What I liked most about this story was the setting, the magic, and the overarching plot.

The setting reminded me of Tibet/the Himalayas and Buddhist monasteries tucked high in the mountains. The book opens in the middle of a war, with the main character fleeing their city. We immediately are given background about the conflict, which helps set the stage for the later turns in the plot. When the story finally got to the deeper plot, involving the history of the land and the magic, I found that much more interesting. I preferred it to the “invaders have come to the monastery and Tashi needs to spy on them” one.

I loved the idea for the magic, of bonding with an animal! I think it would be so amazing to have a tiger by my side! I wish this bond with the animal had been explored more. Tashi shuts Katala out for much of the book. I wish we had seen more of this magic in action, and seen the boundaries of this magic stretched and explored. For me, it was a major selling point of the book, but I felt like it took a backseat in the actual story.

What I didn’t like was the main character, Tashi. They are always scared and spineless and totally unloyal. Also, their attraction to Xian is creepy. Xian is manipulative and sadistic and it seems like all it takes is one look for Tashi to just abandon everything and go for him, even though they love someone else. Unfortunately, those two things—Tashi’s weaknesses and their twisted attraction—took up most the story. I wanted Tashi to fight more, to overcome and be stronger. I also wanted to know and feel more of their bond with Katala.

Tashi is biologically male but non binary in their gender, however the repeated pointing out of their preferred pronouns started being distracting from the story. It started feeling more like something that was included just to be different/diverse, since it wasn’t really explored further. I would have liked to know more about them being non binary and struggles they face and how they feel and see themselves in the world. Perhaps the author purposely didn’t explore this more, but as a heteronormative cis woman, I would have liked to see more into that view so I could understand something very different than my own experience.

This was really a novella, only 200 pages, and I think the story suffered for it. Many things could have been more detailed and added needed depth to the story and characters. As a whole, this book wasn’t really for me.

I’m not quite sure how to feel about this. On one hand, I really enjoyed it. On the other hand though, I did not enjoy the love triangle at all and felt rather confused about the world. The love triangle was so frustrating. I thought I was getting a slow burn with Xian and Tashi, but then then their friend got in the way and they were a thing and I was not a fan. It wasn't what I expected. All around though, i think it was fairly good.

(I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

Tashi and Pharo escape from a seige of the capital city and flee to a monastery, where they are hidden away. Since they are inhabitors and can form bonds with animals (and control their actions), they are wanted by the opposing force. When the opposing force occupies the monastery, Tashi is chosen to be a spy, placing them in a perfect position to help the rebel cause.

Okay, so. I loved the atmosphere of this book and actually reading from the perspective of a genderfluid narrator, so, hooray! That bumped up my review rating, though, because I didn't really like the book otherwise.

I did not really understand why there was a war happening, or what the intention was of bonding with animals in the first place. It seemed like the bonding caused the feelings between the two nations that caused the war, but the purpose of the bonding was to build a strong force of spies. It was all very circular.

This was an easy-to-read book and I was really into while I was reading it. Now that I take a step back, it actually makes very little sense.

I'm officially DNFing this out of frustration. This was a FAILED buddyread with Silv and Rin -links lead to their reviews. All of us DNFed which doesn't seem like a great sign??

➽ The biggest issue here was the worldbuilding. The beginning of this book is incredibly frustrating. We are thrown into the middle of war with Tashi and their friend running away and it's not explained... at all. I think Julia Ember wanted to avoid info-dumping and made up for it by explaining... nothing. That's not a good solution. I can easily ignore info-dumping for two pages if it leads to some fantastic content later, but this... I want to say that I understood nothing about the war. I can't care about something I feel nothing for.

➽ The entire concept and reasoning behind tiger bonding. I wanted the book to focus on this and I expected Tashi and their tiger would be the focus!! And yet... no. I was left misunderstanding the entire concept of tiger bonding and why anyone would want to give up half their lives to bond to an animal. How does it actually advantage Tashi?

➽ This book is also, as should be expected due to the 180-page length, very rushed. Yes, it's a novella, and I've never been a fan of novellas. But I genuinely think Ember should market herself more as a writer of novellas than a writer of books. My expectations might've been adjusted and I think I would've enjoyed this a bit more.

➽ I will say that Tashi, our protagonist, was maybe what I liked most about this. They do have a lot of moments of being slightly idiotic. However, it bothered me way less than it sometimes does. I tend to heavily dislike too-stupid-to-live type characters, which maybe doesn't reflect well on me. But somehow I still really liked them - their occasional naivety feels like a character trait more than authorial convenience, which is a decision I actually like.

➽ The nb rep also seemed pretty good so far!! I'm not nb and can't specifically say whether it's accurate, but it was done in a really casual way that I loved. I didn't feel like Ember was trying to educate, which I love - the whole "let's explain someone's existence" talk that happens in so many books often feels almost out-of-place. It's a part of Tashi's character but also doesn't define them.

➽ Unfortunately, they're also stuck in this incredibly cringey love triangle. It's one of those love triangles where there's a bad boy and a good boy. And as is usual for these love triangles, you know who they're meant to end up with from they're beginning. Thankfully, it looks like Tashi is going to end up with the best friend instead of the evil commander - that's definitely my preference in this type of love triangle. My question, then, is why does evil commander have to exist?

I was just ranting about this trope yesterday . Y'all have got to learn the difference between morally ambiguous love interests and love interests who read like they're on the verge of physically abusing their partners for 90% of the book. Xian is terrifying. His relationship with Tashi is one of the most cringeworthy and creepy things I've read this year.

And as I mentioned above, even ignoring the "this-isn't-enemies-to-lovers-it's-just-creepy" thing, this relationship felt totally rushed. If they hadn't gotten together in this book and the tension had been drawn out until halfway book two, this could've led to some delicious tension. But Tashi gets together with Xian really quickly. And of course, you can also tell that Tashi is going to end up with their best friend anyway. What's the point? It's written in this way like it's meant to be somewhat creepy but also... sexy?? And I'm not feeling it at all.

VERDICT: Maybe the second half is better, but honestly, I'm not sure I want to find out. If you can get past the terrible romance and the confusing plot, Tashi's character is fun and the possibility of a well-done friends-to-lovers trope is promising!! But for now, not so much.

I truly enjoyed Julia Ember's new book! After reading "Seafarer's Kiss" I really wanted to read her next new series too! The Asian inspired scenery, Xian and the action kept me through this new gem of a book!

I've wanted to read Julia Ember's books for a while now and then I got accepted for The Tiger's Watch on NetGalley. I guess it was fate. The book had the perfect length for my flight home from Gran Canaria and I wouldn't have been able to stop anyway.

The Tiger's Watch has everything you could want in a book: Great characters, wonderfully described settings, magic.

I'm normally a bit wary when reading about animal bonds, since I read some weird ones before, but the idea of inhabitors was so intriguingly implemented that I accepted it easily. We learn bits and pieces on the lore and how these bonds between humans and animals are formed without it being an overload of info dumped onto the reader. The characters are fully fledged and well-rounded. There is no one I truly disliked, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the dynamics and relationships are going to develop later on.

So many different sexualities and gender identities are portrayed in this book. I'm very glad that they are all being accepted without the need of any explanation whatsoever. It's my first time reading a book with a genderfluid protagonist and while it is a huge part of Tashi, it is never used as a plot device. We get glimpses of how they are feeling and whenever they are being misgendered, someone points it out and the people are quick to correct themselves and use the correct pronouns.

I can wholeheartedly recommend The Tiger's Watch and I can't wait for book two to come out next year. As soon as I get my hands on my physical copy, I'll probably reread it again.

Fans of Cindy Pon’s Serpentine will devour THE TIGER’S WATCH

Tashi has had a rough life. With the power of an inhabitor, someone who bonds with an animal, they have been trained as solider and a spy. Fleeing a battle, Tashi seeks a hideout at a monastery, but when the enemy decides to use the monastery as a hospital, they are in more danger than ever. Xian, a commander in the enemy army, decides to use Tashi as a helper, putting them in a valuable but possibly deadly situation. And when Tashi sees Xian’s vulnerable side outside of his commanding company, allegiances, truth, and decisions are tested at every turn.

Julia Ember’s THE TIGER’S WATCH is a thrilling fantasy with delightful, unforgettable characters. Tashi is both brave and vulnerable, sure in some areas but completely doubtful in others. Their bond with the tiger makes a touching companionship, and the scenes where Tashi’s inhabitor powers are used will leave your jaw dropping in amazement. The world of the inhabitors was my favorite part, full of bittersweet wonder and magic that leaves your heart aching.

While the story begins and ends with fantastic action, there are a few stretches in the middle that have slower pacing and occasionally drags. However, this does offer a nice opportunity to explore more of Tashi’s internal life, and their narration is memorable and smooth. Ember writes scenes that could cause a fire with the romantic tension and moments where no backside is safe so far on the edge of the seat.

Fans of Cindy Pon’s Serpentine will devour THE TIGER’S WATCH and eagerly await the preorder button for the sequel once they reach the cliffhanger ending.

5 Stars- Magical and Thrilling

This is the first book I've read by Julia Ember and I’m definitely 100% going to be adding her other books on my neverending TBR. The Tiger’s Watch is a fantastic thrilling story that features a genderfluid protagonist (Woohoo!). From the very beginning until the last page, I was enthralled by Ember’s beautiful writing. The story, the world building, the characters, the magic, the romance, everything… – I LOVE it all.

Ember is an amazing writer and visionary. The world building in this book is unique and imaginative. The idea of inhabitors, a soldier who is able to bond with an animal in order to spy and kill, is creative and fascinating. I definitely loved it when Tashi would connect with their tiger, Katala. I mean how incredible is it to be able to experience two lives at once. To do things you never thought you could. To feel, hear, taste, and see the world through another species. Of course there’ll be limitations and danger, but still… it’s pretty darn awesome! I really enjoyed this part of the book and hope to see it developed some more in the next installment.

I love the characters with all my heart and rooted for each of them. Tashi is not exactly the bravest and for a trained spy/killer, they’re actually quite horrible at it, but they try to be strong and to do good. Pharo can be impulsive and reckless, but he’s also kind and very loyal. Xian is unpredictable and cruel, but there is also a side of him that’s caring and vulnerable. They’re complex, flawed, and awfully frustrating, but it’s difficult not to sympathize with them when they’re just trying to do what they believe is right to protect the people they love.

The romance is subtle and the relationships could have had a bit more development… but the little preview was enough to keep me interested. And yes, there’s definitely some swooning here and there. I enjoyed the slow burn romance between Tashi and Pharo… BUT (and someone tell me I’m not alone in this) I REALLY LIKE Tashi and Xian together… I know I know.. Xian’s despicable and the enemy, but I sort of have a thing for the “bad guy” type… the complicated more than meets the eye villain who ends up being the “good guy.” So, of course I found the love-hate chemistry between Tashi and Xian totally intriguing. (Kind of reminded me of how I felt towards Juliette and Warner from the Shatter Me Series). While Tashi and Xian is my obvious ship, I’m still pretty excited to see how both relationships progress.

The Tiger’s Watch may be short (not even 200 pages), but it's full of intrigue, magic, adventure, and mystery. I love Ember’s vivid storytelling and this wonderful world she’s created. I seriously have so much love for this book and can’t recommend it enough. If you're looking for a quick, fun, and entertaining fantasy novel, then you absolutely have to add this on your TBR... or you know just grab a copy when it comes out. Oh and be prepared to shut the real world off, cause you'll want to finish this in one sitting.

Review will be posted on my blog and social media accounts closer to the release dates. I'll also be posting my review on Amazon and B&N when it's released. All links will be provided.

Having loved The Seafarer’s Kiss I had such high hopes for The Tiger’s Watch and they did not disappoint. The Tiger’s Watch is a compelling plot, paired with animal companions, and great representation. Furthermore, it is a wonderful start to, what I’m sure will be, one of my favorites in diverse fantasy.

Tashi has spent her life honing her skills as an inhabitor – a mixture of spy and soldier who kills and gathers information with the help of a bonded animal. However, the world they know is falling and soon they’re on the run from a burning capital and hiding in a monastery. But if they thought they were in danger before, Tashi gets into even more danger as they catch the attention of Xian, the commander of the enemy army. Finally in a position to gather enemy information and fulfill their training, Tashi learns more about Xian than they ever thought – including his more vulnerable side. And Tashi is going to come up against some hard truths about Xian (and the darkness in his heart), Tashi’s own training, and the future of the country. It will be a decision that will have long lasting consequences, but boils down to saving the country or the boy Tashi loves.

I absolutely loved the representation here. Tashi’s non-binary and Ember says that the series as a whole features bisexual and pansexual characters. It isn’t seen as abnormal for Tashi to express their gender differently and once Tashi correct their pronoun use, the characters respect it. Additionally, Tashi goes through some interesting explorations of their gender in the story – ranging from having to cut their hair, the flexibility of their gender expression. While this was not the main focus of the story, it just demonstrates the ability for fantasy to incorporate diverse characters in a way that is seamless and respectful.

I was so intrigued by the concepts of the inhabitors and still am! Imagine being able to swap minds essentially with a bonded animal, to hunt in their body, and for them to help you. It sounds like a dream come true. It comes with consequences that your life is tied to the animal’s life span, but they say that an inhabitor lives twice the life. And Ember even questions this magical aspect. One of my miniscule quirks relates to this, in that I wanted to know more about this magic and their training. I greatly appreciated that information wasn’t dumped on us about the magic, the world, and the history, but I was just craving a little more – something to dunk my head into this world, immersive, and complex.

Not a personal fan of love triangles, I appreciated that Tashi’s character goes through a really difficult dilemma. Both of the sides, or conflicts, are laid out. Tashi feels like a real person to me – oscillating between both choices and unsure of their decision. And there’s no right answer. Sometimes I had a hard time understanding Tashi and their choices, I didn’t agree with some of them. But that only seems to make Tashi seem more lifelike. We all know the same feelings associated with our own family and friends. Is there truly anyone who we really understand all the time? Speaking of characters, I am beyond excited for the sequel from a different character’s perspective – one that I really loved from this story.

While the ending was abrupt (I thought there would be like five percent more of it), I am so primed for the second book. It’s made me low key sad that I have to wait another year for the next one. This one ends with so many open questions and the entire world seems to be on the precipice of change. I cannot wait to see how the characters and world adapt when they fall off the cliff into the unknown abyss.

Tashi is not the hero of this story. Despite the fact that almost everyone expects them to be. Not Xian, of course, although he also expects things from Tashi that they’re not sure they can give.

Nobody is perfect here. Everyone’s pretty flawed actually. They are behind their own interests and that’s what keeps the plot in motion.

Tashi and Pharo’relationship is… weird. I’m not sure yet if I enjoy how it develops, but let’s see what book two will bring. On the other hand, Tashi and Xian’s flows so evenly I was in awe. Not rushed, not typical, and sometimes strange too but in a good way.

I got so mad at Tashi so many times you’d think I didn’t like them. But I did. Although I think Xian is my favourite so far.

The moral dilemmas that this story brings to discussion are plenty and varied. Especially the one about violence. Tashi doesn’t consider themself as violent, and you might say they’re not, but… Does that make them better than the rest, really?

I’m looking forward to read the next book and see how this goes from here on.

i didn't finish this book and stopped reading at 59%.

so i requested this arc because i found the idea very intriguing. genderfluid MC in a fantasy world (not my place to speak about it, but i think genderfluidness was presented really well)! bounded to the tiger (kind of feels like soulmates but with an animal)! who has to spy on enemy invaders!

sadly, apart from promising idea and great take on Tashi's (the MC) genderfluidness, i found the book severely lacking. i didn't finish it, so i can only speak about 59% i did read.

first and foremost, the world building. there is like none. we're thrown right into the middle of everything and while i don't need authors to spoonfeed me everything, i would like the world to be explained at least a little. well, this didn't happen in the first half of the book. i've read more than 50% and still haven't got a picture. yeah, it might be explained by the lack of MC's knowledge, but there are a lot of other ways to incorporate the WB.

secondly, the romance. the romance here is reeeeally cringy and far-fetched. it's insta-love (lust?) that tries to make you think that it's not, but it is. Ember might've wanted to make this an enemies to lovers trope but she wasn't successful. there's not chemistry between characters, moments like "gasp they wanted to kiss their enemy gasp they felt attraction GASP" feel really weird especially after the MC witnessed said love interest being hostile/sadistic/abusive or else. i won't call it stockholm syndrome but it actually kind of gave me this impression.

and well, i didn't like Tashi to be very honest. they made really weird decisions (like, who decides to "prank" the enemy who's really hostile towards you?? hello?? surviving 101??), they were supposed to be a SPY who were taught a lot, but i didn't see any real SPYING and i've read more than a half of the book? i couldn't connect to Tashi at all and i didn't even want to sympathize with them.

well, my final rating is 4/10.

love spec fic with lgbt characters, sometimes people forget we want to be in these worlds too

I got an arc from netgalley and it was amazing! This book was as great as it's cover. It has fantasy and adventure and action and I absolutely loved this book!

The only comment I make is I wish it was longer or at least the story, the world, and the characters were explained more and there was more detail. It was great, but quick for a fantasy story even though it was a short story.

It was a cover pick for me, I was in love with it way before I even read the blurb. And eventually when I did read the blurb my expectations were really high for this book. It is a fantasy set in asian culture with very diverse characters. More detailed review in video format will be published on 21th of August on the P.S. I love that book blog website as well as youtube channel.

<b>Rating:</b> 4,5 stars!

I'm! Screaming! This was so cool?

The world building was impeccable. Julia Ember's writing immediately hooked me from the start. <i>The Tiger's Watch</i> is obviously a fantasy book, which usually requires a helluva world building and info about how this particular world works, what makes it tick. In this book, this is done extremely well despite its shortness. We never get overwhelmed with information but we're never left confused either.

The plot is also just <i>so</i> cool? The magic involved, and the whole concept of inhabitors, it was so <b>unique and epic</b> and it was awesomely worked out.
And don't even get me started on the characters, holy hell. Each one of them were complex - though not always morally right, you couldn't help but care for them and sympathise - and so well written.

On the last note, I want to talk about our protagonist, Tashi. As probably almost everyone already knows, Tashi is a genderfluid character. I'm not, so I can't say if it's an accurate representation but what I do want to say is that I loved how no one saw Tashi differently or anything in a negative way. When Tashi got referred to with the wrong pronouns, there was always someone to correct the person and from then on, that person would actually use the right ones without any explanation needed and I freaking loved that. Most importantly I think, was that Tashi's genderfluidity <s>(is that an actual word?)</s> did NOT <i>change</i> anything in the story. Because <b>yes, the protagonist is non-binary, so what?</b>

So yes, <i>The Tiger's Watch</i> is DEFINITELY a book you should read if you love a good fantasy book about magic and animals with great characters and a unique world, and hell yes am I looking forward to the sequel.

We follow Tashi, a young inhabitor as they flee from a sudden outbreak of war, leaving their country in ruins. But Tashi and their friend Pharo must hide so that they aren’t caught and found out what they are by the invading army, inhabitor’s possessing a magic that the other country desperately wants. So they hide in among monks as one of the commanders takes a post at that monastery, taking Tashi as a servant. Tashi risks themselves as a very reluctant spy in hopes of finding information that might find out information they can use against them.

Not my best little summary, I admit, but this book is all levels of complicated that I didn’t really stand a chance to describe it without giving away too much or leaving out important elements. I will say of the books I’ve read by Julia Ember, this has to be my favourite one so far. This book has roots in Asian culture and reminds me strangely of Avatar the Last Airbender. Though there’s no bending of elements, the magic in this book and the idea of those who posses it giving up their lives to keep a balance in the world reminds me hands down of Avatar. Fans of the show would probably enjoy this book.

Tashi as a main character is really interesting. Their genderfluid (which made this my first full novel I’ve read with someone genderfluid and I seriously freaked out). They are brave in their own way, but sensitive, which makes some characters look down on them. That doesn’t change the fact their strong. They just aren’t the normal pig headed, rush into danger type of protagonist. They’re one of the few that put themselves and the ones they love first, not just the greater good. They’re forced to make a hard choice, but one that will help some but possibly hurt more. And it’s something they grapple with in a thoughtful manner. If I was in their position, I honestly don’t know what I would have done. It’s also diverse and gives us an interesting cast of characters next to Tashi. Every character is complicated and has a story that is just as gripping and leaves you desperately wanting to know more.

The plot of this book is beautiful. There wasn’t a slow moment in the whole book. You know someone is wrapped up in a story that the sun sets and they don’t notice their reading in the dark until someone points it out to them. Which happened to me with the last half of the book. I was just completely wrapped up in this story. I honestly can’t wait for the second book and need to know what happens. I’ve read good books this year, but not one that wraps me up so completely as this book had without me feeling bored at least in one or two parts of it.

The writing itself was well done. I saw everything clearly in my mind and it was simply beautifully done. The only thing I had a small problem with was the fact a queer character died to advance the plot and the character of Tashi. I don’t know if it can be considered a ‘bury your gays’ situation because its complicated from the start because as soon as we start the book we know this character will die. All of the inhabitors know they will die young. It’s part of the balance I mentioned before.

The world building in this book is well done. The conflict itself is part of what reminds me of Avatar along with the use of magic. I honestly love how much thought went into each place and each of their cultures. It’s been a while since I read a fantasy novel that gives us a world so completely thought out like this. And that just adds to awesome quality of this book.

Do I recommend this? H*ck yes. Go get this book as soon as you can. If you love magic and the feeling that Avatar gave you, pick this up, enjoy it, and come gush with me because I need to gush about this book with you.

The Tiger's Watch was an enjoyable read with an interesting set of characters and intricate world building.

I was excited to receive this ARC as I had heard so many great things about Julia Ember as a writer but hadn't read anything by her yet. I was interested to see the world she has created and how she would portray the bond between the inhabitor and their bonded animal.

There was a lot packed into this book even though it had just 180 pages. Even though the world building is overall well done and interesting, I still found myself confused about certain aspects of the world and plot. There's some aspects that I simply didn't understand and others that I still have lots of questions about. I don't really understand the history of this fantastical setting and feel like if there'd been more on that, it would have been easier to understand. You can tell Julia Ember put a lot of thought into the world building but it seemed almost too complex for a 180 page novel. As this is the first book in a trilogy, I'm hoping we get lots more on that in the sequels.

I think my favourite part of this novel is definitely the bond between inhabitor and animal. I think the way Ember described that bond was wonderful. I don't wanna give much away but I think it's a concept that, even though it's been done before in similar ways, Ember puts her very own touch to.
While there is a little bit of romance in the book and Tashi has interesting relationships with different characters, the relationship they had with their animal and how it was described, was by far my favourite out of all of them.

The main character Tashi is genderfluid and uses they/them pronouns. I can't say much about the representation as I am cisgender.
I liked that Tashi's identity got explained in the first 5% of the book. Even though it takes place in a Fantasy world, which often makes writers not want to use labels and descriptions we use today, it is clearly stated on page that Tashi is non-binary. While there is some misgendering happening in the beginning of the book when Tashi gets introduced to lots of new characters, no one ever misgenders Tashi after they've stated their preferred pronouns. Even confronted with opposing sides, Tashi's identity is respected and never used against them in any way.

Overall I think it is an enjoyable read with a lot of potential. I can definitely see myself continuing this series. I think there is still so much more to explore about the world but also the characters and their relationships.
A video review will be up on on my channel on August 11th!

Sixteen-year-old Tashi has spent their life training as a inhabitor, a soldier who spies and kills using a bonded animal. When the capital falls after a brutal siege, Tashi flees to a remote monastery to hide. But the invading army turns the monastery into a hospital, and Tashi catches the eye of Xian, the regiment’s fearless young commander.

Tashi spies on Xian’s every move. In front of his men, Xian seems dangerous, even sadistic, but Tashi discovers a more vulnerable side of the enemy commander—a side that draws them to Xian.

When their spying unveils that everything they’ve been taught is a lie, Tashi faces an impossible choice: save their country or the boy they’re growing to love. Though Tashi grapples with their decision, their volatile bonded tiger doesn’t question her allegiances. Katala slaughters Xian’s soldiers, leading the enemy to hunt her. But an inhabitor’s bond to their animal is for life—if Katala dies, so will Tashi.

The Tiger’s Watch is a very unique and very interesting book. I have to begin by mentioning the thing that first drew me into the book: It has a genderfluid protagonist. This is, sadly, my first time encountering a genderfluid protagonist in a book; and I was ecstatic when I found out. I loved how the author handled Tashi’s gender identity; how accepting everyone was of it, and how quick they were to correct other characters that used the wrong pronouns. That’s fantasy done right: choosing what is and what is accepted in your world and acting accordingly.

On top of that I felt like Tashi was a very realistic character. Sure, they were not very original – personality wise. They were not the bravest, nor the strongest, they were a bit of the underdog/the chosen one. Nothing that we haven’t seen before in YA fantasy, but it didn’t really bother me, because I could understand Tashi. Their decisions, their thoughts, their fears, their feelings, they all made sense and resonated with me. Did I disagree with some of their decisions? Sure, but I could still see where they were coming from.

I also enjoyed the magical elements of the book, but I wish they were explored a bit more. In fact, a lot more. Perhaps it is because the book is only 180 pages long, but I felt like the world and the magic system were a bit underdeveloped. I would like some additional history on the regions, some extra pieces of information, just so that I can see the entire picture and better understand the characters, their motives, and allegiances. Also, there was a love triangle, one that I found completely unnecessary, but -thankfully- the storyline didn’t focus too much on that.

Overall, The Tiger’s Watch is a fairly enjoyable, albeit short, book and I can’t wait to read its sequel!

**An ARC was provided via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review**

I started this book with 0 expectations, I didn’t know how much of this book would be about gender, how much would be fantasy and how much would be waffle. I am pleased to say that it was just about perfect on all three fronts.

As a cisgender human I am by no means the person to comment on how this book handles a non-binary character. However it felt to me like it was well done. There’s about three instances where people misgender Tashi and people swiftly correct them and the book moves on. It wasn’t the crux of the book, it wasn’t the selling point of the book. It just was.

This is a pretty quick read, I finished it on a train journey that was only a couple of hours. I actually would have liked to have had even more meat to this story as it sort of starts smack bang in the middle of the action. Maybe you could have had more elements at the start to set the scene, or more flashbacks to do so retroactively. But maybe it is a good thing that this book didn’t drag things out. It’s very to the point, characters make choices and the story moves on.

I enjoyed the plot, though at times the love story can feel a teensy bit forced on the whole it is sweet and it is incredibly human, by which I mean that Tashi makes choices that aren’t necessarily in their best interest but they are certainly choices I could see myself making.

If you’re looking for a quick read that at the same time could expand your horizons I can wholeheartedly recommend The Tiger’s Watch. It is definitely a book I will be telling my friends to read. I look forward to reading other reviews and seeing what people think.

My rating: 5/5 stars

By the way, I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.