kelseyr713's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Excellent, creative fantasy romance. I felt a little distanced from the main character (I feel like we never really get to know her beyond the surface level, despite being in her head for the whole book) but I still liked her. Very much looking forward to the sequel, and I appreciate that the first book still ended in a satisfying way and not on a cliffhanger!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, War, Murder, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
The sexual assault is attempted, not completed, and alluded to vaguely.ong's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Reading this feels like reading poetry. How Sue Lynn Tan describes everything is just 100/10 spectacular beautiful amazing stunning. As one of chinese descent, it’s nice to finally read a fantasy book with familiar lores. From the tales to the food, the dresses and action scenes which I can easily picture in my head from years of watching asian dramas, my heart was filled with warmth the entire time.
Now onto the characters. Xingyin. Our 小星。At first so untouched by the realities of the cruel world out there, now a warrior, survivor, savior and more. Very in theme too that she was never shown what healthy love & relationships looks like so when she was thrown in a ‘love triangle’ she couldn’t made up her mind ever and felt unworthy.
Liwei. What can I say. 10/10 best of all of us.
Fuck people in power by the way.
Now onto the characters. Xingyin. Our 小星。At first so untouched by the realities of the cruel world out there, now a warrior, survivor, savior and more. Very in theme too that she was never shown what healthy love & relationships looks like so when she was thrown in a ‘love triangle’ she couldn’t made up her mind ever and felt unworthy.
Liwei. What can I say. 10/10 best of all of us.
Fuck people in power by the way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Gaslighting, Bullying, and Violence
Minor: Classism, War, Murder, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, and Torture
rnbhargava's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This book is a very fun and emotional adventure. My biggest gripe with the book is that the protagonist has the most abundant plot armor around, even in situations that should be seriously harming toward her. Minor quibble I guess for essentially a chosen one type fantasy action adventure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Vomit
There is violence throughout this story but the characters are immortals so that can undercut some of the tension a tiny bit. The author specifically has to write in that something is limiting their natural resilience but then there are healing magics to help characters recover. It leads to more emotional tension when paired with the action. I quite liked this novel and will read the follow up. That said the protagonist’s plot armor is abundant and strong. If that bothers you perhaps stay away. It’s a fun mythological adventure otherwisekbairbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a whirlwind. A wild ride. I listened to this as an audiobook at the same time that I read it in physical and I noted some… changes. I don’t know if the audiobook narrator was given an unfinished copy of this book to narrate or what but my copy did not have ableist language that hers did. I’m grateful mine didn’t but at the same time it was rather disconcerting to hear these ableist and noticeably different sentences than what I had in front of my eyes. Story wise I enjoyed it. It was really interesting seeing the growth and years pass for the main character and the traitor was not who I expected. There was a lot of romantic back and forth and a lot of angst. Nearing the end there was so much going on I was confused about the storyline. It felt like the author was throwing shit in there just for the sake of adding trials but when it all added up I totally understood. Also this author is very good at making villains and Liwei is such a cinnamon roll!! Excited for book two
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, and War
Minor: Ableism
a_alves00's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Grief, Abandonment, Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Violence, War, and Death
sunsetcity's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, War, Kidnapping, and Violence
anapthine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Colonisation, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Torture, Physical abuse, Gore, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Deadnaming
Minor: Alcohol and Death of parent
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This fantasy debut stuns with evocative descriptions of many dazzling locales from the moon to the Celestial Court to an underwater palace to an enchanted forest to the Demon Realm, among others. Each setting is layered with vibrant description, emotional atmosphere, and a spark of magic. It provides the perfect majestic backdrop for a story of mythical proportions and sweeping battles, quests, and bargains.
The plot follows Xingyin as she must abscond from her home on the moon in secret, leaving her mother, the moon goddess, behind. Driven by a desire for reunion, she sets out to free the goddess from her lunar imprisonment. She goes on many journeys: from lowly attendant to the companion of a prince, from skilled flutist to First Archer in the Celestial Army, from broken heart to betrayal, from pawn to clever trickster. The story thrives on big-picture political slyness and also on the more intimate level of personal relationships-- bonds of family, loyalty, duty, friendship, and romantic love.
Speaking of romance, I normally hate a love triangle but was actually amused in this case by how Xingyin is kind of clueless about her allure. It doesn't have the annoying flavor of a protagonist who is inexplicably desired by everyone they meet. Rather, her forthright nature and the way she clings to her goals and stays true to herself draw people in without her noticing. So intent on her aspirations and her desperation to free her mother, she has an air of surprise towards anyone holding interest in her since it doesn't rank among her own priorities. Xingyin doesn't even notice if someone else is attractive unless another party points it out to her. This power imbalance was great fun to me. I also loved her iron core of honor and the way she follows her own standard for right and wrong rather than allowing anyone else to dictate it for her. It lends her a strength of purpose and makes her a loyal friend but never a flattering sycophant.
At all points, I was enthralled with Xingyin's story and I loved being a guest in her mind. I can't wait to see where the duology goes next (and the love triangle, let's be honest).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Confinement, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, and War
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