A beautiful story, beautifully told. Settings, cultures and characters all described with richness and detail. Every time the plot risked being predictable, I was proven wrong. I loved learning so much about a part of the world I had no real knowledge of, and how clashing cultures and warfare impact families and communities for generations. In this case, back through multiple previous lives. The way eastern philosophies and martial arts weave among the characters and societies is fascinating, and seamless. Touching, compassionate, sometimes brutal, but always heartfelt and beautifully written.