Reviewed by alindstadtcorbeax on
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
A positively dazzling debut... and I am positively grateful to have been able to read it. I am in awe of Amélie Wen Zhao; That she re-released this is a true show of strength and belief in her work. Not to mention it is her debut... I mean, she took her time to regroup, but ultimately it is now in the arms of the world and I can only hope others will love this just as much as I did. She is no coward, & she takes on some controversial topics within this fantastic fantasy novel... again, in her debut, no less. She does not sugarcoat. Does the world sugarcoat?
What happened to her is absolutely ridiculous... just because someone has a strong opinion of a book, that does not make that opinion fact. So many who had never touched the cover of, never even HEARD OF, let alone READ the novel, were so quick to judge based upon one radical opinion that caused a twisted chain reaction of increasingly negative claims (so many completely 100% false) about the book, and the author (!) that couldn’t be further from the truth. The author was bullied by internet trolls. That is SO wrong; it broke my heart. Still does, for she is a brilliant writer, with so much to offer. I am so very glad she didn’t let that debacle define the emergence of her career; she stood by her work, even when she was probably feeling so misunderstood & devastated which is a quality worthy of great admiration.
My heart goes out to you Amélie! Both for your strength, and for winning me over with this incredible, incredible, and oh so beautiful story.
A story of what it means to be a human being.
A story that does not shy away from harsh truths just to take us on a lackadaisical tiptoe through the tulips or skip through the daisies.
A story of the never ending struggle inside us all to make the “right” decisions in tough situations, instead of the often easier ones. And how, every single one of us ends up making mistakes in life; we are human, after all...
A story of how our outward attributes (class, status, appearance, etc.) as an individual do not define who we are, how no one should ever be treated as “other.” These attributes should never define how we should be treated, & never be able to put a price on our worth. No one should be able to dole out the value of someone else, or be able to exploit someone else for their own gain... for any & all reasons, whatsoever.
I believe that there are so many important messages embedded into this novel, and along with them? A lush, hit the ground running, sweep you off of your feet, sometimes so painful it tears you in two, sometimes so full of beauty that tears stream down your cheeks story... under those layers lay messages of finding strength in times of complete weakness, finding hope in times of complete hopelessness, finding companionship where you least expect it, and realizing that our past does not define us, it is what we choose to do in this moment, in the future, that ultimately make us who we are.
But below those layers are some even deeper lessons to be learned, and some extremely deep & controversial questions that are raised. Questions about how we view so called “good” and “evil” and the in between... and at what point is someone past redemption? What events brought them to where they are, and can realization & remorse of the acts they had deemed righteous because of that past no matter the crimes, does this choice to try to make the right decisions moving forward & to repent grant them forgiveness? absolution? What do we do when there is such true evil lurking in the shadows of this world, with corruption abound? How do we make a difference, truly make a difference for the better without dirtying our hands, when the enemy has the upper hand, for they are willing to do anything to win (to fight dirty would be a most unjust simplification of the evils of this world)?
There is so much to unpack here! I’ve only skimmed the surface. So much is to be learned from this incredible story surrounding a condemned princess & a condemned con man finding each other & teaching each other important lessons on survival, as well as helping each other forge new paths, paths of possible redemption for themselves. As their paths continue to intertwine, the result is true magic.
A magic that sprouts & fights its way into your heart from the very first page, in the dark depths of a terrible, ruthless prison, until both Kolst Pryncessa Anastacya Mikhailov & Ramson Quick tongue are firmly rooted there, in your heart, magic growing & surrounding you; Their individual magics blooming in silver & gold amongst the stars.
Yes, this is a novel with heavy undertones, ones that may be potential triggers for some, but it is so important to recognize the sensitive matters & issues that are raised within the novel; to carefully assess the questions raised & truly analyze. Zhao wants us to think. To FEEL. There are lessons to be learned here, but do not worry, the story is so much more than just this, although the serious issues approached are beyond important to be aware of. Do not mistake this comment as a dismissal, but as a recognition of the many layers of the story being told... Because this story, is quite the incredible one.
I loved this, so much, and I cannot wait for the next installment in the series. Counting down the days until next fall!
100% recommend, with all of my heart. ♥️
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 9 December, 2019: Finished reading
- 9 December, 2019: Reviewed