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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked what the author did with the concept. I thought the ending was a bit rushed but otherwise I'm excited to read the sequel in the future.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book and was honestly caught off-guard by some of its twists. Zach was both a sweetheart and a very touching example of how being othered fucks with you and leaves you unable to stand up for yourself or even understand how bad your situation really is.
I also strongly felt the dissonance Zach experienced no matter where he went: too Chinese for the US, not the "right kind" of Chinese for China - and even though I am part of the majority population of my homeland, it certainly spoke to my experience of no longer fitting in when I go back.
I also really enjoyed learning more about Chinese culture, history and mythology and it was particularly fun to do so in a way that felt very casual and approachable.
I also strongly felt the dissonance Zach experienced no matter where he went: too Chinese for the US, not the "right kind" of Chinese for China - and even though I am part of the majority population of my homeland, it certainly spoke to my experience of no longer fitting in when I go back.
I also really enjoyed learning more about Chinese culture, history and mythology and it was particularly fun to do so in a way that felt very casual and approachable.
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Would have been 3 stars if not for the sequel-hook non-ending, which is a pet peeve of mine.
Xiran Jay Zhao strikes again. I was blown away by her YA novel Iron Window a few months ago so when I saw her next novel Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor on sale, I snatched it up.
Once again, Xiran has interwoven ancient Chinese history and mythology seamlessly with an anime inspired aesthetic (Yugioh in this case whereas Iron Window was very Darling in the Franxx) serving it all through a genre appropriate lens.
I enjoyed it quite a bit. It's fun, it's cute and it subverts enough tropes to keep you guessing. I got a kick out of the main villain being a rich tech bro dickhead.
In both of her novels, Xiran portrays main characters who commit murder (and other crimes against humanity) but it's ok because "the ends justify the means". These characters are the heroes of the novels so we're supposed to be rooting for them despite these murders they've committed for the "greater good".
Sidenote: Technically nobody actually dies in Zachary Ying and The Dragon Emperor, a book for twelve year olds, but only technically. Our memories make us who we are, if you take away 2000 years of memories from someone, don't ask, you've killed that version of them.
Xiran's novels also make reference to other heinous crimes against humanity that aren't justified and are portrayed as such like ancient Chinese foot binding rituals and the Chinese genocide of the Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
I'm curious to see how far Xiran pushes her characters in her next novels. Will her heroes eventually come to regret or feel guilty about the evil they've committed on their path to achieving their goals? Will someone they've wronged in the past punish them for their digressions? Or will her heroes never have to come to terms with their choices and the people they've hurt along the way continuing the cycle of violence they were subjected to instead of ending it?
Uhhhh. Obviously I don't know but I'm excited to read whatever comes next from Xiran Jay Zhao.
Once again, Xiran has interwoven ancient Chinese history and mythology seamlessly with an anime inspired aesthetic (Yugioh in this case whereas Iron Window was very Darling in the Franxx) serving it all through a genre appropriate lens.
I enjoyed it quite a bit. It's fun, it's cute and it subverts enough tropes to keep you guessing. I got a kick out of the main villain being a rich tech bro dickhead.
In both of her novels, Xiran portrays main characters who commit murder (and other crimes against humanity) but it's ok because "the ends justify the means". These characters are the heroes of the novels so we're supposed to be rooting for them despite these murders they've committed for the "greater good".
Sidenote: Technically nobody actually dies in Zachary Ying and The Dragon Emperor, a book for twelve year olds, but only technically. Our memories make us who we are, if you take away 2000 years of memories from someone, don't ask, you've killed that version of them.
Xiran's novels also make reference to other heinous crimes against humanity that aren't justified and are portrayed as such like ancient Chinese foot binding rituals and the Chinese genocide of the Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
I'm curious to see how far Xiran pushes her characters in her next novels. Will her heroes eventually come to regret or feel guilty about the evil they've committed on their path to achieving their goals? Will someone they've wronged in the past punish them for their digressions? Or will her heroes never have to come to terms with their choices and the people they've hurt along the way continuing the cycle of violence they were subjected to instead of ending it?
Uhhhh. Obviously I don't know but I'm excited to read whatever comes next from Xiran Jay Zhao.
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes