What a sad, heart wrenching, and wonderful book. 

I found the story to be a familiar legend with heartbreaking twists - the beautiful girl, trained to seduce the evil king so he can be overthrown. And while I knew the thread of the story, and how that piece would end, I did not foresee all the elements of heartbreak around it. 

The story drew me in. The writing was beautiful and created a strong sense of place. I could feel the breeze and smell all the florals within the palace. 

There’s an unexpected level of humanness in this story. It’s not like most legends where it is a clear good triumphing over evil, but rather one where you see the shades of gray in everyone. I found myself lamenting some deaths and wishing for others unexpected. 

Overall, a wonderful book that I would recommend.