The book is set in the Shima Imperium, an island nation based on a steampunk, Shogun-era Japan, in which society is dependent upon the harvest of a psychotropic "Blood lotus" flower which poisons the environment in which it is grown.
The book received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its worldbuilding and inclusion of East Asian mythology, as well as its environmental themes.
[3] Susan Carpenter of Los Angeles Times wrote that the book was fast-paced and featured rich worldbuilding that built on themes of environmental degradation.
[4] Publishers Weekly praised the book's "innovative setting, fast-moving plot, vivid descriptions, and thrilling action scenes.
"[5] Matt Hilliard of Strange Horizons was more critical, writing that the book relied on established tropes of young adult fiction, and that its story was forgettable in comparison to the setting.