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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Builds upon the first book beautifully for about 80% of the way through--it's more exciting, there's more action and better dialogue, more character development--then it absolutely DRAGS for the last 4 to 5 hours. I was hanging on for dear life the story was getting so good, but then it dropped off and I could have sworn the plot stopped and the narrator just kept talking. Only at the *very* end does the story pick up a little into a mostly satisfying ending.
Despite the lull, overall the writing is so beautiful and the added queerness is such an interesting take on historical fantasy.
Despite the lull, overall the writing is so beautiful and the added queerness is such an interesting take on historical fantasy.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall I really enjoyed the way this book explored the price of ambition and its emotional toll on everyone involved. That being said, I was disappointed by the way this book tried to soften its message at the end.
Spoilers ahead:
Zhu decides that she wont start her reign with bloodshed and wont kill baoxiang after all, despite killing all of her other enemies. It doesn't really make logical sense that she can do this and still rule. We've seen throughout the duology that Zhu is ruthless and not afraid to kill people, but the one person she really should kill, who will actually be a problem for her, she decides not to? Maybe if this mercy was laced throughout the story it would have been more believable? But it just seemed like a (non-believable) way to nominally distinguish Zhu from her competitors for the throne, when in reality they all are cut from the same cloth.
I didn't really buy the ending and it diminished what overall was an overall enjoyable duology.
Spoilers ahead:
I didn't really buy the ending and it diminished what overall was an overall enjoyable duology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence
adventurous
emotional
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