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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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:
Yes
I felt a little detached from the story to begin with, like it was something I should enjoy a lot but didn't feel anything in particular about, but it picked up nicely in the second half! Will definitely read the second one soon.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
I've read a lot of fantasy and I've read a lot of queer narratives, but I've never read a book quite like this one. The characters are raw and flawed and selfish and beautiful; the narration is emotional and sexy and alive. This book is a triumph of self-actualization and desire trumping destiny in the heart of ancient China.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I absolutely loved the writing - a perfect 10/10, with a captivating and beautifully crafted style. The story itself is incredibly compelling, especially the gripping first half, which had me hooked. Zhu’s faith, resilience and ability to overcome challenges was always fascinating to watch, but the pacing felt off at times, and the book lost some of its spark for me as it went on. I was hoping for a few more unexpected twists, especially toward the end, which didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I must admit though, the characters, especially Zhu and Ouyang, are complex, ruthless, driven and absolutely human. I loved the exploration of gender fluidity and identity (in 14th century China too!).
Honestly, forgive me for not being a believer, but I really thought that Zhu was not gonna get that far