I picked up this book initially because of its use of the Auspicious Beasts. Although I am not a huge fan of romance, I don't hold that against the book, and I felt that the romantic plot points were well done.
This is the story of four people who develop magic abilities in a kingdom where magic is outlawed. The four characters are representatives of the 4 Auspicious Beasts and their elemental magic is based on Chinese elements. I enjoyed the prominence of Chinese culture in the book and the inclusion of such concepts as qi (life force), along with how the use of magic had a physical side effect on the wielders. The story is told from various perspectives, but it is never confusing. I feel some readers might dislike reading the same scene from two different perspectives when this occurs, but this might also be common in the subgenre. The characters are well developed and enjoyable. My favorite was Longwei, a bad guy trying to become a good guy if only circumstances would allow him to.
The world also feels complete and well thought out. The only issues I had with plot or timing are related to the romance within the pages. However, that is a personal issue as the story clips along at a good pace, even when people are pining over a love interest. It is well edited and well constructed, always a plus for indie books. I did feel that some of the dialogue did not roll off the tongue. Yet, I also thought that this could be because the story is couched in Chinese tradition and culture, so I forgave the formalities. Really the only other minor thing I can think to mention is that I felt the narrator's voice sounded a bit Disney-esque in my head. This was an odd juxtaposition while reading more graphic scenes. However, I don't consider it a flaw.
This is the first book of a trilogy with the next book releasing later in 2026. It ends with members of the party scattered, and the despair one character faced at the end brought tears to my eyes. I am so excited about the forthcoming book, I joined the ARC team and have it on Pre-Order.
