While the book is very clear about its historical and geographic inspirations, I’m annoyed at how long it took me to pick up on the Avatar: The Last Airbender homage.

I finally noticed it with the blood bending…I mean weaving.

I also loved the way that Elsbai played with familiar tropes like arranged marriage and love triangles while letting them and the story evolve.
And I thought that Nahel and Giorgina were brilliant foils and, despite their differences, their choices and anger and experiences were both given weight and compassion. 
I particularly appreciated the choice of two different narrators for the two different women. 
That cliffhanger though at the end.