given how much people raved about this online, and how much seemed to focus on the romance, i am unsure what i was expecting. the history-bending and time travel elements were fantastic, and as another south-east asian diaspora descendent, it's wonderful seeing representation. i think there was just something missing from the book, even though im not sure what. the in-period writing was a bit weak, compartively, and the ending was flat compared to the strength of the first 2 thirds