It certainly had a lot of hype to live up to, but it fell flat on its face like a drunken sorcerer stumbling over their incantations.
First of all, let’s talk about Rin, our so-called anti-heroine. Instead of evolving into a compelling character, she morphs into a frustrating mess of contradictions. Her decisions are baffling at best, and you’ll often find yourself wondering if the author even knew where she was taking the character. It’s like Rin’s development took a nosedive, and you’ll be left scratching your head at her motivations.
This book straddles the line between historical fiction and fantasy, but it leans more towards the former. While it introduces magic into an alternative history where imperial Britain reigns supreme, this enchanting twist doesn’t alter the course of history as significantly as one might hope.
This lack of imaginative exploration regarding the profound impact of magic on both the Empire and its people comes across as uninspired and detracts from the narrative’s potential depth. It’s as if Kuang hesitates to let her meticulous research take a back seat to her creativity, using magic more as a convenient plot device than a transformative force.
Moreover, her reluctance to deviate from the confines of her academic research stifles the story’s creative potential. The characters often seem like they’ve been plucked from the present day, employing contemporary political language and concepts within a historical context.
This is my second book from RF Kuang and I wasn’t a fan of either, her writing style is simply not for me.
My Dark Theories 
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