Not What I Was Expecting

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I really liked this book. It was a great world that the author built and every character was really flushed out and well written. The story had so many twists and turns and you really had no idea what was coming.

The book is about a strategist named Zephyr who works for Ren, a warrior looking to take over the empire from the cruel empress that currently rules. Zephyr's job is to make moves and strategize wins for the empress. She has a need to prove herself as the best strategist and a pathological need to win. She is cunning, and ruthless when necessary but what I love about the way Joan He wrote this character is that those qualities are in conflict with her humanity. She falls in love with the enemy, has guilt over lying to those she cares about and wants to serve someone just instead of someone who can just win. There are even more twists and turns when the fantasy element of the story is addressed. I loved each of the side characters who are written fully and complexly.

I can't spoil but the way this book ends makes me want the second one so badly! Recommend to anyone who loves YA.