The Bird and the Blade

by Megan Bannen

As a slave in the Kipchak Khanate, Jinghua has lost everything: her home, her family, her freedom … until the kingdom is conquered by enemy forces and she finds herself an unlikely conspirator in the escape of Prince Khalaf and his irascible father across the vast Mongol Empire. On the run, with adversaries on all sides and an endless journey ahead, Jinghua hatches a scheme to use the Kipchaks’ exile to return home, a plan that becomes increasingly fraught as her feelings for Khalaf evolve into a hopeless love.

Jinghua’s already dicey prospects take a downward turn when Khalaf seeks to restore his kingdom by forging a marriage alliance with Turandokht, the daughter of the Great Khan. As beautiful as she is cunning, Turandokht requires all potential suitors to solve three impossible riddles to win her hand—and if they fail, they die.

Jinghua has kept her own counsel well, but with Khalaf’s kingdom—and his very life—on the line, she must reconcile the hard truth of her past with her love for a boy who has no idea what she’s capable of ... even if it means losing him to the girl who’d sooner take his life than his heart.

The Bird and the Blade is a lush, powerful story of life and death, battles and riddles, lies and secrets from debut author Megan Bannen.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Retellings, Young Adult Fantasy

416 pages, Hardcover

First published June 5, 2018

About the author

Megan Bannen is a USA Today bestselling author of award-winning speculative fiction. Her work has been selected for the RUSA Reading List, the Indies Introduce list, and the Kids’ Indie Next List, along with numerous best-of-the-year compilations. As a former public librarian, she has spent most of her professional career behind a reference desk, but she has also sold luggage, written grants, collected a few graduate degrees from various Kansas universities, and taught English at home and abroad. She lives in the Kansas City area with her family and more pets than is reasonable.

Reviews

[Emily May · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Should you fail to answer correctly each riddle by the end of seven minutes, you shall forfeit your life. Do you understand?”

Mongolian fantasy with ghosts and riddles, anyone?

Well, this was pretty damn fascinating! I've been putting this book off because I've been so disappointed with almost every YA fantasy novel I read lately, but this was like nothing I've read before. It's a strange and stunning combination of the Mongol Empire, the Italian opera Turandot, and Persian fairy tales.

I should point out that this contains a lot of fantastical elements and the author acknowledges all the liberties she took in the note at the end. If you're looking for an accurate historical depiction of the Mongol Empire and the Song dynasty-- this isn't it. Many of the characters, though, are based on real people.

Bannen splits the narrative in an extremely compelling way. In the present, Prince Khalaf, a descendant of Genghis Khan, attempts to solve the three riddles presented to him by Turandokht, the daughter of the Great Khan. If he succeeds, he will get to marry her. If he fails, he will die. This is all told from the perspective of Jinghua, a Chinese slave who we soon discover is in love with Khalaf. Jinghua's narrative then skips to the past, filling in the events leading up to that moment.

From what I can tell - as I'm only slightly familiar with the opera Turandot - the author sticks fairly close to the original, with the exception that she focuses more on the character of the slave girl. In this book, Jinghua is given far more depth and agency, and the author develops an interesting backstory for her that gives the tale another layer. Jinghua also considers what it is to be a woman or girl in this time (the 13th century), especially one who is enslaved, and laments the obsession with beauty that sees unattractive girls viewed as worthless.

It's quite romantic, to tell you the truth, but I did not mind so much. The love story is balanced out by a good amount of action and political intrigue, and I liked how Jinghua's attraction to Khalaf is based on his personality, not his looks. Khalaf is also flawed, even cowardly at times, allowing for more complexity of character than is usually afforded to YA fantasy love interests.

There's so many stories within the story, too. The Bird and the Blade feels like a beautiful celebration of poetry, songs and stories from all across Central and East Asia. There are many quotes and retellings of tales from authors such as Rumi, Saadi, Nizami and Qingzhao. And just when you might be thinking the quoting is getting a little sappy, we have Timur to snap us back to reality:

Fired by love, he called her his life, his pearl, his dew-petaled flower.
“This is the sappiest piece of rotting carrion I have ever heard,” Timur interjects.

And we must talk about Timur because he might be my favourite character in the whole book. At first, I hated him, but over time the author develops him into a really funny source of cynicism. I just adore that kind of grumpy but lovable character. He really is a cantankerous old goat, but it is so refreshing in an otherwise pretty dramatic and serious story. Also, my new favourite phrase is: “Go suck your used tea leaves!”

If anything, I think the book would have benefited from more female characters and positive female relationships but I guess, sadly, women at this time mostly existed behind the scenes so the depiction is probably fairly accurate. I still liked how the author gave a minor female character in the opera her own voice and story here. A very impressive multilayered book.

Some extra notes:
➽ This is a standalone.
➽ You do not need to know the opera Turandot to enjoy the book.

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[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow. thank goodness this is a standalone, because i dont know if my heart will ever recover from that ending.

i randomly picked this up at the library because (1) i saw it on a recent GR list and (2) the font was big, meaning i could speed read through it and if i didnt like it, no real time wasted. so imagine my surprise when i found myself taking my time with this, soaking up every word. because this story felt like a gift - one i didnt want to take for granted.

this story was rich with historical intricacies, lush in its writing, humbling with tender romance, and clever in its unfolding. this book really impacted me on an intellectual, emotional and entertainment level. i cant believe how sad i felt when the story came to an end, and i think that is the true sign of a great book. just the overall high quality of this book made me so impressed that it was a debut.

this is perfect for those who are fans of renee ahdieh and roshani chokshi - meaning its on par with todays popular ya fantasy writers. i cant wait to see what this author comes up with next!!

↠ 4.5 stars

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

“Now, cold and exhausted, a girl disguised as a boy, tottering after the losing end of a battle, I have to second-guess that assessment. It seems to me that I’ve made some choices—some very bad choices—that have led me to this moment.”

The Bird and the Blade is a completely enthralling and heart-breaking YA fantasy debut. I enjoyed this so much, and I was completely teleported and captivated every time I opened this book up. Plus, this is a story about the descendants of Genghis Khan’s sons, mixed with the Italian opera Turandot, and that’s one of the most unique concepts of any story I’ve read in 2018. And this might not be the most historically accurate novel out there, but I loved reading about the Song dynasty and the Mongol Empire.

Genghis Khan had four sons, who had trouble deciding who would rule after their father. Well, this story centers around a prince from Jochi’s blood line. Jochi was the oldest of the sons, who ended up not being the ascended ruler, but still ended up being a great military leader, and his great, great grandson is no different. That is, until his men are killed, and he and his ruling father are forced to go into hiding with a girl who has many secrets.

And I fell in so in love with that secret keeper. Jinghua is now a companion to the Prince Khalaf and his father, Timur, but she was once a slave for the them and their entire family. Khalaf always showed her kindness and during a split-second decision, Jinghua goes into hiding with these two royal men. And while traveling she teaches him many things from her culture, including the language.

“Cruelty is easy to repay, my lord. Kindness is another matter.”

While they are traveling and hiding from their enemies throughout the Mongol Empire, they find out about the daughter of the Great Khan, Turandokht. She is so desired among all the princes for her hand in marriage, she has set up a contest for every royal suitor, where they must answer three riddles correctly given to them by herself. And if they answer any incorrectly, they will forfeit their lives. Khalaf wants nothing more than to try his hand at the riddles to marry Turandokht and restore the glory of his people, or die an honorable death trying.

And this story is told from present time where we first see Jinghua witnessing Khalaf being told the first riddle that will decide if he dies or moves on to the second. We are then teleported back in time, and we get all these puzzle pieces that slowly start to fit together. From Jinghua and Khalaf before they were forced into exile, to Jinghua with her family before she became a slave, to Jinghua falling in love with Khalaf slowly but ever so surely. And this beautiful story that is equal parts heart-warming and heart-wrenching slowly begins to take form.

This book puts the spotlight on a discussion about the beauty standards for women that we've endured for all our pasts and still in our present day. Like, how so many people feel like beauty is all that that women have to offer. And how we will pit girls against one another and created all this ugly jealousy, when we should be using that energy to uplift and support and celebrate all women.

“Her beauty doesn’t make you ugly. Her intelligence doesn’t make you stupid. Her value doesn’t make you worthless.”

Overall, this is the highest three star rating I’ve ever given a three star book. I loved this and was completely enthralled in the tale. I just really disliked the ending, which I suppose if I knew about Turandot before going in, I would have been better prepared. It completely broke me, and I know how beautiful it is when I take a step back and reflect upon it. But, I just really didn’t like it when I read it. But this really is such an impressive debut, and I can’t wait to see what Megan Bannen does next, because they created such a brilliant standalone that really impressed me.

Trigger and content warnings for slavery, kidnapping, heavy war themes, mention of rape, graphic deaths, graphic violence, torture, gore, loss of a loved one, and self-harm.

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The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Buddy read with Diana! ❤

[Hamad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found @The Book Prescription

“God does not judge you according to your appearance and your wealth, but He looks at your heart and looks into your deeds”

🌟 So I haven’t heard a lot about this book, I thought for a moment that it wasn’t even out because it does not get the hype it deserves. I saw Becky talking about this many times in her posts which I am thankful for. I considered this a recommendation and went into it not knowing much.

🌟 Then I saw that this has riddles (it got me there), fantasy elements and the Mongol empire which I never read anything about. I go into this and a few pages later the author used the above quote which is from Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and then the writing style is just so good and I read the whole thing in 2 days.

🌟 It started a bit slow for me, but it was interesting nonetheless and the good thing is that it kept improving till the last page. From the last riddle onward, I was going full on Hermione mode while reading this, I wanted to know what happened and fast.

🌟 So another thing that I really liked is that the author apparently did an extensive research for all parts for the story, she took some liberties which she explained at the end but it was accurate, she quoted Rumi and Ibn ElHaitham and other Arab important figures, she talked about Islam in a very good representation. I was so fascinated by this aspect of the story which I salute the author for. There was a part where a character did something wrong and I thought it was a bad rep for Islam but then it later said that it was “Haram” which is Taboo and that is cool because Muslims are humans and they sin too!

🌟 The interesting parts for me are the riddles, and I proudly solved 2 out of the 3 riddles so that gave me a happy boost while reading it. I found the book pacing good and not slow as I expected at first.

🌟 The characters in the books are not extensive, But it was more about the quality than the quantity, it is kind of a character driven book. Because it starts from the end and then we get to the beginning only to learn more about the characters and to appreciate them more. I was a fan of all 3 MC at the end.

🌟 For the plot, I haven’t heard of the opera Turandot before which by the way is not needed to read and understand/ enjoy this. So I went into this not knowing exactly what to expect and I didn’t care what happens until the end and I thought what if B happens Instead of A, it would be more suitable and a cooler ending. And we did actually get ending B which was so good.

“Cruelty is easy to repay, my lord. Kindness is another matter.”

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was so beautiful... 😢Sometimes you stumble upon a book that no one is talking about (a book many have never heard of) and you read it, and fall so in love. Fuck..this was amazing.


The Bird and the Blade is now one of my favorites books of the year. Maybe Of all time! Where do I even start?

The Bird and the Blade, by Megan Bannen is a retelling of "Prince Khalaf and the Princess of China," which was later turned into a famous Opera (Turandot), by Giacomo Puccini.

The Bird and the Blade follows the story of a slave girl named, Jinghua and a Prince named, Khalaf. Set against the backdrop of the early thirteenth century, Mongol Empire. Jinghua has lost everything. Her home, family and her freedom. As a slave, she comes to work under the Khan of the Kipchak Khante (Khan Timur), and his son ( Prince Khalaf). When the Kipchak Khantes army is destroyed, Timur and his son Khalaf are forced to flee their home. Fearing for her own safety, and desire to return home, Jinghua decides to follow the Prince and exiled Khan into a journey that leads them across the Mongol Empire.

I loved this. At first I had no idea what to expect. I bought this on a whim, and am so glad I did. The story is so heartbreaking, but so well written. Had I known it was based off an Opera, I would have been better prepared. Those last few pages. 😟 The story moves between the past and the present, and is told exclusively from Jinghuas point of view. So well done! I was engaged throughout the entire story.

This book has so much. It has aspects of war, politics, grief, family. But most importantly it has a love story between a girl and a boy. Man, the love story between our two main characters...it was just so good. I believed it! The development of their love was so believable. It felt authentic and real. I want a 10 book series on just them. Too bad this is a standalone novel 😭

The pacing of this story is slow going, but it felt right for this partucular story. I liked how most of the story chronicled their journey across the Mongol Empire. How their feelings and perceptions of each other changed so much over the course of their journey. How they learned to love and accept each other. One small negative was that at times it was hard to keep track of all of the names, but luckily the author provides a glossary to help discern names and phrases, so I overlooked this. I dont want to give anymore away, but just know that its worth the read! I highly recommend.

It was devastatingly beautiful. I'm so sad it's over...I dont think I could handle any more. But just know, I loved this. 💗

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Lucie V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

✅ Asian-inspired
✅ World-building
✅ Characters / Relationships
🆗✅ Plot
🆗✅ Pace
✅❗️❗️ OMG the ending!?
❗️❗️ Trigger warnings: slavery, drowning, suicide, and violence

I'll give this to Ms. Bannen, this book was not what I expected, the way the story was presented and even the ending surprised me. I honestly don't know much about Mongolian history and culture, so I cannot say if this book was accurate or not, but I enjoyed discovering this culture in the book.

When war comes in and most of his army is killed, Timur and his only surviving son Khalaf must go into hiding. Jinghua is a slave for their family and ends up escaping with them. During their travel, they hear about Turandokt and her three riddles. Whoever can answer her three riddles will wed her and access her wealth and power, but whoever shall try and fail will be put to death. Desperate to regain their power and their land, Khalaf decides to try to answer Turandokt's riddles.

This story actually travels between the present and the past. It begins when Turandokt asks her first riddle to Khalaf and it then alternates between the riddles and the memories of Jinghua while she was traveling with Timur and Khalaf. We slowly learn how they ended up traveling together, and how a relationship formed between Khalaf and Jinghua. He is always kind to her and wants to learn about the Song culture (she is from the former Song empire). This is the story of how two strangers became friends and confidants even though one is a slave and the other is a prince. We learn about them in bits and pieces and it slowly comes together as we near the end of the story.

I was dreading that it would quickly take a turn for the worse with love speech and insta-love, but the evolution and the complexity of the relationships in this book were very well written and very realistic considering the setting of the story.

The ending was unexpected and when I take a second to think about it, it is a beautiful and meaningful ending that I would probably not change, but I admit that I did not like it when I first read it.


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[Aila · Rating 1 out of 5]

EDIT: Originally, I did not rate this book anything. But after seeing the amalgam of 5 stars, I thought I'd put my #ownvoices review in here (as well as the fact that now I have to explain why I gave it this status in the first place). I'm happy you liked the book, if you did, but I don't need to be told how to read.

My full review of this can be found on Happy Indulgence, over here. This is a review not from an objective point of view, but from an #ownvoices reader who is Chinese and read about the background of the book and the racist basis for the original play written by Giacomo Puccini. I have read the ending of this book.

Spoilers will be ahead.

This book was by no means bad. The writing was totally riveting, the first person POV narrative from Jinghua was intriguing, and the research is really well-done. Like, I read 15% into the book and have to commend the author on her knowledge about the Song/Yuan dynasty, and her placement of the Chinese songs and phrases. (Yay!) I was SO into it when I stopped. The story jumps immediately into action with Jinghua witnessing her love, Prince Khalaf, volunteer to solve riddles that would allow him to marry Turandokht, which would help him with political prospects. The main romance is linear as Jinghua and Khalaf’s affection to each other stays true (while Turandokht is mainly there for political reasons), and from what I’ve started to read of it, it’s very sweet and lovely.

BUT. Why did I DNF then? There’s a whole backstory to this. (Get ready everyone.)

When I first saw that this book had a Chinese main character, I was like “Ooh, interesting.” I was a bit wary starting because sometimes Chinese stories don’t get done right by white authors, but from what little I did read, Bannen did a pretty good job with the culture. It’s much more drawn out and integrated than the opera this book was based on, Turandot. I was also excited to see her rendition of the story. Before reading, I looked up the synopsis of Turandot because I don’t have much opera background and I loathed it. It’s the story of a prince who solves these riddles and marries this bitchy princess (the namesake of the opera) while the slave Chinese girl who has been SUPPORTING HIM THE WHOLE TIME die by suicide because of her unrequited love. I was NOT having it. (Side note: the opera itself was very racist and sexist, but I don’t think the book exhibited any of these aspects)

So I continued with the novel, even more excited to see the Chinese girl, Jinghua, get the happy (or at least SATISFYING) ending she deserved. At the time of reading, I just started the school semester so I was a bit backed up with assignments and I told myself, “Well, why don’t I check out the ending just to make sure I don’t waste precious time.” In retrospect, I’m glad I did because if I had followed the whole book without knowing the ending, it would have left me gutted and feeling like it wasn’t worth the time I spent.

This book follows the opera very closely… even up to the point of the main narrator killing herself in the end to save the boy she loved. I respect the fact that she did it in order to save him, but I’m just so disappointed that she had to die for that to happen. I thought this retelling would be more about empowerment for Jinghua rather than the passive role it seemed like she got in the original opera, and I just didn’t think it was the ending she deserved. Yes, the romance stayed linear; the few accounts I got from Khalaf himself made me see him as a nice guy, but seriously no one special. I’m just really disappointed her character ends with a suicide and would have probably been angry if I read through the whole book. Perhaps this will resonate with some readers but for me… I don’t need that heartbreak in my life.

The most heart-wrenching aspect for me is that Jinghua is a Chinese character who sacrificed herself in the end. I am tired of Chinese heroines not getting the endings they deserve, and the victories they work hard for. Many a reader will commend this story for its tragic elements, but what was more tragic for ME was the fact that I saw a character like me die by suicide for a love interest. And most of the readers giving this glowing reviews don’t understand the nuances that an #ownvoices POC reader like me does.

Because this book is pretty heavily focused on the romance, I’ll discuss it a bit. The love interest, Khalaf, was sweet. BUT. He wasn’t sweet enough for the actions that happened at the climax of the book.

"No one ever saw me except Khalaf."

Hello girl! You do not need a boy’s validation to be a person. Who cares about Khalaf – YOU need to see you for how amazing you are. Oh and the way he treated her made my heart ACHE in the beginning. Not a good ache. The kind of ache that was like, “He better get redemption or grovel for this behavior,” which of course I never saw.

I don’t want to spoil too much without the tag, but it wasn’t the ending that I wanted and I’m glad I didn’t use precious time reading the rest of the book. Maybe the writing would have been worth the rest of the read (or the developing romance), but I was so disappointed by the ending that I knew I would have been even more heartbroken and bitter if I had read the whole book. In the end, The Bird and the Blade is a romance-driven historical fantasy with detailic research and a riveting romance. It’s also a stand-alone, so there’s that. If you’re ready for a pretty heartbreaking romantic read, then by all means pick this up. I know this kind of angsty, forbidden love is what some readers like to read. But if, like me, you’re here for the ones where characters ultimately reign triumphant based on growth or actions, then maybe pass on this. Alternatively, there are other books by Asian authors featuring Asian characters that come out triumphant in the end, unlike this one. I will write a blog post with these recommendations and share them soon!

Content Warning: suicide, violence
_______________________
From when I first added this review on GR:

Okay let me explain about about the DNF status.

This book was by no means bad. The writing was totally riveting, the first person POV narrative from Jinghua was intriguing, and the research is really well-done. Like, I read 15% into the book and have to commend the author on her knowledge about the Song/Yuan dynasty, and her placement of the Chinese songs and phrases. (Yay!) I was SO into it when I stopped. The story jumps immediately into action with Jinghua witnessing her love, Prince Khalaf, volunteer to solve riddles that would allow him to marry Turandokht, which would help him with political prospects. The main romance is linear as Jinghua and Khalaf's affection to each other stays true (while Turandokht is mainly there for political reasons), and from what I've started to read of it, it's very sweet and lovely.

BUT. Why did I DNF then? There's a whole backstory to this. (Get ready everyone.)

When I first saw that this book had a Chinese main character, I was like "Ooh, interesting." I was a bit wary starting because sometimes Chinese stories don't get done right by white authors, but from what little I did read, Bannen did a pretty good job with the culture. It's much more drawn out and integrated than the opera this book was based on, Turandot. I was also excited to see her rendition of the story. Before reading, I looked up the synopsis of Turandot because I don't have much opera background and I loathed it. It's the story of a prince who solves these riddles and marries this bitchy princess (the name of the opera) while the slave Chinese girl who has been SUPPORTING HIM THE WHOLE TIME dies by suicide because of her unrequited love. I was NOT having it. (Not to mention the racist and sexist implications of the original narrative, because honestly, of course old European men during that time with yellow fever could perpetuate such stereotypes and fetishization in an opera.)

So obviously, I was like "In this retelling I bet the Chinese girl gets what she deserves... aka a Good Ending."

Lmao @ my naive thoughts.

Full review (rant?) closer to release date.

[♛ may · Rating 4 out of 5]

while everyone else is having a 'spooky' or 'haunted' themed month in october, im going more for the puffy-eyed, runny-nose aesthetic with my 'crying' theme

so far its going great 🙂

4.5 stars

[Candi]

DNF.

I really don't like to dump a book. However, if while reading I am fantasizing about the next books on my list and panicking as to whether or not I'll have time to read them or not, then all signs point to 'this book is not for you.' I was hesitant to pick this one up in the first place, only because it's marked as 'fantasy' and 'young adult'. While fantasy can delight me from time to time, young adult novels often leave me struggling to engage. This became evident with this book as I got deeper into the story. Somehow the characters didn't ring true with the setting - they felt like people with modern day sensibilities plunked down in the middle of the thirteenth century Mongol Empire. Likely this would benefit those readers who would find appeal with the modern feel while learning about a slice of history. The first person point of view didn't help matters any for me either. I didn't even get to the romance aspects of the book, but I suspected they would make me cringe. Teenage angst and all...

I gave up on page 174/410 - a fair chance, I think. I apologize to my fellow NI readers that are sharing this book on its journey! I am just not the right audience, and I think this could certainly please many other readers that have better luck with this genre. No rating - just a plain and simple DNF!

[Sylvia Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I was going to love this book. I just knew it. I mean, unless the actual writing turned out to be subpar, there was simply no way this book wasn't going to be a favorite.

But . . . even though I knew I was going to love this book . . . I HAD NO IDEA JUST HOW MUCH I WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK.

Here's the thing--I was an honest-to-goodness outcast in high school. Not because I was rebellious or reclusive or anything. Mostly it was because I just didn't like the right things. Even the other outcasts I knew liked the same kinds of outcast-friendly books, movies, and music. Me? I read the classics. I liked old movies from the 1930s and 40s. And worst of all . . . I listened to opera. For the fun of it.

So yeah. Totally an outcast. But very happy that way, thank you! (And I did find My People eventually, so this is not a pity-party, I promise!)

All that to say, the opera on which The Bird and the Blade is based is one of my favorites--Puccini's Turandot. It's tragic and epic and gorgeous and just stunning. When I was eighteen, I got to see it live. I wore a floor-length, black velvet dress and elbow-length gloves. I mean, when you're going to the opera, you should GO TO THE OPERA. Right? And I cried through the beautiful production and loved every moment.

Of course the best character in the story was the slave girl, Liu. (She also gets several amazing solos, including THIS one.) Hers is the emotional story that carries the whole opera, even if she is "only" a secondary character. She is brave and strong and selfless and just a wonderful heroine in her own right. Turandot is interesting . . . but Liu is the heart and soul of this tale.

And this book . . . this beautiful book is about HER.

In Megan Bannen's version of the tale, the heroine is renamed Jinghua and is a slave to a Mongol prince. Bannen really dove into the heart and head of her heroine in ways I could never have predicted, staying true always to the original character on which she is based, but always deepening and expanding as she went.

Most of the book is actually prolonged "flashback," which I wouldn't ordinarily enjoy . . . but it was so perfectly done in this instance. We keep coming back to the "present" for short intervals as we watch the horrifying Riddles Test play out, but the story of what brought Jinghua, Khalaf, and Timur to this crisis is the real adventure.

I read in an interview that Bannen was heavily inspired by Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief, which features an unreliable narrator, several MASSIVE surprise twists, not to mention a richly developed setting and culture. Turner is one of my all-time favorite authors, so knowing that Bannen was inspired by her also lead me to believe I would love her novel. And I have to say, the influence is VERY evident in all the best possible ways.

So here's the thing readers should probably be aware of going in--this book is tragic. I mean, tears-pouring-down-my-face-as-I-read-the-last-few-pages tragic. Familiar with opera as I am, I wasn't SURPRISED by how things turned out . . . still, I will confess, I kept hoping the author would take some creative liberties and find a different way to bring about her conclusion.

But you know what? I'm glad she didn't. The story ended just the way it should. Everything about the journey led to THAT moment, and to write THAT moment any other way would have been a coward's move.

Megan Bannen is no coward. She courageously tackled this tale and pulled it off brilliantly. It's been a week since I binge-read the whole thing in about a 24 hr. period, and I've not stopped thinking about it since. I bought a second copy and sent it to my best friend. I forced my own copy into my husband's hands, and I keep pestering my mom that she MUST read it as well (she likes a lot of the same kinds of books I do). I can think of at least three more people I'm going to foist this story on, and I fully intend to keep talking it up every chance I get. It's just THAT good.

So yeah--I don't know if Bannen has any more books in the works. But I'm telling you, she has made the VERY short list of authors whose works I will buy on name only going forward. Whatever she writes, I'm here for it. And The Bird and the Blade itself is a book I'm going to be re-reading and sharing for years to come.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book. This book just took my heart and chewed it up and spit it out. I don't know how to go on from here. There is a hole in my chest where my heart used to be!!! I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS!!! But omg it was soooooooo good. Love story for the ages.
I will write a full review here soon once I can get my emotions in check!
_____________________________________________
Full review can be found on my blog, here.


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[luciana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


“I thought I could guard my heart, but I might as well have tried to damn a river with a handful of pebbles.”



SYNOPSIS: Based on the play and opera Turendot, The Bird and The Blade tells the tragic story of a young slave of the name of Jinghua as she follows her young master in exile after his home is snatched away from him. Through their tumultuous travels, they both learn to know each other and eventually grow fond of each other. But they know that their affection is doomed from the start, as the young master is a Prince who needs to get his homeland back from its invaders and Jinghua is a slave from the overthrown Sang dynasty who lost everyone she ever loved. Real and heart-wrenching, this story follows those two characters as they form an intimate and deep bound to their journey and eventually part ways.



REVIEW: This book is on the slow-paced side of things. I’d even say that for a slow-paced book, it’s slow. Don’t go into this expecting royal battles and war and death and stuff. In a way, it reads a lot like Robinson Crusoe, or Moby Dick; as just like those two it’s a journey, not an adventure. But interestingly there’s a pull to this book that keeps you reading. Maybe it’s in the way the characters unravel before you, maybe it’s because of how intimate this book feels. It feels like you’re spying on people’s conversations and inner thoughts. It’s raw and tender but violent at the same time. The Bird and The Blade is a paradox. Since the plot is simple and minimalist, the action takes the form of interactions between our characters and it becomes the entire purpose of the book. It’s unique. I think it’s the first time that I myself read a book with characters strong enough to be the tension element and the plot. I personally think that this book is more about how two people can have an influence on each other than about a Prince getting his country back.


The characters are incredible. It’s an undeniable truth and you can fight me on that. Their motivations are clear while being subtle, their development is gradual but once you finished the book you clearly notice a difference between them at the beginning and them at the end and what specifically made them change.
At first, Jinghua is just doing what she must do to survive, going through the motions and not thinking about the long run, scared of trusting anyone. But by the end of the book, she becomes as selfless as someone can become and puts her life in someone else’s hands.
The prince starts as someone who has never seen a battlefield and who sees the world as a dreaming scholar. Then life hits him in the face and he has to roll up his sleeves and work and learn things through life instead of a textbook.
His father starts as ostracized cynic incapable of trust and too proud to show his love to his son, only to end as a less cynical man who opens his heart to Jinghua, (in a paternal way.)

Seeing these characters interact together, discover their enemy and themselves along the way was magnificent and if you’re into character driven books, you should check this one out.

[Vicky Again · Rating 5 out of 5]

btw if you want some uber hilarious bonus content from the author on this book, check out this post

This book has ruined me.

The standards for YA fantasy just shot up to the moon after this book. Because this was extraordinarily heart-wrenching as well as engaging and absorbing and completely amazing.

I am wrecked. This book was glorious.

The first sign that this was just an amazing read was that I devoured the whole thing in one day. This is a 400+ page book and I just blew through the ARC so quickly.

It wasn't just one thing that was keeping me hooked--it was the whole story in general. I think one of the most important parts is how original this whole story and concept was.

This isn't your standard white medieval fantasy, and there's actually zero magic in this whatsoever. It's one of those "labeled-as-fantasy-but-not-actually-fantasy-just-badass-historical-fiction" novels, which I always adore because you don't need magic to make a great fantasy novel.

I will take a moment to address the optics of a white woman writing an entirely Asian story, especially a tragic one. As an #OwnVoices reader, I personally did not mind in this case, because for me it felt like Bannen treated the story with respect and in such a subversive way, in taking a canonically white piece of literature and making it sweeping and lush. However, I think it's very valid to not want to read this because of this, and you get to choose how you feel about this book and story.

Obviously, she took liberties with the time period, but I love how she kept enough historical context and hints to keep it grounded. For instance, Bannen let Jinghua, the main character, call Timur, the guy who is kind of like a grumpy adopted grandfather to her, "old goat," even though this would have never happened in that time period.

Yet, in keeping this affectionate term, Bannen gave the novel more than she took away from the history, and the relationship between Jinghua and Timur was fantastic and adorable and #famgoals. Timur is literally the GOAT (ba dum bum crash).

But anyways, back to the Mongols. I loved how Bannen managed to easily convey all of the history to the reader without making it feel info-dumpy. Like, the Mongols and Chinese dynasties are all really tough and their politics are complicated, but Bannen incorporated it seamlessly and managed to relay to the reader about how the Song Dynasty and Mongols interacted & how the Mongol Empire worked.

If only Bannen had written all of my AP World History textbooks, maybe then I would have done better in that class.

But even beyond the fantastic premise, this was just a fantastic book in general.

The way Bannen conveyed the story was lovely to read and I thought the alternating from 1281 (short chapters about a trial) and 1280 (what led them to getting there) both fit really well, and if you pay attention, you can solve the trials based on the backstory attached to it. (Pay close attention to what's printed at the top of your pages...)

It was a little weird for Bannen to have jumped way back in time to 1278 for around 50 pages, but in the end those 50 pages ended up being very much worth it, and I really love how they pushed the story further.

And when it pushed the story further along and forced it to continue, it was like it set off a nuclear reaction of just a bunch of emotionally-wrecking and mind-blowing plot twists and events.

The ending gutted me and I'll be crying myself to sleep tonight, even though I have no tears left after sobbing them all out reading this book. I should probably go drink some water.

But it was so heart-wrenching, and this is actually based off of the opera Turandot, which I'll have to check out, but I don't recommend you read the summary of the opera unless you want to spoil the book's ending for yourself.

I just really loved reading it and the plot was engaging and the pacing complemented it and helped it move along all the way to that ending who we shall not talk about.

And with all this raving about the plot being so amazing, you're probably expecting terrible character development, but it's not! It's really not!

I adored the characters, and not just the "old goat" relationship.

Jinghua is really, really complicated. For a couple minutes after reading this, I didn't like what she had done. I found it oddly controversial because I didn't agree with her actions on account of love.

But on the other hand, I keep battling with myself over her actions because I also felt like she still had justification behind her actions besides just love.

And now, half a week later, I still have no idea if I condone Jinghua's actions or not, and I really love this. This book is making me think--like how The Female of the Species made you think about Alex's actions. I'm thinking about Jinghua's actions and the merits behind it.

Was it her way of showing she had agency despite being enslaved? Was it something else? I may never know or understand, but I think this is a truly marvelous book that totally blew me out of the water.

This debut is one I'd highly recommend even to non-fantasy fans. I am absolutely stunned by it. This is a wonderful novel and something that I will definitely want to reread.

[Cindy ✩☽♔]

Can't tell if the synopsis implies a love triangle or not...

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much! Review to come closer to release date.

(EDITED TO ADD REVIEW)




*Amazon*B&N*






I honestly can't remember the last time a book tore my heart out and stomped on it as hard as this one did.

I can't remember the last time I cried, truly cried and didn't want to stop because of the emotions that I felt not only all through this story, but especially at the end.

Oh my poor heart and soul. I may never be the same again.

Filled with beautifully rich history and a strange friendship that blooms and grows, this truly was a wonderfully heartfelt , wonderfully written story that should be experienced by everyone.

Magnificently done and presented, this will be one that I won't soon be forgetting. I adored absolutely everything about it, even the agonizing and heartbreaking ending.


*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

[nuin giliath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not including the "Year in Review", this is apparently my 🎊 100th book review 🎉 (or at least that is what Goodreads tells me and since I don't care to count for myself, we'll go with that). So that's exciting. 🥳

Let me preface this review with a visual depiction of what I looked like by the end:


The Bird and the Blade is the book you read when you want to feel like a Mongol lord has plunged his hand into your chest cavity and ripped out your heart. Because that's what it feels like and that's what you have to look forward to when reading it. In all seriousness, it is such a SHAME that this book is not more popular than it is.

In short, this is a retelling of the opera Turandot set within the Mongol Empire during the 13th century. While I wasn't as invested in the political issues involving the various khanate, I found it fascinating to have history blended with art and fiction in this way. Enough liberties were taken with the characters and setting that it's almost historical fantasy, but the author's notes at the end explained a lot of her decisions and why she made the changes. I admit I'm pretty ignorant regarding this time/place in history, so I appreciated the comments and clarifications provided. I also loved the incorporation of stories, songs, and lines from poems or the Qur'an as this further enriched the historical aspect.

I was immediately and completely hooked from the prologue where we meet Jinghua, a slave girl, and Khalaf, the prince of the Kipchak Khanate. It sounds like a basic and overdone forbidden love story from that, but it's so much more. I loved how the story was woven through both the past and present. I didn't know how everything fit together until the end and once I realized the truth, it was even more heart-breaking than it first appeared. I sobbed during the last 50 pages (or so) and that alone solidified this to a five-star rating for me.

It was the characters that engaged me from the start and I loved how they demonstrated both admirable traits and weaknesses throughout the novel. While Khalaf is everything you'd want in a prince: calm, intelligent, patient, thoughtful, wise, and honorable; he is also somewhat fearful and feels incompetent as a leader. Jinghua is brave, loyal, resilient, a bit impulsive, and stubborn. Her need to protect herself and the secret she carries drives a wedge between her and Khalaf. Khalaf's father, Timur was often harsh and infuriating at first, but actually grew on me by the end.

This was a very emotional story with moments of battles, escapes, dangerous travel, uncertainties, and treachery interspersed. My heart ached every time that the characters were faced with tough decisions with no easy answer. One scene that touched me featured a male character who broke down and cried after losing many of his men/friends during a raid. I appreciate authors who include scenes like that with such honest emotions.

The language used throughout was sometimes a bit jarring as it had a very modern tone for a story set in the 13th century. However, I decided that I didn't mind this decision as it was maintained consistently. To me, that's preferable than trying to force more authentic or historically-accurate language into stories written in a contemporary style which can come across as messy. Plus, it does make the story more accessible for a present-day audience.

I had no idea what I was getting into by reading this, but I am so glad that I gave it a chance. The Bird and the Blade is absolutely tragic, but at the same time it's incredibly beautiful. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys heart-wrenching dramas/romances or fans of Asian-inspired YA novels such as The Wrath and the Dawn or Spin the Dawn.

(Now, can someone please give me a hug… 😭)

[Rachel E. Carter]

The kind of book I can only read once but will remember always. Wow.

[Tatiana]

I've been very happy to see so many YA fantasies inspired by a multitude of different cultures and historical settings hit the shelves. I just wish more of them were written better.

Riddles and Mongol Empire and 12th century and Turandot - are all fascinating subject. But in the world of YA, as it often happens, they are underserved by average writing, superficial use of historical/cultural context and in the case of The Bird and the Blade - dull protagonist (a starry-eyed, smitten girl).

A Thousand Nights, Strange the Dreamer, The Thief, Naondel - yes! The Bird and the Blade - eh.

I want more of this, but better, please!

[mich · Rating 4 out of 5]

aug 2019 - I noticed this is on Kindle Unlimited right now if anyone is interested. Pretty annoying to someone who paid full price for it, but good for you I guess?

~~~~~~~~~

Ohhh wow I'm still in a daze from that ending! Sooooo good.

The storytelling style and pacing with the flashbacks totally worked for me with this one. I really liked it.

Something I REALLY didn't like though was the modern phrasing in some of the dialogue that felt super weird and out of place in this story. It was just really. . . weird.

Also, a lot of the humor missed the mark for me -- it was kinda corny. Like, I liked Timur's character, but whenever he was saying something that I knew was meant for comic relief, I'd just roll my eyes cuz it felt like it was trying too hard.

Overall tho I liked this. Apparently it's based on some opera but I'm totally uncultured and have no clue of the original. Good non-contemporary YA standalones seem so impossible to find to me, so I was pleased to read this one.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah this book made me cry. I loved the setting and characters soooo much! I honestly am not knowledgeable about the history (during -13th century and having to do with Mongol Empire) but this book led me to google. Plus, I really enjoyed reading the author’s notes!

TBatB is really beautifully written, fast paced and tense! Some of the language used is a bit modern but I loved this aspect because it helped me relate to the characters as well as had me laughing at parts. The characters are funny, flawed and lovable. But, like I said- it also made me cry. I usually do not cry while reading. This book sort of ripped open my heart.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 65%
I can't do it, and let me say that my decision to set this book aside has nothing to do with the quality of writing, the premise, or world-building. Those are all incredibly well done, and I really have to give compliments to the voice. It's humorous and light and genuine, one of the best I've read in a while. The reason I am giving up is because I find the narrative to be very problematic.

This is a re-telling, or telling, of the opera Turandot. I am not familiar with the opera apart from what I read on Wikipedia, but from that, it looks like this is basically a YA novelization of the opera. The story hasn't changed much, the author has just taken great care to fill in the backstory and flesh out the characters.

When it comes to re-tellings, I find there are 2 kinds of people in the world. The kind who want the story to be only slightly different from the original, holding true to the themes, narratives and characters while adding a little bit of a twist. And then are the second kind of people, like me, who say, "let's rip this shit apart, kick it in the ass, and turn it on its head!" Like Clueless, or Beastly, or Cinder.

I really wish the author had done that, because when you allow yourself to veer from the original story, you give yourself room to scrub some of the dirt from it. Like the misogyny and overused themes, and that really is my biggest problem with this. It's the same old story of a young girl having no aspirations of her own except *boy.* And I keep hoping this narrative will go away.

So we have Jinghua. A slave girl. She sneaks into the food storage to steal an apple as offering for her dead brother. In the process, she runs into Khalaf, the son of her owner. He lets her take the apple without beating her and so of course, Jinghua is in love.



It doesn't matter that his people conquered and enslaved hers or that his father has her beaten and basically caged. Khalaf is cute! And smart! And treats her like a human being!

*girls, please expect more out of your man than him treating you like a person.*

Shortly after, the Kipchak Khanate is attacked, and dreamy Prince Khalaf and his family have to go on the run. Jinghua comes because for a hot minute, she's trying to get home, but that's not really true. She just wants to follow after Khalaf like a lost puppy, and as he continually stands up for her to keep her from being sold or murdered, she of course, falls deeper into obsession.

*Sigh.*

I'm begging you, please, please, please let your characters want or care about something else beside *boy.* I really want my heroines to have dreams and aspirations of their own that have nothing to do with *boy.*

And I kept thinking, if the story had been narrated from Khalaf's perspective, he would have wanted more than Jinghua. He wants to please his father and save his people. She almost becomes secondary to his goals, and I'm wondering why Jinghua can't have the same depth.

[majo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing you have to know about this book is that is a tragic love story IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY AT THE END AND IT WILL LEAVE YOU HEART BROKEN. And this is not a spoiler because you know this since the prologue. You know since page one that they won't have a happy ending.

Khalaf is a prince trying to save his kingdom and the only way he can do that is by marrying a powerful princess: Turandokht. But she has a rule, she won't accept a husband unless he can solve three riddles she invented herself, and if the prince who wants her hand can't solve them, he will be killed.

Then there is Jinghua. And she is Khalaf's slave and she has a dark secret. So you know since chapter 1, that Khalaf and Jinghua are doomed since the beginning. He will either marry another girl or die trying. And after that devastating prologue, the author tells the story of how they got there in the first place, and how Jinghua and Khalaf fell in love. An impossible love, because the reader already knows is not going to have a happy ending. I love how the book was structured because all the time you can feel the hopelessness of that love, but you can't help but rooting for Jinghua and Khalaf. I love everything about their story, and even with the sad ending, this book was really worth it.

The second thing that you have to know about this book is that is not a romance fantasy, as I first thought so, but more of an inaccurate historical fiction, mixed with the retelling of "Turandot" which is an opera.. The author took some liberties with the story but this all happened in the thirteenth century in the Mongol empire. The atmosphere of this book was so vividly and intense. I've never before read a book set in this period of time and it was an amazing experience. Again, take into account that in the end, in the author's note, Bannen explains what historical facts she changed for the sake of the story, but I really think that she did a great job describing the places and the traditions and the culture. There are some light touches of magic in this book, but I wouldn't say this book is a fantasy novel.

The third thing that you have to know about this book is that is SO UNFAIRLY UNDERRATED. WHY HAS NOBODY READ THIS BOOK??? WHY THERE AREN'T MORE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS MASTERPIECE??? This is without a doubt, a hidden gem in the YA genre. And Khalaf is everything you want in a book boyfriend. So please read this book, is amazing. Yes, it is sad, but it is amazing.

[aimee (aimeecanread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might be one of the loveliest books I've ever read.

The main character's weak, shy, and perpetually lost, but I fucking love her. She's emotional, she's realistic, she's got a one-track mind. I could see myself in her at times. And Khalaf? Yes. No words for how sweet and wholesome this male lead was.

I feel like I should've taken my Chinese history lessons seriously in high school because I was so invested in the politics, the geography, the culture... This book seemed really well-researched (but don't quote me on this!).

Thoughts on the ending: I'm not familiar with the opera this book's based on, but I already saw the ending coming from a mile away... and yet, I cried my heart out when the ending finally came. It seemed really fitting, though. A different ending wouldn't have worked.

[Chelsea · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Mongols can keep their nasty cheese curds to themselves.
...
I wipe a ticklish strand of hair out of my face. Even caked in sweat and dust, the baby-fine wisps defy gravity.
...
He may once have ruled over his own sprawling piece of the Mongol Empire, but, from my perspective, he's just my grumpy old goat.
...
...my dying feels imminent. It's breathing down my neck like an eager, wet puppy.
...
I pull Timur toward a food cart that wafts of duck-filled heaven.

Yeah, I can't with this writing. DNF @ pg 16

[Khadidja · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE E P I L O G U E

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS KIND OF PAIN????

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

Jinghua is a slave in the Kipchak Khanate… and the unlikely conspirator in the escape of Prince Khalaf and his father. Wanting to use the opportunity to return home this becomes increasingly hard as she falls hard for Khalaf. It’s made worse since he seeks to restore his kingdom by forging a marriage alliance with Turandokht, the daughter of the Great Khan. All suitors must solve 3 impossible riddles to win her hand—and if they fail, they die. What will she do…?


The short review...

I quite enjoyed this book! I read it fast because I was totally engrossed in Jinghua's story. I enjoyed the subtle touches of culture that it being set in the Mongol Empire provided. I loved that those details were tight, no extraneous information was dumped on us. There also wasn't a lot of explaining. I liked that we were thrust into the story and had to go along with what was happening. The writing, something I rarely talk about in and of itself is quite excellent. I would totally read this author again just due to the way she uses words to characterize and to express the character's deepest selves.

I don't want you to think this was full of swashbuckling fun though there are battles with weapons. It is certainly a quiet book. It's about knowing a person and falling for them. It's about going the distance even though the only pro is that its what your heart is telling you to do. Some might equate quiet with slow. I didn't find it slow for even a second though there are many revelations piled at the end... it was quiet. Heartfelt. A story of its time. Almost a fable or a myth. We start off with a nobody slave girl who crushes on the nicest of her master's sons. And we find she has the heart of a queen.


Cover & Title grade -> A-
Having read the book I do think this is a good cover. I am still puzzled about "the Blade" part of the title but while that wasn't clearly stated like "the Bird" was I do believe I know who it is referencing. I think the bird feathers tipped in red is just the message you need to start with and end with. It's spot on to the story and quite gorgeous in its simplicity. The modern chrome title also fits the slight modernity the story has having been written for modern people and not in ancient times. YES!


What makes the story so rich?

-Poetic Male and Singing Female
I loved how a mutual passion for the arts and philosophy brought these two together! They go back and forth sharing with each other... it is a romance made from real life and emotions.

-Collision of Cultures
Khalaf is a Mongol Prince. Jinghua is a slave from a nearby conquered nation. They were raised with different religions and different beliefs and different situations. Yet they work to find common ground.

-Language, Riddles, Stories and Songs
These are all woven into the story! It makes for a quieter story than one with supernatural powers but compelling and lush with culture and life.

-Dreams of the Past
Family plays a huge part in the story. Khalaf's father in the present and Jinghua's brother in the past. These are woven into the choices the pair makes and informs their decisions and what their future will be like!

What might (probably not) be a turn off?

-Lovesickness.
Some may call it instalove, but whatever term you put to it you may be annoyed by it. I felt like it was one of those moments when you're having a tough time and someone is kind and you can't help really liking them after that even though you haven't quite gotten to know them yet. Don't worry, plenty of falling in love happens after that.

-Modern Language in moments.
Every once in a while someone bursts out with a clearly modern phrase or idea. Like time is counted like it is shown in the story. I didn't mind it a bit. It happened rarely and when it did I understood it was to save us from excruciatingly vague terminology that we don't understand today. So thank you Megan!!

-No twists.
This may be open to some interpretation but to my mind there were none. There are some revelations nearer the end about motivations but to me the story read more as "damn good foreshadowing" than twists. And I liked that! It wasn't about shocking us (oh how rarely we are shocked in real life!) but about telling a story that struck us in the feels...


As a Writer...

Why 4 stars if even the negatives weren't such a negative to me?!
Well this is clearly labeled as a YA novel. And there are some themes here that don't work well with YA readers...
Loose plot where characters are more important.
An old fashioned girl who doesn't want to rule her boy with an iron fist of control.
A poignant ending that doesn't really qualify as a happy ending.
If this were an adult novel I would have totally 5 starred it!! As a writer your audience matters... and while I don't think compromises necessarily need to be made it will effect the overall rating of your story.

The Bird and the Blade is a quiet story of heart. It follows two characters that make you fall for them and have you rooting for them... a long life of happiness in a world that doesn't really allow that... Sometimes we are at the mercy of the times and what we can capture will have to sustain us!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building


Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...

[Ashley (wickedreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

…huh

[joanna ☽ vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

ouch, there goes my heart. full review to come soon

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"For the first time in over two years, I believe the world is not an entirely terrible place simply because this one decent person lives in it."



First off, who let me get this invested in the lives of fictional characters?? This book absolutely DECIMATED my feelings . . . and yet I love it even more because of that fact?? WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?? I swear I'm only like this about books, since I'm a little pickier about continuing to love things in real life that have decimated my feelings.

Anyways, on to my brokenhearted attempt at a review!!!

Oh, what to say about this book? It's beautiful, magical without magic, poetic, enthralling, and a magnificent gift to the world. It was much slower than I originally thought it would be, and yet I was still absolutely captivated by each page. I read this as quickly and breathlessly as I would have read a intensely-paced book because it was just THAT well-written. There were so many moments and lines that I truly FELT as a match for my heart's thoughts.

"I feel almost naked sitting here in a room full of people who either didn't understand the poem or didn't care enough to try."



I STILL HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO EXPLAIN WHY I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH OKAY??? So please bear with my rambling and flailing and basically all the symptoms of a person who has been in love with books for over fifteen years . . . I keep trying to write semi-decent reviews that hopefully someone can make sense of, but perhaps this skill will forever be outside my grasp!!

I just . . . there is just SO MUCH to love in this book. I could even escape to bullet-points to try and catalog the precise things I loved, but even then that would be a jumbled mess. But I really appreciate the dedication and detail of research that clearly went into this book, how lovingly the characters and their interactions were crafted, and the representation and diversity was such a well-done blessing in here. The romance was so soft and slow and yet also perfectly tense, too!! It was basically everything I like in a romantic plot arc delivered to me!! I'm not gonna talk about the ending though except to say that it emotionally gutted me. I should have seen it coming, but I didn't . . . which probably made it better??

Basically, this book utterly broke my heart into a thousand pieces of destroyed feelings but I am also utterly in love because this book was bold enough to break my heart.

“And wilderness is paradise now.”

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short review right now as I am still wipping my tears and blowing up my nose...

Most of the book was a three stars for me, despite once more the extraordinary narration of Emily Woo Zeller because it was a little bit too sweet. The female character was a little bit shy and not really a warrior nor a great beauty not ....
She was like a little mouse but strangely touching too.

Most of the story happens while they are traveling and if there are attacks etc. it felt kind of ...boring.

But when we get around 80 or 90% and all begins to unravel, the story takes a whole other level!

And that ending had me bawling like a baby!

So 3 stars most of the time and 5 stars by the end.