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clem9's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
Loved it, the plot was so interesting and adventurous.
I loved all the characters without exceptions.
Zilan was such a great main character, I love how driven she was for alchemy (which she probably truly was the best) and for her family. I loved her personality and her relationships with her family and the Prince. I really liked that she was the « strong » one in the relationship while the Prince was the « sensible »one.
And the Empress was an amazing villain who was a villain just for power and not cause of a trauma which I found to be a change and very cool. She was very charismatic and offered lots of shocks for the twists she gave.
I’m still very shocked that at the moment the Prince is still dead ? Even if she’ll bring him back next book, I wasn’t expecting him to die or her not to bring him back immediately but props to her for thinking about her family first. I’m just really wondering what next book will be about cause there doesn’t seem to be a plot for it right now. Like apart from bringing back everyone I can’t see what it’ll be about.
I loved all the characters without exceptions.
Zilan was such a great main character, I love how driven she was for alchemy (which she probably truly was the best) and for her family. I loved her personality and her relationships with her family and the Prince. I really liked that she was the « strong » one in the relationship while the Prince was the « sensible »one.
And the Empress was an amazing villain who was a villain just for power and not cause of a trauma which I found to be a change and very cool. She was very charismatic and offered lots of shocks for the twists she gave.
I’m still very shocked that at the moment the Prince is still dead ? Even if she’ll bring him back next book, I wasn’t expecting him to die or her not to bring him back immediately but props to her for thinking about her family first. I’m just really wondering what next book will be about cause there doesn’t seem to be a plot for it right now. Like apart from bringing back everyone I can’t see what it’ll be about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
emilyb_chicago's review against another edition
4.0
The first two thirds of this book was amazing. The rules of the world were unique. Teaching the reader about the magic system and the environment were excellently integrated into the story. The side characters were a little thin, but I loved the main character. Her spunk and obstinateness was amusing - though as the story progressed she clearly lived in a fictional world with few ramifications. The lack of consequences became more apparent in the final third of the story where too much happened too quickly. I didn't feel the emotional weight of some of the situations. At the end the story felt guided and her snark was just out of place.
The audiobook narrator was amazing and enhanced the story with her reading.
I will think about this magic system for long while and will pick up the next books in the series.
There was also a historical note at the end of that was particularly interesting. I love when an author points out the changes made to create an alternate history and points out some of the parallels to our history/ world that stayed in the story. It makes me reflect on the complete story and consider the world in a deeper way.
Note: This is not stand alone. The final chapter does set up clearly for the next book in the series.
The audiobook narrator was amazing and enhanced the story with her reading.
I will think about this magic system for long while and will pick up the next books in the series.
There was also a historical note at the end of that was particularly interesting. I love when an author points out the changes made to create an alternate history and points out some of the parallels to our history/ world that stayed in the story. It makes me reflect on the complete story and consider the world in a deeper way.
Note: This is not stand alone. The final chapter does set up clearly for the next book in the series.
lolamei72's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
madbookworm15's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
jeanreeee's review against another edition
5.0
Wowowowowowow. Pulled me straight out of a slump!!
I love an angry woman 😍 Zilan is phenomenal, I love her. I really appreciated that there was such a strong focus on familial bonds in this story, alongside romantic bonds.
I love an angry woman 😍 Zilan is phenomenal, I love her. I really appreciated that there was such a strong focus on familial bonds in this story, alongside romantic bonds.
da_bonkerz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Racism
lochanreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.0
A morbidly dark young adult fantasy about the mysterious world of alchemy, set during an acient Chinese empire. Fan Zilan is a merchant girl from the poor South, who performs illegal resurrection alchemy, with the help of her cousins, so her family can afford to live. She has an unwavering desire to climb the ranks and become a royal alchemist, despite the bigoted hostility she faces because of her mixed heritage. But the more she pursues her dream, the more she discovers bone-chilling secrets about the royal court and herself.
Lee Baker's writing is graphically vivid and full of suspense as we read about Zilan constantly having to surmount the next obstacle that comes her way and deal with the many twists and turns that are thrown at her.
I believed in the close sibling-like yet fraught relationship between Zilan and her cousins, Wenshu and Yufei, who were both endearing characters to read about. And the shy romance that started to surface was an embracing relief from the relentless depictions of death and decay and rotting corpses, which became very stale the more I read.
I thought the ending was both strange in a way that didn't sit well with me, but also clever in it's unexpectedness. However, it did diminish the feeling of high stakes that the novel would've otherwise had. Overall, I liked the intensity of the story and how well it sets up the next book in the duology.
Lee Baker's writing is graphically vivid and full of suspense as we read about Zilan constantly having to surmount the next obstacle that comes her way and deal with the many twists and turns that are thrown at her.
I believed in the close sibling-like yet fraught relationship between Zilan and her cousins, Wenshu and Yufei, who were both endearing characters to read about. And the shy romance that started to surface was an embracing relief from the relentless depictions of death and decay and rotting corpses, which became very stale the more I read.
I thought the ending was both strange in a way that didn't sit well with me, but also clever in it's unexpectedness. However, it did diminish the feeling of high stakes that the novel would've otherwise had. Overall, I liked the intensity of the story and how well it sets up the next book in the duology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Death, Blood, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Child abuse and Animal death
justaylin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
doctormon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.25