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4.61 AVERAGE
4.61 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, War
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book….. 🥺 I don’t even know where to begin.
It’s slow, and dark, and sad. I think my favorite aspect of the book is the exploration of emotions, grief, and the effect making certain wartime decisions has on the different characters. It really makes you think about how far would you’d be willing to go. Whether you agree with the choices the main characters make or not, or whether you find their actions redeemable or not, this book pushes you to evaluate where you stand on that line of what is right or wrong, what is acceptable or intolerable. Sometimes it makes you question who the real villain in the story is, and that’s where I think the magic of this story lies. UGH it was so good. Love a book that makes you think and feel things!!!! ❤️🥺😭💀🥺🥺 there are so many complex themes and things to talk about - we got commentary on religion, war, grief and trauma, redemption, right and wrong. AHHHH I need all my friends to read it so we can discuss, BUT ALSO, I don’t think I can casually recommend it…. So……
The last thing I will say before going into minor theme discussion/kind-of-but-not-really-spoiler territory: this book is a SLOW read, and the magic system was kind of complicated if you don’t have any familiarity with alchemy terms. It’s heavy (both emotionally AND physically if you have the print book ha). There is a romance, but it is NOT a romance. Look up trigger warnings if you need that - this book is fucked up. But I really liked it.
I will never spoil the plot to this book, but if you don’t want ANY inclination of themes or book structure or ANYTHING, look away now.
The author split this book into 3 parts: the memory loss section, the flashbacks section, and the “we can’t let the villain win, can we?” section.
Part 1: memory loss
Be warned: the book can feel SLOW, especially the beginning with all the world building. It feels like nothing is really happening (we get basically world building for 200 pages) and we’re really diving into the main character’s fear and confusion. BUT you have to read through that to feel the absolute deviation of part 2.
Part 2: the flashback
The devastation you feel in part 2 is BRUTAL, but in the best way. I think this was my favorite part for that reason. We just spent like ~300 pages confused and angry and sad for the main character, and then we get to see everything that led to it and feel even more sad and angry about what happened in part 1. Not possible you say? HA! But SenLinYu does it.
It was also interesting to see the juxtaposition between the hero fighting the war, as you might see in a typical fantasy book, and the complex and fucked up behind the scenes choices and actions that may be happening to help the hero win, unbeknownst to them. War is not something to glorify.
The religion aspect to this story actually really surprised me, but I liked the way the author added it. Everything in this story made me think and this aspect was no exception. What is blind faith? And are “miracles” just the culmination of certain people’s hard work? Why should a success be attributed to “keeping our faith” but a failure is on the people who didn’t try hard enough? Ughh it made me so angry.
Part 3: we can’t let the villain win, can we…?
I did say this book makes you question who is a villain, but there is a clean “ultimate bad guy” in the story. We spend this whole section looking at how much farther the characters are willing to go to “win,” and also makes you think about what winning really means if you’ve destroyed yourself to achieve it. This part wraps the story up in the best way that it can given where our characters are. Does this book have a happy ending? In a way…. But really, it just feels bittersweet.
It’s slow, and dark, and sad. I think my favorite aspect of the book is the exploration of emotions, grief, and the effect making certain wartime decisions has on the different characters. It really makes you think about how far would you’d be willing to go. Whether you agree with the choices the main characters make or not, or whether you find their actions redeemable or not, this book pushes you to evaluate where you stand on that line of what is right or wrong, what is acceptable or intolerable. Sometimes it makes you question who the real villain in the story is, and that’s where I think the magic of this story lies. UGH it was so good. Love a book that makes you think and feel things!!!! ❤️🥺😭💀🥺🥺 there are so many complex themes and things to talk about - we got commentary on religion, war, grief and trauma, redemption, right and wrong. AHHHH I need all my friends to read it so we can discuss, BUT ALSO, I don’t think I can casually recommend it…. So……
The last thing I will say before going into minor theme discussion/kind-of-but-not-really-spoiler territory: this book is a SLOW read, and the magic system was kind of complicated if you don’t have any familiarity with alchemy terms. It’s heavy (both emotionally AND physically if you have the print book ha). There is a romance, but it is NOT a romance. Look up trigger warnings if you need that - this book is fucked up. But I really liked it.
I will never spoil the plot to this book, but if you don’t want ANY inclination of themes or book structure or ANYTHING, look away now.
Part 1: memory loss
Be warned: the book can feel SLOW, especially the beginning with all the world building. It feels like nothing is really happening (we get basically world building for 200 pages) and we’re really diving into the main character’s fear and confusion. BUT you have to read through that to feel the absolute deviation of part 2.
Part 2: the flashback
The devastation you feel in part 2 is BRUTAL, but in the best way. I think this was my favorite part for that reason. We just spent like ~300 pages confused and angry and sad for the main character, and then we get to see everything that led to it and feel even more sad and angry about what happened in part 1. Not possible you say? HA! But SenLinYu does it.
It was also interesting to see the juxtaposition between the hero fighting the war, as you might see in a typical fantasy book, and the complex and fucked up behind the scenes choices and actions that may be happening to help the hero win, unbeknownst to them. War is not something to glorify.
The religion aspect to this story actually really surprised me, but I liked the way the author added it. Everything in this story made me think and this aspect was no exception. What is blind faith? And are “miracles” just the culmination of certain people’s hard work? Why should a success be attributed to “keeping our faith” but a failure is on the people who didn’t try hard enough? Ughh it made me so angry.
Part 3: we can’t let the villain win, can we…?
I did say this book makes you question who is a villain, but there is a clean “ultimate bad guy” in the story. We spend this whole section looking at how much farther the characters are willing to go to “win,” and also makes you think about what winning really means if you’ve destroyed yourself to achieve it. This part wraps the story up in the best way that it can given where our characters are. Does this book have a happy ending? In a way…. But really, it just feels bittersweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cannibalism
Minor: Death of parent
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
Emotionally devastating. Incredibly high stakes. Worth the time to read it but check your triggers.
challenging
dark
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
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
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
The most heartbreaking dark book I have ever read. 💔
dark
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