A very short story that's nonetheless very enjoyable. Chih is a cleric who records historical events. Their main subject now is the exile home of a previous empress and her story as told by her attendant, Rabbit.

The book takes a show don't tell approach to it's worldbulding and to a certain extent to it's characters as well. There is nothing much said about Chih and their calling, they are just the device for Rabbit to tell her story. Her POV, while unique and interesting for Chih, is limiting to the reader. You are left to assume the greater picture from snippets in her tale, while she focuses on the more intimate details of the empress's life.

I personally like this type of book a lot so I enjoyed this and felt like it delivered everything it wanted to. It told a complete story and finished Rabbit's arc in a satisfying way. While some of the things I talked about could be a weakness in a longer book, because this was so short there was no time for any proper cracks to show. I think it was the perfect length.

I do wish Chih was more explored as a character. On the other hand, they fulfill the role of a historian perfectly, there to record and not to steal the scene.