I did enjoy this overall - the world, the culture, the setting - but I just didn't mesh as fully with it as I thought I would. I loved that it was inspired by East Asia mythology and set in a post apocalyptic sci fi world, the disability/chronic pain and polyamory representation, but I wish that more aspects were explained more. Alot of times it felt like "this happened then BAM we were here BAM and then I did this," without any reasoning as to the why. Or how. 

The Chrysallises and Qi was such a cool concept but I wish it had been elaborated more, and i wish the politics had been explained more as they played such a huge part of the story. At times I felt like I was struggling to connect the dots. And the "aliens," they were fighting. I felt like they weren't really described. I wish we had some more flashbacks or backstory on Big Sister, as I really didn't feel a sisterly connection between them. 

I loved how ruthless Zetain was and she truly had some "good for her moments," but she did feel a little one note, and I felt there wasn't much character development aside from "revenge revenge murder." And what started out as a strong feminist theme, ended out more of a power grab for the "good of Zetain." 

I also really loved Yizhi and Shimin. They were so different but also had such complex personalities and the polyamory 

It was a fast paced book, which I love, but it was a little too fast, and felt like it was speeding along without enough time to digest what was happening. 

This had alot of great themes, characters and has a hell of a lot potential, I just didn't really click with the delivery. The concept is great, and i enjoyed the characters, and the beauty in the culture. I will be sticking around for book 2 though because I'm interested to see how things move on from that twist at the end and the fallout of the main characters choices. 

TW'S - murder, gore, torture, r*pe, threats, suicide and suicidal thoughts, abuse, addiction, misogyny, chronic pain/feet binding.