American savages, screw women, dwarfs to amuse royalty. The women are all stereotypical and ruled by looks and emotion. If it was making a point or that I would hold on. But it just seems thrown together and two dimensional. 

This new novel by Fonda Lee was nothing like what I was expecting. Ester’s family was killed by a Manticore, so she pins her life’s ambitions on flying Rocs, giant mythical birds that are the only known defense against Manticores. Except being, this career has its own dangers. 

The world-building and characters were solidly written. It just seemed like they could have been richer. Maybe it is just that I do not have a penchant for mythical creatures or falconing that allowed me to really connect to this book. Although, I think I mostly was put off by the constant foretelling. If I could have just lived in the moment without having the anxiety of the future pushed on me, then I think I would have enjoyed the story so much more. 

But Fonda Lee is still amazing, and to have captured so much in these pages is impressive. If you enjoy mythical creatures or Fonda Lee as a writer then you should absolutely read this novella.