I have not read the other installments of Sue Lynn Tan's Celestial Kingdom series, but this one seemed to stand alone well enough. I didn't feel like I was missing out on any knowledge that I needed to appreciate the story. This was a solid 4 star read for me. Was it perfect? No, but it was enjoyable. I liked Liyen a lot as a main character. She was flawed, but she recognized her flaws and tried to do the best she could for her people despite them. At first glance, this is an enemies to lovers book (though, it is very fade to black), but there are some intricacies to that trope that you might not expect. I liked the twist, and I definitely didn't see it coming, though it does happen fairly early in relation to the book's end. The setting is really lush and beautiful, and Tan's writing feels very transportative. It definitely felt like I was in a fairytale while reading this. There's lots of political intrigue here, so if you like your fantasy with a side of political machinations, then this one is a solid pick for you. Overall, very enjoyable reading experience.