the best part of this book was definitely the characters and their dynamics.  i loved the relationship dynamic, the love was so gentle and so beautiful. plot was there but mainly as a vehicle for character development, tho i did appreciate the little plot twist and fast paced (and tense) ending. kept me on my toes and engaged in the story beyond the relationship. 

AHHHHHH this was SO GOOD.

The politics - fascinating, well developed and understandable. 
The cultural differences - gripping, relevant and dynamic.
The process of healing after trauma - told with kindness, honesty and hope.
The plot twists - OH MY GOD. I was along for the ride with only guesses about the perpetrators, and each twist surprised and delighted me.
The relationships - obviously I was THIRSTY for the connection between Cay and Vel, but the friendships with Markel, the family dynamics of the Idurials, the guards and soldiers, the librarian … everything felt believable and fully formed.
The romance - again, I was thirsty thirsty THIRSTY for this romance. I am a sucker for Yearning™️ and arranged marriages that lead to love (and lust) and when there is open and honest communication that builds to spine-melting UST … and then the resolution of said UST … god.
The treatment of gender identity - definitely a key pillar of the novel, and done in a way that felt a little in your face with Ralia’s differences to Keketai, but in the end I felt the representation was lovely. I also loved the way Markel’s disability was handled; the story didn’t shy away from his hardships, and it didn’t strip him of characteristics outside of his disability.

All in all, this was a fucking treat to enjoy just like one of the cook’s little suns. So much so I will forgive the death of Quip, though that was by far the absolute worst. 

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance is told in both first (Vel) and second (Cae) person, swapping between the perspectives of the two man characters - Velasin and Caethari. Both of them are highborn men in a pseudo-medieval setting who are fairly educated, which is reflected in the writing style. This is especially apparent in Velasin's sections. The sentence structure and wording takes time to adjust too and may not work for some readers. It's important to note though, this a clear and deliberate choice by the author, not just bad writing. The style makes sense for the character even if it's a bit disorienting.

The novel as a whole takes place over a relatively short period of time and a lot happens within its pages. While I wish there were points where things slowed down and there was time to digest, I didn't think it was too over the top, and the progression of events made sense. I appreciated that the main characters were given a chance to somewhat (again, very short timeframe) organically find their way to each other instead of instalove. We get to enjoy those almost moments instead of diving in head first.

I thought motive behind the unravelling events was very interesting and I liked the way it played out. I also appreciated that there were real consequences for character's actions, which we don't always see.

I know that one major deterrent for some readers will be the r*pe scene early on. Reviews I've seen call it "extremely graphic" and make it seem very excessive, but I disagree with that.

It does play out on the page, but the emphasis is more specifically on the coercion of the main character and their feeling of helplessness at the hands of somebody they trusted. It talks about the conflicting signals between their body and their mind, as well as the humiliation of their body's reaction in the moment.

This is not something that happens just for a throwaway plot point to add drama. There is a genuine motivating factor and the character effected spends the rest of the book dealing with the trauma from it.

I would never advocate for someone to read something that makes them triggered or uncomfortable but I think it's important to shed light on the author's representation of the act, instead of immediately assuming the worst because of what it is. 

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance is a book written with carefulness, it deals with trauma and hurt, but in a healthy way for the main cast. Its minorities are merely existing and never devalued by the narrators, which never felt insulting. 

Once all the characters are reunited in the same place, the story goes absutely speedy, but in so many words that the pace doesn't feel rushed. 

I do admit a difficulty in keeping track of who was who, for the names follow similar constructions, and the narration don't often remind us who they are when they pass briefly. Not too problematic in itself, as the main cast is pretty clear to identify and follow.