I KNOW, I loved Young Empress and Spy Dude!!! And her original husband. It was the surprise racism once Fake European Dude showed up that ruined the books for me (not saying you're wrong to love them!) because...it was just, my sister and I were SO happy to find a fantasy series with Fantasy Asian characters, and then with the racist bits we felt kind of kicked in the stomach. But I really did love Mara.