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roboxa's review
2.0
Originally posted on Roberta's Literary Ramblings
I received this as an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall Impression: It could have been much better.
Recommended for: Those who enjoy fantasy with a smattering of Chinese culture. That's who it's written for but I personally wouldn't recommend it.
As I said above, this book could have been so much better. It had the bones for something really great, but the presentation wasn't quite up to par. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't particularly enjoy it.
It's hard to talk about some of the issues with the book without spoilers, but I will do my very best. The main issue is that it should have been two books. It switches between the present and the past, with about equal page time for both. Oftentimes when this happens, I end up feeling more attached to one story line than the other, and this is what happened here. I was much more interested in the past story than the present one.
This could also be because much of what is happening in the present is directly affected by what happened in the past, and the information that you need to know to make the present sections more impactful/make sense isn't revealed until later. It wasn't very effectively done. However, I think the story would have been great had it been in two books.
Secondly, Missy's character didn't feel real to me. It took me forever to place how old she was. In fact, I didn't know exactly how old until about the last 30 pages of the book. I believe this was due to her voice. She talks like someone in their early-twenties rather than someone who is 33 and has been through...stuff. (Curse spoilers!)
While I enjoyed some of the references—I'm looking at you Princess Bride references—I did sometimes find them either unnecessary or inappropriate for her age and supposed maturity level. Basically, the present sections were not reflecting her past, and considering what her past was, I would think that she would be greatly affected by it. However, it doesn't seem that she is, which makes the character seem rather flat and unrealistic.
There were also a few unanswered questions that kept popping up in my mind. Why does she seem to dislike her grandfather so much? What really happened to him? What exactly is going on with all of these superheros? Is it like something from The Incredibles where there is a governing body that that regulates them? Has this been around forever (kind of like an alternate reality thing) or have they just discovered them and now everyone knows and likes them? And why did here grandfather dislike the governing body so much? What makes them corrupt? The world building was a little lacking, so I was often bogged down with questions trying to figure out how everything worked.
Sadly, this book didn't work for me despite its potential. If these types of things don't bother you, than go for it. Otherwise, I would suggest going to read The Waterborne Blade. It's from the same publisher and it's really great!
I received this as an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall Impression: It could have been much better.
Recommended for: Those who enjoy fantasy with a smattering of Chinese culture. That's who it's written for but I personally wouldn't recommend it.
As I said above, this book could have been so much better. It had the bones for something really great, but the presentation wasn't quite up to par. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't particularly enjoy it.
It's hard to talk about some of the issues with the book without spoilers, but I will do my very best. The main issue is that it should have been two books. It switches between the present and the past, with about equal page time for both. Oftentimes when this happens, I end up feeling more attached to one story line than the other, and this is what happened here. I was much more interested in the past story than the present one.
This could also be because much of what is happening in the present is directly affected by what happened in the past, and the information that you need to know to make the present sections more impactful/make sense isn't revealed until later. It wasn't very effectively done. However, I think the story would have been great had it been in two books.
Secondly, Missy's character didn't feel real to me. It took me forever to place how old she was. In fact, I didn't know exactly how old until about the last 30 pages of the book. I believe this was due to her voice. She talks like someone in their early-twenties rather than someone who is 33 and has been through...stuff. (Curse spoilers!)
While I enjoyed some of the references—I'm looking at you Princess Bride references—I did sometimes find them either unnecessary or inappropriate for her age and supposed maturity level. Basically, the present sections were not reflecting her past, and considering what her past was, I would think that she would be greatly affected by it. However, it doesn't seem that she is, which makes the character seem rather flat and unrealistic.
There were also a few unanswered questions that kept popping up in my mind. Why does she seem to dislike her grandfather so much? What really happened to him? What exactly is going on with all of these superheros? Is it like something from The Incredibles where there is a governing body that that regulates them? Has this been around forever (kind of like an alternate reality thing) or have they just discovered them and now everyone knows and likes them? And why did here grandfather dislike the governing body so much? What makes them corrupt? The world building was a little lacking, so I was often bogged down with questions trying to figure out how everything worked.
Sadly, this book didn't work for me despite its potential. If these types of things don't bother you, than go for it. Otherwise, I would suggest going to read The Waterborne Blade. It's from the same publisher and it's really great!
b33dubs's review
1.0
Warning: so-called "synopsis" of the book does not remotely prepare you for what it's ACTUALLY about. Deceived and disappointed.
I hate it when the awesome superhero book you think you're reading turns into a draco-political power struggle that centers around the protagonist getting pregnant with demigod twins whose entire purpose is as little more than bargaining chips in a poorly-conceived (did you see what I did there?) plot that spends more time on elaborate christening ceremonies than anything remotely heroic. Oh, I could just throw this book against a wall!
I hate it when the awesome superhero book you think you're reading turns into a draco-political power struggle that centers around the protagonist getting pregnant with demigod twins whose entire purpose is as little more than bargaining chips in a poorly-conceived (did you see what I did there?) plot that spends more time on elaborate christening ceremonies than anything remotely heroic. Oh, I could just throw this book against a wall!
diaryofthebookdragon's review
4.0
You can already guess that a dragon in a book title and on the cover meant instant interest from me. When I started reading I didn’t expect much, but The Dragons of Heaven exceeded my expectations.
LIKES
* Interesting setting. I always like to read about a world where super-heroes exist. Blame it on that little girl who watched in awe as Superman jumped over the tallest building. And Alyc Helms is more optimistic than Brandon Sanderson in [b:Steelheart|17182126|Steelheart (Reckoners, #1)|Brandon Sanderson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357576738s/17182126.jpg|21366540], people with super-powers are not all villains – some are fighting for the good. So the optimist in me is satisfied too.
* Chinese folklore. For the better part of the year, I’m talking how I can’t wait for Richelle Mead’s [b:Soundless|24751478|Soundless|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1425500517s/24751478.jpg|44380622] to be released, when unexpectedly this little gem falls into my lap. The Dragons of Heaven has everything I have ever imagined an urban fantasy novel with Chinese folklore elements should have: Huxian, Fenghuang, Qilin and dragons (of course). It was all new too me and very exotic.
* Surprises. I started reading The Dragons of Heaven thinking I got it all figured out. Than surprises and twists just started popping out. I’ll tell you just the first one: I didn’t read the summary and based on cover I thought that main character was a male. The rest… Well too spoilery to talk about it here. :)
* Realistic kick-ass heroine. Of course, there is a charm in a heroine who yells “Yippee ki-yay, motherfucker!” while destroying everything in her line of sight. But, I liked Missy more. She is tough, but she thinks before she acts and does not use force if it’s not necessary.
* Ending without cliffhangers. The Dragons of Heaven is the first book in the new series, but Alyc Helms didn’t succumb to the new trend and left me hanging until the next year. Everything important gets resolved and there are few clues and hints what will happen in the next book.
* The Shadows. Missy has an interesting power to call the shadows from Shadow Realm. I loved that the shadows were conscious beings and didn’t always do what was expected.
DISLIKES
* I wanted more world-building, especially related to all super-hero stuff. There are Citizen Vigilante laws and organisation that good super-heroes belong to (something like S.H.I.E.L.D.) but Alyc Helms gives just enough facts about them for a story to make sense. I was intrigued and wished for more…
* Glitchy way of story telling. Alyc Helms decided to tell the story in an unorthodox way – starting from the middle of it. Narration of chapters in The Dragons of Heaven switches between ‘Now’ and ‘Then’. The result is that you find out how it all started slowly as it is resolved. This way of storytelling is interesting, but doesn’t work all the time and can cause confusion.
IN THE END…
The Dragons of Heave was a pleasant surprise. If you are looking for a fresh urban fantasy with superheroes, Chinese folklore, realistic heroine and a great story, then you must try it out!
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
LIKES
* Interesting setting. I always like to read about a world where super-heroes exist. Blame it on that little girl who watched in awe as Superman jumped over the tallest building. And Alyc Helms is more optimistic than Brandon Sanderson in [b:Steelheart|17182126|Steelheart (Reckoners, #1)|Brandon Sanderson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357576738s/17182126.jpg|21366540], people with super-powers are not all villains – some are fighting for the good. So the optimist in me is satisfied too.
* Chinese folklore. For the better part of the year, I’m talking how I can’t wait for Richelle Mead’s [b:Soundless|24751478|Soundless|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1425500517s/24751478.jpg|44380622] to be released, when unexpectedly this little gem falls into my lap. The Dragons of Heaven has everything I have ever imagined an urban fantasy novel with Chinese folklore elements should have: Huxian, Fenghuang, Qilin and dragons (of course). It was all new too me and very exotic.
* Surprises. I started reading The Dragons of Heaven thinking I got it all figured out. Than surprises and twists just started popping out. I’ll tell you just the first one: I didn’t read the summary and based on cover I thought that main character was a male. The rest… Well too spoilery to talk about it here. :)
* Realistic kick-ass heroine. Of course, there is a charm in a heroine who yells “Yippee ki-yay, motherfucker!” while destroying everything in her line of sight. But, I liked Missy more. She is tough, but she thinks before she acts and does not use force if it’s not necessary.
* Ending without cliffhangers. The Dragons of Heaven is the first book in the new series, but Alyc Helms didn’t succumb to the new trend and left me hanging until the next year. Everything important gets resolved and there are few clues and hints what will happen in the next book.
* The Shadows. Missy has an interesting power to call the shadows from Shadow Realm. I loved that the shadows were conscious beings and didn’t always do what was expected.
DISLIKES
* I wanted more world-building, especially related to all super-hero stuff. There are Citizen Vigilante laws and organisation that good super-heroes belong to (something like S.H.I.E.L.D.) but Alyc Helms gives just enough facts about them for a story to make sense. I was intrigued and wished for more…
* Glitchy way of story telling. Alyc Helms decided to tell the story in an unorthodox way – starting from the middle of it. Narration of chapters in The Dragons of Heaven switches between ‘Now’ and ‘Then’. The result is that you find out how it all started slowly as it is resolved. This way of storytelling is interesting, but doesn’t work all the time and can cause confusion.
IN THE END…
The Dragons of Heave was a pleasant surprise. If you are looking for a fresh urban fantasy with superheroes, Chinese folklore, realistic heroine and a great story, then you must try it out!
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
sjj169's review
1.0
Nobody becomes an adventure hero by accident. For me, it started with a revival showing of "Big Trouble in Little China" at the opening of the rebuilt Pagoda Palace in North Beach. Big Trouble ranked as one of my favorite movies of all time, and I roped a crew into going on the strength of my enthusiasm. Who can pass up the chance to see Kurt Russell as Jack Burton? Plus, spunky Kim Catrall. Yowza!
(Yes, Kim Cattrall's name is spelled wrong but my copy is an arc.)
Now this sounds like a fun book. Misty Masters grandfather was the vigilante superguy named Mr. Mystic. He leaves his powers to her and the best I can figure she can control the shadows. I know at one point the book says that she can cloak her features with his fedora. She does so because she uses a male disguise.
Superheroes? I love them. Asian lore? Love it.
This book? Not. I didn't finish it because I was starting to get a headache from it. I can't figure out what the hell is going on. It starts on one topic and randomly jumps to another. One paragraph might be talking about one thing and then the next something completely different.
Then the amount of characters. I can't even. I have no clue where they are coming from or the point of them even being in the story. ARgghghh!
So, I gave up on this book. Life is too short for me to spend time on books that I do not want to read. Or I will start looking like this on a regular basis.
(Yes, Kim Cattrall's name is spelled wrong but my copy is an arc.)
Now this sounds like a fun book. Misty Masters grandfather was the vigilante superguy named Mr. Mystic. He leaves his powers to her and the best I can figure she can control the shadows. I know at one point the book says that she can cloak her features with his fedora. She does so because she uses a male disguise.
Superheroes? I love them. Asian lore? Love it.
This book? Not. I didn't finish it because I was starting to get a headache from it. I can't figure out what the hell is going on. It starts on one topic and randomly jumps to another. One paragraph might be talking about one thing and then the next something completely different.
Then the amount of characters. I can't even. I have no clue where they are coming from or the point of them even being in the story. ARgghghh!
So, I gave up on this book. Life is too short for me to spend time on books that I do not want to read. Or I will start looking like this on a regular basis.
itsmecourtneyk's review
3.0
I wish things had progressed more linearly - rather than the constant jumping back and forth between present and past. I can kind of see why, allowing exposition in chunks to give you an overall sense of everything (maybe?), but it still made things super disjointed and allowed for a lot of things to just be left out. Like just skipping entire scenes that I felt just might be kind of important . Overall, not terrible, would probably read again since I own it. Potentially looking at the sequel.
Spoiler
such as what happened after Missy saved the world and how she got out of China - we literally get NO resolution to the actual impact things had. Just oh, I'm moping back home, and then hello dragon lovermygeekblasphemy's review
4.0
This is probably not going to be an easy book to review, and not just because the author is one of my good friends so, yeah, objectivity? We'll go for it, but I'm not promising anything. I've also been in something of a reading funk the last month or two, which I used this novel to try and pull myself out of. Not a bad strategy -- it's a fast-paced, fun story that I enjoyed a lot -- but I also started reading it on Kindle, and God knows why, but I just read so much slower on Kindle. Once I eventually bought it on paperback, I finished the book super quickly. Possibly as a result, the book occasionally feels a bit off-balance to me, like the first half (particularly the parts set in America) feels slightly at odds with the second.
The book is structured in a Then/Now style, which I generally like, although I will say that I found myself a little more invested in the Then sections than the Now ones, at least as the book continues. This is possibly because the Then section routinely surprised me with developments I was not anticipating. This was delightful -- I love when stories take turns that I don't see coming from a mile away. And the Then sections do very much inform the Now section, so they're not useless. They aren't just flashbacks for the sake of flashbacks; they are hugely important to both plot and character development.
Missy is a great heroine. Some of my favorite things about her can't be discussed without spoilers, which I don't want to get into today, but I can say that she's well-rounded, not just one thing or the other. She fulfills many roles, as people do throughout their lifetimes, and I loved that. I don't agree with her on everything, but I buy all her decisions, and that's what matters. She's also funny. I want to like more urban fantasy, but I've found that often the humor feels forced to me, the banter amusing for a while before being like, "Yep, I get it, she's a clever bastard. You really don't have to give me 17 jokey lines on one page." Missy's banter felt much more natural to me, and I laughed a lot.
I also really like some of the side characters, particularly Si Wei and Jack. Jack is a pretty minor character, and I feel like I loved him possibly more than I was supposed to. I can't explain this.
At the risk of sounding like an ethnocentric bastard, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that I sometimes struggled trying to remember who was who because there are a lot of characters in this story with, not shockingly, various Chinese names, and many characters had multiple names, so I was often kind of like, "Now . . . who was that again?" It wasn't a huge stumbling block, but I did have it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the sequel, when it eventually comes out.
The book is structured in a Then/Now style, which I generally like, although I will say that I found myself a little more invested in the Then sections than the Now ones, at least as the book continues. This is possibly because the Then section routinely surprised me with developments I was not anticipating. This was delightful -- I love when stories take turns that I don't see coming from a mile away. And the Then sections do very much inform the Now section, so they're not useless. They aren't just flashbacks for the sake of flashbacks; they are hugely important to both plot and character development.
Missy is a great heroine. Some of my favorite things about her can't be discussed without spoilers, which I don't want to get into today, but I can say that she's well-rounded, not just one thing or the other. She fulfills many roles, as people do throughout their lifetimes, and I loved that. I don't agree with her on everything, but I buy all her decisions, and that's what matters. She's also funny. I want to like more urban fantasy, but I've found that often the humor feels forced to me, the banter amusing for a while before being like, "Yep, I get it, she's a clever bastard. You really don't have to give me 17 jokey lines on one page." Missy's banter felt much more natural to me, and I laughed a lot.
I also really like some of the side characters, particularly Si Wei and Jack. Jack is a pretty minor character, and I feel like I loved him possibly more than I was supposed to. I can't explain this.
At the risk of sounding like an ethnocentric bastard, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that I sometimes struggled trying to remember who was who because there are a lot of characters in this story with, not shockingly, various Chinese names, and many characters had multiple names, so I was often kind of like, "Now . . . who was that again?" It wasn't a huge stumbling block, but I did have it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the sequel, when it eventually comes out.
andreablythe's review
4.0
Missy Masters has the power to control shadows and uses this power to play a role as the vigilante superhero, Mr. Mystic. When a magical barrier suddenly appears around all of China and all of the official China towns of the world, it's up to her to find a way to take down the barrier — a challenge that leads her back into the past she left behind.
The book mixes up superhero novel with martial arts movies and dragon mythology in a fun, action packed urban fantasy. Where it differs from similar action titles is the structure, with each chapter alternating between the past and the present — a structure that was at times frustrating for me because every time I was getting used to a time period (either past or present), it would cut right in the middle of the action to the other period. However, this structure was vital to the heart of the story, unveiling her past and refocusing on a story of love, family bonds, and the way those bonds can be broken apart. It was this connection to Missy's past that made the novel more than just an action-adventure story and it's what makes me want to keep reading more.
The book mixes up superhero novel with martial arts movies and dragon mythology in a fun, action packed urban fantasy. Where it differs from similar action titles is the structure, with each chapter alternating between the past and the present — a structure that was at times frustrating for me because every time I was getting used to a time period (either past or present), it would cut right in the middle of the action to the other period. However, this structure was vital to the heart of the story, unveiling her past and refocusing on a story of love, family bonds, and the way those bonds can be broken apart. It was this connection to Missy's past that made the novel more than just an action-adventure story and it's what makes me want to keep reading more.
librariananaya's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed from a free Net Galley eGalley.
If you like Owl and the Japanese Circus, you'll like this book. While many of the details are different, Missy and Owl's voices are strikingly similar and make for a compelling, interesting read full of the supernatural.
There was a moment when Missy has fallen in love with Jian Huo when I thought, "Wait, when did this happen?" Jian Huo is cast so well as an unflappable spirit that I was slow to warm up to the idea of their romance- but in all other ways the story was very well crafted. I really enjoyed the parallel, and very balanced, structure of the story, the smaller likable characters, and the way that Missy's character acts from experience to make her choice at the end of the story in a way she couldn't make before. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this well crafted adventure.
If you like Owl and the Japanese Circus, you'll like this book. While many of the details are different, Missy and Owl's voices are strikingly similar and make for a compelling, interesting read full of the supernatural.
There was a moment when Missy has fallen in love with Jian Huo when I thought, "Wait, when did this happen?" Jian Huo is cast so well as an unflappable spirit that I was slow to warm up to the idea of their romance- but in all other ways the story was very well crafted. I really enjoyed the parallel, and very balanced, structure of the story, the smaller likable characters, and the way that Missy's character acts from experience to make her choice at the end of the story in a way she couldn't make before. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this well crafted adventure.
bookadventurer's review
2.0
See Read-alikes on The Book Adventures.
In The Dragons of Heaven, Missy Masters is trying to live up to her grandfather's legacy as Mr. Masters, one of the original superheroes of the mid-twentieth century. We are introduced to her present-day struggles to be taken seriously and to defeat a Chinatown crime boss in San Francisco.
The narrative is split between the present-day and some time in Missy's past. It's also split between San Francisco and China. In one plot line, Missy is a superheroine fighting crime when mysterious magical walls spring up around all Chinatowns in the world, and around China itself. This launches Missy into the world-saving business, as she is the only person who can dissolve the walls. In the other, she travels to China to learn from a Dragon and become a better superheroine.
I really liked some aspects of this book. It's difficult for me to even describe the plot, because it was so disjointed. The divide between the San Francisco superheroine plot line and the Chinese spiritual adventure was too wide. The split-time narratives never connected. The story feels like two stories, instead of one. Part of this is the organization, which, while chapters are divided into "now" and "then," does not provide enough signposts to clearly separate the two times.
The other part is the emotional distance between the two times. At first, the reader meets Missy in San Francisco, where she's essentially a street magician-turned-superheroine. Without much introduction at all, the reader then jumps back into Missy's past, when she has just started her work as a superheroine, and decides she needs training and experience, so she travels to China to learn from the same Dragon her grandfather did. The reader doesn't find out until much later on, about the climax of the book, why Missy left China to return to San Francisco (there are deeper reasons than her original goal to return a better superheroine). There's some sadness, betrayal, involved - but the San Francisco Missy never really feels it. This puts even more distance between "then" and "now" plot lines, making them seem even less connected.
The "then" narrative, which tells of Missy's trials to get to the Dragon in China, was delightful. I loved reading about her time as Jian Huo/Lung Huang's student, and the development of their relationship. Her adventures fighting against demons and shadow creatures, and her struggles to learn Taoism, were highly enjoyable. I loved meeting all the strange and wonderful spirit creatures that inhabit the China she lives in. I think this is where the novel really shines.
However, I felt that the broken storyline ruined its impact. Too much was glossed over in deference to having both a "now" plot line and a "then" plot line. In fact, I wasn't very interested at all in the beginning, which sets up the world-saving business and describes her life in San Francisco. I wasn't emotionally drawn into her life or her story until the younger Missy went to China. The ending suffered from the same lack of emotional feeling as most of the "now" plot line. As a reader, I felt the hurt and betrayal that ended in separation (when I finally learned about it), but the resolution was so short it felt like a bandaid instead of healing.
The other thing I really liked about this story is the reliance on Chinese folklore and spiritualism. The complex etiquette of dealing with spirits and gods, the rituals required, the spirits themselves, and the bits and pieces of Taoism were fascinating. I loved that Missy was able to provide an outsider's perspective on the folklore and spiritualism of China, but it felt colonial for the heroine to be a red-headed descendant of the British, traveling to China to soak up the culture and knowledge so she could bring it back to San Francisco and to save the world.
Sometimes the pace felt dragged out, while the most important events were not given enough attention. The final battles in both time periods felt rushed. In the end, there are hints that there is more to come - more reconciliation between lovers, final determination of the heroine's status, and one final Heroine vs. Sociopath battle. This is one of those books I wish felt complete in one volume.
In the end, I did not find what I was looking for in this story. I would have loved a story with a straight narrative, starting with Missy's first steps as a superheroine, spending the majority of the story in China with Jian Huo, and then culminating in the Big Battle, the Betrayal, and the Reconciliation.
Try it if you're interested in Chinese spirits and dragons, but I'm not sure I would recommend it.
In The Dragons of Heaven, Missy Masters is trying to live up to her grandfather's legacy as Mr. Masters, one of the original superheroes of the mid-twentieth century. We are introduced to her present-day struggles to be taken seriously and to defeat a Chinatown crime boss in San Francisco.
The narrative is split between the present-day and some time in Missy's past. It's also split between San Francisco and China. In one plot line, Missy is a superheroine fighting crime when mysterious magical walls spring up around all Chinatowns in the world, and around China itself. This launches Missy into the world-saving business, as she is the only person who can dissolve the walls. In the other, she travels to China to learn from a Dragon and become a better superheroine.
I really liked some aspects of this book. It's difficult for me to even describe the plot, because it was so disjointed. The divide between the San Francisco superheroine plot line and the Chinese spiritual adventure was too wide. The split-time narratives never connected. The story feels like two stories, instead of one. Part of this is the organization, which, while chapters are divided into "now" and "then," does not provide enough signposts to clearly separate the two times.
The other part is the emotional distance between the two times. At first, the reader meets Missy in San Francisco, where she's essentially a street magician-turned-superheroine. Without much introduction at all, the reader then jumps back into Missy's past, when she has just started her work as a superheroine, and decides she needs training and experience, so she travels to China to learn from the same Dragon her grandfather did. The reader doesn't find out until much later on, about the climax of the book, why Missy left China to return to San Francisco (there are deeper reasons than her original goal to return a better superheroine). There's some sadness, betrayal, involved - but the San Francisco Missy never really feels it. This puts even more distance between "then" and "now" plot lines, making them seem even less connected.
The "then" narrative, which tells of Missy's trials to get to the Dragon in China, was delightful. I loved reading about her time as Jian Huo/Lung Huang's student, and the development of their relationship. Her adventures fighting against demons and shadow creatures, and her struggles to learn Taoism, were highly enjoyable. I loved meeting all the strange and wonderful spirit creatures that inhabit the China she lives in. I think this is where the novel really shines.
However, I felt that the broken storyline ruined its impact. Too much was glossed over in deference to having both a "now" plot line and a "then" plot line. In fact, I wasn't very interested at all in the beginning, which sets up the world-saving business and describes her life in San Francisco. I wasn't emotionally drawn into her life or her story until the younger Missy went to China. The ending suffered from the same lack of emotional feeling as most of the "now" plot line. As a reader, I felt the hurt and betrayal that ended in separation (when I finally learned about it), but the resolution was so short it felt like a bandaid instead of healing.
The other thing I really liked about this story is the reliance on Chinese folklore and spiritualism. The complex etiquette of dealing with spirits and gods, the rituals required, the spirits themselves, and the bits and pieces of Taoism were fascinating. I loved that Missy was able to provide an outsider's perspective on the folklore and spiritualism of China, but it felt colonial for the heroine to be a red-headed descendant of the British, traveling to China to soak up the culture and knowledge so she could bring it back to San Francisco and to save the world.
Sometimes the pace felt dragged out, while the most important events were not given enough attention. The final battles in both time periods felt rushed. In the end, there are hints that there is more to come - more reconciliation between lovers, final determination of the heroine's status, and one final Heroine vs. Sociopath battle. This is one of those books I wish felt complete in one volume.
In the end, I did not find what I was looking for in this story. I would have loved a story with a straight narrative, starting with Missy's first steps as a superheroine, spending the majority of the story in China with Jian Huo, and then culminating in the Big Battle, the Betrayal, and the Reconciliation.
Try it if you're interested in Chinese spirits and dragons, but I'm not sure I would recommend it.