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fishgirl182's review
4.0
Ai Ling comes from a pretty traditional family and is on her way to becoming betrothed. However, it seems like the old rumors of her father's exile from the Palace haven't died, and her family is unable to find her a match. Her father is then summoned back to the Palace but, when he doesn't return and an associate tries to blackmail Ai Ling into marriage, she flees the city to bring him back.
On her journey she encounters Chen Yong, a young man of mixed heritage who is also searching for his own answers as well as a whole slew of demons, witches and other mythical creatures all intent on stopping Ai Ling. Luckily for her, her father gives her a jade pendant before he leaves that has mythical properties that protect her and it saves her on more than one occasion. Ai Ling is also coming into powers of her own that she must learn to use.
I have to admit that I didn't really know what to expect when I picked up this book. I found it by way of a blog post about diversity in young adult lit (sorry but the source escapes me now) and picked it up on the basis of some positive reviews and a beautiful cover (more on that later).
It took me awhile to get really get into this book. I liked the idea of the story but the writing felt a bit formal and I had a hard time getting into the characters and story. Eventually I did though and I found myself really rooting for Ai Ling and her companions. I would have liked to have learned more about Silver Phoenix. We get a little bit of information on her but not much. I also want to learn more about the origins of Ai Ling's powers and what they mean.
The descriptions of the demons and creatures was great. I don't know which ones are actual myths but Pon writes them so it doesn't matter. All of them seem like they could have come out of an ancient text. Some people have said that the ending was too abrupt but I liked that it was left open ended and that everything didn't wrap up the way you expected it to. Pon's debut novel has laid a solid foundation for Ai Ling's world and I am looking forward to continuing her journey in the sequel, Fury of the Silver Phoenix.
On her journey she encounters Chen Yong, a young man of mixed heritage who is also searching for his own answers as well as a whole slew of demons, witches and other mythical creatures all intent on stopping Ai Ling. Luckily for her, her father gives her a jade pendant before he leaves that has mythical properties that protect her and it saves her on more than one occasion. Ai Ling is also coming into powers of her own that she must learn to use.
I have to admit that I didn't really know what to expect when I picked up this book. I found it by way of a blog post about diversity in young adult lit (sorry but the source escapes me now) and picked it up on the basis of some positive reviews and a beautiful cover (more on that later).
It took me awhile to get really get into this book. I liked the idea of the story but the writing felt a bit formal and I had a hard time getting into the characters and story. Eventually I did though and I found myself really rooting for Ai Ling and her companions. I would have liked to have learned more about Silver Phoenix. We get a little bit of information on her but not much. I also want to learn more about the origins of Ai Ling's powers and what they mean.
The descriptions of the demons and creatures was great. I don't know which ones are actual myths but Pon writes them so it doesn't matter. All of them seem like they could have come out of an ancient text. Some people have said that the ending was too abrupt but I liked that it was left open ended and that everything didn't wrap up the way you expected it to. Pon's debut novel has laid a solid foundation for Ai Ling's world and I am looking forward to continuing her journey in the sequel, Fury of the Silver Phoenix.
jesshaleth's review against another edition
2.0
I feel a bit bad giving this two stars, because it wasn't that I didn't enjoy it. I enjoyed it in the same way I enjoyed the films Clash of the Titans and Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. Those were terrible films, but entertaining nonetheless - nice scenery, had swords in.
This book too - had lovely scenery, it was nice to see a classically Chinese fantasy. Had some good monsters.
However, the plot...I mean, I think it did HAVE one...but it was difficult to tell. I'll admit, there were a few events I wasn't expecting, but I just wasn't invested enough in the characters to really mind what happened. They didn't feel like real people to me, just stock archetypes with generic reactions and responses.
I didn't hate it by a long shot, but I think if I was busier I might not have bothered to finish it.
This book too - had lovely scenery, it was nice to see a classically Chinese fantasy. Had some good monsters.
However, the plot...I mean, I think it did HAVE one...but it was difficult to tell. I'll admit, there were a few events I wasn't expecting, but I just wasn't invested enough in the characters to really mind what happened. They didn't feel like real people to me, just stock archetypes with generic reactions and responses.
I didn't hate it by a long shot, but I think if I was busier I might not have bothered to finish it.
pussinbooks's review
4.0
Silver Phoenix is about Ai Ling, a girl with the power to wrap her spirit around those of others and hear their thoughts, who runs away from home to avoid betrothal to a lecherous old man and to seek her father who has been summoned to the emperor's palace. Along the way she befriends the reserved Chen Yong after a near death experience. Though Ai Ling meets more foes than friends, she and Chen Yong make it to the palace safely, only to find an evil that has been awaiting their arrival for hundreds of years.
Cindy Pon creates a a world far different from the typical medieval england-esque fantasy setting seen in so many novels. It is a world of three-headed goddesses, monsters in the form of beautiful women, and races and tribes of her own creation, i.e. definitely not elves and dwarves. Cindy's heroine Ai Ling is a young woman who fits into her society for the most part as an obedient daughter, but has a rebellious streak in her shown through her thirst for knowledge in a place that does not advocate scholarly education of women.
One thing I admire greatly in Ai Ling is that even though she is confused by her powers, she is not afraid to learn to use them. She does what she must to survive. Cindy's characters continued to surprise me as the story went on. Ai Ling is not without fault, which she knows, but still lets her faults get the best of her at times. She makes very dark decisions that lead to changes in her, as well as wisdom.
Cindy also knows how to write villains. The worst monster in the book is a human, and Cindy does not skimp on the details of how power leads to corruption and the desire to corrupt others. From the beginning of the novel, Cindy deals with the darker side of love. She begins with the consequences of a forbidden love affair, continues the theme by introducing us to characters who have been scorned by love and jealousy, and ends by showing us how twisted a person can become when unable to let go of the past. Silver Phoenix shows us the tragedy of a world that puts restrictions on love. Ai Ling's belief that people should marry for love allows her to sacrifice for what is best for others.
On the technical side of things, Cindy creates imagery that pulls you into the setting. My mouth dropped during certain scenes, especially one that involved the description of many unique trees and their inhabitants. Her dialogue is believable; it does not sound modern yet does not feel stale in the ancient setting. The characters interact playfully, building relationships throughout the novel that readers can invest in.
Cindy builds tension and intrigue from the very first page with strong, distinct voices. Each character has his or her own set of beliefs, demeanor and ways of speaking that flesh them out and bring something important to the story.
At times I felt the story turned in interesting directions that were not developed enough. Certain sections, while being rich with character development, seemed like they belonged in another plot line. I hope these references made to places such as the land of men and the land of women, and fascinating characters-the chief of a certain tribe-with such small parts will reappear in later books with a greater purpose.
I only have one big problem with Silver Phoenix. I am not going to reveal any details about the event I am writing about, but some people may still think of this next part as a spoiler so skip to the next paragraph if you wish. As I said above, Ai Ling makes dark choices. I've been frustrated with fantasy authors for a long time because many refuse to let their characters make the wrong choice. When Ai Ling makes her choice, she is emotionally distraught but also in possession of knowledge of what consequences the choice will bring. The scene in which this occurs is brilliant and I had high hopes for the subplot until the end. In the end, Ai Ling does not suffer the consequences of a disturbing choice. So this stunning choice made by the heroine seemed suddenly like a device to show what a good person she is rather than an honest characterization that people are grey; no one is all good or all bad. I hope the sequel will handle this subject in a better manner because I believe Ai Ling is strong enough to deal with consequences she brings upon herself and deserves to show readers what she is made of.
Cindy Pon creates a a world far different from the typical medieval england-esque fantasy setting seen in so many novels. It is a world of three-headed goddesses, monsters in the form of beautiful women, and races and tribes of her own creation, i.e. definitely not elves and dwarves. Cindy's heroine Ai Ling is a young woman who fits into her society for the most part as an obedient daughter, but has a rebellious streak in her shown through her thirst for knowledge in a place that does not advocate scholarly education of women.
One thing I admire greatly in Ai Ling is that even though she is confused by her powers, she is not afraid to learn to use them. She does what she must to survive. Cindy's characters continued to surprise me as the story went on. Ai Ling is not without fault, which she knows, but still lets her faults get the best of her at times. She makes very dark decisions that lead to changes in her, as well as wisdom.
Cindy also knows how to write villains. The worst monster in the book is a human, and Cindy does not skimp on the details of how power leads to corruption and the desire to corrupt others. From the beginning of the novel, Cindy deals with the darker side of love. She begins with the consequences of a forbidden love affair, continues the theme by introducing us to characters who have been scorned by love and jealousy, and ends by showing us how twisted a person can become when unable to let go of the past. Silver Phoenix shows us the tragedy of a world that puts restrictions on love. Ai Ling's belief that people should marry for love allows her to sacrifice for what is best for others.
On the technical side of things, Cindy creates imagery that pulls you into the setting. My mouth dropped during certain scenes, especially one that involved the description of many unique trees and their inhabitants. Her dialogue is believable; it does not sound modern yet does not feel stale in the ancient setting. The characters interact playfully, building relationships throughout the novel that readers can invest in.
Cindy builds tension and intrigue from the very first page with strong, distinct voices. Each character has his or her own set of beliefs, demeanor and ways of speaking that flesh them out and bring something important to the story.
At times I felt the story turned in interesting directions that were not developed enough. Certain sections, while being rich with character development, seemed like they belonged in another plot line. I hope these references made to places such as the land of men and the land of women, and fascinating characters-the chief of a certain tribe-with such small parts will reappear in later books with a greater purpose.
I only have one big problem with Silver Phoenix. I am not going to reveal any details about the event I am writing about, but some people may still think of this next part as a spoiler so skip to the next paragraph if you wish. As I said above, Ai Ling makes dark choices. I've been frustrated with fantasy authors for a long time because many refuse to let their characters make the wrong choice. When Ai Ling makes her choice, she is emotionally distraught but also in possession of knowledge of what consequences the choice will bring. The scene in which this occurs is brilliant and I had high hopes for the subplot until the end. In the end, Ai Ling does not suffer the consequences of a disturbing choice. So this stunning choice made by the heroine seemed suddenly like a device to show what a good person she is rather than an honest characterization that people are grey; no one is all good or all bad. I hope the sequel will handle this subject in a better manner because I believe Ai Ling is strong enough to deal with consequences she brings upon herself and deserves to show readers what she is made of.
sqeeker's review
4.0
- I really enjoyed this story. I didn't know a thing about it, but I was pleasantly surprised. I'm glad I picked this up.
- The story had me hooked from the prologue. The story is very captivating.
- The book has a lot of Chinese culture in it.
- There is a lot of food in the story. It seems the characters are either walking or eating. It made me hungry. Ai Ling can really eat!
- While the story was great, the writing was a little dry.
- I enjoyed the characters. Ai Ling was a great female protagonist. Chen Yong was a great warrior type character. Li Yong made me laugh.
- There were some descriptive sex things, but it had a lot to do with the culture and story, so I'm not sure how I feel about it. It was needed, but I wish it hadn't been so descriptive.
- The ending seemed long and dragged out. That last bit was frustrating!! The story is left wide open for a sequel.
- This was a fun book, and I'm excited to read the next one!
- The story had me hooked from the prologue. The story is very captivating.
- The book has a lot of Chinese culture in it.
- There is a lot of food in the story. It seems the characters are either walking or eating. It made me hungry. Ai Ling can really eat!
- While the story was great, the writing was a little dry.
- I enjoyed the characters. Ai Ling was a great female protagonist. Chen Yong was a great warrior type character. Li Yong made me laugh.
- There were some descriptive sex things, but it had a lot to do with the culture and story, so I'm not sure how I feel about it. It was needed, but I wish it hadn't been so descriptive.
- The ending seemed long and dragged out. That last bit was frustrating!! The story is left wide open for a sequel.
- This was a fun book, and I'm excited to read the next one!
kristid's review
5.0
Silver Phoenix was a fascinating novel. I literally could not stop reading it once I started. It was beautifully written and I was completely captivated by the world and characters that Cindy created.
I thought Ai Ling was a very well developed protag. She was impulsive, courageous, yet shy, selfish, and yet compassionate. I wish we would have been divulged into the entire history of Silver Phoenix. I want to know more about her!
I loved the creatures that were presented in this novel and all of the different lands that AI Ling and Chen Yong traveled though. That type of element truly fascinates me. I would love to read, The Book of the Dead, The Book of Devine and The Book of Lands Beyond that were referenced to throughout the novel.
The plot was very fast paced it never faltered or lulled.. Ai Ling is constantly battling evil beings and I reveled in her butt kicking abilities. Even though she was traveling with two very capable boys she never expected them to fight her battles.
Another aspect of the novel that I loved, and this really doesn’t have much to do with my overall recommendation to read the books, but all that talk of food! Oh MY! There was an abundance of mouth-watering meals that were deliciously descriptive! I’m hungry just thinking about it!
Overall a completely satisfying read for fantasy fans. I’m hoping to see more of these characters!
I thought Ai Ling was a very well developed protag. She was impulsive, courageous, yet shy, selfish, and yet compassionate. I wish we would have been divulged into the entire history of Silver Phoenix. I want to know more about her!
I loved the creatures that were presented in this novel and all of the different lands that AI Ling and Chen Yong traveled though. That type of element truly fascinates me. I would love to read, The Book of the Dead, The Book of Devine and The Book of Lands Beyond that were referenced to throughout the novel.
The plot was very fast paced it never faltered or lulled.. Ai Ling is constantly battling evil beings and I reveled in her butt kicking abilities. Even though she was traveling with two very capable boys she never expected them to fight her battles.
Another aspect of the novel that I loved, and this really doesn’t have much to do with my overall recommendation to read the books, but all that talk of food! Oh MY! There was an abundance of mouth-watering meals that were deliciously descriptive! I’m hungry just thinking about it!
Overall a completely satisfying read for fantasy fans. I’m hoping to see more of these characters!
lilrongal's review
5.0
I found this book VERY easy to read and in fact, read the whole thing in one night. Very fantastical and beautifully written. I loved that the main character had a voracious appetite.
git_r_read's review
5.0
I love when I read a book and learn something new. This time it was a lot of things and it was about Chinese mythology. I have read and enjoyed Greek and Roman mythology and some Norse, but not Chinese mythology before. It was as eye-opening to those tales as it was highly enjoyable world-building and characters.
Ai Ling, the main character is what made the story especially diggable. She is young, raised in a loving home and faces obstacles with determination if not exactly fearless. She is human and has human foibles, but she knows what she has to do. She is afraid, but she does it anyway. That's a hero to me. She forges ahead to find her missing father, faces demons and deities, making her own path.
There is plenty of evil to face, but there is good that helps her along.
I am very glad that this is the beginning of a series and I look forward to reading more of Ai Ling's adventures. This could honestly be read as a stand-alone, but I would want to know more. So YAY! Series!
I can definitely recommend this book and author.
Ai Ling, the main character is what made the story especially diggable. She is young, raised in a loving home and faces obstacles with determination if not exactly fearless. She is human and has human foibles, but she knows what she has to do. She is afraid, but she does it anyway. That's a hero to me. She forges ahead to find her missing father, faces demons and deities, making her own path.
There is plenty of evil to face, but there is good that helps her along.
I am very glad that this is the beginning of a series and I look forward to reading more of Ai Ling's adventures. This could honestly be read as a stand-alone, but I would want to know more. So YAY! Series!
I can definitely recommend this book and author.
charlotekerstenauthor's review
You judge the gods by who bows down at their altars?" Ai Ling asked.”
Spoilers and a discussion of sexual violence follow.
So What's It About?
"On the day of her first betrothal meeting–and rejection–Ai Ling discovers a power welling deep within her. She can reach into other people’s spirits, hear their thoughts, see their dreams…and that’s just the beginning.
Ai Ling has been marked by the immortals; her destiny lies in the emperor’s palace, where a terrible evil has lived, stealing souls, for centuries. She must conquer this enemy and rescue her captive father, while mythical demons track her every step. And then she meets Chen Yong, a young man with a quest of his own, whose fate is intertwined with hers. Here is a heart-stopping, breathtaking tale for fans of action, fantasy, and romance–of anything with the making of legend."
What I Thought
This is, ultimately, something of a big old "ehhh" for me. Nothing about it caused me to despise it, but nothing about it caused me to adore it either. This book and I exist in a neutral, awkward liminal space together, making stilted small talk.
The best that I have to say about it is that Cindy Pon clearly possesses a vivid imagination and a great capacity for translating that imagination to the paper. Silver Phoenix is positively crawling with hordes of grotesque and fascinating creatures, some of which genuinely disgusted me:
"She realized then that it was composed of corpses—arms and legs jutted from the top of its head instead of hair. Its naked mass was formed of human torsos, more limbs, and worse, heads and sagging faces. Some of the eyes were so decomposed only empty sockets peered from a putrefied skull."
But it's not all body horror! Over the course of the book Ai Ling treks through many marvelous and mystical locales, which are lushly and beautifully described as well. My favorite is the palace of the Immortals, where there are a number of magical trees:
"There was the tree with leaves that were giant eyes blinking in the wind. The irises were of every shade imaginable, pink, green, scarlet, and orange. The pupils were all shaped differently, from circles to squares and diamonds, swirls and stars. The eye leaves rustled under the gentle breeze of the heavenly mountain, all blinking, and all-seeing. THE OBSERVANT TREE."
Another plus is that, contrary to all the YA protagonist waifs who can barely manage to choke down a granola bar, Ai Ling positively revels in food and eating. This is great to see for mental/physical health reasons, but also just because all the food sounds so tasty:
"'A plate of roast duck, steamed dumplings, spicy noodles with beef gravy, pickled cucumbers, stewed tongue and eggs if you have them, cold please, and sticky rice pearls, too,' Ai Ling said, before the server girl could open her mouth. 'I don't know what he wants.' Ai Ling nodded toward Chen Yong.
'I'm not sure I have enough coins to order anything more,' he said, laughing.”
As a final positive note, I'd also add that Ai Ling's ultimate decision not to resurrect her dead friend is handled appropriately as a demanding ethical dilemma, and I was quite pleased with the way in which she arrives at her final decision.
My concerns about Silver Phoenix, however, arise when we consider the fact that none of the characters are especially strong or interesting outside of the main antagonist. Ai Ling's love for food is the main thing about her that endears her to me at all, and I'll discuss the other main character, Chen Yong, a little bit later. In addition, I'd like to discuss the mixed bag of this book's feminism.
YA has come a long way in the 10 years since Silver Phoenix was published, and as far as I can remember, this book's willingness to grapple with questions of gender and race is something that wasn't all too common back then. Generally speaking, there are some good basic messages in this book for early teen readers who might be just figuring out feminism:
"Why were women always seen as things to be possessed by men in these tales, never worth more than their physical beauty?"
It's nothing ground-shattering for an adult, but I think it's just the right level for a young reader to sink their teeth into. In addition to matters of gender, I'd like to address the matter of race in Silver Phoenix. Cindy Pon is the co-founder of Diversity in YA, and an advisory board member for We Need Diverse Books. It's clearly something that she is passionate about, and that is apparent in her debut novel. Silver Phoenix's ancient Chinese-inspired setting is populated entirely by people of color, and is fundamentally built upon the extensive and rich knowledge that stems from Pon's background in Chinese studies. I especially appreciated the examination of difficulties arising from biracial identity that occurs as a part of Chen Yong's story.
At the same time, I think the positive messages get a little lost when the book starts to delve into the intersection of sexism and sexual violence. I really had no idea that I'd be spending so much time talking about this topic when I started this blog, but here we are, kids! The problem is that Ai Ling is subjected to numerous instances of sexual harassment and sexual assault over the course of the book, but I never felt that she had a realistic psychological response to anything that happened. People may be numb after an assault; they may suppress their feelings - but these are still VERY clearly different things from simply having no emotional reaction at all and more or less carrying on with one's adventure like nothing out of the ordinary has happened. The latter is what happens in Silver Phoenix.
Finally, the sort-of-love-interest Chen Yong is a big dumb idiot who repeatedly talks about how "traditional" he is, and when a dude describes himself as "traditional" in real life YOU KNOW that's enough to send me running in the opposite direction. He's so stupidly self-congratulatory over the fact that he doesn't think women should be mindless baby-making and cooking machines. Like:
Chen Yong: “I know I’m very traditional in thought. But you have to believe that I value women for more than their roles within the inner quarters.”
Charlotte:
Spoilers and a discussion of sexual violence follow.
So What's It About?
"On the day of her first betrothal meeting–and rejection–Ai Ling discovers a power welling deep within her. She can reach into other people’s spirits, hear their thoughts, see their dreams…and that’s just the beginning.
Ai Ling has been marked by the immortals; her destiny lies in the emperor’s palace, where a terrible evil has lived, stealing souls, for centuries. She must conquer this enemy and rescue her captive father, while mythical demons track her every step. And then she meets Chen Yong, a young man with a quest of his own, whose fate is intertwined with hers. Here is a heart-stopping, breathtaking tale for fans of action, fantasy, and romance–of anything with the making of legend."
What I Thought
This is, ultimately, something of a big old "ehhh" for me. Nothing about it caused me to despise it, but nothing about it caused me to adore it either. This book and I exist in a neutral, awkward liminal space together, making stilted small talk.
The best that I have to say about it is that Cindy Pon clearly possesses a vivid imagination and a great capacity for translating that imagination to the paper. Silver Phoenix is positively crawling with hordes of grotesque and fascinating creatures, some of which genuinely disgusted me:
"She realized then that it was composed of corpses—arms and legs jutted from the top of its head instead of hair. Its naked mass was formed of human torsos, more limbs, and worse, heads and sagging faces. Some of the eyes were so decomposed only empty sockets peered from a putrefied skull."
But it's not all body horror! Over the course of the book Ai Ling treks through many marvelous and mystical locales, which are lushly and beautifully described as well. My favorite is the palace of the Immortals, where there are a number of magical trees:
"There was the tree with leaves that were giant eyes blinking in the wind. The irises were of every shade imaginable, pink, green, scarlet, and orange. The pupils were all shaped differently, from circles to squares and diamonds, swirls and stars. The eye leaves rustled under the gentle breeze of the heavenly mountain, all blinking, and all-seeing. THE OBSERVANT TREE."
Another plus is that, contrary to all the YA protagonist waifs who can barely manage to choke down a granola bar, Ai Ling positively revels in food and eating. This is great to see for mental/physical health reasons, but also just because all the food sounds so tasty:
"'A plate of roast duck, steamed dumplings, spicy noodles with beef gravy, pickled cucumbers, stewed tongue and eggs if you have them, cold please, and sticky rice pearls, too,' Ai Ling said, before the server girl could open her mouth. 'I don't know what he wants.' Ai Ling nodded toward Chen Yong.
'I'm not sure I have enough coins to order anything more,' he said, laughing.”
As a final positive note, I'd also add that Ai Ling's ultimate decision not to resurrect her dead friend is handled appropriately as a demanding ethical dilemma, and I was quite pleased with the way in which she arrives at her final decision.
My concerns about Silver Phoenix, however, arise when we consider the fact that none of the characters are especially strong or interesting outside of the main antagonist. Ai Ling's love for food is the main thing about her that endears her to me at all, and I'll discuss the other main character, Chen Yong, a little bit later. In addition, I'd like to discuss the mixed bag of this book's feminism.
YA has come a long way in the 10 years since Silver Phoenix was published, and as far as I can remember, this book's willingness to grapple with questions of gender and race is something that wasn't all too common back then. Generally speaking, there are some good basic messages in this book for early teen readers who might be just figuring out feminism:
"Why were women always seen as things to be possessed by men in these tales, never worth more than their physical beauty?"
It's nothing ground-shattering for an adult, but I think it's just the right level for a young reader to sink their teeth into. In addition to matters of gender, I'd like to address the matter of race in Silver Phoenix. Cindy Pon is the co-founder of Diversity in YA, and an advisory board member for We Need Diverse Books. It's clearly something that she is passionate about, and that is apparent in her debut novel. Silver Phoenix's ancient Chinese-inspired setting is populated entirely by people of color, and is fundamentally built upon the extensive and rich knowledge that stems from Pon's background in Chinese studies. I especially appreciated the examination of difficulties arising from biracial identity that occurs as a part of Chen Yong's story.
At the same time, I think the positive messages get a little lost when the book starts to delve into the intersection of sexism and sexual violence. I really had no idea that I'd be spending so much time talking about this topic when I started this blog, but here we are, kids! The problem is that Ai Ling is subjected to numerous instances of sexual harassment and sexual assault over the course of the book, but I never felt that she had a realistic psychological response to anything that happened. People may be numb after an assault; they may suppress their feelings - but these are still VERY clearly different things from simply having no emotional reaction at all and more or less carrying on with one's adventure like nothing out of the ordinary has happened. The latter is what happens in Silver Phoenix.
Finally, the sort-of-love-interest Chen Yong is a big dumb idiot who repeatedly talks about how "traditional" he is, and when a dude describes himself as "traditional" in real life YOU KNOW that's enough to send me running in the opposite direction. He's so stupidly self-congratulatory over the fact that he doesn't think women should be mindless baby-making and cooking machines. Like:
Chen Yong: “I know I’m very traditional in thought. But you have to believe that I value women for more than their roles within the inner quarters.”
Charlotte:
annaptobias's review
4.0
Really impressed by the Chinese mythology and folklore as well as the breathtaking action and fight scenes. Journey stories are usually hard to pull off well, but Silver Phoenix kept me captivated page after page, chapter after chapter.