May Freighter

When I saw that this book was inspired by the manga/manhua/manhwa with the isakei'd theme I was ecstatic. I had not seen a novel have this sort of theme attached. Mostly seen in Asian comics but never tried out in American novels. So, this was exciting to see.

Our female lead has died in her real life and has been reincarnated into a character from her favorite novel, The Cruel Kingdom. Her character, a young princess named Emilia also known as the Cursed Princess, was destined to share the same fate as her own family, but with her knowledge of the novel's plot, she uses it to her advantage - gather her own network of people and offer the information on her family to the one destined to kill them - Thessian, Duke of Darkgate.

As she navigates through this novel, she must use her knowledge of the book's details in order to continue widening her alliance while making good on her promise to make Thessian the future king of Hellion.

But as she uses the storyline to her advantage, things are starting to change in the novel, characters never mentioned have begun to appear and the novel's story is beginning to change altogether.

It is finally nice to find a strong female character in the fantasy genre. It is essential for diversifying and enriching the stories and characters in the genre. It helps break gender stereotypes and encourages inclusivity, ultimately leading to a more significant and engaged audience.

It is true that strong female leads are not always found in the Isakei realm. More often than not, they are relegated to supporting roles or are portrayed as heartless villains that need to be vanquished.

However, Emilia is an exception to this rule. She defies the stereotypical portrayal of female characters in this genre. Instead of being a passive participant in her own story, she is an active character who takes charge of her own destiny.

In addition, while romance does play a significant role in the Isakei genre, it is refreshing to see that it is not the only driving force in Emilia's story. Her character development is not solely focused on her relationship with the male lead, but rather, on her experiences and growth as an individual.

Regarding the assumption that romance may begin to appear in the second novel, it is entirely possible. However, it is also essential to note that the Isakei genre is not solely focused on romantic relationships. Therefore, it would be interesting to see how the author chooses to develop Emilia's story in future installments.

Final Thought:

To finally have Isakei coming into American fantasy novels is wonderful to see. I hope that this book will encourage other American writers to dip their toes into this particular genre. I would love to see it grow.… (mer)

**** SPOILER ALERT ****
"Case 0" is my introduction to Freighter's work.
I was drawn into the author's universe within just a few pages.
I enjoyed my visit there and look forward to reading more of Anna;ise's future adventures.
The author did a good job of world building.
Will Annalise succeed in her chosen career of law enforcement despite the interference from her politician father?
Well, grab a copy of the book for yourself and find out...
In the interest of transparency: I was given a copy of this book. This is my own honest opinion.… (mer)