but I think it’s a fantasy series worth reading

how many of you guessed the series before i revealed it?

the poppy war is a grimdark military fantasy series, and it has a lot of disturbing elements. it doesn’t shy away from the realities and horrors of war, so if you find that content upsetting i would not recommend picking up these books.

but if you’re interested, it’s got a captivating & gut-wrenching arc with some very morally messy characters.

#lemon8partner #lemon8bookclub #lemon8bookchallenge #fantasybooks #horrorbooks #disturbingbooks #thepoppywar #rfkuang

2024/4/11 Edited to

... Read moreThe Poppy War trilogy has garnered significant attention for its intricate storytelling and raw depiction of war. R.F. Kuang creates a richly woven narrative that explores themes of power, trauma, and moral ambiguity, inviting readers to ponder the nature of humanity amidst conflict. Set in a world inspired by Chinese history, the series highlights the struggles faced by its protagonist as she navigates the violent landscape of war. Readers are often captivated by the duality of her character—she is portrayed as both a powerful figure and a deeply flawed individual. Critics have praised Kuang’s ability to incorporate historical elements with fantasy, making the series not only entertaining but also thought-provoking. The rich world-building allows readers to immerse themselves fully in the story, while the disturbing yet relatable characters elevate the emotional stakes throughout the narrative. The trilogy’s exploration of dark themes, including PTSD and the impacts of trauma, resonates with many, providing a powerful commentary on real-world issues. As readers engage with the text, they are invited to reflect on the moral implications of war, making The Poppy War a compelling series for those seeking depth in their fantasy reads.

13 comments

🪬♡🧿Lee🧿♡🪬's images
🪬♡🧿Lee🧿♡🪬

are these all the books or is there more than 3?

Patience's images
Patience

Loved this series

See more comments

Related posts

Stand Alone Fantasy Books That Are Worth Reading
I love a solid stand-alone and these are some of my favorite atmospheric fantasy reads. #fantasybookshelf #fantasybooks #fantasybookrecommendation #standalonebooks #booksoflemon8
Allie 📚💙

Allie 📚💙

2500 likes

3 Black fantasy book series worth reading
1. Kalynn Bayron has never been shy to play with elements of classic tales that we know well. Greek mythology drips fr every angle. In This Poison Heart duology, a young woman with plant magic finds her fate as her found family and birth family unite. 2. a Black mermaid series is full of Africa
AMA B. | tastemaker 🎬📚📺

AMA B. | tastemaker 🎬📚📺

3117 likes

A hand holds several fantasy books, with the text overlay "Beginner fantasy books" prominently displayed. The books are stacked, showing their spines and some cover art, against a blurred background of bookshelves.
A hand holds the book "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black, featuring a crown and branches on its cover. The text describes it as a fast-paced YA fantasy perfect for beginners, with manageable lore and a cozy feel.
A hand holds the book "Bound & Barbed" by Samantha R. Goode, featuring a sword, roses, and petals on its dark cover. The text suggests it's ideal for vampire lovers seeking a series with evolving lore and story.
Beginner fantasy books
Some of you asked me to do a post on fantasy books for beginners so I thought why not! I know a lot of people want to get into reading and aren’t sure which books to start with so I thought I’d give you four options of books that I think are good fantasy beginners. - cruel prince - bound & b
Spookyrevioos

Spookyrevioos

313 likes

A retail book display features multiple thriller novels by Freida McFadden, including "The Housemaid," "The Boyfriend," "The Perfect Son," and "The Inmate." Also displayed are books from the "Twisted" series by Ana Huang. The display has a sign for #BookTok.
A hand holds "The Housemaid" by Freida McFadden, a #1 New York Times Bestseller. The cover shows an eye looking through a keyhole, with text "From behind closed doors, she sees everything."
A hand holds "The Housemaid's Secret" by Freida McFadden. The cover features an eye looking through a keyhole on a red background, with text "This perfect home has one rule. Don't look behind closed doors..."
Target books worth reading!📚
Freida McFaddens best book series. I could not put this down! I stayed up till 3am for a week!🫢 #targetbooks #freidamcfaddenbooks #fyp #thrillerbookrecommendations
emyyykenda

emyyykenda

1083 likes

an underhyped fantasy series you need to read
The Mirror Visitor Quartet was big on TikTok a few years ago, but I hardly see anyone pick it up or talk about it anymore 😭 This series follows Ophelia, our quirky and smart main character who can travel through mirrors and “read” the history of objects when she touches them, and Thorn, our math
Maddy

Maddy

501 likes

Four books with white spines are stacked on a green blanket with white floral patterns. Overlay text reads "Series I'm scared to read" with a facepalm emoji and an open book emoji.
The book "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas, featuring a female warrior on the cover, rests on a green floral blanket. Overlay text lists reasons for intimidation: "so many books," "didn't love ACOTAR," and "scared it's overhyped."
The book "Skyward" by Brandon Sanderson, showing a woman with glowing eyes on the cover, is placed on a green floral blanket. Overlay text explains intimidation: "I LOVE his other books," "scared this won't live up to them," and "It's not cosmere."
Book series I’m intimidated to read 🫣📖
Listen, I love a good book series, but there are some that have been on my TBR for YEARS because I’m too intimidated to start them. Here are four that have been on my TBR for so long, and why I haven’t read them yet 📚 *PLEASE let me know which ones you think I absolutely have to read! ✨Throne
Bethany Taylor

Bethany Taylor

600 likes

Beginner friendly fantasy series 🫶
We all fall down the fantasy rabbit hole sooner or later (I’ve been in it for the last 15 years 🤭) Here are some fantasy books that are super simple to understand, beginner/intro to fantasy friendly or just not too heavily reliant on complex world building and magic systems! #fantasybooks
Tatiana | Books + More 💛

Tatiana | Books + More 💛

51 likes

Popular book series that are actually worth readin
Obsessed with all of these books truly wish I could read them for the first time again. #books #read #fearless #arronwarner Iykyk
Zhoe Smith

Zhoe Smith

669 likes

A hand holds a stack of books on a blue textured background, with text overlayed: "a fantasy trilogy EVERY ONE needs to read." Black dragon silhouettes frame the top and bottom corners.
Three books from "The Licanius Trilogy" by James Islington are displayed vertically. Text highlights the series as being "for fans of: Lord of the Rings, quest fantasies, unique magic systems, multi-POVs, Skyrim."
Three books from "The Licanius Trilogy" are arranged on a blue textured surface. Overlays indicate book titles, page counts (602, 716, 880), and descriptions like "high fantasy, sci-fi elements, adventure filled."
the BEST fantasy series no one EVER talks about 👀👀
I just finished this series a couple days ago and i NEEEEED to talk about it. This is The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington and it is PHENOMENAL!! It is a high fantasy, adventure-filled, science fiction series spanning three (pretty chunky) books, with a fantastic cast of characters and incre
molly

molly

532 likes

A flat lay shows seven fantasy books on a white bedsheet, including "Divine Rivals," "Never," "Serpent & Wings of Night," "Ruthless Vows," "Gothikana," "Iron Flame," and "Fourth Wing," with the overlay "FANTASY BOOKS I'm reading THIS MONTH."
A close-up of the book "Gothikana" by Runyx, featuring a dark, gothic cover with an ornate gate and a black rose, resting on a white textured surface.
A close-up of the book "Never" by Jessa Hastings, displaying a vibrant cover with a person running towards another figure in a fantastical landscape, on a white textured surface.
fantasy books I’m reading in april 🌸📚
I am new to fantasy and have only read the first book in the Caraval series, Cruel Prince, and Powerless by Lauren Roberts. These are the books that I have planned to read this month, so let’s see if I’m secretly a fantasy girlie. Books I’m reading: Gothikana by Runyx Never by Jess’s Ha
Hannah Pilgrim

Hannah Pilgrim

59 likes

A person in dark fantasy armor with a red banner overlay reading 'Fantasy Romance Series On My Winter TBR'. A 'SWIPE' arrow is visible, along with Lemon8 branding.
Fantasy Romance Series on my Winter TBR
After Thanksgiving until it’s warm again in line April, I go through my fantasy series mood!! These are some on my TBR, have you read them? Do you have a winter TBR set? #winter #wintertbr #tbr #reading #readersoflemon8 #bookwormsoflemon8 #lemon8bookclub #fantasybooks #romantasy
Arlyn

Arlyn

10 likes

A collage displays covers of ten completed fantasy book trilogies. Featured series include Holly Black's The Cruel Prince, Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel, Stephanie Garber's Caraval, Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, and Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Wicked, among others, offering diverse reading recommendations.
Trilogies worth reading
#booktok #trilogy #reading #bookrecommendations #books
Kimberly tay

Kimberly tay

665 likes

Book Series Worth Reading 🥰📚
I loveeee a good book series binge. Some of these books I read back to back in a weekend, whereas others are taking me a bit longer to get through. Regardless, I love living in their world just a bit longer. Here are some of my favorite book series to read and recommend!! 🤠Chestnut Springs Seri
isabella 🫶🏻

isabella 🫶🏻

59 likes

A BL Fantasy Featuring a Unique Bridal Challenge
📖 Name of the Book: The Titan's Bride Volume 5 📄 Plot: Linus, Caius's brother challenges Kouichi to a bridal challenge to prove his worth as a King's Bride. If Caius is to become King and take Kouichi as his bride, he should be prosperous. The bridal challenge is to have 2 weeks t
Cozywulfe | BL Reading Diary

Cozywulfe | BL Reading Diary

648 likes

Romance & Fantasy Series❤️🧚🏼‍♀️
These books definitely helped me get into reading !! ✨ #books 🫶🏼 #reading📖 #romance✨ #lemon8bookclub #BookReview #booktok #bookwormsoflemon8 #bookrecs #bookrecommendations
Carye✨

Carye✨

624 likes

Fantasy Series I’ve been loving lately
I'm on a roll with fantasy lately. Tell me what you are reading ✨📖 #fantasybookobsession #fantasybookrecommendation #fantasybooklover #fantasybookhaul
Kiacyntrice

Kiacyntrice

82 likes

A woman holds a stack of six popular BookTok books, including 'Powerless' and 'Divine Rivals', against a world map background. The image is overlaid with text 'my thoughts on BOOKTOK'S FAVORITES' and decorative yellow outlines and flowers.
The book 'Powerless' by Lauren Roberts is shown with a 3-star rating. The review describes it as young adult romantasy, but not true enemies-to-lovers, finding the romance underwhelming. It recommends against reading it.
The book covers for 'One Dark Window' and 'Two Twisted Crowns' by Rachel Gillig are displayed with 4 and 4.5 stars respectively. The review praises the gothic fantasy series' atmosphere and magic system, recommending it.
are these booktok books worth it??
Everyone and their mother has gotten questionable book recommendations from tiktok. I wanted to give my honest opinions about some of the books i see all the time on booktok, and let you know if they’re worth reading! And yes, i was influenced to read every single one from booktok creators 🤠
molly

molly

85 likes

The book cover for Kimberly Lemming's 'THAT TIME I Got DRUNK AND SAVED A HUMAN' depicts a crowned Black woman with a mug, carried by a white-haired, elf-like person. The vibrant background is orange and purple with yellow flowers. A quote from Katee Robert is also present.
Mead Mishaps Series: Black Women being loved on!
Miss Kimberly Lemming has become one of my favorite Romantasy authors. The 3rd book in the Mead Mishaps series was THE BEST. I didn’t think any of the other books would surpass the 1st one, but THE WAY I WAS CLENCHED MY IMAGINARY PEARLS WHILE READING BOOK 3?! I need more 😫. I am so in love with the
Naé’s Reading Room

Naé’s Reading Room

368 likes

An overhead shot of several books open on a white bed, with the text overlay 'June reading planning' in green, indicating a selection of books for the month.
A hand holds the book 'Ruin' by Natalia Jaster, featuring a dark cover with a broken crown. Text labels indicate 'Romantasy' and 'Jester X Royal' genres, with a caption about buddy reading the second book in the 'Foolish Kingdoms' series.
A hand holds 'Till Death We Give' (Hollow Boys Book Five) by Monty Jay, with a skull and floral cover. Text labels indicate 'Dark romance' and 'Cursed girl' genres, with a caption expressing excitement for the series finale.
June reading planning
I just want to really quickly thank you guys for 6k followers! That is insane and I’m so so grateful for all of you and the support and kindness you show me. I’m so glad this little corner can be a place where we can all talk and rave about books! You guys are awesome. Here are some books I thi
Spookyrevioos

Spookyrevioos

50 likes

3 book series worth reading
I love these book series and I always recommend them to someone who is just starting to get into YA fantasy/mystery. The Shatter Me series is still my all time favorite for getting into a book that introduces themes of war and oppression. #fantasybookrecommendation #bookrecommendations #bo
Tayler

Tayler

48 likes

A book titled "To Bleed a Crystal Bloom" by Sarah A. Parker rests on a white bedspread, next to a wooden tray with decorative items. A pink text bubble overlays the image, stating "Book series I want to continue."
Three book covers are displayed: "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas, "To Bleed a Crystal Bloom" by Sarah A. Parker, and "It Happened One Summer" by Tessa Bailey. Each cover is accompanied by a text bubble describing the user's intent to continue reading the series.
Three book covers are shown: "Nightshade" by Keri Lake, "The Bridge Kingdom" by Danielle L. Jensen, and "Leaves May Fall" by Carissa Hardcastle. Each cover is paired with a text bubble explaining the user's desire to continue the series.
Book series I want to continue
Throne of glass I’ve read 3 books of this series but want to continue to see what all the hype is about. I don’t love it yet but I’ll continue it. To bleed a crystal bloom I’m currently reading book two from this series because I really enjoyed book one. There’s so much mystery to this romant
Spookyrevioos

Spookyrevioos

26 likes

📖 Currently Reading… 📖
📖 Currently Reading: Queen of Shadows — Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas 👑 Can Chaol and Aelin just figure their sh*t out already?? 😅 I mean, I get it… but come on 😂 My TBR pile is out of control at this point (please tell me I’m not alone 😭). What’s on your current reads or TBR right
Lindsey 📚📖

Lindsey 📚📖

5 likes

Witchy Stories Worth Reading
Witches have always carried stories in their bones 🖤 These books are filled with spellwork, power, fear, resilience, and magic that lingers long after the last page. Drop your favorite witch book below — I’m always adding to my spellbook 📖✨ #WitchyBooks #WitchcraftReads #BooksAbou
IntoHiddenChapters

IntoHiddenChapters

66 likes

Okay… This fantasy series really is Worth the hype🤭
⭐️ Rating: 9/10 🌶️ Spice: 4/10 🗺️ Plot: 10/10 The "Powerless" saga, Lauren Roberts I loved this trilogy! Paedyn and Kai are another notch in the ‘fantasy couples’ hall of fame. I love that this book takes place in the arid desert. I love that the magic system is tied to a plague. I
Alex

Alex

11 likes

Fantasy Series for winter time
⭐️Bibgeable fantasy duets or series that i recommend 100% i know we all don’t have the same taste but it’s gonna be winter time soon which means more reading!! ⬇️ Let me know your thoughts on these series and if there’s any other ones you’d recommend ⬇️ #BookReview #booktok #bookrecommen
maii08

maii08

10 likes

august reading wrap up ☕️
#booktok #bookstagram #readersoflemon8 #august #readingwrapup
✰ ꜱᴋʏᴇ ☾

✰ ꜱᴋʏᴇ ☾

16 likes

Currently reading ⬇️⬇️⬇️
With the release of King of Envy, I'm finally finishing the rest of the Kings of Sin series and I'm especially ready to read this one! #kingofsinseries #kingofgreed #reading #readersoflemon8 #bookwormsoflemon8
karaottmers.writer

karaottmers.writer

2 likes

Fantasy Series I plan on reading
Each book listed is book 1 of each series. 1. Atlas Series: dark academia with a magical twist.I finished this book a few weeks ago.It starts slow, but ramps up toward the end. 2. The Empyrean series: dragons, secrets, and learning to navigate through a dangerous world.Can’t wait to get start
Cara

Cara

5 likes

A hand holds a spiral-bound reading tracker with a dark cover featuring colorful illustrations of books, teacups, flowers, and butterflies. The title "READING TRACKER" is at the bottom, and "MY FAVORITE READING TRACKER" is written around the top.
An open spiral-bound reading tracker shows an "About Me" page with sections for star rating, spice rating, favorite genres, current TBR status, favorite tropes, and reading essentials. The facing page includes sections for favorite books, series, reading goals, authors, and bookish preferences.
A hand holds an open reading tracker displaying a bookshelf-themed page. The shelves are filled with outlines of books, some colored and labeled with titles like "The Love of My Life," "The Silent Patient," "Fourth Wing," and "Local Woman Missing."
My favorite reading tracker
I’m so obsessed with this! It pricier than I’d like but worth it for a whole years worth of an amazing reading journal! It linked in my bio if you want it for yourself! (Ps its cheaper on their website than it is on TikTok 🤫) #readingjournalsetup #readingjournalspread #readingjournals #readi
Hannah

Hannah

4 likes

Books at Target Worth Reading
If you are not filling me on my book IG you are missing out! Ig: @spicerackreads We love to read around here and @target is my favorite late night book store! . . . . #currentlyreading #lemon8challenge #target #targetfinds #reading #readersoflemon8 #readingrecommendatio
Deja Trotman

Deja Trotman

264 likes

Series worth reading📖
Hi Bookish Friends💕 Do you guys need more books to add to your TBR pile🤔 Do you wonder if you have enough reading material for the next millennia? We’ll look no further because with a never ending TBR list and more good books being added daily, here are 3 series you SHOULD add to that list and
Anamaria❤️‍🔥

Anamaria❤️‍🔥

22 likes

See more