Hello guys! I finished this book yesterday and I loved it. I am going to split this post into some categories so that you can skip to which ever part you like. Also I am going to try and keep it spoiler free, but if there are going to be some you will see a spoiler warning before it.
1. Book synopsis (from Goodreads)
“In an empire on the brink of war... Ahn is no
one, with no past and no family. Altan is a lost heir, his future stolen away as a child. When they meet, Altan sees in Ahn a path to reclaiming the throne. Ahn sees a way to finally unlock her past and understand her arcane magical abilities. But they may have to pay a far deadlier price than either could have imagined. Ferocious
action, shadowy intrigue, and a captivating romance collide in June CL Tan’s debut, a stunning homage to the Xianxia novel with a tender, beating heart, perfect for fans of The Bone Witch and We Hunt the Flame.”
2. Characters
I loved that this book’s characters were very interesting and different. It didn’t feel like I was reading the same character over and over again. I will only talk about Ahn and Altan, our main characters, since we only got their POVs (point of views) in the book.
Ahn:
She is such a great character to read about. Ahn sort of has the “chosen one” trope, but it was really well done. Things don’t magically work out for her; she has to learn through the hard way a lot of things. She is also a very caring and sensible person; we can tell that by the love she has for her grandma and would do anything to keep her safe. However, she isn’t perfect, which I find refreshing in any book that is even the slightest bit character driven.
Altan:
He is such a sweet character. Altan is the definition of “looks like he could kill you, but is a cinnamon bun”. He had such an amazing character development. His backstory was heartbreaking, but everything worked out in the end for him. I think Ahn was a huge help in his character retaliation, which, for me, makes their relationship even better.
3. Writing style
June Tan’s writing in this book was phenomenal. I don’t usually care that much about the writing style of a fantasy book, but when it’s done well, I am a huge fan. She managed to paint such a vivid image of the setting of the book. Furthermore, her writing emphasised the strong feelings between Ahn and Altan in such a beautiful way.
4. Things I liked
Firstly, I really enjoyed the pacing. There were some moments in the book that were a bit slow, but I passed through them easily. Secondly, I really liked the romance subplot. I am an enthusiast of fantasy books with romantic subplots, but I also am hard to please with them, so trust me when I say that the romance was done beautifully. Thirdly, I really liked the relationships between the characters. At first, based on what June said about the book, I was expecting a found family trope. However, there wasn’t such a trope; just some friendships between the characters. Fourthly, I liked that it kind of ends in a cliffhanger. I know that not a lot of readers like that in standalones, but I do. Lastly, I was really happy with the queer representation. We have a WLW and potential MLM couple.
5. Things I didn’t like
I can’t tell for sure if I disliked this aspect of the book because it’s a standalone or because it was poorly done, but I felt like the world building wasn’t as good as I have hoped. For me a good world building is important in fantasy books, so this was a bit disappointing, but considering this is her debut novel it was good.
6. Favorite quotes
“It is all right to feel fear. There is a duality to nature, a balance. Water gives life, but it can pierce through stone and carve mountains. The wind ushers your sails, but it can destroy the boats in your harbour. Earth is the foundation for growth but when it is corrupted, life cannot find a way. Fire may kill, yet, in destruction, there is rebirth and a new beginning. You can choose to protect.”
“We all carry the burdens and joys of our past. Only those who choose to be blind to themselves forget what once existed and what continues to exist inside.”
“In the desert when the moonrise meets the sunset, the world is bathed in beauty. Turn your head to one end of the horizon and you will see bands of cool blues and purples from the deepest indigo to the palest lilac. Glance the other way and the sky bleeds warm tangerine to rosy coral. Look up and the two worlds meld seamlessly into each other, clasping their vibrant fingers into a prayer.”
An example of how beautiful their romance story is written:
“I believed my heart to be a reliable organ. Believed my will to be resolute and immutable. Then, a girl from the desert walked into my life. A girl whose smile proved my heart weaker than I imagined. A girl whose strange gaze drowns me in starlight even as it offers me a lifeline.”
7. Overall opinion
I really enjoyed this young adult fantasy standalone. It was fast paced, funny, romantic and just an amazing fantasy book. I would recommend this book to everyone, but especially to people that are new to reading and want to try as many genres as possible, so they can see what they like. I’ve never watched Avatar the Last Airbender (I know I am also disappointed in myself =)), but some readers said that it’s pretty similar to the movie because of the elemental magic. Overall I gave this book 4 stars, which is really good, considering that standalones are usually my cup of tea.
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