4.5 stars. I’ve been reading a lot of Asian fantasy books lately and I have really enjoyed them all, this one included. I think the idea of qi just makes so much sense in these magical systems.
I loved all the characters and the magical system. I felt the evilness of the empress was the evil that was coming from all the alchemy. The twists were completely a surprise to me and I really liked what they added to the story, especially the relationship between Zilan and the Moon Alchemist. Hong was a little bit of a weak character but he grew on me as the story continued and his relationship with Zilan grew.
The story kept you interested and I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. I liked how this book was loosely based on historical events. The plot contains messaging about power and caste and what it takes for things to change. The ending was sad but also hopeful. I even felt like it left it open for more books, which I would totally read!
I loved all the characters and the magical system. I felt the evilness of the empress was the evil that was coming from all the alchemy. The twists were completely a surprise to me and I really liked what they added to the story, especially the relationship between Zilan and the Moon Alchemist. Hong was a little bit of a weak character but he grew on me as the story continued and his relationship with Zilan grew.
The story kept you interested and I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. I liked how this book was loosely based on historical events. The plot contains messaging about power and caste and what it takes for things to change. The ending was sad but also hopeful. I even felt like it left it open for more books, which I would totally read!