I started it at 10pm on Monday when my pre-order dropped into my Kobo, stayed up too late, then just kept reading it yesterday. More or less in a gulp.
One thing I *really* appreciate about the world-building is that the look & feel of the Empire is clearly based on Imperial China, not medievelesque Europe. We've moved into a different set of tropes. The Nameless Land is more "European", and thus more barbaric.
The gender & trans stuff is handled so well, the way it's not a problem except when it can still be a problem, running up against people's expectations or powerful people's needs. Of course "Chinese-type Empire without massive patriarchy" is a HUGE fantasy, but hey, I figure we're allowed to have some fantasy in our fantasy, y'know?
Servant Mage is one of my faves, may be extra relevant right now, I should re-read. It's almost unique in the genre in being about Sam, not Aragorn, if you know what I mean.
non-spoilery comment
One thing I *really* appreciate about the world-building is that the look & feel of the Empire is clearly based on Imperial China, not medievelesque Europe. We've moved into a different set of tropes. The Nameless Land is more "European", and thus more barbaric.
The gender & trans stuff is handled so well, the way it's not a problem except when it can still be a problem, running up against people's expectations or powerful people's needs. Of course "Chinese-type Empire without massive patriarchy" is a HUGE fantasy, but hey, I figure we're allowed to have some fantasy in our fantasy, y'know?
Servant Mage is one of my faves, may be extra relevant right now, I should re-read. It's almost unique in the genre in being about Sam, not Aragorn, if you know what I mean.