This was another read that came highly recommended by oomfs, unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. I think I’ve fully aged out of reading ya bc for all intents and purposes this is the type of book I loved as a teen. Preamble aside, I wanted to like this but it fell short for me.

To start, the pacing felt incredibly off, there was no sense of time for any events except for being told that the battle where

Qilin died

was seven weeks before Rin’s army came to her uncle’s lands. 

I also felt like there was just missing characterization of everyone except Zephyr, to the point where it felt like they were just background to whatever Zephyr was doing. It also made the “romance” fall flat.

I full heartedly believe that not every (ya) fantasy needs a romance subplot, even if it’s supposedly to help Qilin integrate herself with the enemy. It felt out of place and there was a lack of development for zephyrcrow that would allow me to see them as a couple, just like there was a lack of development in any of the relationships in the book. Were told that there’s some sort of bond between people but never shown it.

Now for the plot. It had the bones to be  great. I love political intrigue in a fantasy setting; however, the plot seemed to be hobbled together with plot twists that didn’t make sense and seemed to be more for shock factor than actual plot. Not to be a hater but there was no need for

Zephyr to be revealed as a god after dying.

There was no point and I think the story would’ve been more impactful without that thrown in. 

I do concede tho that the ending was the most interesting part of the book. I just wish there was more done for worldbuilding and characterization. It’s the same problem I had with The Predator. I hate being told over and over how smart the mc is but never getting shown how smart and clever they are.