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alexan13's review
4.0
Proud of myself for finally tackling some books off of my backlist TBR. I absolutely adored this book, but would warn anyone considering reading it that the marketing for the book does not quite do justice to what the book actually is. It is a slow-moving, slow-paced epistolary novel focused on the development of the romance between the protagonists from childhood to adulthood more than it is a fantasy adventure story. I would describe it as a wlw romance in a fantasy setting, more than a fantasy story featuring a wlw romance. That being said, it's beautifully written and very emotionally rewarding if you read beyond the novel's slow beginning.
zober's review
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Queer semi-historical fantasy is my jam. Setting is fun; would love more world-building though. I can't tell how much of the world is supposed to be original vs based on specific parts of historical East Asia, but I'm hoping the former because if it's the latter, there were a loooot of stereotypes here. This book felt like it was mostly character-focused, coming-of-age set-up for the series. I'm hoping the next book(s) will have more plot and less purple prose (second person) love letters.
Things that didn't work for me:
- The relationship almost had the 'fated relationship' trope, which is not my favorite. But it mostly works here because the relationship is queer which wasn't the norm/particularly accepted in the predominant culture of this empire. But the declarations of love still felt over-the-top.
- The format/writing style. The flashback letters to recap a bunch of things that the addressee already knows felt really weird. There shouldn't be multiple sentences that start with "you already know this, but" [let me tell the reader]. It would have made more sense if it were structured as "I've been away so long, I need to remind myself why I love you/what we've been through". But so it goes.
- Shefali's mother takes a vow of silence and doesn't speak for most of Shefali's life - why doesn't Shefali learn sign language?! Her cousin does, but she doesn't.
Things that didn't work for me:
- The relationship almost had the 'fated relationship' trope, which is not my favorite. But it mostly works here because the relationship is queer which wasn't the norm/particularly accepted in the predominant culture of this empire. But the declarations of love still felt over-the-top.
- The format/writing style. The flashback letters to recap a bunch of things that the addressee already knows felt really weird. There shouldn't be multiple sentences that start with "you already know this, but" [let me tell the reader]. It would have made more sense if it were structured as "I've been away so long, I need to remind myself why I love you/what we've been through". But so it goes.
- Shefali's mother takes a vow of silence and doesn't speak for most of Shefali's life - why doesn't Shefali learn sign language?! Her cousin does, but she doesn't.
jenniferkowash's review
5.0
A character driven story narrated through letters reminiscing of the past of two main characters. The setting is a fantasy world rooted in historical Mongolian, Japanese, and Chinese cultures all on the same landmass with sprinkles of demonic and divine powers and/or beings.
My favorite part of this whole story is that each character is very human. Whether they are a passing character with only a few lines or a main character, everyone has faults and preconceived notions. There are a lot of things like language barriers, racism between characters, and culture shock that are usually glossed over/conveniently missing in fantasy that are quite prevelant in this book and it adds a sense of reality to both the characters and the world.
This book is incredibly immersive if you like the characters, but if you don't it'll probably be outrageously boring. Also if the reader is knowledgeable of the historical cultures that are the roots of the main cultures in this book, whenever any alterations or fictional parts of those cultures pop up it may be jarring enough to ruin the book.
All in all I found this to be a rich and immersive fantasy world with high quality romance and realistic characters.
My favorite part of this whole story is that each character is very human. Whether they are a passing character with only a few lines or a main character, everyone has faults and preconceived notions. There are a lot of things like language barriers, racism between characters, and culture shock that are usually glossed over/conveniently missing in fantasy that are quite prevelant in this book and it adds a sense of reality to both the characters and the world.
This book is incredibly immersive if you like the characters, but if you don't it'll probably be outrageously boring. Also if the reader is knowledgeable of the historical cultures that are the roots of the main cultures in this book, whenever any alterations or fictional parts of those cultures pop up it may be jarring enough to ruin the book.
All in all I found this to be a rich and immersive fantasy world with high quality romance and realistic characters.
laurentined's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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
All the yearning and heartache of Nghi Vo with the darkness and vague supernatural elements of She Who Became the Sun. Let it be known there's nearly no plot here. Events happening in order? Yes. Defined character motivation with any sense of urgency? Not till the last minute. For those who want an exceedingly slow epic that's entirely focused on the coming of age of two legends.
The epistolary second person is really great. The slow building love between two stubborn warriors engaging. Tons of wry humor between two people who know each other to their core. An amazing cultural tapestry backdrop.
This is going in my personal canon of classics for sapphic fantasy.
The epistolary second person is really great. The slow building love between two stubborn warriors engaging. Tons of wry humor between two people who know each other to their core. An amazing cultural tapestry backdrop.
This is going in my personal canon of classics for sapphic fantasy.
isa_books's review
I've left this one on my desk for ages, but have not really felt the urge to get back to it. Might read it again sometime when I'm actually in the mood for this specific type of book, but not now.
It wasn't bad btw, just too much of a mood reader
It wasn't bad btw, just too much of a mood reader
theaprilwitch's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
finnishelderberry's review
DNF Pg 93
I may come back to this I just got very confused and the story was Not At all what I thought it was.
I may come back to this I just got very confused and the story was Not At all what I thought it was.
mousie's review
Really slow paced (each chapter is one character's POV and rhen the other character's narrations via long letters) and character-centric, not plot centric, which wasn't what I thought it would be based on the blurb. World building als seems to be mixing together a bunch of asian cultures together which is a little off to me