Hugely ambitious epic fantasy set in an alt-universe China. Starts out light and familiar for fantasy (smart plucky girl goes to magic school) but then makes a abrupt left turn into a war novel that is unrelentingly violent and grim. Uneven pacing, thin supporting cast, protagonist makes baffling decisions, and very hard to read in the last third. I was impressed with the ambition but conflicted about the craft. The author is very young and this is her first novel. I'll give #2 a chance.