel in particular was the futility of it all and how years of never ending violence and trauma has affected Rin, specifically. As the protagonist and an active agent in all that has occurred, Rin hasn’t been spared from suffering brutal losses of her own, losing companions and pushing herself to the brink in all ways. What is also so tragic in a way, is how she is part of this suffering and has perpetuated it through her own decisions. Rin isn’t a good person by any ‘normal’ standards and she isn’t meant to be likeable, but she is a compelling protagonist nevertheless and I think the way Kuang has unravelled her story and built her up only to bring her back down mere seconds later is some masterful character work.

Speaking of masterful character work, I enjoyed the fact that we got to explore more about The Trifecta; consisting of Su Daji, Jiang and Riga. I love when books have parallels which echo through the ages or cyclical elements and it was so intriguing to see how the trifecta were and how their choices caused such ripples. I will say, I expected a bit more of them than we got and I understand the fact that this book is an absolute tome so it’s hard to balance all the different threads and do them all justice. However, I was surprised at where this part of the book went and how ‘quick’ it felt. It will be interesting to read what other readers think about this but I think this was the one element I was a bit underwhelmed by.

I also thought that there was a searing examination of Colonialism and Empire in this book, through the lens of the Hesperians. There was something extremely disturbing – this is obviously intentional – about the way they view the citizens of Nikan as lesser, as subhuman in fact. It speaks volumes about the way colonizers historically have viewed the colonized, and I really appreciated that this was depicted in such a direct, unflinching way. There is one instance where this is clearly displayed; in a town where the Hesperians have taken over all, changing the buildings to their liking, the way of dress and making the Nikara subservient in their own land, it’s absolutely vile to read and it really affected me.

As well as Rin herself, as in the rest of the trilogy I enjoyed the direction Kuang took the other characters. It’s no secret that many readers in the fandom have an understandable and totally justified soft spot for Kitay and if I didn’t already love him before, this book made me love him even more. I mentioned this in my review for The Dragon Republic but I’ll say it again; the bond between Rin and Kitay has to be one of my favourite relationships in this book, if not across all fiction. I think Kitay is so interesting because of his own moral code and how due to the intensity of his bond with Rin he is forced to do things and be party to things he isn’t comfortable with in the slightest. If Rin is the roiling anger in your gut, Kitay is the beating heart of this book. I also loved that we got more Venka, she is such a strong character and I love her attitude and the journey she has been on and the incredible difference between Rin and Venka’s first interactions and where they are in this book. Kuang is all about the long game and this shines through in the relationships between the characters as well.

This review is already going to be long but I can’t finish this review and not mention Nezha. Oh Nezha, I mean what can I even say? This is another one of those delightfully painful but wonderfully complex relationships that Kuang writes so deftly. Again it’s all about the journey and trajectory with Rin and Nezha, starting out as enemies then becoming allies and falling for each other against all odds then being back on opposite sides of this endless war. I loved the parallels between these two characters, not only on an elemental level – fire and water – but their arcs in this book.

I can’t say anything about the ending without spoiling anything and trust me, this is definitely one that shouldn’t be spoiled so I’ll refrain from going into much detail. Just know that the concluding chapters / ending absolutely broke me. I can see it being potentially controversial and I feel like readers will have varied reactions but personally, I couldn’t have imagined a more fitting ending. It was one of those endings where you can see the breadcrumbs leading to it and it’s tragic and beautifully sad and despite all the signs, you’ll still find yourself bereft.

Overall, The Burning God wasn’t devoid of some issues but as a whole I was still really content with where Kuang left the characters and the story. While I definitely shed some tears, okay A LOT of tears and am so sad that this trilogy is over, it’s been one heck of a trip and I’d like to finish this review by thanking R.F Kuang for sharing her talent with us all. I’m looking forward to her next project, a dark academia type novel set in Oxford, which is all I needed to hear to be sold on it. If you’ve yet to pick up The Poppy War or like me, have reached this final instalment and are grieving that it’s over, trust me, this is a finale you won’t want to miss.

This is the third instalment in The Poppy War series.

Rin has battled against foreign soldiers and now has enemies far closer to home to contend with. Allegiances shift, new battle plans are made, and old players return to the stage, which is set for the final showdown to begin.

What I have so previously adored about this series so far, and what could be further witnessed here, was how unafraid Kuang was in the face of the chaos she created. At no juncture did she back away from the brutality, the bloodshed, or the barbarism. War was painted as atrocious, merciless, and riotous. There was no clear line between right or wrong, this side or that, justice or revenge. She allowed her characters, and the reader, to witness, feel, and take part in every new and emerging horror without flinching. Whether the pain was emitted or received did not matter, but she brought home the authenticity of these horrors by establishing us as complicit in it, as we read from the perspective of one so immersed in the bloodshed.

This made this both a very hard read to digest and one with many moral implications. My favourite books usually centre around characters I wholeheartedly root for. With Rin this wasn't the case. And yet, I definitely class this series as a new yet firm favourite.

Rin was not wholly good and her actions, or reactions, did not always come from the best place. She was a nuanced character still reeling from the many hurts inflicted upon her and struggling with powers, in many forms, that she was too inexperienced and headstrong to properly control. She was savage and merciless and I might have loved her for it but I did not always agree with all her actions or relish in the dark places they took her and this story. I can only bow down in admiration before an author who is accomplished enough to craft such a difficult but wholly authentic character like this.

My heart was with Rin throughout this book and it was not ready for that final scene or the epilogue that followed it! This did not feel like a final book in a series, even once I had turned to the acknowledgements. The pacing remained at break-neck speed and new realisations were discovered even when only paragraphs remained before the end. I thought this a clever and fitting closure to what has been a blood-soaked and brilliant series. I hope Kuang allows us to revisit this world again, soon.

This was such a great ending to the series but have to say I saw it coming, I really enjoyed the authors work and how the story was told and their writing style and will be definitely reading more of this authors work.

Betrayed once again, Rin returns home to the southern provinces of Nikara and begins to take her own stand for her future. The people of the South are fighting two battles: one with the stranded Mugen soldiers and another with the Dragon Warlord. Rin can help, but she faces even more difficulty as the Southern Coalition aren’t too happy with her arrival. But the common people rise behind her, and she quickly realises that power is within the people who are done with being treated as fodder. But will Rin be strong enough to resist the Phoenix who calls for her to burn the world, along with everyone she loves with it? As she begins to grow her army, Rin must make her final stand against the Hesperians, or lose her country to colonisers once again.

I remember reading TPW for the first time back in 2018. It was exhilarating and one of the best books I had ever read. (Still is one of the best books I’ve ever read.) Kuang makes her mark with this series, and in this finale, the stakes are higher than ever before. And I can now confirm that The Poppy War trilogy is one of the best series I have ever had the privilege to read. This trilogy is just pain in three acts. Not one of the books falter, and Rin’s story remains incredible and deeply saddening at the same time.

Rin has come so far from where her story begins in The Poppy War. A young teen, desperate to run from an arranged marriage. She secures one of the most coveted spots in the entire country. There she learns of her past and discovers her connection to the Gods. She comes of age and burns an entire country overnight. In The Dragon Republic, devasted by the loss of Altan, she rallies behind the Dragon Warlord who promises a brighter future. But they stab her in the back and offer her up as a science project to the Hesperians who are determined to wipe out all existence of shamans like Rin. Now, in The Burning God, Nikara has truly been ravaged, and its survival rate is slowly dwindling. Rin has gone up against the Mugenese, the Hesperians and the Gods, and she has survived it all. She has been through so much, and you can really feel her fury and hatred towards all her enemies. She has now come to terms with everything she has faced: the abuse, the trauma and the dynamics of her life and the history that came before it all. And how her actions are consolidating the future that is to come. The realisation of what has been done to her and what she is doing right now is done so, so well. All she’s ever wanted was power, but maybe it’s not enough.

This trilogy would not be what it is without the characters within. Kuang isn’t afraid to do daring things, pushing some of our favourite characters to the brink and pulling them right back. Kitay remains by Rin’s side, now linked to Rin as a way to help gain control of her powers. For Rin to fight, Kitay must live. Their relationship is sweet, a reminder to Rin of what she’s fighting for. But their opinions clash heavily as Rin propels towards a future Kitay can’t see. Nezha and Rin’s relationship is one of the best I’ve ever read. They begin hating each other with pure rage, Nezha at the sight of a Southerner rising above her expected place, while Rin refuses to let another person look down on her ever again. Nezha has once called it child’s play, but now, it’s war. With Rin in the South and Nezha, backing his father in the North. The emotional battle between them is exceptional and paired with the near cinematic fight scenes, and you’re reminded that despite their sides, they were always loyal to each other. Their dynamic is unparalleled.

The trilogy is heavily inspired by themes of war, colonisation, genocide. The political and social commentary is so clearly reflected in our own history. You can clearly see its effect throughout the entire trilogy, but in The Burning God, it hits so deeply. War might have always been present in Nikara, but the Hesperian influence is terrifying. They promise equality, but what they want is for them to submit. They way they overtake everything, convincing the people of Nikara that it’s for the greater good, that their culture is simply the wrong one is a real-life tactic from our own history.

The Burning God is truly an epic and magnificent conclusion to an all-star trilogy. Kuang writes effortlessly, and with prose that had me speeding through over 600 pages like it was nothing. I’m so sad to say goodbye to the world of Nikara. Kuang has created something truly unforgettable here. A country that has been pulled apart and rebuilt many times over and Rin intends to keep it under Nikara’s influence for good. But her plans might be too ambitious for the people it’s meant to protect. This is a difficult ending, but, honestly, it’s the best ending you can get.

I have realised something upon reading this book and that is that I simply do not care about anybody in this series. I saw the ending coming from the very first book, which might have been the author's intention from. The beginning but it also is strikingly similar to Mistborn's ending, so it's nor really my cup of tea.

Rin does grow and change but at the end, I simply couldn't give a damn. I'm so sad this trilogy wasn't for me but I'm also so glad others have enjoyed it.

Here we have the third book of The Poppy Trilogy and you have to say, did I see that coming! Rin is a somewhat fierce yet vulnerable heroine reluctantly following a path not of her choosing.The story continues at rattling fast pace as it travels towards its conclusion. We encounter twists and turns in the plot, actions of loyalty and sacrifice but also the inevitable betrayal. The main question at times is who is betraying who and why and are the reasons more complex than they initially appear to be.
A fantasy that combines a pseudo Chinese world with monsters and godlike creatures mired in epic destruction and war which may or may not culminate in a better world. Rin thought she was on the right path to redressing wrongs she feels created by her mistakes but allowing the phoenix she questions whether or not she will be able to control it.
Her so called allies cannot be trusted and it becomes clear the answer lies in her past and the common people. There is a seemingly continuous endless fight between the Hesparians with their modern ideas and weapons against the shamanic faith and the people who channel that power.
The author doesn’t shy away from the violence of war. Characters are well portrayed and constant throughout the narrative. Excellent interpretation of a complex world and fully formed and detailed. Looking forward to see what this author tackles next.

Okay but that ending? Incredible. MASTERFUL. I’m an absolute mess but I’m also so, so glad that I’ve had the opportunity to read this trilogy and get to know the incredible cast of characters. I think this is exactly the ending that the trilogy needed, and although it felt bittersweet at points, I don’t think anything else would have fit. You are all in for a treat this November.

As this is the final book in the trilogy, there is very little I can say without spoiling the previous two books. What I can say is that I felt it was a perfect ending and I couldn't imagine it finishing any other way. The character development was fantastic, the plot was well executed and the writing is a delight to read. Delight is probably the wrong word, given the depressing events that happen, and this will certain tug on your heartstrings. If you enjoyed the Poppy War then I definitely recommend finishing the trilogy!

Murder, mayhem, tragedy and loss; the final instalment of the Poppy War Trilogy is packed with enough story-line and events for a trilogy, let alone a finale as devastating as this. It is a treat of epic proportions with a lot to live up to with the first two in the trilogy - which it certainly fought hard to do, with enough heartache and despair to last. With a final scene that replays constantly in my mind (the only thing I can now think about when I consider this trilogy) and also a middle that left me feeling somewhat ... peeved? I think would be the right word, I have no idea how to effectively synthesise my mix of thoughts and feelings into a review that will do it justice. Preface: this is my mixed opinion and I'm going to try and explain without too many spoilers. If you want to go into the third book completely spoiler-free, don't read on.

Rin, and her final descent into villainy, starts off hidden in bushes, ready to pounce on the unsuspecting, to continue a story of slaughter. She's now part of the leadership in the Southern Coalition, and she's out for revenge ... out for blood still, in the shape and form of Nezha and the Hesparians.

There's cruelty in good measures here, a Rin type of cruelty that we've grown accustomed to throughout the rest of the series, carefully, deftly written by Kuang's masterful hand. A kind of well-spoken brutality that is so very raw. Rin uses her power to manipulate and outright kill her way into full command of the rebel forces, making a beeline for her beloved Tikany. One of the things I have enjoyed about the series proper is the morally questionable lead and it is still the same in this final book, which takes full-frontal control in the first part. It is there she meets the Vipress, now a withered husk of her former glory, and from here that we kick into - what I thought - was the main, final story thread. A quest to revive the Trifecta, and with it, the powerful and undeniable Dragon Emperor. At this, I was fully hooked. The fight scenes were fully imagined spectacles as always, the action: scripted, clear madness. The characters: desperate, gritty, relationships fraying.

From the middle of the book, where the story-line I loved is fully realised, then quickly binned off, destroyed, I was left reeling and not knowing what to make of the final part. Something that happens here just didn't and hasn't sat right with me ... Kuang's ability to keep us guessing, never knowing what is around the corner hit me hard in this book and, for once, it was not a surprise that I liked. To say I was devastated for this book at this point would be right.

The last half of the book left me moody, and I don't think I got over the disappointment that I spoke about above. A red herring in its truest form. As a huge fan of the series, or any series, you always have some way you think it will go or end up and this was the first time that I was very wrong, to the credit of Kuang; in this respect, it is a very well-executed series.

And, that ending. Despite what happened between, it hit me hard. It hurt. It was not what I expected, but was wholly satisfying in the most despairing way. All in all, it was a great series, but has a lot of twists and turns that could turn out unsavoury depending on the preferences of the reader. It is definitely a series that will stay in my mind for a long while.

So dam good. An amazing ending to the series, I couldn’t ask for more.

The ending was just WHAT! If you haven’t started this series go and pick it up and read it right this instant!

In all honesty, I was disappointed by The Burning God. I simply adored The Poppy War - I loved Rin (and hated her), her passion and guts and drive and her terrible decision making. I loved the way it bound together fantasy and history and mythology, the way I was never quite sure until the very end whether this book actually had magic or not, or if everyone was just super high. I was a big fan of the half-academy setting, half real world and the way it contrasted the two, bringing Altan from schoolboy to commander to someone I couldn't stand. I loved the idea of the Trifecta, steeped in lore and mystery and myth.

This book, however, didn't contain the same amount of passion for me. I felt like Kuang saw the vastness of the story she had to tell, how much she had left to wrap up and felt daunted. This trilogy has taken characters and friendships and groupings are used them and torn them up - Altan and his shamans, the people Rin knew at the academy, Master Jiang and Su Daji - and I both liked and hated the way I never really knew where these books were going next. I thought that The Burning God would wrap up the war and focus on the Trifecta.

At about two thirds the way through something incredibly anti-climatic happened and instead of feeling liked I'd been "got" by a bold and daring plot twist, I felt cheated. From that point on my interest definitely waned. I also couldn't care less about Nezha, who never really grew on me. What I did think The Burning God absolutely nailed was a fitting end: it should have been obvious to anyone where Rin's story was going, how she would end up, what shamanism and poppy had done to her and what she had done to herself. Kuang definitely got that right.

I love this trilogy and it has a special place in my heart for its unapologetic, horrifying, cruel, often immoral and self-driven protagonist. But I didn't feel all that satisfied when I closed the cover of the final book.

Quality Rating: Four Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Four Stars

The Burning God is a fitting conclusion to The Poppy War trilogy - and, even though it's painful, it always had to end this way. That being said, this still wasn't what I expected from the third book, but that's been true for each instalment and it's never been a bad thing.

The first thing I want to point out about this whole series is the execution of its inspiration drawn from Chinese history and mythology. I read and watch a fair amount of South-East Asian stories, but that in no way means I'm an expert on it - but you can go into these books with next to no knowledge of the context and be wholly transported there because Kuang does such a good job of immersing the reader in Nikara and explaining the context as the story moves along (obviously, a fantastical adaptation of its real-life inspiration, but the point stands). Moreover, the magic and politics and relationships are all so sophisticated in their own rights. They have depth, are believable, and we feel the stakes they each have in Rin's predicament - and still, all three of them have equal weight in the story. That's such a hard balance to strike, and Kaung seems to do it effortlessly.

I've said it in my previous reviews of this series, but The Poppy War deals with all the aspects of (realistic) warfare and its horror with such maturity. If you want to hear more of my thoughts on it, go look at my review of The Dragon Republic. The one thing I would say about The Burning God specifically was that it has a lot fewer glimpses of humour and hope that balanced out the horror in the previous books. It's totally fitting for the story being told, but I missed it a lot and it really highlighted how much effect those small moments had had on the previous books for me.

I, of course, have to once again praise Rin, especially at the end of the series. She is, without a doubt, what sets this series apart from other high fantasy war epics. We as the reader know, wholeheartedly, that Rin is making bad decisions a lot of the time. She is terrifying, totally messed up, and there are so things that I absolutely relate to personally (and get a little scared of how familiar the temptation feels) and I doubt I'm the only one. You don't get to see heroes being wrong in a lot of fantasy - questionable, sure. Almost every protagonist is a thief or an assassin or some indebted criminal. But straight-out wrong, and not even really realising it, is a rarity. And yet, we still root for Rin because she is so painfully human and that's exactly the point.

It's been great reading this series. Those of you that know my reading style know that I usually pace out trilogies over a couple years honestly, but I read The Poppy War last month and now the whole trilogy's over. It's been a breath of fresh air in a lot of ways, has really ignited my interest in South-East Asian history, and I can't wait to see what Kuang comes up with next.

I’m the kind of reader who will remember a series based on its ending. For me, it’s the kind of thing that can make or break a story.

The ending to The Burning God? It’s… well, phew. It’s memorable. It’s everything you’d expect from R.F. Kuang, and a few things you wouldn’t.

Much like the Dragon Republic, the finale to the Poppy War trilogy focuses almost entirely on the realities of war. Rin isn’t just a student any more. There is no barrier between her and the atrocities of the world. In fact, she broke down some of those barriers on purpose. Rin’s story here builds on the foreshadowing in earlier books. She becomes the person we should have expected her to become, had we been paying attention. All that anger, all that rage, all that self-hatred… it finds a target. Again, and again, and again, and again.

Of all the books in the trilogy, this one took the longest for me to find my immersion. The first 15% or so seemed oddly “separate” from the previous books. A bit like a new season of a TV show that had answered most of its big questions in the previous season’s finale. It felt like we were retreading old ground until the book found its footing.

There was also something about the pacing that didn’t quite sync with me. Don’t get me wrong, this book is almost non-stop action from beginning to end. But some parts in the first third seemed to drag, some plot-arc conclusions passed by too quickly, and quite often I found myself wishing there was more room to breathe. This is very likely a YMMV situation, but it did have an impact on my enjoyment.

Perhaps even more so than the previous two books, The Burning God leans heavily into its grimdark aspects. This book has every content warning it is possible to have. But this dark atmosphere, with all the paranoia and fear and exhaustion that comes with it, allows for some interesting exploration of Rin’s character and her relationships. We’ve seen Rin pushed hard before, but this time around it is relentless. She is pushed to her limit and held there until she is almost suffocated by the weight of her past and the stress of her present.

Rin’s first instinct, of course, is to react to this in the way that Rin usually reacts to things. But the fascinating question posed by this novel is: what happens when she can’t?

I said before that I’m the kind of reader who will remember a series based on its ending. And this ending will definitely stick with me for a long while. All the worldbuilding lore, the character work, the plot threads about history and colonialism, they all come together in a satisfying cascade of maybe-metaphorical explosions.

Taken individually, I don’t think this was my favourite book of the Poppy War trilogy. That honour would go to the Dragon Republic. But the Burning God is still an engaging, challenging read, and a fitting conclusion to one of the most exciting trilogies of the past few years.

Buy tissues.

Absolutely stunning end to this excellent series. Very political with lots of dark humour. I love this whole series.

A strong end to an incredible series. Felt the plot overshadowed the characters and their interactions, which is what initially made me fall in love with the series and found the ending quite rushed and seemingly left of field but overall enjoyed the book.

I love this author and I am still blown away by her writing as I was when I first read the poppy war. She’s the type of writer who makes you think, feel and hurt for months after you even finish her book. I can’t wait to read more from her in the future :)

Thank you to Harper Voyager, R.F. Kuang and Netgalley for an ARC of the book.

*This review will contain no spoilers for The Burning God*

When I was introduced to _The Poppy War_ trilogy back in April, I devoured the first two books in a single night. Knowing what a great storyteller RF Kuang is, I had such high expectations for the book. I haven't encountered a lot of Asian-oriented fantasy novels, so this was such a find. I honestly wondered how on earth she could outdo herself.

Well, colour me surprised!! The book was a whirlwind of devastation, and it absolutely thrilled me. Without spoiling much, I can say that it’s darker and grittier than the last two novels, which is saying something! Kuang has dealt with the intricacies of military strategy in the past, but with this novel, she also more deeply explores the psychological element of warfare. We delve a lot into Rin’s inner psyche and get to explore her trauma, guilt and paranoia as she completes her journey.

Rin’s character as a whole became even more fascinating, and I couldn’t believe this was the same person I’d followed into Sinegard in the very first book. She’s burning with so much ambition, and her actions are filled with anger and spurned on by a lust for power and revenge. Seeing how this affected her relationship with the much more morally upright KItay was absolutely amazing.

I was honestly afraid of reaching the ending; I must warn you- please pack some tissues!! Part of me anticipated it, and I was still left devastated all the same.

Regardless of my heartbreak, Kuang so deftly explores the ways in which history is doomed to repeat itself. Despite this, she still places an emphasis on the power of hope, however tenuous, and its ability to overcome the desolation of war.

_“For it was wonderful to remember that this land could still be so breathtakingly beautiful, that there was more sewn into the heart of the Twelve Provinces than blood and steel and dirt. That centuries of warfare later, this country was still a canvas for the gods; that their celestial essence still seeped through the cracks between worlds.”_

I recieved a free copy of this book on Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

Well, this trilogy is officiallly 3/3 on making me cry. It was a hell of a ride, more twists and turns than a crazy rollercoaster, and I loved every second of the ride. Rin was absolutely terrifying in this book, and watching her relationship with her phoenix develop was intoxicating. I love how what started as a war story developed to so much more. Don't get me wrong, there is still a lot of war going through this book and it's just as full of bloodshed and politics as the previous two, but I feel it was all done so well. There's some really hardhitting topics in this series, you name it and there's a trigger warning for it, but there's always a reason for it happening.

If you ever told me I would rate an entire series based around war and politics 5 stars I would have said you were high, but honestly this was one of the best series' I've ever read. So often the final book fails to live up to the rest of the series (I'm looking at you Lara Jean) but this had such a satisfying ending, it woun't have been right if it had ended any other way.

Consider me destroyed. R.F. Kuang has done it again. The Burning God is the final instalment in The Poppy War Trilogy, a series richly inspired by modern Chinese history – a subject which I wasn’t really familiar with before reading this series. The trilogy centres on Fang Runin, known throughout the books as Rin. The series takes her from adopted girl mistreated by her family, to student at the prestigious Sinegard Military Academy, to soldier, to shaman, to all-powerful General.

The Burning God begins with Rin returning south to Rooster Province. In book one she saved her nation from foreign invaders, in book two she battled Empress Su Daji, Trifecta survivor and known as the Vipress. She is betrayed by her allies in the Dragon Province, which sends her home to Tikany, the small village where her story began.

This is a stunning finale with vivid military descriptions mixed with a fantasy world that is only expanded upon. Rin is faced with the challenge of her school nemesis – turned ally – turned betrayer Nezha, who has allied with a foreign colonising nation, Hesperia. Hesperia wishes to eliminate shamanism as it goes against all of their religious beliefs, but Rin knows her Gods are real and she is not afraid to prove it.

Amongst the detail and gripping plot lies a cast of characters with so much depth it’s astonishing. This is not a book of good versus evil – every character has multiple sides to them which only facilitates the twists in the plot. Rin is as ambitious and angry as usual, but really grows into her new power (not always in the best way). Kitay, now bound to her, balances her out, and becomes an even better strategist. Nezha, having been forced by Rin to acknowledge his shamanism, is now an even greater threat than ever before. Venka is as mysterious as always, and I couldn’t help but like her.

This book really explores what war can do to a country and its people, whether it is civil or through invasion. The ending made me cry, but the story definitely has a small number of humorous moments along the way. I cared so much for Rin, despite her flaws and horrific decisions. Even though it was always clear that she would not have a happy ending, I still hoped otherwise.

Thank you, R.F. Kuang for a better ending to this trilogy than I could have hoped for. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the eARC, it made my week.

A stellar and breathtaking conclusion to Kuang's trilogy, The Burning God balances action and excitment with introspective and moving scenes. The plot progresses in a way that feels true to the characters' personalities and experiences, and comes to a close leaving the reader stunned. With The Burning God, The Poppy War trilogy becomes an outstanding adult fantasy series.