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quorumbutton's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A novella with interesting worldbuilding and quite a few feelings.
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Body horror and Death
Minor: Confinement and Kidnapping
tahsintries's review
3.75
Moderate: Kidnapping
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review
- 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
3.75
If I really enjoyed this book why the 3.75 star and not a 4 star read? Well as much as I enjoyed it I did get lost with the world at times. It felt like I was meant to have some background knowledge that I did which left me wondering if we are in a whole different world, earth, or something between the two. There was a lot of reference to the past and whilst you can just take them and roll with it, it had me curious and wanting to know what had happened then, which took me away from the current story. Now a lot of this issue could just be that I'm unaware of Vietnamese myths and that could answer everything, but just know you might be a little out of the loop when reading this.
Despite that I did overall enjoy the book and it is something I want to read again. It has a wonder cast of characters, something that I really enjoyed was that wisdom and character growth was shared among younger and older characters.
I recommend this book for those who are wanting something different from their fairy tale retellings. It is a fun read that takes you to a whole different world that feels familiar and different all at the same time. It also has a diverse cast of characters that you will come to love.
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Death
nmcannon'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation and Kidnapping
Moderate: Body horror, Ableism, Gore, Blood, Terminal illness, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
millow333's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Medical content, Body horror, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Kidnapping
moonlitemuseum's review
- 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
The world building is almost painfully rich, depicting a world in ruin that doesn't feel at all dissimilar to our own, but the detail never feels as though it detracts from the central love story. The love story itself is deftly told, acquiescing to all the questions and doubts a reader might have but convincing them that yes, it can work, and should work, and both should stand to grow from it.
The range of sexualities and genders in the cast is astonishing. I felt a deep, warm ache reading this story—is this how it feels, to read compelling literature about gay women and nonbinary characters? I don't doubt that Asian readers, especially LGBT Vietnamese readers, will feel even more sated.
This is an incredible story and it is stunningly easy to read. If you want to read about dragons, women-loving-women, and an intriguing world ravaged by magical plagues, then you owe it to yourself to pick this up.
Moderate: Body horror, Medical content, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual content and Terminal illness
There is a part wheredytiscusfriend's review
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Recommend for fans of queer romance enemy to lovers novels.
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content