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foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Empress of All Seasons is split between three main characters: Mari, a yōkai, Taro, the Crown Prince, and Akira, Mari's childhood friend and the half-human half-yōkai Son of Nightmares. The three will be critical to the fate of Honoku. While the Empress trials begin, a revolution is also brimming.
This book was so damn good!! I really loved the world and exploring how the Empire has treated yōkai. Mari is a yōkai, but she hasn't ever been able to call her monster form forward. So she's been trained to kill in other ways. When the Emperor begins to look for his Empress, Mari knows this is her opportunity for a new life and to prove to the other Animal Wives that she is a yōkai.
I really loved the worldbuilding of Honoku. It was elaborately done and I loved learning more about its history and culture. Really the only thing this book needed for me was some queer characters. I loved the trials Mari faced in the various Season rooms and how she succeeded. The ending was a perfect mix of bitter and sweet. Highly recommend this one.
Rep: Japanese female MC, two Japanese male MCs, all Japanese cast, there was possibly a bisexual female side character, but not certain.
CWs: Animal death, blood, death, death of parent, fire, injury/injury detail, misogyny, murder, sexism, violence.
This book was so damn good!! I really loved the world and exploring how the Empire has treated yōkai. Mari is a yōkai, but she hasn't ever been able to call her monster form forward. So she's been trained to kill in other ways. When the Emperor begins to look for his Empress, Mari knows this is her opportunity for a new life and to prove to the other Animal Wives that she is a yōkai.
I really loved the worldbuilding of Honoku. It was elaborately done and I loved learning more about its history and culture. Really the only thing this book needed for me was some queer characters. I loved the trials Mari faced in the various Season rooms and how she succeeded. The ending was a perfect mix of bitter and sweet. Highly recommend this one.
Rep: Japanese female MC, two Japanese male MCs, all Japanese cast, there was possibly a bisexual female side character, but not certain.
CWs: Animal death, blood, death, death of parent, fire, injury/injury detail, misogyny, murder, sexism, violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, and Violence
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