Another stunner from RF Kuang.
I loved the Poppy War trilogy, I loved Babel, and I loved this - despite it once again being a complete genre shift. Personally, I would class this as a thriller set in the world of New York's publishing industry, and as someone looking to join the field, it was absolutely fascinating.
I think it will appeal more to those who are regular social media users, who have been witness to and perhaps partaken in the rapid twists and turns that 'the public's' views take. Everything becomes subjective as information is filtered and mislaid and the line between right and wrong becomes more and more blurred.
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed hating June's character. From page one, her narration has you on edge with her casual disregard of her supposed 'best friend'. But bit by bit, as we learn about each of our characters and get a in insider on the brutal nature of the publishing industry, we start to see that perhaps June herself isn't the only villain in this story.
Overall, a fascinating look at individuals' choices and how they make up and perpetuate crooked systems!