Wow, this book was everything I needed and more. From two wonderful main characters to a beautifully formed world, this book just held me and didn't let me go.
The main characters, Bao and Lan were some of the best main characters I have read in awhile. Lan was a spitfire, and so incredibly fun to read about. Bao had a heart of gold and a personality to match. They were so perfect, and it just made my heart melt.
Their romance was quite possibly the best thing about the whole book. Bao, in his awkward, all encompassing admiration of Lan was just the sweetest, most flustered thing I've ever read about. Lan, with her flirtations and her dramatic feelings just made me oh so happy. And these two fit together so perfectly, it gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings.
The world was so beautifully created and formed, I could see it existing as I read. I loved to read about all of the places they passed by and the river village they came from. The opening scene really just drew me in.
The only thing I wasn't happy with was how there wasn't more development, more time spent on the romance. I want more of these two, one book just wasn't enough!
All in all, it was an amazing book and I'm so glad I got to read an ARC of it. Now I have to go buy every other book by Julie Dao!
The main characters, Bao and Lan were some of the best main characters I have read in awhile. Lan was a spitfire, and so incredibly fun to read about. Bao had a heart of gold and a personality to match. They were so perfect, and it just made my heart melt.
Their romance was quite possibly the best thing about the whole book. Bao, in his awkward, all encompassing admiration of Lan was just the sweetest, most flustered thing I've ever read about. Lan, with her flirtations and her dramatic feelings just made me oh so happy. And these two fit together so perfectly, it gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings.
The world was so beautifully created and formed, I could see it existing as I read. I loved to read about all of the places they passed by and the river village they came from. The opening scene really just drew me in.
The only thing I wasn't happy with was how there wasn't more development, more time spent on the romance. I want more of these two, one book just wasn't enough!
All in all, it was an amazing book and I'm so glad I got to read an ARC of it. Now I have to go buy every other book by Julie Dao!