I wasn't sucked in the same way and level that The Wrath and The Dawn duology did but I still really enjoyed this book. The cliffhanger ending was so well done and I just have to read the sequel (whenever that comes out). I absolutely loved all the relationship development, romance building and that whole "who is the actual bad guy?!" feeling. Renee Ahdieh was an amazing ability to paint a world in foreign places (I'm based in Canada) so vividly that I feel like I'm there and can follow the characters through the forest or on a magic carpet. I really enjoyed the Mulan retelling aspect but it didn't feel like the book leaned on my awareness of this popular story--I find a lot of retellings fall flat because authors either just rewrite the old fairytale/Disney adaptation or they bet on you knowing the romance or settings to the point where they don't feel the need to describe them to you.

Overall, a solid (but not my favourite) retelling but it's a wonderfully unique world with some really interesting characters and a SOLID romance that focuses on a strong woman and the people who support her.