Hahahahahahahahaha! I had a terrible reading month! I’m laughing because it’s so pathetic!
Anyway, this month I finished one book. And that’s it. And I didn’t even start the book this month. I’m trying not to feel guilty, but I kind of do. Let’s just get this post over with.
The only book I read this month was The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera.
The first book in the Their Bright Ascendancy series, this novel follows two warrior women, Barsalyya Shefali and O-Shizuka. Written mainly as a letter from Shefali to Shizuka, this fantasy tale chronicles their love story and coming-of-age. It also shows the girls battling demons and traveling vast expanses of the known world. As far as the love story goes, this story was fantastic. This is the epic lesbian love story I’ve been waiting for. Shefali’s own personal story was also very moving. Overall, the love story and character development were fantastic.
However, I did have a few problems with it. For one thing, the pacing is very slow. This isn’t a plot or character-driven story. It’s a life story. Which is fine, except it takes a while to get through. Shefali and Shizuka also often seemed a little too indestructible— especially Shizuka. How was she beating grown men at duels when she was only twelve years old? It strained incredulity. The world-building and magic system are also sloppy. I still don’t quite know how any of it really works. I didn’t have a problem with it when I was reading because I was more invested in the love story, but it’s an issue when it comes to explaining this book to others.
When I first finished this book, I gave it four out of five stars. However, I have since read a few reviews that point out a few things I didn’t pick up on. This story is filled with cultural appropriation (namely, Japanese, Chinese, and Mongolian). It blatantly ignores the historical context required to create fictional world based on real cultures and countries. This review is particularly helpful in pointing these things out. Due to this, I had to lower my overall rating to three stars.
What books did you read in February? Tell me about them in the comments!
Strange Storyteller 