A case of expectations =/= reality but in the best possible way, in my opinion.

I dived into this with the expectation that it would be a high-stakes, action-packed wuxia fantasy with a lot of martial art goodness, but instead I found a very thought-provoking novella that revolves around identity, spirituality, and the lengths taken in order to guarantee survival. I also thought that the queer-norm aspects of this novella (particularly the emphasis on trans-ness and gender fluidity) were a pleasant surprise.

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water is a weird novella, and I really liked it. Full review to follow.

* I received a digital ARC of this book (via NetGalley) from its publisher in exchange for an honest review.