Science fiction critic Gary K. Wolfe stated that the book "more directly addresses complex questions of colonialism and the fraught negotiations needed to keep an independent nation from being overwhelmed by more powerful neighbors."[1] Other reviewers noted the presence of themes such as power dynamics in personal relationships, as well as female and queer representation.[2][3]
In an interview, de Bordard stated that the book was inspired by the tradition of Vietnamese and Chinese court dramas.[4] In an other interview, she stated that:
Fireheart Tiger is a romantic sapphic fantasy, but first and foremost I wanted to write about a character who learns to break free from abusive relationships, and I wanted to have that plot line set side by side with a larger mirroring one about colonisation and unequal relationships, as exemplified by Thanh’s own country of Bình Hải and their relationship with the much more powerful Ephteria. I’m not saying colonisation is abuse (it’s a little more complicated than that, and I don’t want to diminish either by equating them), but I’m deliberately setting up thematic parallels in the micro and macro narrative.[5]
Reception
Writing for Locus magazine, Liz Bourke described the book as "gorgeous and moving, with a sense of scale and an intimate, personal engagement with compelling characters," and added that it "is a worthy addition to de Bodard’s body of work."[6] For Tor.com, Maya Gittelman stated that it was "a lush, sharp, and evocative novella. It’s a quick read that brims with aching beauty, intricate emotion, and surprising twists of magic."[7]
The Mary Sue listed the book as one of its 15 most anticipated diverse SFF releases for 2021.[8]
