I was so excited to read this, as I have loved all of Elizabeth Lim’s other books. This book was a bit slow to start and Shiori initially difficult to like, but as I got further into the story I came to love her and respect her. She went through a lot over the course of this tale, and I look forward to seeing her future adventures.
I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into the past and seeing Bandur’s origin as a demon. I wonder if we’ll see how he gets cursed to guard Lapsur in the future books?
I’m definitely intrigued by the dragons, and I’m excited to see what their world is like. Seryu was such an interesting character here and it was clear he was undergoing some changes off-page. I have a feeling there’s a LOT for Elizabeth Lim to explore there.
I especially loved Shiori’s relationship with her brothers, which the transformation into cranes improved, and her friendship with Takkan and Megari. There were definitely some characters that it’s easy to hate, although by the end not all is as it at first seems.
All told, an excellent adventure that transforms Shiori from a thoughtless and selfish girl into an incredibly strong young woman who values the people around her as her younger self never did. I can’t wait to get lost in the next one.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing an e-arc for review.
Whimsical Dragonette 