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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars
The Girl King is a story about two sisters who become rivals in a war to claim the throne and become emperor.
The world-building was a little bit lacking in some ways. It is Asian-inspired, but not in a way that the culture really shines through and was added into the storyline. I also wasn’t a really big fan of how the slipskin/Kith were portrayed, as it bordered on being a bit racist. I would’ve loved if that part had been given a bit more attention and was treated more with the gravity it deserves. The same with the use of “pink people” for people who were white, felt derogatory. At the same time, there isn’t any explanation as to why people are being called out for using that word as it is apparently offensive.
I liked how there wasn’t one female heroine but two, and a pair of sisters as well. Both are very different from each other and it really shines through the pages. Lu is fierce, bold, daring and has a tomboy feel. She has been training her whole life to take the throne and title of emperor. Because of this, she is a bit naïve and selfish at times Min is the more calm, feminine and passive sister. She is portrayed as weak and cowardly.
The thing I loved most about this story, which isn’t that different from many other YA fantasy books out there, is how the characters change over the course of the book. Lu isn’t rewarded for her impulsive behaviour, but learns how her actions impact others and how she shouldn’t always do what she wants to. It’s a very realistic way in which this was portrayed. Min on the other hand learns to not be as passive and learns to speak up and become more assertive. It was really satisfying to see these changes.
Overall, it is an interesting book that deals with many topics. It pushes edges and is daring and takes risks which made me like it and exciting to read the next book.
The Girl King is a story about two sisters who become rivals in a war to claim the throne and become emperor.
The world-building was a little bit lacking in some ways. It is Asian-inspired, but not in a way that the culture really shines through and was added into the storyline. I also wasn’t a really big fan of how the slipskin/Kith were portrayed, as it bordered on being a bit racist. I would’ve loved if that part had been given a bit more attention and was treated more with the gravity it deserves. The same with the use of “pink people” for people who were white, felt derogatory. At the same time, there isn’t any explanation as to why people are being called out for using that word as it is apparently offensive.
I liked how there wasn’t one female heroine but two, and a pair of sisters as well. Both are very different from each other and it really shines through the pages. Lu is fierce, bold, daring and has a tomboy feel. She has been training her whole life to take the throne and title of emperor. Because of this, she is a bit naïve and selfish at times Min is the more calm, feminine and passive sister. She is portrayed as weak and cowardly.
The thing I loved most about this story, which isn’t that different from many other YA fantasy books out there, is how the characters change over the course of the book. Lu isn’t rewarded for her impulsive behaviour, but learns how her actions impact others and how she shouldn’t always do what she wants to. It’s a very realistic way in which this was portrayed. Min on the other hand learns to not be as passive and learns to speak up and become more assertive. It was really satisfying to see these changes.
Overall, it is an interesting book that deals with many topics. It pushes edges and is daring and takes risks which made me like it and exciting to read the next book.
"People rarely want the things they get," Vrea said, her voice never losing its evasive, lilting quality, borne between cheer and melancholy. "But nevertheless, that gift is yours, and you must choose what to do with it."
I have been looking forward to reading this for a while, and I finally gave in. The result was... a little disappointing, to be honest. It wasn't like it was bad because it really wasn't. It was good. It just could've been so much better. Sometimes that somehow feels like worse. But that said, I did enjoy it.
The world itself was rather interesting; I was really into the magic and the lore of it all. But it often left me confused; Yu could've done a better job explaining it even in "casual passing". Sometimes I only figured it out after a random comment made me understand what a description had been trying to say. I'm guessing Yu had already decided on a sequel because of the plot in this one so I'm not entirely sure why she didn't spend more time building the world the book is set in. She mostly focused on the court and politics, I would've liked more about the world too.
Sadly, the characters fell a little flat for me. There was potential but there was nothing to really distinguish them as memorable or particularly interesting. I didn't care for them as much as I had assumed I would. If given more depth, they would have been really interesting. And the depth they were given should've been explored more. But maybe that's just me.
All in all, I'll read the sequel when it's available at my local library but I feel no rush to do so.
I have been looking forward to reading this for a while, and I finally gave in. The result was... a little disappointing, to be honest. It wasn't like it was bad because it really wasn't. It was good. It just could've been so much better. Sometimes that somehow feels like worse. But that said, I did enjoy it.
The world itself was rather interesting; I was really into the magic and the lore of it all. But it often left me confused; Yu could've done a better job explaining it even in "casual passing". Sometimes I only figured it out after a random comment made me understand what a description had been trying to say. I'm guessing Yu had already decided on a sequel because of the plot in this one so I'm not entirely sure why she didn't spend more time building the world the book is set in. She mostly focused on the court and politics, I would've liked more about the world too.
Sadly, the characters fell a little flat for me. There was potential but there was nothing to really distinguish them as memorable or particularly interesting. I didn't care for them as much as I had assumed I would. If given more depth, they would have been really interesting. And the depth they were given should've been explored more. But maybe that's just me.
All in all, I'll read the sequel when it's available at my local library but I feel no rush to do so.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, War
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent
Minor: Incest, Sexism
The cover art was gorgeous. Yu has a very beautiful and piercing quality to their writing that wowed and unnerved me equally. I wanted to love this book but I didn't.
Here are a few of my thoughts:
-I wish the relationship had been developed more between the sisters.
-I was not a fan of the romance.
-I really wish Min had grown up at some point.
-I did actually enjoy most of Lu's storyline and almost wish it could have been only about her.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me but I’m interested in seeing where the second book takes us.
Overall I woud still recommend this book to fantasy lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mimi Yu and Orion Publishing Groupfor providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Here are a few of my thoughts:
-I wish the relationship had been developed more between the sisters.
-I was not a fan of the romance.
-I really wish Min had grown up at some point.
-I did actually enjoy most of Lu's storyline and almost wish it could have been only about her.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me but I’m interested in seeing where the second book takes us.
Overall I woud still recommend this book to fantasy lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mimi Yu and Orion Publishing Groupfor providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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