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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Pacing was a tad weird at the end
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The ending had me sobbing. I listen to audio books while doing other things and I literally had to stop building furniture so I could give the book my full attention. It loses half a star for a lack of female characters.
adventurous
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed it, I read it in two sittings! I did feel like some plot elements weren’t as expanded as they could have been or I expected them to be, but that didn’t impact the amount that I loved the story <3
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
This almost felt like two different books, with the first half and the second half having very different vibes. The first half was a pretty trope-y, beat-specific YA fantasy romance. (I did appreciate the historical Chinese setting, even though I am completely ignorant of both Chinese culture and the folktale the book is based on.) The second half becomes much more action-y, and the beats feel “off.” Prince Xian, who I’d come to quite like over the first half of the book, becomes much less sympathetic through most of the second half. Spirit snake Zhen, who I also quite liked in the first half, starts making incredibly naïve and stupid choices that made me want to shake him by the lapels. The last quarter of the book, each chapter felt like “well, that’s one problem solved, BUT WHAT ABOUT THIS OTHER THING?”, in a way that felt kind of drawn out. And the ending tries to have things both ways. Look, I’m not saying it’s a bad book. It was fine for what it was. But my favourite part was the setting and the worldbuilding, as opposed to any of the actual plot.