eeves's Reviews (306)

🟢 The folklore this retelling is based off is interesting, THIS could’ve been better 
🟡 Isn’t marketed as YA as far as I’ve seen, but is definitely YA in tone which for the most part is fine, I like YA. However it can be eye-rolling at times 
🟡 The story is mostly okay, but the last chapter is jarring and just… an ODD creative choice. 
🔴 Labeled Historical Fantasy, but there aren’t any fantasy elements to it at all until the very end…ish? It’s Historical Fiction. 

🔴 Didn’t buy Xishi being able to expertly navigate court politics with 10 weeks of training. It’s 3 years of training in the legend, so just do that. Plus it gives a chance for the main romance to bloom (or start at all really) 

🔴 Speaking of romance, I don’t care for instalove and it felt forced. The flip-flopping at the end is confusing. She had a mostly professional relationship and no chemistry with one and hated (but actually loved) the other??? 

🔴 Xishi is supposed to be really clever, but there are times where YOU the reader will see something coming from a MILE away and when it happens, she’s utterly stupefied. They were very critical and obvious mistakes made 

🔴 When I pick up a book based on anther country's folklore, I want it to feel... different, not like yet another modern Western YA with said culture slapped on it