Common question

Where to start The Poppy War

Start The Poppy War with the novel The Poppy War, then The Dragon Republic, then The Burning God. Yellowface is a different book. Do not start with the last novel.

Short answer

The Poppy War

It is book one (2018). The two sequels are the same war after it has already started. Do not start with The Burning God. Do not start with Yellowface — that is a different book.

A finished trilogy. Publication order.

The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, The Burning God. Book two and book three assume you already know what book one cost. There is no chronological reshuffle.

The Drowning Faith is optional connective tissue around the end of the run. It is not a fourth novel and not an on-ramp.

What is not this series

Babel and Yellowface are other Kuang shelves. They are not Poppy War 4 and 5. A shop that piles Yellowface next to The Burning God is doing retail gravity.

The full Poppy War map

The three-book table and the extra flag live on the Poppy War reading-order guide. This page is only book one.

FAQ

Can I start with The Burning God?
No.

Is Yellowface in this series?
No.

Do I need The Drowning Faith?
No.

Full maps

Read the guide this answers