3.5 stars

So, bearing in mind that I'm a Chinese-American but not MG reader, I quite liked this and I think my younger self would've liked it even more. The plot is a little formulaic, several of the reveals are fairly tropey, and the in-text translations felt clunky — but in the MG context, all of these could also be considered strengths.

It's rich in Chinese mythology, on a level that I think most young readers will be able to understand and appreciate. (And the glossary at the back will probably come in handy for many!) I really liked that it emphasized family and community values over romance; as an older sister myself, I absolutely adored Faryn and Alex's relationship. The plot itself is fun, ending on a twist that actually caught me surprise, leaving me curious to see what will happen next.

content warnings:

Spoiler

precanon parent death, colorism, bullying, on-page major character death(s)

rep:

Spoiler

Chinese-Egyptian-Greek-Turkish-American MC, Chinese-American and Chinese cast, nonbinary minor character

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CONVERSION: 10.5 / 15 = 3.5 stars

Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 7 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10

Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Rereadability: 3 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5