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A review by roadtripreader
Waiting on a Bright Moon by Neon Yang
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
My only question is whhhhyyy - why is it so short?
There is a big bad patriarchal empire that uses a matriarchal mage clans to do the important business of opening portals. But the empire is always punishing women. At the height of its merciless cruelty, women's flesh is to be flayed. It's upsetting. Its enraging. It's a damn good story.
The subtle love story in the backdrop of all of this had me worrying like a mother hen. Like are you ladies even going to survive to anything beyond dinner and a kiss?
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Names are so important in this story and their erasure and replacement with something not belonging has this effect on the psyche. A "traitor" becomes known only as traitor as is her entire family - that is frightful. Imagine a child going to class and they have to answer to the name Traitor. No peace for the ones left behind after the execution.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Beautifully, tragically crafted. At the height of authority, The main character starmage has no power and is the same as ll the other women on worlds dominated by the Empire. Just a body whose power is to be used and replaced in the mist vicious way.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
That horrifying execution
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Hatred turns to pity, turns to exhaustion. No one has the energy to fight forever” (Profound. And true.)
🖤 “You realize you can choose to be happy, and accept the love you have been given; or you can remain in despair forever” (Choosing is the hardest part)
🖤 “Slaughter a chicken, to warn the monkeys” (Broadscasted Executions tend to have that effect.)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
â– Ansible Training is basically Conversion Therapy for lesbian mages. Or like a mage nunery.
â– Song-Sisters: Twinning Song
â– Starmage
â– Magebright
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
There is a big bad patriarchal empire that uses a matriarchal mage clans to do the important business of opening portals. But the empire is always punishing women. At the height of its merciless cruelty, women's flesh is to be flayed. It's upsetting. Its enraging. It's a damn good story.
The subtle love story in the backdrop of all of this had me worrying like a mother hen. Like are you ladies even going to survive to anything beyond dinner and a kiss?
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Names are so important in this story and their erasure and replacement with something not belonging has this effect on the psyche. A "traitor" becomes known only as traitor as is her entire family - that is frightful. Imagine a child going to class and they have to answer to the name Traitor. No peace for the ones left behind after the execution.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Beautifully, tragically crafted. At the height of authority, The main character starmage has no power and is the same as ll the other women on worlds dominated by the Empire. Just a body whose power is to be used and replaced in the mist vicious way.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
That horrifying execution
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Hatred turns to pity, turns to exhaustion. No one has the energy to fight forever” (Profound. And true.)
🖤 “You realize you can choose to be happy, and accept the love you have been given; or you can remain in despair forever” (Choosing is the hardest part)
🖤 “Slaughter a chicken, to warn the monkeys” (Broadscasted Executions tend to have that effect.)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
â– Ansible Training is basically Conversion Therapy for lesbian mages. Or like a mage nunery.
â– Song-Sisters: Twinning Song
â– Starmage
â– Magebright
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025