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adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I wish I liked this short story collection for the Celestial Kingdom duology more. Perhaps if I read it in sections alongside the first two books (I read the first one a couple years ago and the second last year) I would've enjoyed it more? The first section didn't feel like it added anything to what we already knew, but some of the stories in the second section were sweet. I liked the one from Shuxiao's perspective the most. I did actually enjoy the last section, set as an epilogue, but I think this would've been better placed simply at the end of the second book and the rest skipped. What I would've liked from this more would be standalone stories from across the Celestial Kingdom, that could be read and enjoyed separately from the duology, but with the same beautiful descriptive and prose. I feel like there's so much of the world that could've been explored, which is wasted on the format of the book.
Perhaps read this as a companion to the duology? But even then, I think it's not really needed.
Perhaps read this as a companion to the duology? But even then, I think it's not really needed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is exactly what I want from the authors of every series. Short stories to allow me time to adjust to living without the characters 🥲
Repetition remains an issue, as does lack of connection between women. Would have been nice to see more of Shuxiao, she remained one dimensional and somewhat inconsistent.
Repetition remains an issue, as does lack of connection between women. Would have been nice to see more of Shuxiao, she remained one dimensional and somewhat inconsistent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment
Moderate: Violence, War
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Rating: 5/5 stars
A short story collection, including prequels, deleted scenes, and the epilogue to the CELESTIAL KINGDOM duology.
It’s a running joke among my friends that I am obsessed with bonus content of all kinds—if there is an extra, an extended scene, or a novella associated with a book or series I’ve read, I must have it. Occasionally, this trait leads to me finding true gems, and friends THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES.
I absolutely LOVED this collection, which I humbly beg you to read if you enjoyed the duology. The final three stories in particular were incredible, and I’m so glad the full-length books exist purely so we could get the absolute WORKS OF ART that those three stories constitute. I devoured them and will never stop thinking about them—genuinely, they elevated what was already an enjoyable duology into what is now one of my favorite series and worlds.
CW: Death/violence; some grief
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, War
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy
Minor: Gaslighting, War