There was much to like but some to dislike in this one for me. It is imaginative to be sure. I wanted to know more about the Feng, the part plant?/tree?, humanoid race to which the main character, Liu Lufeng, belongs. They are certainly an exotic and unique race, as are the others in the story, but it felt like something was missing.
Worldbuilding can be quite difficult, especially creating something totally new. The author has succeeded in crafting a compelling new world and interesting races, however, some of A Palace Near the Wind could have benefited from less exposition. For instance, I found myself rushing past the description of the embroidery. The characters themselves were not developed as much as I would have liked. Granted, this is a novella, but most of the characters felt too one dimensional.
Crazy, right? On one hand I'm asking for more, and with the other I want less. So which is it? I'd challenge you to pick it up and make up your own mind. It is a quick read and the author, Ai Jiang, id wildly talented.
I did finally settle in and began to enjoy this story of family loyalty, subjugation, and rebellion, but then it was over. The ending was abrupt without any closure. It’s hard to say without reading the concluding novella, but I think it would have been better to publish this a a novel. A Palace Near the Wind is the first book of the Natural Engines series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
