@jonn I listened as an audiobook as part of my work bookclub. I rarely read fiction, maybe one or two a year. Mostly I don't like too much escapism.
But this one just tickled me just right. It was a great feminist interpretation of Milan, with just the right amount of interpersonal drama and historical nerdy accuracy. I also really liked Disney's Mulan as a child, and I think this version felt like the "grown up" equivalent.
It's not deep or particularly symbolic or anything, it was just the right amount of fun at the right time.
I can't speak to the rest of her bibliography, but this felt well researched and like the author wanted to "respect" the traditional source material. In the afterword she says that her publisher suggested (commissioned? Idk how these things work) this one for her. That might explain the difference from her usual style.
