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libaistan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Suicide, and Alcohol
Minor: Torture
emherrick's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
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? Yes
4.25
The main plot is overall a little cliche, with a love plot that you can see from the very beginning but you are rooting for them. However, there is an interesting twist at the end, making you rethink who the real enemy is.
During the main character's mission, you get a sense that she is able to use not only her beauty but also her cleverness to her advantage. However, in my opinion, she does everything almost too easily. Besides a couple moments that I don't want to spoil, she does not really struggle with any of the challenges presented to her.
During the main character's mission, you get a sense that she is able to use not only her beauty but also her cleverness to her advantage. However, in my opinion, she does everything almost too easily. Besides a couple moments that I don't want to spoil, she does not really struggle with any of the challenges presented to her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, and War
Moderate: Alcohol and Classism
kapahl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Alcohol
nina_elin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I like how Liang shows both sides of war and manages to build sympathy for both sides equally by showing the pain of each kingdoms citizens. I also admire how she made both Fuchai and Goujian terrible people in the end. Fuchai reminded me of a petulant child for most of the story, so I pictures him younger than he probably was, which made me a bit uncomfortable with his deep-running love for Xishi. I don’t really understand his relationship with his father, but it heavily influenced the way he acted, so I wish that would have been fleshed out a bit more. But overall, his portrayal was really great and showed both his awful and caring side and I definitely understand why Xishi was so torn when it came to killing him.
I did not care much for Fanlis and Xishis romance. It happened very suddenly and out of the blue and her tries at seducing him were rather embarrassing in my opinion. It truly made me cringe and want to skip these scenes. Plus, his constant coldness just wasn’t my thing. At no point before she left for Wu did he even indicate that he was interested in her. It really had me question his passion for her. I just didn’t feel like they had much chemistry. However, I am one for the dramatics and loved the end where Xishis ghost/soul waited for centuries for them to be joined again , even though they only ever spent a few weeks together. Very dramatic, and though it was different from the rest of the book to the point I felt like it didn’t really fit in (Maybe it was because Fanli was suddenly grieving her so fiercely, when he seemed mostly detached before), the writing was truly at its most beautiful in this last bit.
I liked the ending a lot, and I was very excited in the beginning, because the entire time Xishi was studying I was picturing a scene à la „Barbie- princess and the pauper“ and I was up for her learning both etiquette and political strategies. However, the middle lacked a bit of excitement for me. As soon as she was in Fuchais palace, there was not really any sense of danger or stakes. He read her every wish and I feel like it was just too easy for her to plan this entire attack and gain his trust. I must admit that I was a little bored in the middle there. I just wish there had been a bit more danger.
Overall, it was an okay read. Interesting, definitely, and I’m not mad I read it and had my fair share of fun. Will it be one of my all-time favorites, though? Probably not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, and War
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
laurenlolson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Chronic illness, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
elliott_the_clementine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
raesapiga_'s review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and War
sundunss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I will never forgive Ann Liang for the pain and heartbreak I had to endure... It was absolutely worth it though
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death and Violence
Minor: Alcohol
rileydobereading's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and War
Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
baileybeloved's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Loved the world building, the characters, & the ending.
As with a lot of historical fiction/retellings, you could see where the story was going the entire time & I knew, basically beat for beat, what was coming next, but it didn’t take away from the emotions of it.
Everyone got the ending they were always going to have & I respect that. I think Liang has excellent characterization skills, which really aids in making the plot both believable and predictable - not that that is a bad thing. Knowing the characters so well that I can predict their thoughts/motivations just means (to me) that you’ve created some very well fleshed out characters.
A small thing I really liked - up until the end - is that we see a lot of moments where Xishi is forced to face that people, regardless of kingdom, are just people. Everyone loses family in wars regardless of side, every kingdom has a king who is selfish, every court is made up of individuals with their own tragedies & losses, & every mountain can be stunning, regardless of the earth it resides on. Though Xishi sort of acknowledges this through noting her surprise (thinking specifically of the line”you call the Yue monsters?” ), it is kept in the background. It does not change Xishi’s mind or her mission, which I liked for her character. Then at the end, you have another character kind of bring that point home for her, which I thought was kind of unnecessary for the story. Like it is understandable that that is that character’s belief, but I just felt like that being the catalyst for Xishi’s next actions, & the ultimate climax of the book, was a little bit unnecessary.
Overall, I liked this story a lot. The book itself is also stunning (I have the hardcover with the art on the front (sword) & back (hairpin) beneath what is already a beautiful cover).
As with a lot of historical fiction/retellings, you could see where the story was going the entire time & I knew, basically beat for beat, what was coming next, but it didn’t take away from the emotions of it.
Everyone got the ending they were always going to have & I respect that. I think Liang has excellent characterization skills, which really aids in making the plot both believable and predictable - not that that is a bad thing. Knowing the characters so well that I can predict their thoughts/motivations just means (to me) that you’ve created some very well fleshed out characters.
A small thing I really liked - up until the end - is that we see a lot of moments where Xishi is forced to face that people, regardless of kingdom, are just people. Everyone loses family in wars regardless of side, every kingdom has a king who is selfish, every court is made up of individuals with their own tragedies & losses, & every mountain can be stunning, regardless of the earth it resides on. Though Xishi sort of acknowledges this through noting her surprise (thinking specifically of the line
Overall, I liked this story a lot. The book itself is also stunning (I have the hardcover with the art on the front (sword) & back (hairpin) beneath what is already a beautiful cover).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism