The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
heather_harrison's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I was reasonably excited for this book - Chinese mythology, magic, demons, and the promise of a strong female protagonist.
The book felt like a watered down pivot from the popularity of R.F. Kuang's Poppy War. So many people have enjoyed this, but I just found it really meh.
I was not a fan of AWZ's description of a character with a cleft lip (I don't care if it may be representative of the time it's based, this is fantasy first and foremost and it was just unnecessary).
I didn't find Lan to be endearing at all. 30% of the time I found her tolerable, but the majority I found her to be rude and annoying. Zen's character largely served as an info-dump for Lan, and us the readers.Their relationship was definitely not 'enemies to lovers' and felt super rushed. Not to mention the mirroring of both characters making deals with demons was pretty heavy handed. All of the other characters within the story line felt paper-thin, and as a result it felt pretty hollow whenever anything 'important happened'. We see Lan lose her 'best friend' at the tea-house, what was supposed to be her found family in the magic school, and her literal long-lost father. But because there was very little emotional build up, the outcome just kind of feels hollow and immaterial.
2.75 stars (rounded up to 3)
The book felt like a watered down pivot from the popularity of R.F. Kuang's Poppy War. So many people have enjoyed this, but I just found it really meh.
I was not a fan of AWZ's description of a character with a cleft lip (I don't care if it may be representative of the time it's based, this is fantasy first and foremost and it was just unnecessary).
I didn't find Lan to be endearing at all. 30% of the time I found her tolerable, but the majority I found her to be rude and annoying. Zen's character largely served as an info-dump for Lan, and us the readers.
2.75 stars (rounded up to 3)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Colonisation, Violence, War, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Physical abuse
pocketeditionliz's review against another edition
- Pace = Slow
- Characters = slow development and unlikable
- Trauma-driven motivation from the characters gave me the ick. The female MC growth was not believable to me. The male MC to driven by his trauma. Overall (ironically so, I think) this book lacked the balance between hope and darkness.
- I also was really turned off by the voice the narrator gave the female MC.
IDK this book wasn't for me. Gave me weird vibes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Gore, and Hate crime
chaos_and_chapters's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Sexual harassment, Death, Misogyny, Blood, Racism, War, Murder, Death of parent, Colonisation, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Slavery, Cannibalism, and Medical content
leedolee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
A great read! I found myself unable to put this book down as I wanted to keep on reading and find out what came next. The entire plot line, the characters, the lore, and the world were all entertaining, well fleshed-out, and exciting! I’m definitely going to be counting down the days until the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual assault, Grief, Violence, Body horror, Colonisation, Medical trauma, Torture, Murder, Physical abuse, Gore, Death, Death of parent, War, Sexual harassment, and Genocide
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Medical content, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
onthesamepage's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
She would no longer be the flower. She would be the blade.
While the overarching plot direction and themes aren't necessarily unique, I found a lot to love in this book.
Years after losing her mother to the Elantian magicians during the occupation, Lan is still trying to figure out what the mysterious mark on her arm means. She finally has a lead, but when an Elantian officer buys her time as a songgirl, Lan is forced to defend herself and her life. Fortunately for her, Zen happens to be at the right place, at the right time, even if they don't entirely get off on the right foot. And as a practitioner, he might be able to help her unravel the secrets her mother left her with.
There were several moments while reading this that I thought I must be near the end already, only to check and see I wasn't even halfway. This isn't because it was lagging in any way, but enough happens in this book that it could have easily been split into two. In fact, there are a lot of YA fantasies that don't pack nearly as much into the first book, but that is part of what kept me engaged throughout the story. I never felt like the pacing dragged, or like I was reading about something that didn't feel necessary to the overall plot. Lan has a very specific goal in mind, and she never veers from this, even when she is forced to take detours for a time.
The courtdog’s expression was not amused. His mouth was pressed into a thin line as he held her arm. “You’ll have to try a lot harder than that if you want to run.”
“Got it,” Lan said, and with her other hand, smashed her teacup into his face.
Speaking of Lan, it's been a while since I've encountered such a compelling main character. I absolutely loved the way she was, from her snarky replies, to her determination to learn new things and do what is necessary to protect herself and the people she cares for. Even though there is a romance between her and Zen, that never becomes the end-all-be-all of her as a character. She still makes the difficult choices, love and soulmates be damned.
“I feel something inside me. A voice, whispering to me… telling me it hungers…”
Zen leaned closer. “Hungers for what?”
“… for steamed pork buns,” Lan finished.
In comparison, Zen almost comes across as bland. I think the reason for this does become more clear the more you find out about him, but for me it meant that while I understood Lan's motivations and feelings, Zen never felt quite as genuine. When they first confess to having feelings for one another, reading that he cared so much for her took me by surprise, because I hadn't seen much of it prior to that point. This is despite the fact that the book is written in 3rd person, and that we get chapters from both their perspectives.
The other issue I had were a few of the antagonists, especially Dilaya. That girl was just everywhere at just the right moment to hear all the things she shouldn't know about, and she predictably reacted badly every time. This felt like a bit of a pattern for many side characters—while Lan and Zen felt fleshed out, the others were a bit flatter.
Overall, I still really enjoyed this, and if you're looking for a nice, meaty start to a YA fantasy series, I highly recommend checking this out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
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