He Who Drowned the World

Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique. 

What an incredible adventure. The more I've sat with this the book the more I realize this duology might be my favorite series of all time. The characters are amazing. As much as some characters made me angry or disgusted, I truly cared for each one. Parker-Chan does an incredible job writing gray characters and making you care for them. 

The first two-thirds of this book was not as good as the first book. I still enjoyed it but not quite as much. But then the last third?? Oh my god. I wish that part of the book could have last another 200 pages. I was so compelled, I couldn't put it down. 

My biggest complaint about this book was that it wasn't longer. There were a couple relationships that I wanted the book to spend more time with, particularly Xu Da and Zhu, the Third Prince and Wang Baoxiang, and Zhu and Ma. The characters and their relationships are what make these books so compelling so I wanted more but I can understand why those potential scenes might not have been included. As well I would have liked to see a little more right at the end. The book ends right at its natural conclusion but I personally wanted an epilogue. However I wouldn't take any points away because it wasn't included. 

In conclusion, this book and this duology rips. Highly recommend.