Rating: 3.5 Stars
Publication: June 11th, 2019
Genre: Fantasy/ Steam Punk
Format: Egalley
Diversity: Asian MC
Summary:
When a powerful viceroy arrives with a fleet of mechanical dragons and stops an attack on Anlei’s village, her people see him as a godsend. They agree to give him their sacred, enchanted River Pearl in exchange for permanent protection and the marriage to one of the village girls to solidify the alliance. Anlei is appalled when the viceroy selects her as a bride, but with the fate of her people at stake, she sees no choice but to consent. Then a young thief steals the River Pearl for himself. Knowing the viceroy won’t protect her village without the jewel, Anlei tracks down the thief and offers to join him on an epic quest across the land and into the Courts of Hell if he promises to return the pearl once his people are set free. The two set off on a dangerous journey that will reveal more is at stake than they could have ever imagined.
My Thoughts:
Anlei has always had a difficult time connecting with the people in her village, but her determination to do anything to protect them was admirable. Shes always wanted to be a warrior like her father so having to marry the viceroy and be an obedient decoration in his palace is one of the worse fates she could ever imagine for herself. I didnt understand why she didnt try harder to figure out how to stop the dark shadows from attacking her village instead of returning to get married. The only reason she discovered the origin of the shadows is because of thiefs intervention which didnt really match her strong and independent personality. I just felt like she gave up too easily. She could have asked the thief to help her, but instead she sent him on his way. I thought her actions when the need for revenge set in was a little dramatic, but she does get some significant character growth.
Anlei and her sister Anshuis acrobatic act was pretty awesome. Anshui was such an intriguing character I would have loved to see more of her and her interactions with Anlei. She's very intelligent and has created all kinds of wonderful mechanical gadgets. As for our theif Tai, I thought he had a mysterious air to him that was very captivating. His complicated and lonely past have made it difficult for him to share his secrets. His unlikely alliance with Anlei leads to a slow burn, almost hate to love, romance. He has this very overconfident and teasing personality that make for some great banter between him and Anlei. He cant take anything too seriously, even the possibilty of his own demise which Anleis dire personality finds infuriating. I also loved the sorceress they meet on their journey and her motherly tendencies toward Tai who hasnt been shown much affection in his life.
This vivid asian inspired world had some compelling steampunk and fantasy elements woven in. The pearls magical properties werent explored as much as I would have liked. I also wish we got to know more about the river dragon the pearl came from. The magic in general was kind of vague. Im not usually one for steampunk, but I thought the mechanical dragons were a fun addition. We get to visit some interesting places like the temple where the sorceress resides and the courts of hell were Tais people are trapped. The contrast between the two places made them more memorable and immersive. I thought the stories about the great warrioress were fantastic and I loved the role the lunar spirits played in this story. I also enjoyed the dark shadow monsters known as the Ligui and the sense of danger they brought to the world.
The fact that we got two epic quests instead of just one created an engaging pace and an entertaining story. Anlei and Tai have to defeat two antagonists and the stakes get higher with each one. Tai wants to free his people from the court of hell while Anlei wants to protect her village from the Ligui. Only together will they stand a chance of achieving their goals. This gave the story a stronger together theme that I really enjoy, but see often in young adult literature. Despite predicting most of the twists and turns I still found them exciting. I liked that the story was all wrapped up in a standalone with a satisfying ending. I do see potential for more books in this world and the authors writing was enjoyable so Id like to see what else she comes out with. I could definitely use some more teasing banter in my life.
*This book was received for an honest review
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