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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
2 stars: it was okay
The story has an interesting premise and it takes place in an alternate universe China.
Unfortunately the main character of Zilan was unsympathetic. Luckily she calls herself greedy and stupid? Or arrogant? Anyway she indeed is very prideful, arrogant and stubborn, so much it borders on stupidity. When she cracked a tooth, she doesn’t want help because it’s the prince offering it.
A character does not become a “strong” character by either being overpowered (bestest alchemist at such a young age) or by not needing help in any way. That’s strong in the physical sense.
My second issue: the prince has the spine of a wet rag. Somehow he managed to survive at court. It was my understanding that courts were dangerous places where politics and know-thy-enemies/friends could mean life or death. But none of his siblings/cousins try to do anything.
Okay this might have made the story to convoluted, but still the prince is a typical damsel in distress. And I always hated that when the damsel was indeed a damsel: lots of handwringing and hoping the protagonist would come to the rescue.
The romance came out of the blue. Zilan is very mean and rude to him. Is this the you-only-hurt-the-one-you-love idea? “Like if a boy hits you, that means he likes you” - thing most girls hear at kindergarten?
Because that: OMG I looooooooooove you really came out of nowhere. And the “he knows me so well”. Okay.
All in all a disappointing read. I will see if I will continue the series. Maybe in a couple of years or so.
The story has an interesting premise and it takes place in an alternate universe China.
Unfortunately the main character of Zilan was unsympathetic. Luckily she calls herself greedy and stupid? Or arrogant? Anyway she indeed is very prideful, arrogant and stubborn, so much it borders on stupidity. When she cracked a tooth, she doesn’t want help because it’s the prince offering it.
A character does not become a “strong” character by either being overpowered (bestest alchemist at such a young age) or by not needing help in any way. That’s strong in the physical sense.
My second issue: the prince has the spine of a wet rag. Somehow he managed to survive at court. It was my understanding that courts were dangerous places where politics and know-thy-enemies/friends could mean life or death. But none of his siblings/cousins try to do anything.
Okay this might have made the story to convoluted, but still the prince is a typical damsel in distress. And I always hated that when the damsel was indeed a damsel: lots of handwringing and hoping the protagonist would come to the rescue.
The romance came out of the blue. Zilan is very mean and rude to him. Is this the you-only-hurt-the-one-you-love idea? “Like if a boy hits you, that means he likes you” - thing most girls hear at kindergarten?
Because that: OMG I looooooooooove you really came out of nowhere. And the “he knows me so well”. Okay.
All in all a disappointing read. I will see if I will continue the series. Maybe in a couple of years or so.
"I am the night that birthed the world. I am the bones of all the planets. I am silence. I am the end."
This historical fantasy set in ancient China is marvelous and full of gory magical adventure!
"I want to be chosen freely, or not at all."
I loved that the history blended perfectly with the magic! The story had many unique elements and was fast paced!
This is going to be a series so the end is enticing and leaves room for more story, but also wraps up well enough that you aren't left on a cliffhanger, and can be satisfied without reading future books.
This historical fantasy set in ancient China is marvelous and full of gory magical adventure!
"I want to be chosen freely, or not at all."
I loved that the history blended perfectly with the magic! The story had many unique elements and was fast paced!
This is going to be a series so the end is enticing and leaves room for more story, but also wraps up well enough that you aren't left on a cliffhanger, and can be satisfied without reading future books.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
adventurous
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
This book follows Zilan who dreams of being a royal alchemist. But when she gets the chance to complete the imperial exams, she gets caught up in the deadly games of the royal family and the monsters lurking within the palace walls.
I liked this book. It has good world building and I really liked the way alchemy was explained and used in this book. I liked the characters and found Zilan to be easy to root for. I will say that I was never fully convinced by her romantic relationship with the crown prince though I did like some of their banter.
This book has a slow burn plot and I did struggle to get fully invested in the first half. However, I found the climax to be exciting and I really enjoyed the twists. I am also intrigued enough by the ending to pick up the sequel when it comes out. Overall, this was a very solid YA fantasy but not one that I would say is doing anything particularly exciting or new.
I liked this book. It has good world building and I really liked the way alchemy was explained and used in this book. I liked the characters and found Zilan to be easy to root for. I will say that I was never fully convinced by her romantic relationship with the crown prince though I did like some of their banter.
This book has a slow burn plot and I did struggle to get fully invested in the first half. However, I found the climax to be exciting and I really enjoyed the twists. I am also intrigued enough by the ending to pick up the sequel when it comes out. Overall, this was a very solid YA fantasy but not one that I would say is doing anything particularly exciting or new.
adventurous
dark
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
-Full review to come