Shiori is determined, loyal, strong, brave, and inquisitive. She wants to learn magic, even if it is banned in Kiata. She continuously questions the assumptions she has made about others as she lives outside of the protection of the palace and her father, the Emperor. She is humbled as she must care for herself, silence herself, and save her brothers. She must grow, learn, and accept that sometimes she can be wrong. She must be able to adapt, to realize her mistakes, and to ask for help. She also is thrown into a world she knows nothing about, with no ability to tell her identity and the only means of communication being writing. Takkan is a very likable lead. He is kind, courteous, courageous and honest. He does not take kindly to cruelty and unfounded accusations. He also is immediately drawn to Lena (Shiori in disguise). I like that he is an artist with a beautiful voice. Lim flips the usual gender stereotypes by having Shiori as the lying, brash, impatient and adventurous talker, while Takkan is the reserved, quiet and dutiful suitor. Shiori's brothers are all very distinct and her devotion to them is admirable. This is a story very much about family and the lengths one will go to protect those they cherish. You can see this between Shiori and her brothers, as well as Takkan and his family. Even the bond between Raikama and Shiori is meant to be a twist on the evil stepmother trope, although not exactly what you were expecting (in a delightful way). It is also a book about duty and obligation, but also about finding your own path and creating your own fate. I really enjoy that this book takes place in the same Universe as Lim's previous duology The Blood of Stars. So there were moments when I could connect the two and knew A'Landi. I really enjoy when authors do this, when they create new stories in a world you already love. I did find some of the pacing to be slow, but overall this was an action packed and very well written retelling of The Six Swans. I am looking forward to the next book, which will be featuring more of a character I had hoped for more of in this novel, the dragon Seryu.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Currently ReadingGraphic Novel
Romance Audiobook
Archives
April 2024
|