The Tiger's Watch by Julia Ember
*I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Synopsis (from Goodreads)
Sixteen-year-old Tashi has spent their life training as a inhabitor, a soldier who spies and kills using a bonded animal. When the capital falls after a brutal siege, Tashi flees to a remote monastery to hide. But the invading army turns the monastery into a hospital, and Tashi catches the eye of Xian, the regiment’s fearless young commander. Tashi spies on Xian’s every move. In front of his men, Xian seems dangerous, even sadistic, but Tashi discovers a more vulnerable side of the enemy commander—a side that draws them to Xian.
When their spying unveils that everything they’ve been taught is a lie, Tashi faces an impossible choice: save their country or the boy they’re growing to love. Though Tashi grapples with their decision, their volatile bonded tiger doesn't question her allegiances. Katala slaughters Xian’s soldiers, leading the enemy to hunt her. But an inhabitor’s bond to their animal is for life—if Katala dies, so will Tashi.
*I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Synopsis (from Goodreads)
Sixteen-year-old Tashi has spent their life training as a inhabitor, a soldier who spies and kills using a bonded animal. When the capital falls after a brutal siege, Tashi flees to a remote monastery to hide. But the invading army turns the monastery into a hospital, and Tashi catches the eye of Xian, the regiment’s fearless young commander. Tashi spies on Xian’s every move. In front of his men, Xian seems dangerous, even sadistic, but Tashi discovers a more vulnerable side of the enemy commander—a side that draws them to Xian.
When their spying unveils that everything they’ve been taught is a lie, Tashi faces an impossible choice: save their country or the boy they’re growing to love. Though Tashi grapples with their decision, their volatile bonded tiger doesn't question her allegiances. Katala slaughters Xian’s soldiers, leading the enemy to hunt her. But an inhabitor’s bond to their animal is for life—if Katala dies, so will Tashi.
ReviewThis book wasn't my favorite. There were things I liked, but the few things I didn't like made it so I didn't enjoy the book as a whole.
What I liked most about this story was the setting, the magic, and the overarching plot. The setting reminded me of Tibet/the Himalayas and Buddhist monasteries tucked high in the mountains. The book opens in the middle of a war, with the main character fleeing their city. We immediately are given background about the conflict, which helps set the stage for the later turns in the plot. When the story finally got to the deeper plot, involving the history of the land and the magic, I found that much more interesting. I preferred it to the “invaders have come to the monastery and Tashi needs to spy on them” one.
I loved the idea for the magic, of bonding with an animal! I think it would be so amazing to have a tiger by my side! I wish this bond with the animal had been explored more. Tashi shuts Katala out for much of the book. I wish we had seen more of this magic in action, and seen the boundaries of this magic stretched and explored. For me, it was a major selling point of the book, but I felt like it took a backseat in the actual story.
What I didn’t like was the main character, Tashi. They are always scared and spineless and totally unloyal. Also, their attraction to Xian is creepy. Xian is manipulative and sadistic and it seems like all it takes is one look for Tashi to just abandon everything and go for him, even though they love someone else. Unfortunately, those two things—Tashi’s weaknesses and their twisted attraction—took up most the story. I wanted Tashi to fight more, to overcome and be stronger. I also wanted to know and feel more of their bond with Katala.
Tashi is biologically male but non binary in their gender, however the repeated pointing out of their preferred pronouns started being distracting from the story. It started feeling more like something that was included just to be different/diverse, since it wasn’t really explored further. I would have liked to know more about them being non binary and struggles they face and how they feel and see themselves in the world. Perhaps the author purposely didn’t explore this more, but as a heteronormative cis woman, it would have been interesting to see more into a view so very different than my own experience.
This was really a novella, only 200 pages, and I think the story suffered for it. Many things could have been more detailed and added needed depth to the story and characters. As a whole, this book wasn’t really for me.
Rating
I give this book 2 stars
Details
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Language: Mild
Sex: Implied but not graphic
Violence: Some violence
What I liked most about this story was the setting, the magic, and the overarching plot. The setting reminded me of Tibet/the Himalayas and Buddhist monasteries tucked high in the mountains. The book opens in the middle of a war, with the main character fleeing their city. We immediately are given background about the conflict, which helps set the stage for the later turns in the plot. When the story finally got to the deeper plot, involving the history of the land and the magic, I found that much more interesting. I preferred it to the “invaders have come to the monastery and Tashi needs to spy on them” one.
I loved the idea for the magic, of bonding with an animal! I think it would be so amazing to have a tiger by my side! I wish this bond with the animal had been explored more. Tashi shuts Katala out for much of the book. I wish we had seen more of this magic in action, and seen the boundaries of this magic stretched and explored. For me, it was a major selling point of the book, but I felt like it took a backseat in the actual story.
What I didn’t like was the main character, Tashi. They are always scared and spineless and totally unloyal. Also, their attraction to Xian is creepy. Xian is manipulative and sadistic and it seems like all it takes is one look for Tashi to just abandon everything and go for him, even though they love someone else. Unfortunately, those two things—Tashi’s weaknesses and their twisted attraction—took up most the story. I wanted Tashi to fight more, to overcome and be stronger. I also wanted to know and feel more of their bond with Katala.
Tashi is biologically male but non binary in their gender, however the repeated pointing out of their preferred pronouns started being distracting from the story. It started feeling more like something that was included just to be different/diverse, since it wasn’t really explored further. I would have liked to know more about them being non binary and struggles they face and how they feel and see themselves in the world. Perhaps the author purposely didn’t explore this more, but as a heteronormative cis woman, it would have been interesting to see more into a view so very different than my own experience.
This was really a novella, only 200 pages, and I think the story suffered for it. Many things could have been more detailed and added needed depth to the story and characters. As a whole, this book wasn’t really for me.
Rating
I give this book 2 stars
Details
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Language: Mild
Sex: Implied but not graphic
Violence: Some violence
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