Strike the Zither

The mix of real history and myth felt seamless but intricate. I wonder what inspired the balance between the two and how much research went into the historical aspects.

The story layered court politics with character development beautifully, but I was surprised by how much tension there was in the background. Was this a conscious choice to mirror the personal conflicts?

The perspective added emotional depth and nuance, but I’m curious whether this was driven by the author’s interest or a desire to highlight overlooked voices in history.