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spauffwrites's review
4.0
I loved this brief, magical novel, set in an alternate version of Beijing, where dragons roam like stray cats and residents hunger for rain. Artistic Kai rescues and rehabilitates abandoned dragons, a deeply personal mission he takes on after being diagnosed with a deadly virus. Eli comes to Beijing to study dragons and their potential uses in medical research, after the same virus kills his grandmother. The two fall into a relationship, but Kai's stubborn independence and Eli's guilt over his grandmother's death nearly tear them apart. I adored the world-building in this novel -- the descriptions of the dragons in particular, reminded me of falconry. The writing is also gorgeous -- poetic without being over the top. I'd love to visit this version of Beijing and see the dragons in flight.
notsobinaryart's review
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Struggling between knowing what amount of my feeling for this book is it being not for me and what amount is me having some valid criticism.
Starting off, this book is a lot more literary fiction than a traditional fantasy story, which would have been better to know going into the book to set my expectations. It tries to make a balance, but falls a bit short on both aspects. It is a bit too on the nose for literary fiction, too light on fantastical elements and impersonal for most fantasy, leaving it in an awkward middle state.
The author reveals in the back of the book that this story was originally a short story but expanded upon to be a novella; I wish I could read that to compare. It again feels like it exists in a weird in between, not enough space to take on a more nuanced take yet the style and directness could be more impactful as a short story.
A much higher focus on character than any plot, which ultimately leaves the conclusion as unfinished on purpose. Even if the ending was purposely open ended, it lacked the directness of the rest of the book, making it feel less finished than intended. I was almost expecting to turn the page and there be another chapter, even while I was watching the page count dwindle before my eyes. This in part is me not used to reading character-only center books with no real focus on plot, so maybe the ending would leave those more used to literary fiction satisfied.
With all of those criticisms and complicated thoughts aside, this was still a beautiful book examining the strange tension created by loved ones and the person experiencing a condition disagreeing on medical care, processing feelings of newfound illness and limitations, complications of queer relationships amongst various levels of accepting crowds, racism, grief, and climate change. The latter of which impacts all of the other themes, showing how insidious climate change is and the intersectionality of issues on everyone and your psyche.
I might recommend this to someone who is looking for a character-driven literary low fantasy dealing with climate change and grief for yourself and loved ones.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Homophobia
machete's review
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rayyreads's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
archytas's review
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Fantasy is not usually big on grounded stories, but Zhang has written what feels like a very realistic, bittersweet romance fable for our times. Set amid a near-future, climate-degenerating Beijing, two young men work together to rescue abandoned pet dragons. The central conflict here, however, is not the dragons, the climate collapse or the tuberculosis-like plague that besets the world's pollution epicenters. Rather the book is fuelled by the need of each young man to navigate their own needs and desires, amid the myriad of responsibilities they have to others and to the future. This is a reasonably gentle tale about what it is to be human in a time of crisis, and while always understated, ended up far more memorable than I expected.
bobshmob's review
2.5
The lack of plot and focus made it seem like it was supposed to be a more deep and thought-provoking book, but it didn’t deliver. The characters were not that subtle or well developed, and the central thematic issues (in my mind, dealing with fatal illnesses, accepting help, the point of trying to make change in the face of impossibly large issues), just weren’t particularly developed. If the author had leaned deeper into exploring these themes, or had leaned more into a plot-based fantasy novel, it could have been a success.
Additionally, while the author’s writing was solid, I expected a bit more for this kind of a book. A lot of the descriptions read as cliched, and she didn’t leave space for you to read in between the lines of things. Wouldn’t have been a big a deal for a more straightforward fantasy, but it didn’t hold up in a book that tried to be more literary.
Additionally, while the author’s writing was solid, I expected a bit more for this kind of a book. A lot of the descriptions read as cliched, and she didn’t leave space for you to read in between the lines of things. Wouldn’t have been a big a deal for a more straightforward fantasy, but it didn’t hold up in a book that tried to be more literary.
talvinovels's review
emotional
reflective
3.75
This is a quiet slice-of-life novel that somehow, despite not being anything mindblowing, isn't like anything I've read before.
The story is very zoomed in on Kai and Eli and I really enjoyed that; there are big systemic and environmental issues in the background but this book is not about going on an adventure to solve those issues. It's about these normal people just living their lives. Oh, and dragons. I loved how much detail was put into the dragons!
This book didn't have a huge impact on me emotionally or anything but I was thoroughly invested the whole time and I appreciate this book for what it is. I recommend trying this out if you enjoy slice-of-life, dragons, and character-focused stories.
The story is very zoomed in on Kai and Eli and I really enjoyed that; there are big systemic and environmental issues in the background but this book is not about going on an adventure to solve those issues. It's about these normal people just living their lives. Oh, and dragons. I loved how much detail was put into the dragons!
This book didn't have a huge impact on me emotionally or anything but I was thoroughly invested the whole time and I appreciate this book for what it is. I recommend trying this out if you enjoy slice-of-life, dragons, and character-focused stories.
howl19's review against another edition
4.0
Okay. So this did a lot of things I liked - the low fantasy setting, the balancing between being optimistic/hopeful and just being depressed about the world, and the romance plot was decent. Think there were the odd plot element which did not make sense as much or could have had more detail. Maybe needed 50 more pages to round things off.