Raven of the Inner Palace

Hmmmmm. I felt like I at least partly found what I was looking for in Raven of the Inner Palace, though the anime ends very abruptly (and rather unsatisfyingly). 

It's from a Japanese light novel series (completed, though the anime doesn't cover it all), though it's set in an alternate world historical Chinese universe. The mythology behind it is unique and the art style has a gloriousness to it. It isn't your typical story, which is likely what made me binge it all in a short amount of time.

Anyway, the Raven Consort is a 16 year old girl and while she is ostensibly part of the Emperor's harem, she stands apart from the other consorts. She does not have nighttime duties, for one, and she is the one you go to with requests...occultish ones. Her strange powers come from a raven-ish goddess and she was chosen when she was only 6 to be the successor of the latest Raven Consort.

She's also one of the only surviving members of the old ruling family clan -- they all had silver hair, as does she, though she dyes it to hide. I thought more would be made of that in the anime, but even when her secret is discovered (like, immediately) by the emperor, it really wasn't a big deal and he even mid-way through repeals the edict that put a price on her head.

This at first appears like it is going to be a romance, but it really isn't. It is more a story about freedom and truth, friendship and loyalty. There's definitely a found family aspect to it as well. 

I'm not actually going to rehash it any more than that because, while it is only 13 episodes, to really explain it would take ages. Suffice it to say that the world building is interesting and well done, though I definitely get the feeling that they had to leave large swaths out. The art is well done, the characters are well drawn and well rounded. I enjoyed it, though the ending of the anime really leaves you hanging. 

I did look up what the ending of the manga is and, while I think it would also prove ultimately unsatisfying in some ways, it is a logical conclusion. I'm glad I watched it. I am not likely to re-watch, however, as it has that feeling of 98% complete-ness to it, leaving you unsettled and unsatisfied.