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bloodbrooxv's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
I really liked this book, I would suggest it to anyone who doesn't feel comfortable enough to read the poppy war. Colonialism, as a theme, is very prominent, and although it's analized in a YA-ish way, it's still very impactful. The romance was very cute, and i'm interested in how it'll develop in the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Genocide and Gore
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Fatphobia, and Sexual assault
Representation: chinese main charactersintoxicatedflower's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Moderate: Torture and War
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: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Physical abuse
cozigremlin'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: Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Violence
vampire_burrito's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Colonisation
peachythi_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Updated Review: 1/10/24
Anyone who has read or watched Xianxia or Wuxia would be familiar with the themes in this book. Cultivation, Qi, Gods, Demons, Yin, and Yang.
And even if you are not Amélie Wen Zhao does a wonderful job introducing her world to the reader.
The book is a dual POV Chinese fantasy novel following the journey of Lan and Zen as they traverse the world of the ancient art of practicioning, in a land long stolen by invaders. Lan and Zen have so much heart to them, and their past is as much as a mystery to us as it is to everyone else around them. As we follow along their journey we get bits and pieces of a lost ancient world and a secret dark history locked away.
The characters have so much heart to them and even though we stay with Zen and Lan for the majority of the book, the other characters introduced are just as ✨golden✨.
Zhao has created one of the most beautiful Chinese Fantasy Worlds I have ever seen.
Anyone who has read or watched Xianxia or Wuxia would be familiar with the themes in this book. Cultivation, Qi, Gods, Demons, Yin, and Yang.
And even if you are not Amélie Wen Zhao does a wonderful job introducing her world to the reader.
The book is a dual POV Chinese fantasy novel following the journey of Lan and Zen as they traverse the world of the ancient art of practicioning, in a land long stolen by invaders. Lan and Zen have so much heart to them, and their past is as much as a mystery to us as it is to everyone else around them. As we follow along their journey we get bits and pieces of a lost ancient world and a secret dark history locked away.
The characters have so much heart to them and even though we stay with Zen and Lan for the majority of the book, the other characters introduced are just as ✨golden✨.
Zhao has created one of the most beautiful Chinese Fantasy Worlds I have ever seen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Torture and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
totsfions's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Me reading any romance novel: that ending was too rushed.
Me reading any fantasy novel: that ending was too drawn out.
Any way, aside from the ending taking an eternity, this book was wonderful. I loved the magic systems and the deep attention to Chinese lore and myth that went in to developing this world. It also handles the complexity of power with a nuance not often seen in YA. This book reckons not only with the injustices of colonialism, but also the power structures that existed beforehand. It allows it's characters to process their grief, but also to find just retribution; to imagine not only what their lives would have been but also what they will be next.
Me reading any fantasy novel: that ending was too drawn out.
Any way, aside from the ending taking an eternity, this book was wonderful. I loved the magic systems and the deep attention to Chinese lore and myth that went in to developing this world. It also handles the complexity of power with a nuance not often seen in YA. This book reckons not only with the injustices of colonialism, but also the power structures that existed beforehand. It allows it's characters to process their grief, but also to find just retribution; to imagine not only what their lives would have been but also what they will be next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture
gwenythepooh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Check the trigger warnings!
This is a rich, winding story that had me enthralled. I couldn’t stop reading. Can’t wait for the next book.
This is a rich, winding story that had me enthralled. I couldn’t stop reading. Can’t wait for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
bookishwondergoth's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
What a wonderfully pleasant surprise. I must confess I only picked up a copy of this book because it came in my February Illumicrate and I took part in their Discord readalong. Ordinarily it’s not something I would have picked up as I tend to avoid YA like the plague these days.
Fast-paced with a truly beautiful, gorgeously described world, Amélie Wen Zhao has crafted an enchanting and thrilling tale inspired by Chinese history and legends. Main characters Lan and Zen are a lot of fun, highly endearing, and I was utterly gripped from start to finish.
Will definitely be reading the next one.
Fast-paced with a truly beautiful, gorgeously described world, Amélie Wen Zhao has crafted an enchanting and thrilling tale inspired by Chinese history and legends. Main characters Lan and Zen are a lot of fun, highly endearing, and I was utterly gripped from start to finish.
Will definitely be reading the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Colonisation
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Self harm, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
One of the characters has a cleft palette, and is referred to with a slur that isn't really challenged, even though other people's prejudiced attitudes to the character's appearance are.persephonefoxx's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail