ðə ɹᵻvjˈuː kəntˈɪnjuːz, "ˈɪntɹɪkət ʃˈʌɾəlkˌɑːk dɪplˈoʊməsi, sˌɛɹᵻmˈoʊnɪəl slˈæʃ bˈæɾəl ˈækʃən, fˈæmɪli sˈɑːɡə slˈæʃ ɹoʊmˈæns ˈɔːl pˈɑːlɪʃt tʊ ɐn ˌɛntɚtˈeɪnɪŋ hˈaɪ ɡlˈɔs: ɐ vˌɜːtʃuːˈoʊsoʊ pˈɑːppˌænɚɹˈæmə, wɪð fɹˈɛʃ ˈæŋɡəlz ˈiːvən ɪf juːv ɔːlɹˌɛdi ɹˈɛd ɐ dˈʌzən ˈʌðɚ tʃˈaɪnəhˈɪstɚɹi nˈɑːvəlz".
The review continues, "Intricate shuttlecock diplomacy, ceremonial/battle action, family saga/romance--all polished to an entertaining high gloss: a virtuoso pop-panorama, with fresh angles even if you've already read a dozen other China-history novels".