emma_pk 's review for:

Speaking Bones by Ken Liu
4.25
adventurous emotional slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Great writing and storytelling. Maybe too many backstories for my taste. 

I’m not sure that I like the ending. Théra coming back to Dara doesn’t feel right to me. 
Same thing as a descendant of Tenryo getting to be Emperor of Dara, or Xana having Ukyu-taasa as its official name, or the hardliner Lyucu thanes who committed so many horrors getting to keep all their spoils. Dyana having an important role in Rui and Dasu - yes, but the Lyucu getting that many concessions doesn’t make sense. The questions asked at the end by the descendant of Cutanrovo demand clear answers, and show  that dealing with remembrance of - and moving forward from -horrors is difficult.