I love this. It’s short and sweet but it hold everything you could want in a story. It’s such a sweet love story that pleasantly takes you by surprise. ( )

When I started reading this, I expected something... different, something more and initially, I found myself utterly disliking all the characters from Thanh, to Eldris, Pharanea, Mother-Empress and so forth. I couldn't say why I disliked them as I didn't know why...I just did - and I first noticed it during the introductory war negotiations that I found myself somewhat irritated with this book.

And then, about halfway, it dawned on me when I looked at the lay of the world presented in this book and it struck a chord - A Matriarchal world were Matriarchy ruled as opposed to Patriarchy. And why would I hate that? It is beautiful, like a herd of elephants with the powerful Matriarch ahead and leading them along a path to the watering hole.

Picture this:

⦁ There are Princesses leading war negotiations (which seem to be failing.)
⦁ There are Princesses off fighting battles with neighboring regions.
⦁ There are even Woman-Generals blackmailing princesses to sway negotiations to the favor of
another Matriarchal Kingdom.
⦁ In this world; becoming QUEEN is the power that the young character craves - and there is no
mention of Kings and Emperors. And Yet, a very steadfast rule of humanity regardless of
gender - power corrupts, and this world is not without the same predatory pillars of
power-hungry opportunists; women who have way more agency than others in this world.
⦁ The weak and feeble nations might be ruled by kings but there aren't enough pages in this
book to be definitive about this possibility.

So, turns out I, subconsciously rejected this idea of all powerful Matriarchal Kingdoms, not just the structure but that the conquering kingdoms and encroaching invaders were for all intents and purposes, a bunch of women - you know; girl power and all that.

For shame! Suffice it to say after that realization and being aware of it on an acute level, I started seeing the story and the characters the way I would if it were me as Mother-Empress or even just the Fire Elemental Giang in a world where women ruled.

An interesting read. ( )

de Bodard is an author I'd been intending to read for a while. I decided to start with this one just because I found a used copy. I think this is not where I should have started.

The premise was fascinating. There were world-building details that I was intrigued by, but it all felt a little underdeveloped for me -- especially the interpersonal relationships. I enjoyed reading most of it, but my lasting impression was underwhelming.

I will try again with one of her better loved stories. ( )

I liked this story well enough, however I think it could have been longer.

It would have been nice to know more about the countries involved and how they relate. Also the violence and jealousy from Eldris seemed rather sudden. The romance between Thanh and Giang also felt sudden, I had been reading that as a friendship until suddenly it wasn’t.

But there is only so much that can go in that length of a story.

There was a lot of interesting world building worked in. I had a vivid feeling of the setting, and Thanh’s struggle to be respected and also respectful of her mother, that there were intricate complexities in play.

All in all I think it was well written and it could just stand to be longer. :) ( )

Princess Thanh has returned from being a hostage to the peace for her country and now is helping her mother, Empress Eldris negotiate a trade delegation from Yosolis headed by the princess she once had a relationship with. Her mother doesn’t know about the former relationship and they quickly start to pick up where they were before and look into a possible alliance. But Thanh is hiding a secret of what happened when she was a hostage and a fire that destroyed the palace of Eldris’ family. Small fires start around Thanh no matter what she does and this secret is about to change everything in her life. A nice tight story that has a good ending but plenty of room for more stories set in this same universe.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
( )