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readerette's review
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I had to let my thoughts percolate a while for this one before reviewing. I wanted to like it. It had promise, but I'm just not sure it ever came through. I did find the romance elements sweet. The magic/fantasy elements and world weren't very detailed, but they were still interesting. However, the character development stopped short of giving me enough to care about them, and the story meandered to nowhere. It is a novella so it makes sense that it wouldn't go too deep, but I love good short stories because they have to be focused on the most important people, moments and details in order to suck you in. This did not measure up, got a little redundant in places (not good when the author only uses so many words to tell the story) and felt unresolved.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Violence, Sexual content, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, Death, Kidnapping, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
bi_n_large's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Death
alwaysshure's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence
konpyuta's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Physical abuse and Blood
bookishjournal1's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Violence
ghosthermione's review
5.0
It feels like everyone's been buzzing about this one and they were right!
I've been in love with the cover ever since I first saw it, I loved the concept and not gonna lie, the idea that there are (almost) no men in this book is a nice change.
So anyway, I gave it a read once it came out and... How do I word this. I just??? fucking love it???
I've been in love with the cover ever since I first saw it, I loved the concept and not gonna lie, the idea that there are (almost) no men in this book is a nice change.
So anyway, I gave it a read once it came out and... How do I word this. I just??? fucking love it???
This was a short read, about 2h (I'm a slow reader), but lots of content to enjoy and feelings to unpack. I've read Aliette de Bodard's stuff before and there's no doubt she's great at short stories, but so far I've enjoyed her medium-size writing more. Both the novella at the end of Of Wars etc. , In The Vanishers Palace and The Tea Master and the Detective. With a preference for her fantasy, so this was definitely one I was really looking forward to.
And it did not disappoint.
As advertised, there's only one man (a eunuch), in a minor role. It was really enjoyable to see a world of mainly women, both in positions of power and not, cruel and not. I also had a moment of "where are the fathers" before I remembered the only women thing, and it reminded me of how people often wonder "where are the mothers" in Shakespeare plays, because the dude often forgot to include women. It's a nice reversal.
It's been discussed in better words by others (and by the author herself) but this novella really goes into the themes of abuse and colonialism, and it was really striking. Thanh thinks she's found her way out of an abusive situation (with her mother) only to realise that maybe this is just walking into another more subtle abusive relationship. There was definitely a very realistic buildup in the way that abuse was portrayed (I don't want to give away too much here) and the colonial parallels rang very true. Viet Nam is the clear inspiration for Bình Hải, Thanh's country, and as a French person, it made me think about the fact that I know so little about the occupation of Viet Nam by France, and that's not something I'm proud of.
I don't know what to say about the relationships in the book without spoiling, but I'll just say it's good to see toxic sapphic relationships as well - ones where it's clear the sapphic aspect isn't the problem. And it offers sapphic alternatives too. Not just that, but the relationships made sense, Thanh's reactions made sense and were so relatable, I loved Giang (and loved to hate everyone but those two),and the pacing and flow in the whole novella was... honestly something a lot of writers could learn from.
I'm really impressed by how well-rounded the characters are, how complex the themes in so short a book. I want more but realistically it's perfect as it is and doesn't need anything added to it. Just, wow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
implied sexual assault/rape emotional abuse from family, escalating emotional and physical abuse from partner arguably PTSD. A major house fire is at the centre of the story strong themes of colonialism, racismentazis's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is a very fast read. I finished it in two hours and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I was hooked with the beginning, this princess of a beleaguered kingdom, having some deep trauma regarding fire after a childhood accident, now constantly followed by a curious fact that some things around her burst in the small fires without obvious cause. Her kingdom is also under a not so subtle threat of the other much stronger kingdom and on top of it her ex is a princess of that other place.
It's a story about self worth, finding the inner strength, recognizing how real love looks versus possessive and abusive relationship, and lastly, colonization.
It's vibrant like always with Aliette de Bodards writing, descriptions so vivid I was just in a constant awe.
Also it's all about lesbian ladies. Sword lesbians, princesses and fire elementals. Btw I'm totally in love with the queen. That's all.
I was hooked with the beginning, this princess of a beleaguered kingdom, having some deep trauma regarding fire after a childhood accident, now constantly followed by a curious fact that some things around her burst in the small fires without obvious cause. Her kingdom is also under a not so subtle threat of the other much stronger kingdom and on top of it her ex is a princess of that other place.
It's a story about self worth, finding the inner strength, recognizing how real love looks versus possessive and abusive relationship, and lastly, colonization.
It's vibrant like always with Aliette de Bodards writing, descriptions so vivid I was just in a constant awe.
Also it's all about lesbian ladies. Sword lesbians, princesses and fire elementals. Btw I'm totally in love with the queen. That's all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
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