Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Steam: 💋 only
Feels: 😔💗😫😭

~ Story Details ~
Tear jerker: ✅
Paranormal/Fantasy: ❌
Location: Various; China, Mongolia – Kipchak Khanate and several others
Character age range: Late teens
Lead: Jinghua
Love interest(s): Khalaf
HEA: ❌

~QD Book Info📚~
Kindle Unlimited: ❌
Audible: ✅ – narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
Series: ❌ – stand alone –

~QD🔥~
Sex/kink type: None – 💋 only
Possible triggers: violence/gore, homicide, slavery, kidnapping, torture, self-harm

~Review🖋~
This book was a beautifully written retelling of a famous (and tragic) opera. The author writes in a lyrical prose that transports the reader into a picturesque world so vivid I thought I might be able to reach out and touch it. The dialogue is endearingly honest; I was a pendulum swinging between feeling anguished and laughing at Jinghua’s inner-monologue. The end is as tragic as it was in the opera, if not even more so, and despite knowing the ending, I sat there sobbing nonetheless. Brava, on an impressive debut novel! –

✨Pro-tip: The audio book is amazing.
I alternated between reading and listening. Emily Woo Zeller narrates the hell out of this book. It was such a joy listening to her!