a few things about katsa/po, The Romance

• po is not white. he is a male lead character of color, and he also becomes a disabled lead character of color
  
• katsa is a gnc woman
• the book remembers that katsa has been used and abused by men her whole life and makes that a huge important point when the characters begin to discuss romance. this is actually the biggest sticking point and “romantic drama” the book ever has. po not only understands this but is actively careful not to overstep any boundaries with her (”he pressed nothing upon her, not even his gaze”) and works with her to find a way to deal with his grace not just in a romantic context but in an everyday one as well.
• the book prioritizes katsa’s mental health and freedom over romance
• the book knows that both characters’ feelings are important and should be understood
• the book understands that the arrangement the characters make wrt their romance is not, in fact, necessarily an easy one for either of them – but it is still the right one. it establishes honesty and communication as crucial to maintaining either a friendship or a romance and brings this around again in the sequel eight years later.
• and what’s REALLY IMPORTANT ALSO is that the book does all of this and still gives them a happy, sound, loving, lasting relationship