Expecting people with powers to fight for their homeland? You got it. Expecting a teen with better than average fighting prowess meet their greatest challenge yet? Yup. Expecting jabs at patriarchy? That too! All of which are great and what you can expect from this universe and M.L. Wang. However the truly compelling party’s of this story comes in the times between the fights. The questioning of one’s own personal conviction, the reflection of decade old mistakes, and the building of a very politically bound world and culture. There’s a sense of belonging and purpose this story makes you feel and question that I don’t think I’ve felt as strongly from many stories in this genre. Would recommend.