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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book has the bones of a really great story, but the execution fell flat for me. I liked the world and how history affected how different groups interacted, but the magic is incredibly vague and often feels like Plot ex Machina. Tension is almost nonexistent because the characters either just do as they are told or things just happen without any build up—there’s no extended conflict about which direction to take or mystery about anyone’s motivations. The only character who actually decides ANYTHING on her own is Lu, so she was by far my favorite.
The characters had some real potential, but they don’t significantly develop or even interact outside of plot points. For example, we’re supposed to be invested in the relationship between Lu and Minyi, but they barely speak a dozen lines before they’re split up, so we don’t have any real sense of what they’re losing. The other relationships in the book are also very “we have a strong relationship but we’ll leave it to your imagination.”
This book also suffers from badly-implemented multiple-perspectives. I feel like YA authors think each perspective needs to have equal pages, but this book would have benefitted from picking one character to focus on and only jumping to other perspectives when, you know, something interesting was happening. Nok would have been a significantly more interesting character if we hadn’t already known he was a good guy before he met Lu. If we’d met him through Lu’s perspective, he could have been slightly threatening, and there might have been some actual tension about whether he could be trusted or not. Also, Minyi’s chapters were horrible because she’s such a self-pitying sad sack, and those sections were usually just an excuse to provide exposition about what other characters (who are not Minyi) are doing whilst Minyi’s internal monologue plays in the background. I could have done with a lot less of THAT.
The characters had some real potential, but they don’t significantly develop or even interact outside of plot points. For example, we’re supposed to be invested in the relationship between Lu and Minyi, but they barely speak a dozen lines before they’re split up, so we don’t have any real sense of what they’re losing. The other relationships in the book are also very “we have a strong relationship but we’ll leave it to your imagination.”
This book also suffers from badly-implemented multiple-perspectives. I feel like YA authors think each perspective needs to have equal pages, but this book would have benefitted from picking one character to focus on and only jumping to other perspectives when, you know, something interesting was happening. Nok would have been a significantly more interesting character if we hadn’t already known he was a good guy before he met Lu. If we’d met him through Lu’s perspective, he could have been slightly threatening, and there might have been some actual tension about whether he could be trusted or not. Also, Minyi’s chapters were horrible because she’s such a self-pitying sad sack, and those sections were usually just an excuse to provide exposition about what other characters (who are not Minyi) are doing whilst Minyi’s internal monologue plays in the background. I could have done with a lot less of THAT.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
The characters in this book were so vivid, and all of their choices felt justified. I went into this book with lowered expectations because it's been a while since I read any good YA fantasy, but I was surprised by the reasonable manner in which characters solved their problems and rationalized thier decisions.
I especially loved Minyi and Nasan's characters, and it's not often that you see characters who aren't the villains being critical of the main character. This book also doesn't shy away from serious topics such as colonization, forced assimilation, and the pressures of growing up in a royal family. The setting was well-described and compelling. Overall really well put together, and I'm looking forward to the next book (though I'm a bit sour this book left off where it did).
I especially loved Minyi and Nasan's characters, and it's not often that you see characters who aren't the villains being critical of the main character. This book also doesn't shy away from serious topics such as colonization, forced assimilation, and the pressures of growing up in a royal family. The setting was well-described and compelling. Overall really well put together, and I'm looking forward to the next book (though I'm a bit sour this book left off where it did).
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Starting this book I was hopeful and the concept was amazing, two sisters, a throne, an evil cousin sounded right up my alley. At first it was a good start, but then the world building was lacking, the plot didn't move and got a little boring at times. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters, they were fine, but just lacked getting my attention in any way which made it difficult. I liked the idea, but in the end it wasn't a favorite or something I would highly recommend.
I liked the sisters aspect. I liked the ending and am looking forward to the next book.
It was good, but nothing more than that. Yu's prose is easy and has its moments of beauty, which makes it an entertaining read.
The characters are interesting and well-developed for the most part- however, I found the most interesting characters sadly underdeveloped or not present (Empress Rinyi in particular). Also, Nasan. I. Hate. Nasan.
The dialogue tended to be stilted and awkward at times and the plot fell into as many cliches as it avoided. The book attempted an interesting critique of imperialism, colonialism and our understanding of a justified heroic ruler. Unfortunately, the message comes in too late and falls a little flat, but the questions asked are interesting in the context of the worldbuilding.
The characters are interesting and well-developed for the most part- however, I found the most interesting characters sadly underdeveloped or not present (Empress Rinyi in particular). Also, Nasan. I. Hate. Nasan.
The dialogue tended to be stilted and awkward at times and the plot fell into as many cliches as it avoided. The book attempted an interesting critique of imperialism, colonialism and our understanding of a justified heroic ruler. Unfortunately, the message comes in too late and falls a little flat, but the questions asked are interesting in the context of the worldbuilding.
This is technically a very bad book. It profits from one of man's lowest writings - that of where you include dreadful, unnecessary cruel happenings just for the sake of sales. It is too dark to be YA.
However, despite what I just said, I enjoyed it immensely. This is probably because I enjoy it when stories are just too dark. But that does not mean I recommend it!
I do not know why they say [b:Descendant of the Crane|41219451|Descendant of the Crane|Joan He|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535388977l/41219451._SY75_.jpg|58130728] is a Chinese Game of Thrones, as their was no battle for the throne. This book, meanwhile, is exactly that.
There was one really offensive scene in this book, but there are many other reviews that mention this so if you want to be warned read those reviews instead because I am not #ownvoices and therefore can not personally say the levels of atrocious it was.
I will be reading the next book, but cautiously and I don't recommend it myself.
Other YA Chinese-inspired fantasy novels: [b:Descendant of the Crane|41219451|Descendant of the Crane|Joan He|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535388977l/41219451._SY75_.jpg|58130728], [b:Spin the Dawn|42815556|Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars, #1)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542674036l/42815556._SY75_.jpg|58477266] (the latter should be avoided at all costs)
[bc:Descendant of the Crane|41219451|Descendant of the Crane|Joan He|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535388977l/41219451._SY75_.jpg|58130728][bc:Spin the Dawn|42815556|Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars, #1)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542674036l/42815556._SY75_.jpg|58477266]
However, despite what I just said, I enjoyed it immensely. This is probably because I enjoy it when stories are just too dark. But that does not mean I recommend it!
I do not know why they say [b:Descendant of the Crane|41219451|Descendant of the Crane|Joan He|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535388977l/41219451._SY75_.jpg|58130728] is a Chinese Game of Thrones, as their was no battle for the throne. This book, meanwhile, is exactly that.
There was one really offensive scene in this book, but there are many other reviews that mention this so if you want to be warned read those reviews instead because I am not #ownvoices and therefore can not personally say the levels of atrocious it was.
I will be reading the next book, but cautiously and I don't recommend it myself.
Other YA Chinese-inspired fantasy novels: [b:Descendant of the Crane|41219451|Descendant of the Crane|Joan He|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535388977l/41219451._SY75_.jpg|58130728], [b:Spin the Dawn|42815556|Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars, #1)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542674036l/42815556._SY75_.jpg|58477266] (the latter should be avoided at all costs)
[bc:Descendant of the Crane|41219451|Descendant of the Crane|Joan He|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535388977l/41219451._SY75_.jpg|58130728][bc:Spin the Dawn|42815556|Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars, #1)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542674036l/42815556._SY75_.jpg|58477266]