It was pitched as Mulan meets The Song of Achilles, and I was sold. It's not really like The Song of Achilles, though; it's more like a gayer, grittier version of Mulan (it's less emotional/sentimental than The Song of Achilles is, at least it was for me; but also there was a death I think I was supposed to be emotional about and I just wasn't lol I was very happy about it). I loved it. This book is badass. Also, absolutely perfect endings for all the characters. A lot of scenes had me way too excited, and I was never at any point bored. I inhaled this book, which is unique in this particular instance because 2021 was a rough year for reading.