My big takeaway was “do you understand?” This phrased/question was repeatedly said throughout the book from Rabbit to her granddaughter. This book is a novella about two women who had a significant power play in their relationship. They both loved each other and tried their best to be there and protect each other against the nastiness of the emperor.
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There were specific word choices used in this book that transcended love. I kept thinking “what’s understood doesn’t need to be explained.” Each time the character Rabbit told a story about the Empress she tried her best to get her granddaughter to understand what happens and Rabbit’s love she had for the empress. It was up to the reader in my opinion to judge rather the granddaughter understood.
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If I’m being honest one of my favorite parts of the book was the Empress’s obsession with fortune-tellers and having access to future knowledge.
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I am so happy I re-read this book. I made it much better and much more enjoyable for me.