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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Sisters Lu and Min have always understood their places as princesses of the Empire. Lu knows she is destined to become the dynasty's first female ruler, while Min is resigned to a life in her shadow. Then their father declares their male cousin Set the heir instead—a betrayal that sends the sisters down two very different paths.
Determined to reclaim her birthright, Lu goes on the run. She needs an ally—and an army—if she is to succeed. Her quest leads her to Nokhai, the last surviving wolf shapeshifter. Nok wants to keep his identity secret, but finds himself forced into an uneasy alliance with the girl whose family killed everyone he ever loved…
Alone in the volatile court, Min's hidden power awakens—a forbidden, deadly magic that could secure Set's reign…or allow Min to claim the throne herself. But there can only be one Emperor, and the sisters' greatest enemy could turn out to be each other.
Review:
This is a story with so many wonderful elements, I eagerly jumped at the chance to review it. It did not disappoint. With a world formed around empires and magic, this novel is a page-turner that was really fun.
What I Liked:
World Building:I really enjoyed the creative world in which this book is set. There are people who can shapeshift into animals, warriors, royalty, and mythical cities. I loved the "Inbetween" realm, where a city hides from their aggressive neighbors. And Min's secret abilities are exciting, and terrifying. All of these elements were rich details that added to the story.
Characters:
I really liked the strong women in this novel. Lu has been training her whole life to lead her nation. When it looks as if she won't get the chance, she doesn't accept this lying down. She takes action. The problem for Lu is that she doesn't anticipate how much resistance the men in her society have to the idea of a female ruler.
Min is harder to like. But she learns through the story to embrace her talents and take control. I did like that she went from an awkward, self-conscious young teen to an empress who demand respect.
Nok is a scrappy survivor. He is the last of his people, after Lu's father has all but wiped out anyone who can shapeshift into an animal form. Nok is also trying to understand his own abilities. Even though Nok is not the best fighter or charismatic of young men, he knows his own worth and demands respect from Lu. He will not be intimidated by Lu being a princess.
Set, although a thoroughly abhorrent human being, had a clear motive for his actions. I liked that he had a backstory that contributed to his actions.
Romance:
I loved the bittersweet romance between Lu and Nok. Considering how they were both from different stations, their love story was doomed from the start. But I loved that Nok accepted Lu for who she really was. He didn't assume she was a spoiled princess. Lu also saw Nok as a young man with plenty to offer other than power or position. I really rooted for them.
Story:
The story follows the power plays among the empire after the king dies. Will Set become the emperor? Or will Lu be able to overcome the sexism of her time and become the first girl king? I love the ceremony of the court, with all its pageantry. But I also love the everyday people and how they are affected by what the nobility does.
This was a fast-paced story that kept me guessing throughout the novel.
What I Was Mixed About:
Characters:As much as I loved the strong characters, it took me a while (quite a while, actually) to like anyone in the novel. Every character had a mean streak. I suppose characters need to grow through the course of a story. But I found it difficult to empathize with Lu and Min, in particular, as they both were rather petty and self-centered. Lu did begin to change by the end of the book, and I loved her growth. I could not feel such a connection to Min.
Rating:
Release Date: January 8th, 2019
Author: Mimi Yu
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 432 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-book
Recommendation: An imaginative setting with strong characters, this is a fun book.
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