What a disappointment.

This story could have been SO good. The world building had SO MUCH potential. But it turned out to be a classic case of show, don't tell and any potential was spoiled by the writing.

Bland characters. More similes than you can shake a stick at. And half of them didn't make any sense. Sometimes you can just use the word RED. I rolled my eyes every time something was crimson or vermilion. I also don't need to know how everything smelled constantly. It was supposed to feel tactile I think but it just came over as repetitive.

And it kind of typifies my problem with so much fantasy - the bloody special snowflake effect. Xianying is an utter idiot. She has no arc, no development. No experience in the world but amazing at everything. But filled with doubt. At least it's a female perspective and I don't get pages of soliloquies to boobs. But instead having to read over and over about her complete lack of self awareness. I almost threw the book across the room at her suddenly realising she still loved Liwei. No shit Sherlock.

I kind of wanted to see how the plot played out but I skimmed half of it. This book could have been half the length. It focused on the least interesting parts of the story - the love angle. When the quests and the action could have been more. It was really slow.

So yeah. Two stars for the potential. I doubt very much I'll be reading the next ones.