Qara Character Analysis in The Poppy War

Qara is a member of the Cike and Chaghan’s “anchor twin.” This means that if someone hurts or kills one twin, the other feels it—and dies along with the other. While Chaghan is more comfortable in the spirit realm, Qara keeps him tethered to the human world. Qara can communicate with birds, which she uses as spies and signals; she is also a skilled archer.

Qara Quotes in The Poppy War

The The Poppy War quotes below are all either spoken by Qara or refer to Qara. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Dehumanization and the Horrors of War Theme Icon

“I think Tearza was wise. And I think that she was a bad ruler. Shamans should know when to resist the power of the gods. That is wisdom. But rulers should do everything in their power to save their country. That is responsibility. If you hold the fate of the country in your hands, if you have accepted your obligation to your people, then your life ceases to be your own. Once you accept the title of ruler, your choices are made for you. In those days, to rule Speer meant serving the Phoenix. Speer used to be a proud race. A free people. when Tearza killed herself, the Speerlies became little more than the Emperor’s mad dogs. Tearza has the blood of Speer on her hands. Tearza deserved what she got.”

Related Characters: Qara (speaker), Rin (Fang Runin), Mai’rinnen Tearza (The Woman), The Phoenix, The Red Emperor

Page Number and Citation: 319

Explanation and Analysis:

Qara Character Timeline in The Poppy War

The timeline below shows where the character Qara appears in The Poppy War. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Identity, Cultural Trauma, and Coming of Age Theme Icon

...soldiers, Rin, and Altan inside. After sending the officer and his soldiers away, the girl, Qara, sizes Rin up. She tells Altan that her brother isn’t back yet and then leads... (full context)

...Division—currently led by Jun—won’t cooperate with the Cike to take back the city. The issue, Qara explains, is that nobody can come up with a plan that doesn’t jeopardize civilians, who... (full context)

Addiction, Drugs, and Control Theme Icon

Qara and Ramsa explain to Altan where the Cike are headquartered and that after Ramsa blew... (full context)

Next, Rin and Qara join the rest of the Cike in the canteen for a meal. They’re all young;... (full context)

Qara, a skilled archer, shoots enough arrows at the Federation to make it seem like an... (full context)

...Altan can kill him, and the Cike retreat with two supply boats that Unegen and Qara stole. They hurry to the wharf, where Altan praises Ramsa for his explosives. Rin wants... (full context)

They discuss Tearza’s suicide, and Qara notes that it’s a lie that Tearza killed herself for love: that’s Nikara propaganda. In... (full context)

...toll and argue whether they should “strike back.” Just as they reach the Cike’s headquarters, Qara comes out of Altan’s office smelling of smoke. Everyone but Rin seems to know what’s... (full context)

Rin joins Baji, Unegen, and Qara on the street, and they all hurry to Altan’s signal. Altan and Jun are arguing... (full context)

...scream interrupts their conversation. Altan and Rin rush to the sentry tower, where they find Qara writhing and moaning. She has no injuries, though she says it hurts. “He’s here,” she... (full context)

...with a young man who nods that he “s[aw] him” and has “schematics.” Altan and Qara then berate the man for being “stupid” and reckless. Altan, Qara, and the young man—Chaghan,... (full context)

...the sky. Chaghan remains solid and human, while Rin feels untethered. Now, she understands that Qara keeps her “anchor twin” anchored to the mortal world. (full context)

Qara asks Kitay to brief the Cike on what happened. He describes how Federation came at... (full context)

...Altan is gone, Rin runs to find Chaghan, whom she finds preparing to leave with Qara. Rin begs for answers, but Chaghan will only say that Altan is “going to burn... (full context)

Altan calls the Cike together for a final briefing. He tells them to wait for Qara’s messenger bird and to listen to Chaghan while he’s gone, though he won’t say where... (full context)

...sees visions of a god of the wind in the mountains, and of Chaghan and Qara breaking a dam. In the spirit world, Rin touches Chaghan, but he asks for Altan.... (full context)

Qara and Chaghan enter Rin’s room while she’s sleeping. Rin admits to burning Mugen, shares the... (full context)