Ok, wow.

First of all - look at that cover art! Look at it!!!

Okay, that out of the way, if you haven't read the Poppy War, do so now. Then read this, because its just that good and if you've allowed a year or more to go past, as I did, you'll be utterly confused at the start of this book, because it picks up right where that left off and doesn't really pause for breath.

Last year, at WorldCon, I was privileged to be at R.F. Kuang's kaffeeklatsch. She was one of the highlights of my weekend, this confident and poised young woman, wholly knowledgeable about the many things we peppered her with. Its with some amazement that I read in the acknowledgements that she was plagued with second-novel troubles, I would never have thought it, either then or now that I've read this.

This book builds on the Poppy War, it builds into and onto the fractures in the world that she has so wonderfully built. It doesn't shy away from the horrors of war, even more so than in the last.

Most importantly, in the end, this book moves even further beyond fantasy tropes, and it succeeds brilliantly. This book is wonderful, and I just can't wait for the last instalment, due any day now.

Just brilliant.