I loved this journey and I have problems finding the words without going into deep spoilers.

The premise of the book is pretty plain. Six years after one country has occupied another country, Jebi is an artist who just wants to survive. They doesn't care about revolution or war, they doesn't want to make waves. They learns the new language, they wears the new clothes, they signs up for a new name.

Their older sister however, is very different. Their older sister lost her wife in the war, and is strongly opposed to the new rule and barely learned the language. And my heart aches as the strife between the sisters grows.

In the end, Jebi gets tossed out onto the streets and end up working for the government division called "Armour" and this is where things start getting complicated.

I absolutely love the universe. It's whimsical and magical and mechanical. There are automatons, which reminded me of the Golems found in Jewish mythology. Controlled by using magical paint and coding specific behavior on their masks. There are fox-creature character which they don't go too deeply into, just casually shrugging "yeah there is more than humans and they prey on peoples livers, so what?".

I really like how the main character was non-binary. And I loved how this was implemented into the story. Apparently, it was a common enough theme that it was widely accepted, if though of as a little peculiar. And other non-binary people would show their preference by having their hair cut asymmetrical.

I loved the dragon Arazi, I loved how Jebi and Arazi bonded. I loved the loyalty between the two. I wish more of the book was focused on Arazi, and his communications with Jebi. I mean, he's not a human, he's not even another supernatural being. He's one of the automatons. What is his first memory? how does he identify

And when Jebi and her sister meet again?

Spoiler

My heart ached at their communication. It ached that the revolution was more important than family. It ached at the implied threat that her sister would force Jebi and Arazi if she could, to use magic and their power to win the upcoming war. Regardless of Jebi's desires or feelings, regardless of the fact that Arazi was a sentiment being. She'd make more automatons and force them into war if she could

But I suppose that's realistic. Both Jebi and their sister represent humanities reaction to strife. Not everyone is full of pride and justice and willing to die for their beliefs. Just as many is willing to hunker down, lower their heads, and attempt to survive their new lives. Adapt and survive. I don't think there is any shame in that. But I bet some people might dislike Jebi because of it.

The ending however, underlined that this was a truely whimsical and mystical place, and not just a fantasy version of earth. I mean,

Spoiler

going to live on the moon? Silly little thing. It made the entire book sound like the origin of a fairy tale. The artist and the duelist, falling in love, and went to live on the moon with the dragon.