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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
initial reaction:
- hate or love the characters, this is a damned good story
- ending is bit rushed but who cares, see first point
- yeyang carried the beginning, yekan carried at the end. everyone else other than ying has little to no personality but who cares, see first point
- love the world-building, the steampunkness of it all
- has better incorporated murder mystery than ADADT; in fact Chen actually tries to keep it relevant throughout
-
- favourite western-published asian fantasy of the year for me, probably
- hate or love the characters, this is a damned good story
- ending is bit rushed but who cares, see first point
- yeyang carried the beginning, yekan carried at the end. everyone else other than ying has little to no personality but who cares, see first point
- love the world-building, the steampunkness of it all
- has better incorporated murder mystery than ADADT; in fact Chen actually tries to keep it relevant throughout
-
Spoiler
I DESPERATELY NEED A YING CORRUPTION ARC, DESPERATELY.- favourite western-published asian fantasy of the year for me, probably
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Bottom line this was just okay. The best way I can simply sum it is that everything felt very surface level - plot, characters and world building.
I honestly thought the premise of the book and the idea of the world being silkpunk was so promising however it just lacked execution for me.. I feel the plot sort of lost itself as the main set was having the FMC uncover her father's killer was overshadowed by lengthy sections of her training in the guild, meeting her companions and setting up the romance. For a large chunk of the book we barely even touched on that plot and we also barely focused on why she was forced to disguise herself as her brother
I did enjoy what world building we got and I also enjoyed her friendship with the younger prince - their banter was fun and very sibling like. The actual writing was also palpable and easy to digest.
I honestly thought the premise of the book and the idea of the world being silkpunk was so promising however it just lacked execution for me.. I feel the plot sort of lost itself as the main set was having the FMC uncover her father's killer was overshadowed by lengthy sections of her training in the guild, meeting her companions and setting up the romance. For a large chunk of the book we barely even touched on that plot and we also barely focused on why she was forced to disguise herself as her brother
I did enjoy what world building we got and I also enjoyed her friendship with the younger prince - their banter was fun and very sibling like. The actual writing was also palpable and easy to digest.
adventurous
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
got bored maybe i’ll try again later
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I probably wouldn't have read this one if it wasn't the Illumicrate pick for June, but I'm glad I did. It was a fun read, quick paced and a nice twist on a Mulan retelling. Instead of going to work, she goes to the Engenieer Guild to investigate the muder of her dad. Dresses as a boy, as girls travelling alone might lead to a more dangerous journey she finds her way into the Guild but things only turn and turn with what news she gets.
The characters were a bit cardboard at the beginning but at some point they get some fleshing out. It was interesting to know the boys at the academy. And I for sure, root for ye-kan he was so much fun!
It is a nice debut and I'm willing to read the second one.
The characters were a bit cardboard at the beginning but at some point they get some fleshing out. It was interesting to know the boys at the academy. And I for sure, root for ye-kan he was so much fun!
It is a nice debut and I'm willing to read the second one.