The most interesting part about this book is the obvious parallel that can be drawn from the conflict in this book and imperialism in our world. At first I found this interesting to read after a few hundred pages I simply wished I was reading an actual history of imperialism. That isn’t to say that fantastical allegories have no place, simply that this one did not captivate me with its fantastical elements.
Kuang’s prose also fluctuates between great and something I would read at a high-school writing group. The writing style is often at odds with the themes of the book. It deals with horrific scenes and yet the writing feels geared towards YA. I love this concept in general and I think blending fantasy with some of the worst periods in our history can give a different lens to view tragedies, I simply found the execution lacking.