I can easily see myself rereading this series just to enjoy the writing, which is absolutely stunning. And then there are the themes. On top of everything the author started to explore in A Memory Called Empire, this book heavily deals with "othering", and what it takes for the other to be seen as something deserving of life and respect. 

There keeps being this conversation in online spaces about colonizer romances in books, and how bad they are, and as is usually the case, the conversation lacks all nuance. The romances in this duology are fascinating examples of what a story can do with a colonizer romance. I loved loved loved the constant tension between Mahit and Three Seagrass. Mahit understandably struggles with her role in the universe after everything that has happened, as well as the constant push and pull from loving Teixcalaan to recognizing that Teixcalaan is out to colonize the entire universe and thinks everyone outside of the Empire is a barbarian (Mahit included). Reconciling the two things proves to be extremely difficult, and it doesn't help that Three Seagrass fails to see her fully: just a clever barbarian, without considering all the layers to their dynamic, and how much Mahit actually has control over.

Much like the first book, there are a lot of complicated political machinations, but now there are also aliens, and they are fascinating. Exploring them alongside the characters made for a compelling read. I loved all the new POVs the author gave us, and the new characters. Twenty Cicada has to be my favourite, though—he was different from other Teixcalaanli, including following some type of religion, and I almost wish that we could get a book that explores other parts of the Empire than what we've seen so far.