This was a well translated and written book. It has a charm to it, filled with characters who are well developed and endearing, even the awful ones! IThis was a well translated and written book. It has a charm to it, filled with characters who are well developed and endearing, even the awful ones! In the midst of a very unstable and politically fraught era, the cultural revolution underpins the goings on in the village. A worthwhile read. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
I’m not actually a fan of short story collections, but this was one of the best I’ve read. I loved Zen Cho’s modern interpretation of Malaysian mytholI’m not actually a fan of short story collections, but this was one of the best I’ve read. I loved Zen Cho’s modern interpretation of Malaysian mythology and spirit world. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
Wow! This was everything you could want from the final chapter in this wonderful and original trilogy. There were some amazing twists in this that ansWow! This was everything you could want from the final chapter in this wonderful and original trilogy. There were some amazing twists in this that answered questions I didn’t know I had. When I think about the character development throughout for the two main characters and the complex world building , achieved seamlessly, I think this will definitely be one of my top epic fantasy reads of 2023....more
Despite the subject matter, I found this story quite soothing. Its reminiscent of ‘Tenko’ and A town like Alice and is written in the frame of Brits wDespite the subject matter, I found this story quite soothing. Its reminiscent of ‘Tenko’ and A town like Alice and is written in the frame of Brits with a ‘stiff upper lip’. I liked the joint perspective, one adult, one child. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
This was beyond compare. I absolutely loved it. This would suit historical fiction fans as well as fantasy. The magic systems of this world are ingeniThis was beyond compare. I absolutely loved it. This would suit historical fiction fans as well as fantasy. The magic systems of this world are ingenious and thought provoking. In fact there was so much about this that was thought provoking-colonialism, racism, slavery, misogyny, poverty, the dilemmas and subtleties of translation- it’s all here. I doubt I’ll ready anything to top this in the foreseeable future. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
This was a phenomenal ending to a superb trilogy. Personally I didn’t care for the passing of time in this book, which made the story seem hurried, stThis was a phenomenal ending to a superb trilogy. Personally I didn’t care for the passing of time in this book, which made the story seem hurried, strange to say about a long book within a long trilogy! I loved everything about the characters and their development, and the outcomes of events during this slow war. Very realistic was the loss of life and misfortune, as well as those pivotal moments upon which everyone’s fates hung. Very well done, Ms Lee!...more