This book has been on my to-read list for SO long before I managed to find it second-hand by pure luck, and it really didn’t disappoint! I adored all the vivid descriptions, the warring political factions and intrigue, and the tender romance. Political marriages are always so interesting to me, and I loved seeing both characters slowly letting down their barriers for each other and working through their pasts. Xích Si and Rice Fish were both driven, interesting characters in their own rights, and I loved getting to see them interact and choose each other. I haven’t read any of de Bodard’s other books in this world, but I felt like I got my footing quickly and was along for the ride with the unique worldbuilding. 

My only real complaint is that I wish the pacing of this book had been a little slower and that it had been 100 or 200 pages longer, just to really have more development of that relationship and a slower pace while still maintaining the action and political struggles. This is definitely partially my own bias towards slow-burn romance; Xích Si and Rice Fish were drawn to each other pretty much right away, and I would’ve loved it if that trust was really developed more thoroughly and took more time to build up, but that’s a very minor thing. There was also a little bit of miscommunication and arguing where I wasn’t quite following what the characters were taking offense at, and so wasn’t as invested as I wanted to be. If this had been a little slower and a good chunk longer it definitely could’ve been a five-star, but I still really enjoyed it as-is!