Scan barcode
betharanova's review against another edition
5.0
I finished the book last night and lay there with the book on my chest, staring at the ceiling, for a long time. I couldn't write a review because I was crying.
This was incredible from start to finish. It's so often described as a cross between Pokemon and A:tLA, but it's SO much more than that. This is a beautiful, lovingly crafted world with history and tensions and a genuine feel for each nation. It's obviously Asian-inspired, but the loving detail each character gave their home country made it feel magical.
And the characters! We have a princess working as a detective teaming up with a street-wise thief, and a bitter soldier charged with guarding the enemy prince. Each character was messy; everyone had their shining moments and their hang-ups both. They're heroes; they're young people finding their way in the wake of a war; they're enemies and friends and lovers. It's perfect. Even the big antagonist pulled the full range of emotion out of me.
I don't know what else to say about this book except it's perfect. I literally had a dream about it about three quarters of the way through. Read it and join me in this sea of emotion.
This was incredible from start to finish. It's so often described as a cross between Pokemon and A:tLA, but it's SO much more than that. This is a beautiful, lovingly crafted world with history and tensions and a genuine feel for each nation. It's obviously Asian-inspired, but the loving detail each character gave their home country made it feel magical.
And the characters! We have a princess working as a detective teaming up with a street-wise thief, and a bitter soldier charged with guarding the enemy prince. Each character was messy; everyone had their shining moments and their hang-ups both. They're heroes; they're young people finding their way in the wake of a war; they're enemies and friends and lovers. It's perfect. Even the big antagonist pulled the full range of emotion out of me.
I don't know what else to say about this book except it's perfect. I literally had a dream about it about three quarters of the way through. Read it and join me in this sea of emotion.
whatsbeckyreading's review against another edition
5.0
Too destroyed to write a real review, will update later. To summarize: LOVED IT
ddillon154's review against another edition
4.0
This one took a while to really hit a groove for me. The cast of characters all come together well in the end, but it took a long time for me to get used to bouncing back and forth between all of them. The downside of building the world/story from their individual perspectives; you have to figure out how they all relate and connect as you go.
aliena_jackson's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not sure all of the elements here worked for me; it did, after all, take me two months to finish this. But I thought it was fun and queer and the writing flowed easily. It was a dose of the fantasy I’ve been craving.
truthaurdare's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
samrushingbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really good read, and there is so much that happens over 512 pages. The cultures are interesting, the magic systems are cool, and the character interactions were fascinating to follow. I can definitely see this as a book that will only get better with future rereads.
corinnet1's review
adventurous
funny
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
4.75
fullfathom5's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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
5.0
polkadotgirl's review against another edition
4.0
4/5 stars:
I really, really liked this book. In fact it's been a long while since a fantasy world captured my attention so throughly and made me think so much (in a good way!).
I think the best part of this book, like I already said, was its world-building and magic system. I loved both the fantastical aspects of it and the explanations we're giving about it about how it works, as the fact that we get to read about the cultural differences in kingdoms/nations on how these practices are viewed and understood. It makes the world feel so real because it's got layers and so much complexity.
This entire story, really, is a heavy commentary on colonialism and I absolutely adored that, especially because we've got quite a few POV throughout the book and we get to see so many perspectives and we live along with the characters as they realize things they hadn't even aware of before, and we get to see them grow and change and shape.
The relationships disappointed me a little bit, because I was expecting more development from them and I was expecting to be more invested in the dynamics between characters. But I think I understand that the book wasn't really about that, so it's mostly just my own fault for expecting differently.
Overall, I really recommend this book and I'm just very happy that I loved a fantasy standalone so much because you don't tend to find them very easily.
I really, really liked this book. In fact it's been a long while since a fantasy world captured my attention so throughly and made me think so much (in a good way!).
I think the best part of this book, like I already said, was its world-building and magic system. I loved both the fantastical aspects of it and the explanations we're giving about it about how it works, as the fact that we get to read about the cultural differences in kingdoms/nations on how these practices are viewed and understood. It makes the world feel so real because it's got layers and so much complexity.
This entire story, really, is a heavy commentary on colonialism and I absolutely adored that, especially because we've got quite a few POV throughout the book and we get to see so many perspectives and we live along with the characters as they realize things they hadn't even aware of before, and we get to see them grow and change and shape.
The relationships disappointed me a little bit, because I was expecting more development from them and I was expecting to be more invested in the dynamics between characters. But I think I understand that the book wasn't really about that, so it's mostly just my own fault for expecting differently.
Overall, I really recommend this book and I'm just very happy that I loved a fantasy standalone so much because you don't tend to find them very easily.
greywaren24's review against another edition
5.0
5/5 stars
I don't even know where to begin with this one. Everything in this book is wonderful. The setting, based on different Asian countries and cultures, is super interesting and unique, and you get fully involved in the politics of it, even if it's not the main focus of the book. The "magic" is great too, and the way different cultures react and interact with different aspects of that magic is fascinating. The writing is the perfect mix of flowery and to the point and it never feels too heavy or too light.
The plot is your classic "escort this guy to the throne so he can be the new ruler" story, but the characters... Oh my god, the characters. I'm completely and absolutely in love with the four main characters. I'm always gonna have a little part of my heart dedicated to Tala, Lee, Xiulan and Jimuro. They're so unique and have so many layers to them that you could tell me they're real people and I'd believe you. Their relationships are also handled really well and the fact that the book mostly focuses on them instead of the overarching story was very welcome, because they're definitely the strongest part of the whole thing.
I also think I need to mention the representation and diversity in this story. It's unbelievably good. You have a ton of important female characters, explicitly bisexual and homosexual characters, trans characters, characters with disabilities...
It was so good. I really, really, really enjoyed this book and I strongly recommend it. I'll definitely check out more of Paul Krueger's work in the future, too.
I don't even know where to begin with this one. Everything in this book is wonderful. The setting, based on different Asian countries and cultures, is super interesting and unique, and you get fully involved in the politics of it, even if it's not the main focus of the book. The "magic" is great too, and the way different cultures react and interact with different aspects of that magic is fascinating. The writing is the perfect mix of flowery and to the point and it never feels too heavy or too light.
The plot is your classic "escort this guy to the throne so he can be the new ruler" story, but the characters... Oh my god, the characters. I'm completely and absolutely in love with the four main characters. I'm always gonna have a little part of my heart dedicated to Tala, Lee, Xiulan and Jimuro. They're so unique and have so many layers to them that you could tell me they're real people and I'd believe you. Their relationships are also handled really well and the fact that the book mostly focuses on them instead of the overarching story was very welcome, because they're definitely the strongest part of the whole thing.
I also think I need to mention the representation and diversity in this story. It's unbelievably good. You have a ton of important female characters, explicitly bisexual and homosexual characters, trans characters, characters with disabilities...
It was so good. I really, really, really enjoyed this book and I strongly recommend it. I'll definitely check out more of Paul Krueger's work in the future, too.