a lot of people don't like nezha, but i'm not one of them. he was one of the characters that was very hard to read. but despite that, like rin, i have a soft spot for him. for idk what reason. but after reading the trilogy and this novella, i started thinking about the characters more. and i've come to the conclusion that maybe the reason why i don't like nezha is because i see myself in him.

he's also just like any other characters in the book. i don't like what he's doing but i get it. and this book solidified it. they all had the same goal— to save Nikan. he just had a different way of doing so. because that's what he was taught.

overall, i really enjoyed this pov of nezha. and my heart breaks for him.

do not !!! underestimate the trigger warnings !!!!

genuinely want to read the first half again just to feel happy again. enjoyed reading this, it only took me a few days to finish it. hell, i finished the first half in just one day.

the book was so dark and traumatizing, i started dreaming of it. and i like how political it is. it made me reflect on my country. it made me think of the war right now and the wars in the past. the countries that were affected.

rin is right— war doesn’t determine who’s right. war determines who remains.

ps. i'm going to be honest, i did not connect with altan that much. 🥲 he really just made me angry.

can't even think of a proper review. all i can do now is just feel. my heart feels so heavy. i feel betrayed.

i enjoyed the book so much i had a hard time putting it down as well. got really attached to the characters despite telling myself not to (bc i read babel and i cried).

i wish i could read this for the first time again.

ps. i still didn't connect with altan. the way he was mentioned again and again in the book just annoyed me. i'm glad rin finally woke up and stopped thinking about him already.