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nxpe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I enjoyed the tea magic a lot more that I thought I would, and it was described in a very lovely way. Definitely craved tea more than I have in a hot minute.
This was also my first Asian-inspired fantasy, which was pretty interesting! I was nervous about it going into it, but I was really fun! Definitely will be picking up the sequel.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Torture, Animal cruelty, and Vomit
danajoy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Blood
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Death
emeraldeunoia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood and Alcohol
Minor: Torture and War
duarshe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The only thing that keeps me from giving this a 5-star rating is that some descriptions were a bit repetitive for my like and I kept skimming over them.
Overall, 4.75⭐
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Blood
ra22ouille's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Death, Blood, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
melis_salome's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Vomit, War, Torture, and Self harm
kingphrog's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Body horror and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Violence, Animal cruelty, and Blood
Minor: Vomit
simplyammee's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Blood and Vomit
Minor: Murder
euphemiajo's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Grief, Death, War, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
_andviolet's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Even if you're not familiar with any Chinese mythos, teas, or names, the story is very easy to get into with the introductory chapters and it flows right into the beginning of the overarching plot. The authors descriptions of scenery and sensations when brewing magic tea pulls you into the world like you're dreaming along with the main character Ning, and it quickly becomes addicting. You don't need to become an expert in the medicinal properties of the tea in order to appreciate the beauty of the magic system.
The novel does well with sectioning its story into arcs similar to a movie, but the last 70 or so pages become a real page turner, setting up the plot for the sequel. If you're doing a bookclub/read along with a friend, I recommend the following stopping points for discussion:
(1) Beginning to chapter 10, (2)Ch.10 to end of Ch. 15, (3) Ch. 16 to end of Ch. 20, (4) Ch. 21 to end of ch. 25, (5) Ch. 26 to ch. 32, (6) Ch. 33 to END.
Full story Spoilers Ahead
Already I was able to sense the pining and tension between these two characters, it even took my own breath away as I read it. Every moment between the two was fleeting yet longing, just as how it would feel to pine after a love interest in real life. I will admit, even though it became apparent by the time of the Emperors mourning that the story was heading towards focusing on its civil war arc, I was so incredibly heartbroken with the rift that forced Ning and Kang to "split." The sudden betrothal during the final trial even made my heart drop for Ning- everything came crashing down on her so fast after this point. With what little pages left for plot, I knew I had to order the sequel so that I could begin reading it as soon as I finished this novel.
Despite their blooming relationship not being the focus of the plot, really at any point, it is a big interest for me because of how "unfair" the Court life is for the both of them. They both became scarred and banished in someway at the behest of those in political power. With the novel's track record for foreshadowing, I still hold hope that Kang is being used just like Zhen.
Of course, due to the book having already announced the story would be split into 2 novels, there are a lot of questions left unanswered at the end after such a fast exit- certain truths and motivations, and perhaps in my rush to finish, a lack of foreshadowing that could give me any hint as to what I can expect to come.
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, and Violence
Minor: Death and Misogyny