Rin, what happened to you, my dear? Seriously though, it was a good read. Nevertheless, it remains a rather pale historical retelling, almost devoid of nuance (the Sino-Japanese conflict of the 20th century). A certain lack of development makes the world and its history far too superficial for my taste, and an imbalance arises automatically due to the author's chosen perspective (in addition to the sometimes uneven pacing). On the other hand, the cultural influences are one of the book's most interesting features in my opinion (references to Sun Tzu, Taoism, and Chinese mythology), as is its moral complexity: a profound reflection on the cycle of hatred and violence, the weight of power and victory, and human nature.