I spent the long weekend immersed in this story, which is my favorite way to experience a chunky Fantasy nov, and I’ve honestly taken such a journey with this book. It’s a big book but Kuang doesn't waste any time so nothing feels extraneous. The protagonist, Rin (my heart ❤!), ends the book in such a different place than she begins, both in terms of personal growth and the grander scheme of changes to the world, and it was exciting all the way through. Kaung is the master of the training montage, and though this book deals with heavy themes of war and genocide, the material is treated with respect and honors the history on which it’s based. I appreciate the difficult, complex ethical questions the characters wrestle with, and how precisely Kuang has developed varied fully-formed characters with different backgrounds, ideals, and conclusions.⁣
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Cw for graphic violence, genocide, rape, suicide, drug use, self harm