I wasn’t expecting this book to continue for as long as it did after certain events took place. It was both shocking and epic. This series is one of the best war stories, focusing more on the strategy and aftermath of war rather than the battles themselves. However, those who enjoy larger-than-life battle scenes might find this book disappointing in how it handles the action scenes. Even the final battle felt like it ended abruptly, emphasizing the aftermath, which made me ponder what victory truly means. Is it really a victory if you can’t even feed your own people? Is it truly a victory if you have to bow and accept the same doctrine you swore to end?

I appreciate the questions this book raised and the profound message that not every win can be considered a victory.

The narrative veered dangerously close to YA tropes but, fortunately, never crossed into that territory. That said, this book and the series as a whole have some daunting flaws. The plot involving the Trifecta culminated in absolutely nothing. We never revisited Kasegi after his alleged capture. Vaisra’s sudden disappearance, handing full control to his son, felt abrupt and lacked any meaningful buildup. I believe this book could have been improved if it were told from two different POVs because it felt like we were blinded to what was going on in Nezha’s mind and what was happening in the Dragon Lord’s palace.

R.F. Kuang's writing is so intricate and beautiful; she always leaves me at a loss for words. She writes so good that I'll literally pay to read her grocery list, lol.