Elle’s Reviews > An Empire in the Clouds > Status Update
Elle
is 36% done
At 35% Xilian suddenly drops that she has asthma. I don’t think this was ever mentioned before? Feels odd.
I can’t work out what Performers refers to. No Face’s ch's made it sound like people who perform at the theatre. But on arrival Xilian refers to multiple people on the streets as Performers, so is it a term for everyone who lives in Opera? Suddenly less certain of the world & culture at 36% than I was at 10%.
— 4 hours, 23 min ago
I can’t work out what Performers refers to. No Face’s ch's made it sound like people who perform at the theatre. But on arrival Xilian refers to multiple people on the streets as Performers, so is it a term for everyone who lives in Opera? Suddenly less certain of the world & culture at 36% than I was at 10%.
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Elle’s Previous Updates
Elle
is 24% done
Still more Tell-y than I'd like - I'm adjusting to it, but I also keep wishing for Showing even if it would have meant lots of flashbacks & memories. Xilian is one of my least fav MC types, "indecisive", but at least she realises it & has finally started doing things. Meanwhile No Face talks a big game but hasn't done anything yet either. 25% on setup feels a bit too much, but I'll see if picks up.
— 21 hours, 19 min ago
Elle
is 12% done
A bit overly Telling and info-dump-y, but this is a really cool and really strange world being established, so I'm rolling with it for now. I'm not sure how necessary all the explanations are, if there wouldn't be a better spot for some of these facts & personal histories later on... but I won't know til I get there. There's a lyricism or sense of Chinese opera to the tone/prose, so I'm a bit more forgiving.
— Aug 24, 2026 11:30PM