Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Yoon Ha Lee so when I saw he had a book with a main character who uses the pronoun "they," I was on board and ready to read.

Jebi is a great character. Kinda misguided at first but gets involved in the end because they're a good person, even if they're not the usual militant leader of the revolution (which I loved because they weren't the classic hero).

I wouldn't call this book particularly special writing wise but the plot was interesting and made me read on happily, especially with promises of a metal dragon, who totally did steel the show.

Maybe it was just me, but I kind of missed the actual falling in love of Jebi and Vei. I got that Jebi was attracted to her and then they had sex with her but then all of a sudden the two of them were in love and willing to die for each other? It felt like that lesbian stereotype you always hear.

Overall a very cute book that I was able to enjoy very much.

I may be a bit biased here because I am a massive Yoon Ha Lee fan, but I really liked this. The world building in this (and Yoon Ha Lee's other adult sci-fi series) is fantastic and I love that there is little exposition, with Yoon Ha Lee trusting the reader to figure out the world themselves. This story started out a little slow but picked up a lot in the second half. I liked Jebi and Arazi a lot, and their friendship was a highlight of this book for me. While I did like Vei, I felt the relationship between her and Jebi wasn't built up enough for my liking and I just never quite felt any chemistry there. The relationship between Jebi and their sister was better developed for me, even if frustrating at times. All in all, a great standalone (?) that I would recommend to sci-fi fans.

Yoon Ha Lee’s intensely science fiction Machineries of Empire series delivered some of the most engagingly mind-bending space opera of the last few years. The universe he created in that series was loosely based on Korean mythology and history. His latest book, a switch to more fantasy-style, is more heavily referential of Korean history and in particular, the occupation of Korea by Japan. The story is set in the Hwaguk (ie Korean) peninsula (now called Administrative Territory Fourteen), which is under the control of the Razanei (ie Japanese) occupation. Hwaguk has a large neighbour to the north (ie China) and there are rumours of “Westerners”, although the main character knows little beyond his own country. While this is a fantasy novel, not a history lesson, the parallels and Lee’s intention in using this setting are interesting to consider.
The book centres around Jebi, an artist, who at the beginning is seeking to ingratiate himself with the Razanei much to his revolutionary sister Bongsunga’s disgust. Somehow he ends up working ina secret military base as it turns out artists are required to draw the glyphs that, using magical paints, power and control the Razanei automata. Automata have not replaced people but make up part of the army and do many repetitive chores. While most look human, the Razanei have also created a dragon automaton that reputedly went crazy when tested and wiped out a village. Jebi’s task is to find the right combination of glyphs that will bring the dragon under control. Things get complicated when Jebi ends up in a relationship with one of his captors, the half-Hwaguk duelist Vei, and learns how to communicate with the dragon.
Despite automata and magic paints and a nascent revolution, there is a simplicity to this tale that is surprising after the complexity, nuance and twists of the Machineries of Empire series. There are twists here but most readers will see them coming from miles away. The story itself is pretty straight forward and predictable, reflecting a range of similar stories of revolutionaries armed with a little magic against a superior force, with very much a Star Wars feel in the final battle. Lee also takes plenty of short cuts with the world building, for example Jebi learns the rules of the magic paints with very little effort or explanation.
Jebi is an engaging main character who keeps a positive attitude even when things get dark (at one point Jebi is imprisoned and uses the mud on the floor to paint a mural on the three walls of their cell). And less unusual these days, non-binary in a culture that accepts that orientation. It would be good if we could find pronouns for non-binary characters that are not the plural “they” as it creates some grammatical and cognitive hurdles. Also enjoyable is the magically powered robot dragon Azari and his growing relationship with Jebi.
Phoenix Extravagant is definitely a change of pace for Yoon Ha Lee. In some ways it feels like a less polished work, possibly dusted off after the success of the Machineries of Empire series. Lee once again draws on Korean history and mythology to deliver something that goes beyond western fantasy traditions. Overall this is a well written and pacey, if fairly straightforward tale that relies on some well worn storytelling tropes anchored by a cast of engaging characters. While it can be read as a standalone and may be intended as such, the ending leaves the story extremely open to a broadening of the world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

2.5 stars.

Needless to say, this book wasn’t for me. I liked the diversity with genders, sexuality, and relationships. I also thought the idea of the pigment was neat, even if the way to make it was cruel. Although, that was kind of the point. Unfortunately, I just didn’t think any of the characters held a strong presence. I never got invested or drawn into any. Jebi came close at times but always seemed to be lacking something. The whole “go to the moon” thing at the end threw me. I know it’s a fantasy book, but it just really made me chuckle and roll my eyes. I don’t know. I feel like this book had potential; it just wasn’t strong enough for me.

‘Phoenix Extravagant’ is an intriguing fantasy novel with a magic system I adored, but unfortunately never quite reached its potential. It’s much shorter than many modern fantasy novels, coming in at under 400 pages, and I wonder if it would have been better if everything was slowed down and stretched out to give more time to connect to the plot and characters.

The protagonist, Jebi, is a Hwagukin orphan in a region occupied by the conquering Razanei. Jebi is an artist – a painter – but struggles to find work. After an argument with her sister leaves her homeless, she takes a job with the Ministry of Armor – the Razanei ministry responsible for producing automatons, autonomous robots which enforce the rules in Hwagukin and help them defeat their enemies. Her job? To fix the broken dragon automaton blamed for the destruction of an entire village. Caught between her loyalty to her sister and the unexpected connections she makes inside, Jebi must decide if she’ll complete the task or sabotage the Razanei military might.

Jebi is an artist, and depicted in a very stereotypical way – out of touch with the world, uncaring of politics and invasions, connecting to her art more than she connects to people. However, their most defining character trait is their inconsistency. They flip-flop between hating their sister, loyalty to their sister, fear of their sister, and more, in the space of pages. All these emotions are understandable, but there’s no justification. They remind me of a pancake being tossed around, never sure which side they want to face up. I found it very difficult to care about them or their choices when they couldn’t seem to decide what they wanted either. As a rare non-binary protagonist, I want to like them, but I need more showing of feelings than telling and generally some sort of personality beyond their profession.

Azari, the dragon automaton, is the single best character in the book. I adore them. They’re regularly hilarious and so fascinated by ordinary things. The entire system behind the automatons and how they work and think is fascinating, and another reason I wish this book had been longer – more time to explore the world and its intricacies, rather than relying on the hard-to-like Jebi to carry the story.

Vei, the duelist prime tasked with monitoring Jebi in the Ministry of Armor, is also an interesting character. They have a complex past which is gradually unveiled and their interactions with Jebi are excellent. However, the way their relationship is written almost makes it insta-love – we’re told that time passes, but in the space of a few sentences they’ve gone from prisoner-enforcer to potential love interests. Enemies to lovers is a popular trope in fantasy but it’s mostly squandered here for the sake of keeping the page count down. I wish we’d got to see things develop so that it felt authentic, rather than simply being told Jebi suddenly had romantic feelings.

The setting is excellent. Inspired by Korea under Japanese convention, it’s full of references and traditions which are fascinating to read about. The varying feelings towards the Razanei conquerors – and the Razanei’s insistence that their occupation was far more favourable than Hawgukin’s inevitable destruction by the West – are well-written, and the addition of the fantasy elements with automatons and artistic magic are neatly done. I’d love to know more about the magic system – this is currently a standalone, but one with clear potential for a sequel, so hopefully the magic will be developed and explained in any subsequent books.

Overall, this is a decent fantasy with excellent LGBTQIA+ representation but knocked down by a protagonist it’s hard to connect with and a plot which deserved more time to be fleshed out. Those who care more about the quality of their fantasy worlds and less about the depth of characters may very well love this book, but for those who prefer character-driven stories this may not be the book for you. Recommended for fans of quick fantasy reads, Asian-inspired settings, and own-voices LGBTQIA+ representation.

Wonderful book and I am so glad that I got to read this novel early. Yoon Ha Lee is such a wonderful author and I was hooked from page one. Cannot wait to read more of their work

I really liked this one although not as much as THE DRAGON PEARL (the YA novel that ended my reading dry spell in the early days of the pandemic.

The nonbinary main character Jebi is an artist and pacifist who becomes entangled in war, falls in love with a fierce duelist, and befriends a dragon Arazi.

This book is a fantasy take on the Japanese occupation of Korea, and it was cleverly done. SFF gives an opportunity to look at people, ethnicities, and countries in a different light.

My LGBTQ take: As a genderfluid person, I greatly appreciated that the nonbinary character’s sex at birth wasn’t even mentioned. Physical features were left out for the most part, which was refreshing. Gender expression doesn’t need to match physical traits. Overall, the gender and sexuality diversity of various characters in this book wasn’t made to be shocking just a fact of life, which is always refreshing to see in a heteronormative world.

My only critique: I wasn’t completely invested emotionally in these characters even though I really wanted to be. This did not, however, take away from my enjoyment of the story itself.

Note: Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

There's are many aspects of this book to love -- the setting, the nonbinary protagonist, the nuanced exploration of how war damages relationships. It's also a love story to the power -- literally and figuratively -- of art.

I'd recommend this book to anyone that loves reading fantasy novels full of tension and excitement.
Phoenix Extravagant was definitely an interesting and intriguing read. The imagery written by Yoon Ha Lee is spectacular and conjures up such a wonderful world in the mind's eye. The story centres around Jebi, an artist who lives in an alternate fantasy version of Korea under Japanese rule. Jebi, Vei and Azari are all wonderfully crafted characters in a compelling read full of politics, intrigue, artistry and passion. Also, Azari just happens to be a dragon automaton which just adds such an exciting and unique element to the story.

Yoon Ha Lee has done an incredible job writing an original story that really explores the issues of family and rebellion with an incredibly vivid world. And robot dragons! What's not to like?

Sadly, I found this one quite hard to get into - I think seeing the author is Yoon Ha Lee sets some very high expectations, which Phoenix Extravagant just didn't quite live up to. I was about half-way through the book before I found myself invested in the events unfolding - the narrative begins at a fairly slow pace, and I found it difficult to connect with our narrator Jebi in particular. All of this said, things definitely pick up once Arazi arrives - I really enjoyed the dry asides from this character. There were plenty of side and background characters who I was intrigued by - I think I would have loved to have learnt more about the world as a whole, perhaps from these viewpoints other than just Jebi's.

3.5 stars

Phoenix extravagent tells the story of Jebi, a down on their luck artist who gets recruited by the ministry of armour to help create automatons set against a backdrop of a world rife with political tension. Jebi belongs to the Hwaguk who are oppressed by the Razanei goverment, who have invaded their country but Jebi is unsure where they fit and just trying to get by.

What I liked
-the steampunk setting, i loved the automatons and how they were powered by enchanted caligraphy/writing, this element of the world building was fascinating
-there is a scene where they try to break out the dragon autamaton and this reminded me of one of my favourite episode of avatar the last airbender when they are trying to rescue appa from Ba Sing Se, the setting of this book actually reminded me a lot of Ba Sing Se (which is always a pus in my book!!)
-the representation, i thought the lgbtq+ rep was very seemlesly woven into this book, with Jebi using they/them pronouns (something you don't see often in fantasy), their sister having a wife in the past and a polyamourous trio (Vei's parents)
-the writing, i thought it was the perfect 'invisible prose' it delivered what you needed to know perfectly without being too flowery or to basic and really immersed you in the world.

What I didn't like
-something about this book just didn't click with me, i'm not sure why because the writing was excellent, i think i just couldn't connect to the characters and therefore didn't care about the plot as much. characters are a big part of enjoyment for me and while i liked the characters nothing about them really stood out to me, i feel like Jebi was the only well devloped character.
-the unneccesary 'romance', i didn't really like this aspect - i thought it would have been more impactful/emotion if Jebi and Vei had been friends instead.
-the villains, i like it when books have good villains/antagonists and I think this just fell flat for me, i don't know if i missed some of the political nuances or if the book could have used being a bit longer to explore some of the complexities more.

For those looking for amazing SFF featuring non-binary individuals please let me wave this book in your face in an aggressive manner.

I started this book knowing that I would probably like it a lot but also expecting for it to be a little slow - I honestly can't tell you why maybe I was just a little jaded. So imagine my surprise and delight when this book whizzed by in a matter of hours. I was totally caught up in this world and this story and now want everyone I know to read this book so we can just scream about it together. 

One thing I want to talk about because I just love it when I find it is a world where same sex relationships and gender nonconformity (not that the two are the same but otherwise I'll be writing the same paragraph twice) are just sort of...fine? I totally respect the value of exploring the difficulties LGBTQIA+ individuals face through a SFF lense but I also love getting to, for a time, be in a world where those things aren't questioned or opposed - it brought me much joy. 

But the plot of this book was what really called to me and I have to say it did not disappoint. As many will know I have something of an obsession with magic and magic systems and this book does some truly wonderful (and deeply devastating) things with magic. I won't spoil it for you but as an archaeologist some of the elements of how magic works made me wince. I'll say no more. But this artistic kind of magic was so interesting and I loved how it was tied in with the theme of occupation and cultural identity. 

How have I got this far into a review without talking about Arazi? I love Arazi with every fibre of my being and I would like an entire book from Arazi's perspective please and thankyou. In all seriousness, I thought that, as dragons go, Arazi was a great addition to the pack Thunder. I loved the dynamic between Jebi and Arazi and also other characters - the dialogue throughout this book is great and I think is a big part of why the pace is so strong. 

I will say I think this book is maybe just the tiniest bit imbalanced when it comes to pacing. I think part of that is in the blurb - a lot more of this book is about the 'before' than this blurb would suggest. If you want a whole book of revolutionaries with a big dragon automaton you might be a tad disappointed with this story. Having now read it and had a bit of time to reflect I actually think this is quite a beautiful story and I really value the exploration done in the first part of the book but I can see how my expectations meant that I couldn't appreciate that at the time. On a first read, it felt like the book just ended when I was expecting a lot more? So I'd say make sure you manage your expectations - this is a much quieter book than you might think. 

This is an exceptionally well written book and I'm so delighted to have been able to read it. It's going on my list of 'books I will excitedly recommend to friends who maybe don't read that much' list and I expect you'll hear me yelling about it for years to come. 


Now I need to go back and read the rest of Yoon Ha Lee's work! 

My rating: 4/5 stars

I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley - all opinions are my own. 

Phoenix Extravagant is out October 20th!

There be dragons! There be art! Yoon Ha Lee has crafted a fantastic fantasy story of revolution. A peeling back of the curtain into an unsettling, painful reality leads to mechanical dragon theft. And let me tell you, I like some mechanical dragon theft.

Not as intricate as MoE (their previous series), but wow is it fun.

Having read Lee's Ninefox Gambit, I knew that I should expect a few things from Phoenix Extravagant: an incredibly immersive and original world, great characters, and a compelling read. While I enjoyed Ninefox Gambit, his latest novel absolutely blows it out of the water for me.

Lee manages to strike a fantastic balance between darker themes and lightness and humor that makes this book a fast-paced and incredibly fun read. While witty banter, unexpectedly sweet characters, and plenty of fun makes Phoenix Extravagant an incredibly compelling and quick read, he does not shy away from the horrors of colonialism. Exploring identity, cultural erasure, and the damages of colonialism. It's a hard-hitting narrative that is easily absorbed by the reader.

WIth amazing characters that twist your expectations as a fantasy reader, to wonderful worldbuilding and an impactful story, Phoenix Extravagant is one of my favourite books of the year so far. It feels so wonderfully fresh in a genre that can sometimes be a little stale (despite it being my favourite).

4.5 out of 5 stars

likes:
-light sci-fi elements: i struggle with hard sci-fi elements which is why i continue to put off reading yoon ha lee's the machineries of empire trilogy. however, i found the sci-fi elements in this story very accessible and digestible.
-sci-fi + fantastical elements: this is another reason why i think that i enjoyed the world as much as i did. the author melds fantasy and science fiction elements effortlessly which was comforting to me as a huge fantasy fan.
-sibling dynamics: in this story we follow 2 siblings as they take different paths in dealing with the current occupation and colonization of their homeland. this, of course, leads to messy consequences for their relationship. the author explored those relationships well and fleshed out the nuances of such complications.
-anthropomorphic dragon automaton: i'm a sucker for anthropomorphic "animal" companions. they see the world with such innocence and offer tender and comical moments throughout the novel.
-jebi, our MC: i loved that they basically had no idea what they were doing throughout the novel. LOL. it was refreshing to read a character that felt like a ordinary person that just so happened to be thrown into extraordinary situations. they didn't magically know how to fight trained soldiers (and win) or rely on sheer luck to overcome obstacles.
-representation: i loved that we have an non-binary protagonist, queer relationships (one being a polyamorous family/parents), and more.

dislikes:
-emotional disconnect: there were a few relationships and plot points that i wish would have gotten more on page development. those moments on page are incredibly important to me. the lack of development will cause me to not form an attachment to the characters and/or relationships which in turn will lessen my reading experience.
-fantastical/mythological elements: the introduction to this at the VERY end of the novel felt out of nowhere. i would have loved to had those seeds planted earlier and more thoroughly throughout the novel.

CWs: Familial disownment, depictions of colonization, incurred notions of racial supremacy, instances of beating, descriptions of injury and violence

Yoon Ha Lee has an incredible, beautiful mind, and I always feel lucky for any span of time that I get to live inside it. Phoenix Extravagant is a unique and ambitious story about non-binary artist and life-long pacifist, Gyen Jebi, wanting to be paid for their art when they're unceremoniously drafted into the Razanei's military to paint the glyphs that activate the automata army. Let me say it louder: this story has a soft enby protagonist who's basically a magical coder. And that's badass.

This story is set against the backdrop of colonization and war, and it makes you think about the boundaries we draw around ourselves and the contradictions we have to navigate that inevitably shape our choices. Especially in terms of the magical "grammar" Jebi is charged with formulating to animate the automata soldiers, it has to be meticulous work, because when two commands conflict, that creates the space for unpredictability, and unpredictability is the very catalyst of choice itself. And when given that choice and that awareness, the automata creature Jebi is working with changes their world fundamentally, just by existing with agency.

Yoon Ha Lee always has such an eye for developing emotional drama as well, whether it's with complicated familial bonds, dangerous lovers, or social dilemmas. The way they're able to bring each chapter to its absolute height and cut away at such delicious moments of tension is really an art form in and of itself. I found myself extremely invested in these characters and their choices, and how those choices were being challenged as war begins to come to the forefront.

There's a wonderful tenderness between Jebi and the dragon Arazi as well, who is only beginning to come into its consciousness. Yoon Ha Lee has such a delicate hand when it comes to developing personal relationships, and it was nice to have a counterpoint of affection against all the fear and destruction. On one hand, Jebi is trying to figure out how to escape their colonizers, and on the other hand they're experiencing the joy of discovery each time they describe to Arazi how taffy tastes or what the sky looks like. That relationship is really something to latch onto as the drama builds and unfolds.

Additionally, gender is handled with such thoughtfulness in this story. Assuming someone's gender or misgendering someone basically doesn't happen in this world. There's never a misstep; Jebi is always referred to correctly and with neutral terms, which is so nice to see. The narration also doesn't arbitrarily gender flat characters or side characters either. For example, instead of saying, "the man said to the woman," it would say something like "a person with a lower-pitched voice spoke." And it's really that easy, isn't it? Queerness is purely incidental in this story. You have characters of different genders and sexualities, and representation for polyam familial structures as well, and it's not a big deal.

My only notes for the story are how some scenes feel a little random as opposed to purposefully built-up, and there are also some interesting character moments that only happen off the page, which I wish we could see. The way magic and art are connected is really fascinating as well, and I would've like to see that pushed a little bit more.

But overall, this is a stunning and complex story (as if Yoon Ha Lee knows how to write any other kind) that challenges the traditional hero's journey in times of war. As a pacifist and self-described apolitical person, Jebi is confronted with their beliefs, and forced to think critically about their role in this revolution against the Razanei. And in being confronted with those things, it would seem like taking up arms would be the "natural progression" for their story arc, but Yoon Ha Lee shows us other possibilities. The story makes us think about what is the every day person's role in times of war, and whether there is value in being able to see the individual for exactly who they are instead of as just a number or an enemy. Jebi is learning where their power truly lies and what their abilities could become depending on the choices they make, which is really interesting to think about.

The ending initially brought me pause, but then I remembered that Yoon Ha Lee is meticulously deliberate in the way they shape narrative. And the way this story ends makes me think about how completeness is not something that is owed to the reader. Just because you don't get to see the bigger picture from beginning to end doesn't mean the story and the character is not worthwhile, and indeed it makes you consider the contrast between the span of one life and the broader story of the world, which will always outlive us. It would be easy to say that I want more, which I would not object to, but I also like being challenged, and ultimately that is always what Yoon Ha Lee does best.

This is a compelling blend of technology and magic, filled with art, rebellion, lust, love, plot twists, and complex characters. I highly recommend it if you like non-binary protagonists, dragons, getting paid for your art, and the allure of a duel.

I wanted to read this book because of the mechanical dragon (Arazi). Unfortunately, we didn’t get to the dragon parts until almost 40%. But after that, it was pretty much ongoing. I loved Arazi so much!



I enjoyed some of the characters but wasn’t pulled in by anyone really. I did love Jebi and some others but I still wasn’t totally pulled into the story. I also got confused a lot as Jebi was either, Jebi or they. I have read a few books like that and it was fine but this one was a bit more confusing as it was used a lot around other people and I thought a small group was always going to do something when it was just Jebi.

Either way, I loved Arazi and Jebi the most and I did feel sad when some people died. I do recommend you read this yourself and make up your own damn mind 😉

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

*Thank you to Netgalley and Solaris for providing me with a digital copy for review

Thank you to Netgalley & the Publishers for giving me an ARC to review!

1.5 rounded up to 2.

Mostly a 3 thanks to the worldbuilding, and the acknowledging of everyone that isn't a soldier in war and what their place is in war. Maybe this has to do with the writing style and it just not being for me? Everyone else seems to love it so it might have been a case of good book at the wrong time. I do want to re-read it later, because there were some good parts and maybe my opinion will change. It is also possible that this is part of the trend where books are steering away from more Western story/plot formats, and maybe that messed with my expectation? Idk, but if you liked the premise/synopsis, I definitely recommend you at least try the book once it is out!

Characters as a whole felt very flat and I never felt like I knew these characters more than just a cursory overview of them. Even later when tragedy strikes, it doesn't hit as hard as it should feel because I could just not be attached to them at all since they were only seen once or twice before. Lot of discussion about how badly someone is missed once they're gone, but they weren't even a thought before and we only saw them in one or two scenes. And the romance feels rushed/forced, I felt no chemistry between them at all. The best part was that I liked the idea of who the love interest was, however the reveal about her was great.

The story felt weirdly paced, and this might just be because it is following a non-Western form, so I'm not used to it which is why it feels weird. Even once we cross the 80% mark, things feel way too chill. The big climax doesn't hit as hard as it feels like it should, and it isn't the only event like that. Multiple times we have really big scenes that feel like they should be super impactful, but they just don't feel as big as the story makes them sound like they should be? Really big events get the same coverage/page time as really small ones and it just makes everything feel not important.

The ending stretch was... ok? I didn't feel like it was a strong enough ending. Obviously war isn't over that quickly, which I liked was addressed and how our MC decided they don't want part of the long war effort. And the commentary there about Western countries was also great! But it felt like a weird tone to end the book on when it didn't really feel like we were leading to that at all.

Mostly I'm just underwhelmed I think? I honestly think it is just the writing style not being my cup of tea at all.

4.5 stars
Awesome story about a nonbinary artist thrown into political machinations featuring art, automaton dragons and revolution in an East-Asian historical fantasy-ish setting.

Content warnings include: occupation and colonialisation, oppression and discrimination, destruction of art, blackmail, more or less obvious hostage situations, earthquake, violence and death, battle, imprisonment, torture, casual fatphobia, non-explicit sex on-page. Mentions of: death of parents.

This is one of the few books with a truly fitting and inspiring official description/blurb. It's concise, interesting and wakes the instant desire in me to read, yet doesn't give too much away. The promise of a nonbinary protagonist for such a plot sweetened the deal for me even more.

I loved Jebi as a protagonist. They weren't exactly likeable, especially at first. They are quick to judge and very brusque about getting their way. They only care about their art, and getting to paint and earning money through it to live, but not about much else, especially not other people, or loyalty to their homeland. They aren't a fighter or politically involved or have any ambition to change anything about their country's occupation. They are pretty selfish and kind of a coward, though they do not actively wish anyone harm.
And yet, I adored them.

Jebi's passion for art drew me in. Their internal conflicts agitated me, and I was always eagerly anticipating what they would do next. Their lines of thoughts were intriguing, and I just found them super interesting, despite being entirely ordinary and sort of underwhelming compared to the cast of outstanding characters around them. They were a great choice for who to follow in the big scale conflict presented in the books. They provided a perspective I really liked reading about.

The setting was East Asian, and while I'm not knowledgeable of history, I'm pretty sure it and the surrounding political situation was heavily inspired by Korea during Japan's occupation.
The worldbuilding was well done. Not much is explained, but I had no trouble gathering information about the culture, history, magic and automatons from context and what was shown on-page. That said, my progress on the book wasn't as fast as it usually is - the writing was quite complex, and, English not being my first language, I had to look up quite a lot of words (particularly adjectives) which I had never seen before, which usually doesn't happen a lot. It however never was a chore to read or hard to follow.
Both through setting and plot/writing, this is unquestionably an adult book.

I loved the casual queerness. Jebi being nonbinary was part of what drew me to the book, and I was not disappointed in the least. Being nonbinary or taking same sex partners was totally normal in this setting. The queerness was treated as just as ordinary as the magic, or the existence of magical beings. I loved that Jebi never had to come out and that the gender they were assigned at birth never played any role, just as much as I loved that magic was combined with technology, magical symbols with programming and code, astronomy with astrology, and so on.

The beginning was a bit slow, but still engaging. Even as it took me a bit to warm up to Jebi, get used to the writing and find footing in the setting, I was intrigued and invested. Things started picking up pretty quickly about 20% into the book, from which point on the stakes kept get raised higher and higher. Tension was created, upheld and released a lot, which worked very well for reading this book slowly. So many of those smaller tension arcs read like climaxes, which they obviously never were - there was always more to come, and things never turned out as expected. I loved the high amoung of plot twists which were always lead up to masterfully, always heightened my engagement, and always were a pleasant, thrilling surprise - exactly the sort of twists and turns I adore in books.

The one thing keeping this from being a perfect 5 star read for me was that I wished for a bit more emotional engagement. Some things happened a little too fast for me personally, so I wasn't always as emotionally invested as I wanted to be. One example for this was the romantic subplot (which I overall still enjoyed a lot!) This is more of a personal preferrence though - the pacing of the book worked the way it was, and the presenting length of the book fits as it is.


Overall a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was exiting and thrilling and exhilarating to read the entire way through, and was exactly what I want from a fantasy book these days.