Matcha & Motifs Book Review 4/5

After a year of peace on the Moon, the growing unrest in the Celestial Empire makes its way to the front steps of Xingyin’s home, forcing her to embark on another journey to end a war and save her home. 

***CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!***

Plot 

Oh, I so adore this series. I think I like this book more than the first one. I like how this story has many alluding details that are actually very important to the plot. For instance, the concept that many immortals have powers even if it doesn’t manifest in the typical way is relevant when we discover the Moon Goddess’s powers. She can’t manipulate the elements, however, her tears can grow the laurels which have regenerative powers. I think this book feels more cohesive because everything connects. 

I kind of have a qualm with the fact that Xingyin gets her dad back, and don’t get me wrong, I’m not a hater for being a hater’s sake. I’m just trying to understand this through a more critical lens. I think that ship has sailed, and it feels so gimmicky that her parents reunite when she feels like she’s lost both of her great loves. BUTTTTTTT here are my ideas as to why it’s important her dad comes back. 

This is gonna be a bit of an analysis, so buckle up.  

First, the character introduction contains important plot and world building aspects. It teaches us that her dad, Houyi, was originally immortal and was tricked to descend into the mortal realm to save the mortals. He loses all his memories, but he retained his innate nature of helping people. Then, we learn that the elixir that was gifted to him would restore his memories and his immortal powers. This entire backstory is important because it’s essentially what’s going to happen to Wenzhi. Hence, my point that this book feels more cohesive. 

Also, we’ve faced a moment in the story where Xingyin believes love is full of grief and agony. She feels jaded and almost loses hope in romantic love. It is at this moment that her dad’s existence, restoration, and union with her mother teaches her that love can prevail and more importantly, is worth the heartache and hardships. Her parent’s tale is one that is widely known by the celestials and mortals, so seeing that this image of longing and love can have a happy ending shows Xingyin that happiness in love does exist. 

In conclusion, Xingyin doesn’t get her father back because she’s the main character and she gets everything she wants, but because it’s part of the bigger story. Also, I want to mention that when she told Liwei and Wenzhi separately that her father was alive, Wenzhi believed her instantly. That says a lot. If you can’t tell by now, I am 100% Team Wenzhi. 

A note on the plot: I think this book makes a wonderful sequel. There is enough inconclusiveness in the first book that warranted a second. I like that although this one feels like a continuation, it also feels like its own season. Xingyin is forced to flee her home again due to the troubles rising in the Celestial Empire. There is a power shift to General Wu, someone who has always had it out for her, and now with his history intertwined with hers becomes the new reign of power. He uses the laurel seed to build an army of the dead, Xingyin is thrown on an adventure to protect the people she loves and restore her home. I think I like this one more because we focus on one big villian and one big problem that is intricately rooted in history. While we combat the main villain, there are shaky alliances built with the Empress and rekindling of love. Overall, it feels more complete, and each phase of her journey was enjoyable. When they stayed at the Eastern Sea and buried Ping’er, when she saved her father, when she faced the Sun Goddess, Wenzhi and her ruse to marry in order to obtain an important artifact. All of these aspects made for a wonderful adventure with the help of friends and family. 

However, I didn’t like how the story wraps up too conveniently. I didn’t like that Wenzhi’s kingdom was on the brink of disaster when his dad and brother died, and then technically he died too, but somehow Wenzhi’s mother was able to step up to be the queen??? How is that even allowed? It doesn’t make sense, especially because this empire believed in having multiple wives. I felt like this was too easy of a clean up. FURTHERMORE, the great Celestial Emperor just steps down??? Mr. Evil-Show-No-Mercy? Mr. Lighting-powers? He just steps down after every cruel powerful thing he’s done? Maybe he was too embarrassed after being duped but still. Oh and don’t even get me started on our evil Celestial Empress. I don’t know why I hate her more than the emperor, but she has such typical crazy mother-in-law energy that it pairs so well with the story and makes her more annoying. And yet, she decides to go to battle and dies? I’m surprised she even decided to fight. These huge powerful pillars that caused such a problem in the first book felt to have broken down too conveniently in the second. Maybe the author was trying to highlight the changes our main character made? Maybe this is what war does? I don’t know, what do you guys think? 

Character 

I thought that Xingyin stealing the elixir of immortality from the King felt very out of character. For the longest, Xingyin has used her cleverness and skills to overcome challenges and obtain what she wanted. Is this a nod towards the “human-ness” of her character? That when push comes to shove, she might use unsavory methods to get what she wants. Her father was dying so we had limited time and the stakes were heightened. Her ambition is something that rivals Wenzhi. If she were to grow up in an environment of competition and distrust, would she have turned out just like him? This might be a nod towards their likeness and connection. I enjoy the parallel of their characters.

At the end of the book, we see Xingyin battle with grief, and I think this was something so profound. Even as an immortal, death is a possibility. I think it strengthens our main character and teaches her to find herself amongst the grief. To find life and laughter again. To find what she’s still fighting for. I feel that this book did a great job of deepening her character. She’s come such a long way and it feels gratifying to have experienced her trials and tribulations with her. 

Romance 

What’s crazy is that at the end of book one, I was definitely leaning towards Prince Liwei, but I think it was in the moment that Wenzhi died (just like Xingyin) that I realized no, we are not deciding which man wins based on default of who’s alive. And it was at this moment that I realized, I like Wenzhi way more. 

It’s his willingness to keep trying and showing up for her. He is so persistent and I love me a persistent man. It’s his actions, they speak way louder, but also the words he says pulls at my heartstrings way more. I 100% understand the broken trust and hesitation from Xingyin, but he is willing to walk away from his throne after spending his entire life to become heir to the throne. He’s willing to let it all go for a life of exploration and travel with Xingyin. He was willing to meet the Sun Goddess in the stead of Xingyin. I feel that his love goes way deeper than Liwei. 

The complicated past between Xingyin and Liwei is so romantic. If they were able to overcome their differences and family issues and form a union despite everything, that would be love. However, the bottom line is that Liwei has a duty to the crown and he won’t give that up. There is no way that Xingyin would’ve been happy living a life in the palace, being a part of the court. So, even though Liwei loves her and was willing to love her even with her divided heart, she wouldn’t have been happy. But regardless, this broke my heart too, watching her severed their connection. I knew it wasn’t him when she took her magic energy back from his crystal teardrop tassel. Even though I’ve made my decision, it still hurts. 

I have never ever in my entirety of any manga, anime, movies, books (AND I LOVE ROMANCE) been so thoroughly torn between the two male leads. At one point I was jokingly thinking, why can’t she have both, and I came to the sad scary realization, what if she ends up with no one??? The way they loved her, and cared for her and protected her. Oh to be Xingyin.

Although, I enjoyed the show of Wenzhi dying, leaving us readers and Xingyin in shambles, then magically allowing his restoration was so good. I was so happy. Plus the fact that Liwei is now Celestial Emporer had the powers to restore him and did because he loves and wants Xingyin to be happy, omg, my heart! This was so emotional and beautiful. 

I enjoyed this read, especially the romance. I’m looking forward to more of Tan’s writing and I’m hoping that there are new complexities to explore. Tan’s newest book Immortal will be going on my TBR list and I’m curious to see how she grows as a writer. Let me know if you’ve read this series and what your thoughts are.