Scan barcode
isabelh98's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
rosanacg's review against another edition
2.0
so much potential but the pacing in this was abysmal, the povs switched without warning and after the first few chapters the plot just didn't hook me at all
baileylien's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- 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
malignantcactus's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed Zhu and Ma's POVs, but none of the others caught my attention. I might continue the series. Might not. *shrugs*
joannp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
laurenkelly1211's review against another edition
I was picking this up over different time periods and couldn't keep track of who was who
rifmelody's review against another edition
4.5
YES! This is a good book with a very different setting from what we're used to and I love that. This setting let met on a total wikipedia rabbithole that I enjoyed very much.
I also loved how this book focusses on political manouvering and intrige and not on battlefield fights; we just hear the discussion about how we're going to do something and then next we hear is that whatever fight they were having is won or lost; this way the focus on the things that are truly important for this book never wavers.
The identities for our two main characters are always in question and that's part of what makes this book so interesting. That part was also incredibly well written; and the way they both blindingly hold on to their fate is in the light of this is entirely believable and I was completely sold on that when they made decisions.
Why the half star shy of 5 stars then? Because I hit a serious speed bump around halfway and had a lot of trouble reading through there, hence I took 1,5 month to finish this book. At that point in the book, it felt like a bit of a drag. It never caught me as in the feels as I like to be caught. These things are completely subjective though.
I also loved how this book focusses on political manouvering and intrige and not on battlefield fights; we just hear the discussion about how we're going to do something and then next we hear is that whatever fight they were having is won or lost; this way the focus on the things that are truly important for this book never wavers.
The identities for our two main characters are always in question and that's part of what makes this book so interesting. That part was also incredibly well written; and the way they both blindingly hold on to their fate is in the light of this is entirely believable and I was completely sold on that when they made decisions.
Why the half star shy of 5 stars then? Because I hit a serious speed bump around halfway and had a lot of trouble reading through there, hence I took 1,5 month to finish this book. At that point in the book, it felt like a bit of a drag. It never caught me as in the feels as I like to be caught. These things are completely subjective though.
kiki_99's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
lohmein's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0