The Recurring Cast
R. F. Kuang books in order · R. F. Kuang reading order · 6 books · 2018 to 2025

R. F. Kuang Books in Order and Reading Order

FantasyHorrorLiterary and generalGrimdarkDark fantasyLiterary fiction

R. F. Kuang writes ambitious fantasy and literary fiction, from the Poppy War trilogy to Babel and the publishing satire Yellowface.

Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip.

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R. F. Kuang books in order

The first The Poppy War book is The Poppy War (2018). There are 6 books in all, published from 2018 to 2025, across 2 series and groups.

The R. F. Kuang reading order: each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.

The Poppy War

3 books · Set in Nikan (fictional empire)Grimdark
  1. 1The Poppy War2018With RinBuy on Amazon
  2. 2The Dragon Republic2019With RinBuy on Amazon
  3. 3The Burning God2020With RinBuy on Amazon

Standalone

3 booksDark fantasyLiterary fiction
  1. 1Babel2022With Robin Swift · Set in OxfordBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Yellowface2023With June Hayward · Set in Washington, D.C.Buy on Amazon
  3. 3Katabasis2025With Alice Law · Set in Cambridge and HellBuy on Amazon

Who appears in which book

Click a name to follow that character from book to book, or a book title to see its cast.

LLeadMMajor·MinorHas a note
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Characters

8 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.

Nikan

Leads

Similar authors

If you enjoy R. F. Kuang, try these writers, chosen for shared genres, settings and readership.

SenLinYuDark fantasy, also from the United States. Start with Helena Marino.Peter V. BrettGrimdark, also from the United States. Start with Arlen Bales.Rachel HochhauserLiterary fiction, also from the United States. Start with Etheldreda Tremaine.Peter StraubLiterary fiction and dark fantasy, also from the United States. Start with Tim Underhill.Neil GaimanDark fantasy and literary fiction. Start with Shadow Moon.George R. R. MartinGrimdark, also from the United States. Start with Arya Stark.