content warnings: 

major char death(s), loss of loved ones, grief, past attempted infanticide, ableism, classism, civilian casualties

rep: 

Indian-inspired premise (Mahabharata retelling) & Asian-inspired setting; implied-PoC main cast, blind major char [Elvar], WLW secondary char [Sybilla], implied bi/pan major char [Alexi]

"Do you know what happens when a pawn gets all the way across the board?
She becomes a queen."*

I adore this combination of space opera and mythology — complete with prophecies and curses — and a family divided and love in many forms. There's some casual, mostly implicit diversity (though the #ownvoices premise is in and of itself objectively fairly solid rep). Romance is present but on the lighter side, perhaps slightly underdeveloped but more than an afterthought; it ties into the main storyline without taking it over.

As far as the characters, we're introduced to quite a charismatic set: nuanced individuals, each with their own beliefs and values and secrets, and also incredibly likable. I particularly appreciated that this isn't a classic "heroes vs. villains" setup where the Good Guys are obviously perfect and the Bad Guys epitomize greed and cruelty. In fact, at times Esmae has to question her preconceptions because it's not entirely clear who's in the right ... if anyone. (The only blameless character is 

the sassy, sentient, non-bloodthirsty warship Titania

.)

Esmae's willingness to actually consider others' perspectives and needs, as well as her fierce loyalty and unwavering trust, make her a protagonist that I had absolutely no trouble rooting for. Which is not to say that she doesn't make mistakes, but she takes responsibility and learns from them, which is all you can ask for.

Overall, the story has excellent flow. Though the first chapter felt a bit more like the recap-exposition of a sequel rather than the exposition for a new series; I'm not exactly sure why or how to explain it better, my best guess is that it's due to the syntax and pacing. (Possibly a by-product of being a retelling?) But in any case, once the narrative hits its stride, it's so easy to get caught up in the adventure — I finished this book in just one or two sittings.

The prose works pretty well, though some of the dialogue feels a bit contrived and/or overly grandiose. Mandanna has a very cinematic storytelling style, transcribed through plain language: scenes are often visual-heavy, but in a way that shows rather than tells what's going on and how they feel; it paints a specific picture and tone, but leaves room for the reader's interpretation too. (

Sybilla throwing a cup against a wall after learning about the duel

: upset? angry? frustrated? You decide.)

Symbolism and foreshadowing are used sparingly, so they retain their impact; for example, there's an extended chess-adjacent* metaphor in the beginning, which I liked all the better because it's not dragged out and worn out. And throughout the book subtle clues are laid out, so that the reader can gloat about putting the pieces together before the twist / reveal, or bemoan that you should have seen it coming.

There are also a few threads that haven't been addressed yet but which hint at more big developments; added to the way this book ends, I'm (virtually) headed straight to my library to get the next installment.

ADDENDUM, JUNE 2021: This holds up well upon reread — there's a lot of dense description and borderline-infodumps in the beginning, but you can see quite clear foreshadowing/ buildup to later developments and reveals. And I still love the characters and their dynamics.

[* Tbqh my immediate reaction to this quote got pedantic: in chess, technically a pawn that reaches the end of the board can become any other piece; players often choose the queen for its power, though it's not always the best strategic move. But it's later clarified/implied that this extended metaphor references not chess but Warlords, a fictional analogue whose rules aren't detailed ... so this whole endnote doesn't really have a point except me affirming that I know the rules of chess, I suppose.]

-----------
[original rating]

CONVERSION: 12.13 / 15 = 4.5 stars

Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 9 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10

Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 5 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5

-----------
[2021 reread rating]

CONVERSION: 12.05 / 15 = 4.5 stars

Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 7 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10

Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 5 / 5
Rereadability: 4 / 5