Be Aware of Spoilers/Rant at the end.
I’ve been conflicted about this book since chapter one, I’ve never had such a love/hate relationship with a book before. I will try to hold my rant until the end, but please forgive me if I fail in this endeavour. This book should not necessarily be for the young adult crowd, there are rape scenes, and the readers maturity should be taken into account when picking this book to read.
There are so many things I love about this book. The Asian influences scattered among the fantasy elements of this book make a similar story seem brand new. If you break down any good story to the broad strokes, like for example Opressive Ruler forces lower class people to do awful things and rebellion ensues, my first thought was The Hunger Games, but I’m sure dozens of YA books would come to mind. Natasha changes it all up with her world building skills in this one.
One of the things I was so pleasantly surprised by was the romance. Going into this book I was worried about the two stereotypical options for our protagonist to fall for and I was worried I would have to yawn my way through another love triangle. Not only did this romance make my heart happy, but it’s a peek on the other side for those who may judge and a learning moment for their future. Love is beautiful.
While I did end up liking our main character Lei by the end of the book, there were moments I struggled. I wish she had “grown” a little faster, she is still young, newly in love and still learning about herself. Based on the cliffhanger ending, I’m sure her character development will accelerate in book 2.
Overall I really liked this book, but again, I wanna say, don’t give this book to just any kid to read. Please be aware of the rape trigger scenes and have a discussion with the reader, if they’re under a certain age.
I give this book 3 1/2 stars
Now for the hate ... I personally feel like I get it, why something so awful was used as the breaking point for a rebellion but I’m in my freaking 30’s! This is supposed to be a book for Young Adults, I was 12 when I read my first YA book.
Let me just say it... there’s low key promotion of a blasé attitude towards sex. These girls are aged 16 and up, kidnaped from their homes and family and given to the king. As each girl is demanded by the king, they’re given a lesson by the highest paid courtesan. How to undress seductively, how to fake it and how to think of someone else while it was happening. How it’s all okay, because hey it’s the king.
The second thing ... the rape scenes. While true sordid details are never fully explained, all the impressions are there. Girls coming back battered, bruised and bloody needing to be tended to by the shamans. One time a girl barely makes it down the hall before she passes out in the guards arms, needing to be carried back to the Women’s Court.
If this was a book marked New Adult, I wouldn’t be quite so ranty about it, but I can’t imagine a young 12 year old me reading this and being totally okay by the end.
